Subs - 1 or 2

I have 2 great installers I have been with for along time. They both did my install. I have never had a issue with any of my installs of the years and I have had plenty in all my Toyota trucks. They are very good in what they do. I’m loving my Arc Audio set up.

 

1lowlife - great feedback and thank you very much! It looks like you have the double cab not the crewmax? Crewmax has smaller space for a box behind the seat but there is enough space to meet airspace specs for the subs. Just really shallow.

I have the gains set a bit higher. I'll take a pic later but from memory, fronts at about 1 or 2:00, rears set at about 3 or 4:00. (I like hearing it from behind as well as fronts for a more full cab sound), and the sub is at about 2:00ish but they had it at near full gain when I picked it up. I want to play with the gains with the volume cranked up but I don't want to disturb the neighbors so when I get the chance to go somewhere remote, I will tweek it with the volume cranked up at 40 or so.

The system sounds great - door mirrors vibrate well and rv mirror might vibrate off some day so I'm getting plenty of nice clean base and sound. The problem is, in certain songs the rumble is good and strong but when the frequency dips down for a lower level rumble it fades out and basically the subs are not rumbling anymore and when it rolls back up the intensity returns.

I am experiencing this on Floyd and zeppelin primarily. But I haven't had a lot of time with it yet.

So let's take Floyd comfortably numb for example. After his injection, the music picks up and then they go into an awesome guitar rip. During this the rumble comes and goes depending on how high it low it is peaking at. From experience with my last truck (Honda Ridgeline) I know I should feel my scalp tingling from the intensity of the rumble but instead it fades out for the lower levels. That's when I get disappointed.

Floyd's Animals also has a lot of this low level rumble throughout the album that I was looking so forward to but it just isn't there.

It is really noticable on led Zeppelin "no quarter" as well. When they let go on the rip the rumble comes and goes depending on how deep they are going with it.

So I'm running 2ohm now, had 2ohm in the Honda with the same amp. I can't help but wonder if the head unit is the fault or the box. I still have the subs and box from the Honda and I want to hook it up instead of the new one and see what it sounds like but the seat has to come out for me to access the box to retrieve the wires. Again I need some time to play with it. I might be able to take from the amp with new wires to the Honda box.

Which Kenwood head unit are you using?

Also I see that you are in Texas? I'm in north Houston. If we're close enough maybe we can meet up and do some comparing? It would be particularly interesting since we are running basically the same equipment.

 

Too bad they're not in the Houston area - I could really use someone who knows enough to rectify the issue.

I had the system in the Honda installed by a little shop nearby. I was not impressed so I went to Lakeside Audio nearby and thisa guys knew what they were doing. It was like having a completely different system when they were done. Unfortunately since the so called pandemic I cannot get in touch with them.

 

Having said that, when I play welcome to the machine the rumble in the beginning is more intense than what I could get out of the Honda.

 

Yeah I agree Dean, I’m lucky to have the audio shop near me and being friends with them because of dealing with them for 20 years. Also the owner and the installers go to competition audio shows and involved with the shows a lot. It does sound like your very close to being happy with your system.

 

Front doors
Focal PS 165 FX
PS 165 FX | Focal America (focal-america.com)



Rear doors
Focal 165 AC
165 AC | Focal America (focal-america.com)



If I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn't even bother with the rears.
I have a double cab and I'm the only one in it 95% of the time.
The rear speakers really don't add much and no one rides in my back seat but my dog.

 

Imo, Turn the gains up on the back so you can hear them them. Makes for a more full surround sound.

 

I can here my rears really good. I like just have the components in the doors and the 2 subs. Even the wife says how good it sounds and she don’t play hers to loud. We were jamming Friday night to transiberian orchestra Christmas music coming from the Christkindlemarket. Lots of food , vendors, and beer. And all the Christmas goodies.

 

Nice! I forgot about that cd! Time to download it.. my Truck has no cd player

 

I’m old school also with CD player. I use my Apple Music I have downloaded or my XM. If my JBL headunit ever goes and have the truck long enough I will put in a Kenwood player with theCD.

 

I probably won't be able to wait too long.

I like some live recordings so I want to put one in that plays blueray and DVD.

 

I agree with you !

 

those are the ones i want. fancy french speakers lol!

