Under-seat Powered Subwoofers - let’s talk about em.

Kickin around the idea of installing a small powered subwoofer in my access cab.

Keeping the OEM Entues non JBL navigation headunit. It functions for what I need and doesn’t look out of place like an aftermarket unit.

I’ve already upgraded the mids/highs. I plan on amping them eventually.

Space is a premium in these trucks. Back seat space is already taken up and used so a traditional box/sub/amp isn’t an option.

It’s gotta go under one of the front seats.

I don’t need anything crazy. I did this before and it was fun, but I’m over it. Just looking for something to complete the sound.

Whose installed a sealed powered underseat subwoofer in their truck before? Any real world experience or input? Thoughts?

 

no input yet but I have been thinking how I can incorporate this as well. My rear is used up so not an easy way to toss one in there. My replaced speakers (Focal ISC, ISS sets) only go down to 60hz so mostly mid bass not much mid bass.

Another option I saw back in the day when I was big on this when I was younger was installing a small sub in the front passenger area. I have seen bigger speakers install there but that was when they needed much more space. Some of the newer space saver subs could be an interesting choice. 6" or 8" small space subs. Even a 10" possibly.

 

I went with the Powerbass STA10 under the driver's seat in my AC. For what it is, I am happy with the bass it puts out. I was somewhat underwhelmed at first but I am used to coming from full custom audio installs in all of my vehicles with multiple subs, so once I got over that expectation I was fine with it. Where i mounted it it does stick out from the back of the front seat approx 2-3" but I'm shorter and my seat is a little farther forward. The occupancy sensor brackets will hit it when moving the seat if you don't mount it closer to the door side of the floor board.

 

I just installed a Sound Ordinance

$190 B-8PTD 8" Powered Subwoofer

B-8PTD, it’s only 125 watts. The head unit is just a 22 watt Sony, door speakers are stock.I’m still playing around with the tune, I haven’t had a sub before. So far, I’ve been hearing new things in music that I’ve been listening to for 45 years.
There seemed to be a sudden change, when turning up the gain, where it went from more bass to a boom. Like I said, I’m still playing with the tune, but I’m glad I got it.
I’ve moved it out from under the seat for now, but I’ll try it back under there again with the new tune.
Sometimes I think I should have gone for a more powerful sub, but I didn’t see spending the extra $$.

 

I built a bandpass custom box with a single 10, mounted under the bed, ported it into the cab's floor, and refabbed the exhaust around the woofer box on a standard cab Toyota pickup. Sorry, no pictures. It sounded amazing. There's no reason why it couldn't be done on a Tacoma of any cab.

 

Another alternative.

 

I have stock head unit (non-JBL), Polk components in front doors, Polk 3 ways in back doors & they're all powered by an Alpine (

$288 KTP-445U Universal Power Pack

KTP-445U) 4ch amp. I also have a Kicker powered 8" sub under my driver seat. It sounds good for what it is. Like the other guy said, I was underwhelmed @ first (having had real sound systems in the past) but when you accept it for what it is, it sounds good.

**I changed Kenwood to Kicker. Idk why I originally said Kenwood. It’s the Kicker Hideaway.

 

I don't have one in my truck, but I used to work at a car audio shop. If you are expecting it to sound like two twelves in the trunk or even a ten, you will be upset. Manage your expectations and know it is there to fill in sound, not rattle the truck.

 

That’s 100% the goal. I had 2 L5 10s in like a 4cuft ported box with a 900rms amp in a previous vehicle. Definitely do not need/want that with this truck

Just a little bit of extra fill

 

Any details in your build thread?

 

Probably but to be honest, I don't remember if I put any in there or not. I remember wiring the components, using stock wiring, took a little work but not bad. The stock tweeters are wired opposite of what you want aftermarket wired. They're 180° out of phase, factory.

 

Running two Sound Ordinance powered subs (

$190 B-8PTD 8" Powered Subwoofer

B-8PTD), one under each seat. Seat risers (.50") were required for them to fit. They fill the lows well and give a little butt rumble (lol) but as we all agree, they def don't hit like a 10" or even an actual 8" sub. Especially with only 40-200 response.

Pioneer head unit, (F) 6.5" Sound Ordinance components (P-65CB), (R) 6.5" Sound Ordinance components (P-65CB), powered by a 4ch (400w) amp.

 

I installed one of those Infinity powered subs under the passenger seat. I had to take the seat out and flip the bar that is underneath but it wasn't too hard. I like the bass that it adds. I watched and copied Tacotune videos to get some wiring tips.

 

Aftermarket head unit. Kicker powered 8” under passenger seat. There is a write up on here somewhere that you can fit it under the seat by rotating a support bar on the seat.

 

What about these?

 

Heres my setup. Havent wired it up yet but plan on it before summer. I did not go with Kicker, I chose Alpine instead. I bought these items on sale & it wasn't very expensive. Also, the alpine unit a lot of jeep guys use in their under the seat mod

RCA Wires

$11 Rockford Fosgate 16-Feet Twisted Pair Signal Cable

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0D8I8I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RCA Output Plug & Play - For non JBL headunits

$40 Add An Amp Amplifier Adapter Interface to Factory OEM Car Stereo Radio System for Select Vehicles - Add Subwoofer Bass Amp etc.- No Factory Premium Amp- Compatible Vehicles listed below

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQUL240/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Alpine PWE-S8 Under Seat Amp

$317 Alpine PWE-S8 Compact Powered 8" Subwoofer System

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OYGGMXK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I put a Kenwood under my passenger seat. All is good. Just keep in mind the rear seat heater duct is under there (which i just cut the plastic making it shorter then duct taped the end so it blows straight up and not into the sub). There is also a low hanging bar under the passenger seat (at least on my 05 DC) that wasn't on the drivers side. This made me move the sub forward another 3".

 

Could’ve flipped the bar upside down to give you more room.

 

Diggin the discussion.

Let’s keep it going.

For you guys that kept the oem headunit, did you use speaker level inputs or a LOC or the RCA pre out T harness?

I love the T harness idea since it keeps its all plug and play with out cutting anything.