[caSStro18]

Could someone steer me in the right direction on adding a sub to my 2018 1SS? I am exhausted from looking. All I want is a simple/inexpensive way to add some bass to this car because it is almost non-existent. Not looking for a thumping, blow out your eardrums bass, just something to give it some more depth. I've already figured I will need the adapter for the factory amp so that I don't have to cut any factory wires, and I will need the ANC bypass harness as well. But, from there I have no idea. I've seriously been reading and researching what I need but the price adds up pretty quickly. I just want the minimum to get some bass, that's it. I don't know a whole lot about car audio systems, so it's a bit of a learning curve right now and there is SOOOO much information out there I can't wrap my mind around what I should do.

[caSStro18]

So...I think i figured out a way to do it keeping it simple and relatively inexpensive. Has anyone used a speaker box with built-in amp?

[Zr8000]

The cheapest way to do it is a line out, the sub thump harness so you don’t have to cut into the factory wiring, pick a sub and amp you want. Install is easy because the battery is the trunk and you don’t have to run cables through the car

[Msquared]

You can certainly add a sub. However, you might be surprised at how much really good quality and extended low bass response you can add just by upgrading the factory 6x9 door woofers. I just replaced mine with Audiofrog GS690 speakers and the difference is really night and day. These are not cheap speakers, but they are easy to install with a Metra 82-3017 speaker adapters and Metra 72-5600 speaker wire harness.

I also replaced the dash speakers with the GS25 drop-in replacement, and that is a huge difference in musicality also (since those speakers probably cover 80% of the music range you hear). I'm going to eventually add a small amp with DSP, but in the meantime the sound is already vastly improved, including the bass region. You'd probably get even better results because your car already has a separate (non-Bose) amp in the trunk, whereas my 1LE is only powered by a chip in the radio receiver unit behind the glovebox. I think the vast majority of people who just want to hear music don't really need a sub, and most subs don't have very good sound quality unless you spend a ton of money on both the driver and an amp.

[SomeGeoffGuy]

Originally Posted by Msquared

You can certainly add a sub. However, you might be surprised at how much really good quality and extended low bass response you can add just by upgrading the factory 6x9 door woofers. I just replaced mine with Audiofrog GS690 speakers and the difference is really night and day. These are not cheap speakers, but they are easy to install with a Metra 82-3017 speaker adapters and Metra 72-5600 speaker wire harness.

Did your system stay "Loud"? I keep worrying that my system is going to get too quiet if I just swap the speakers because the factory speakers are super efficient? With the top down, sometimes you have to crank it!

Thank you.

-Geoff

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by SomeGeoffGuy

Did your system stay "Loud"? I keep worrying that my system is going to get too quiet if I just swap the speakers because the factory speakers are super efficient? With the top down, sometimes you have to crank it!

Thank you.

-Geoff

It's actually louder, which surprised me. A few things seem to account for this:

• A lot of people say the factory speakers are 2ohm units, and that swapping in 4ohm speakers will effectively reduce the power they get by half. But the factory speakers for the non-Bose system are in fact 4ohm nominal ratings. The door speakers actually have this printed on them, and a simple d/c resistance check across their terminals confirms this. In fact, IIRC the GS25 dash speakers were slightly lower on simple resistance (I forgot to check the GS690s).
• The Audiofrog drivers are quite efficient - both over 90db. This is one big reason I went with them instead of some competitors.
• The Audiofrogs are far more extended at each frequency extreme than the factory drivers, so there is literally more sound coming out because they play more notes, and especially more fundamental notes vs just playing harmonics of the fundamentals. This is something that a simplistic nominal impedance rating can't capture.
• The frogs have a lot less distortion, and therefore you can play them louder without fatigue or nasty sounds. This is helpful in my 1LE, which is not all that quiet inside, especially with its OE tires.

Granted, with no external of any kind, my system as it stands still won't play super loud, but it is improved in that aspect.

[SomeGeoffGuy]

Thanks for the info. Seems like a great - non-bose solution. I keep looking for small incremental steps on my Bose system, but I think it is going to be an all-in type deal where I have to replace all the amps and speakers all at once. I am out of the bumper-to-bumper warranty, though, so maybe it is time!

-Geoff

[caSStro18]

Originally Posted by Msquared

You can certainly add a sub. However, you might be surprised at how much really good quality and extended low bass response you can add just by upgrading the factory 6x9 door woofers. I just replaced mine with Audiofrog GS690 speakers and the difference is really night and day. These are not cheap speakers, but they are easy to install with a Metra 82-3017 speaker adapters and Metra 72-5600 speaker wire harness.