 

Dang... Having issues with the new system. Rears keep randomly going out on one side or the other or both. When rears have issues the subs do too.

Today it was jamming really good. Went into the store and got back in and rear driver's side was dead, rear passenger side faint, and subs barely playing.

Debating a few things:

Change from 2ohm to 4ohm subs to try to reach more consistent deeper base and adding poly in the box

New head unit - I'm wondering if the head unit has anything to do with random chanel failure or the AP4 maybe . But mostly I want to be able to play CDs

 

In my 2021 1794 I went with a JL Audio Stealthbox (has 2, 10”s) for the subs pushed by a JL Audio HD 750/1 amp, JL Audio Evolution C2-525 for the front doors & JL Audio Evolution C2-600 for the rear doors. All the door speakers pushed by a JL Audio XD400/4v2. A

$300 Rockford Fosgate DSR1 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor w/Integrated iDatalink Maestro Module

Rockford Fosgate DSR1 & an iDatalink HRN-AR-TO3 wiring harness to make it all come together. Sounds GREAT & I get compliments on the clean sound a lot. ********* out of TX has a sub enclosure that holds 2 12”s & a bigger amp, if you wanted heavier bass, but they were reluctant to connect me with a local installer in GA (so I could ask how would it compare with what I have) until AFTER I bought their stuff. Which was utterly ridiculous. It wouldn’t cost them anything. I didn’t want a system that was so bass heavy that I lose everything else.
Hope that helps some

 

that sucks ! when its working right how is the sound? dd you ever get it dialed in?

 

Yes, when everything is working it sounds really good. The drivers rear went out again and then back in. I can't pinpoint the failure because when I have time it seems like it knows and starts to behave. Lol..

I did look at the crossover and no signs of overheating so it's not that.

I don't think it's the amp because it worked fine in the Honda as did the rear speakers that were front speakers in the Honda.

I'm starting to wonder if it has anything to do with the AP4 they put in to interface the head unit.

It's going back to car toys Monday. Hopefully it will be in fail mode when I bring it to them .

 

Update, I think I am as good as it will get with this truck without spending exponential cash.. ended up using 2 subs at 2ohm. Nice punchey base and the focal flax speakers are like omg awesome! Thank you to the folks at car toys Willowbrook for being patient with me and working out the bugs. The finished product is like freaking awesome!!

 

if it still isnt as good as you want i am happy to try to help. i got my truck done a few weeks ago and its incredible

 

I’m loving my new system!!

 

what id you get ruspro?

 

Everything from James, Arc audio. 2 10 inch subs, 5 channel amp and components speakers for the doors. All sound deadening on the doors and in. And the back wall. First time I have ever used a factory headunit using the Rockford Fosgate processor. Sounds very good.

 

Curious to see if anyone has upgraded their audio and sound deaden their doors, headliner and floor. Wondering if any vibration can be seen or heard from either the rear view mirror or outer mirrors.

 

i got a sub box from him with 2 JL 12s and a 900w 5 channel amp. i went with Focal components front and rear and a Kenwood head unit. I am loving my system - takes me back to my high school days lol

 

I did all 4 doors and rear wall . i have not ever heard anything to make me think I need more. the MX4 tonneau cover sounds like it is gong to explode wen the subs are really going (i was curious what it would sound like from outside...it sounds great and awful at the same time lol. inside it sounds perfect)

 

Thanks for the offer. Are you in the Houston area?

I think that until I feel like I am sitting in a concert it will never be good enough

I also think that I will not be able to get the depth of base from the pancake subs I had with deep boxes and deep subs.

So I would say it is about as good as it can get. Lots of vibration shaking the mirrors on the doors and rear view. Crystal clear sound and strong base.

Loving it!

 

I'm running 2 JL 10s and only pushing 500W on them. I'd be curious to hear what your system sounds like. That's a lot of power!

 

Have 2x10 JL, wish I would have gone 2x12

 

Everyone wants a little bass to start, but it always ends up with a giant 15 in the rear cab and no backseat

 

Since adding my systems over the years all I ever had was 10 inch subs. Just my opinion. I prefer the 10’s over everything else. Nice and tight and hit hard. No you will not get that big thump out of the thin subs compare to a nice and deep sub size!!