I also replaced the dash speakers with the GS25 drop-in replacement, and that is a huge difference in musicality also (since those speakers probably cover 80% of the music range you hear). I'm going to eventually add a small amp with DSP, but in the meantime the sound is already vastly improved, including the bass region. You'd probably get even better results because your car already has a separate (non-Bose) amp in the trunk, whereas my 1LE is only powered by a chip in the radio receiver unit behind the glovebox. I think the vast majority of people who just want to hear music don't really need a sub, and most subs don't have very good sound quality unless you spend a ton of money on both the driver and an amp.

Im sure those are great speakers, but when the website dies not list a price, it usually means expensive! Lol. I would be interested in just swapping out the front door speakers if it would give me a deeper\fuller sound. It would probably be easier and cleaner while keeping my trunk clear. However, I really don’t want to spend more than about $200. Also, the dash speakers look a little difficult to change out. Is this true?

[RWT]

Originally Posted by caSStro18

Im sure those are great speakers, but when the website dies not list a price, it usually means expensive! Lol. I would be interested in just swapping out the front door speakers if it would give me a deeper\fuller sound. It would probably be easier and cleaner while keeping my trunk clear. However, I really don’t want to spend more than about $200. Also, the dash speakers look a little difficult to change out. Is this true?

Maybe this will help with your decision:
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_898GS6...rog-GS690.html

[caSStro18]

Originally Posted by RWT

Maybe this will help with your decision:
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_898GS6...rog-GS690.html

Yeah, that’s a bit more than I want to spend. Are there other 6x9 speakers that sound considerably better than stock for less money? I know brands like Kicker, Pioneer, Kenwood, Infinity, and JBL, make good speakers. I just don’t want to spend a ton of money for small improvements in sound quality. I know you get what you pay for, but there must be a happy medium in there somewhere. Also, does changing out the door speakers do anything with the warranty?

[SomeGeoffGuy]

Originally Posted by caSStro18

Yeah, that’s a bit more than I want to spend. Are there other 6x9 speakers that sound considerably better than stock for less money? I know brands like Kicker, Pioneer, Kenwood, Infinity, and JBL, make good speakers. I just don’t want to spend a ton of money for small improvements in sound quality. I know you get what you pay for, but there must be a happy medium in there somewhere. Also, does changing out the door speakers do anything with the warranty?

Relative to warranty, I don't think the dealer would notice unless it was something inside your door (like fixing the window regulator) and they saw a Kenwood speaker in there. Technically it should only void your speaker warranty, but it is really up to the dealer. As soon as you start talking the Magnuson-Moss warranty act they will usually escort you out of the dealership! So you have to be diplomatic. I keep my oil changes and some service with the dealer so that I can get a relationship with them.

But if you put a full bypass in of the Bose Amp and then complain about your chime or something, they probably have every right to refuse.

-Geoff

[caSStro18]

Also, I’ve read that there is an issue with ANC with some speakers. Would this be a factor with just swapping out the stock 6x9’s for upgraded ones?

[caSStro18]

Originally Posted by Msquared

You can certainly add a sub. However, you might be surprised at how much really good quality and extended low bass response you can add just by upgrading the factory 6x9 door woofers. I just replaced mine with Audiofrog GS690 speakers and the difference is really night and day. These are not cheap speakers, but they are easy to install with a Metra 82-3017 speaker adapters and Metra 72-5600 speaker wire harness.

I also replaced the dash speakers with the GS25 drop-in replacement, and that is a huge difference in musicality also (since those speakers probably cover 80% of the music range you hear). I'm going to eventually add a small amp with DSP, but in the meantime the sound is already vastly improved, including the bass region. You'd probably get even better results because your car already has a separate (non-Bose) amp in the trunk, whereas my 1LE is only powered by a chip in the radio receiver unit behind the glovebox. I think the vast majority of people who just want to hear music don't really need a sub, and most subs don't have very good sound quality unless you spend a ton of money on both the driver and an amp.

Interestingly the Metra 72-5600 wire harness shows that it is for Ford vehicles. Is this correct?

[Zr8000]

Originally Posted by caSStro18

Also, I’ve read that there is an issue with ANC with some speakers. Would this be a factor with just swapping out the stock 6x9’s for upgraded ones?

No. It only becomes an issue when you add a sub.