Subs without an amp? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

cupcakes · 06-28-2005, 01:46 AM

I've been screwing around with subs for awhile, just cheap shit to play with like Lightning Audio and Planet Audio. I recently built a box for 2 10''s (Planet Audio DVC), the box works pretty well I think.

I've never bothered to buy an amp or install one or anything. I have run subs in my 1996 Camry DX ONLY off of the 6x9 rear deck wiring that is connected straight to the HU (Pioneer DEH-P4600MP). To create much bass, I have to push the fader to the rear quite a bit, then push the balance to the left to give the sub more juice (only 1 10'' is powered because the HU can't power both). It seems to sound decent as far as rumble and thump. I have the HU EQ set to lows +6, I have LOUD set to high, and FIE set to 100 so that (I guess?) all frequencies above 100hz are cut off to the rear speakers (could be wrong about that one, that is my understanding though.)

I was just wondering, is there any problem with doing it this way? I'm a little to cheap to fork over cash for an amp + install, and it sounds plenty good the way it is setup now (doesn't bother me), and already hits hard enough to be heard a couple of cars over. But, if this kind of jury-rig is damaging my speakers or my HU in some way, I would very much like to know. I DO plan to get an amp eventually, so I want these speakers to still work well when I do that.

Thoughts?

~Russell Cannon

***cam2Xrunner*** · 06-28-2005, 03:39 AM

Definitely not the best idea. Get an amp. You will probably be doing damage to the headunit, and most likely the sub too. Overall a bad idea. I do remember when Pioneer headunits would allow you to bridge the rear channels for powering one rear sub, and only at a 4 ohm final load. Most likely this is not the case with how you have it wired, or if the headunit is capable of doing that like they used to.

Anshu · 06-28-2005, 04:23 AM

go to a flea market

***Knailgun*** · 06-28-2005, 07:55 AM

ebay brother....thank yourself in the long run

TakeABao · 06-28-2005, 09:30 AM

Yeah I don't think the "amp" on the headunit is fused either so that potentially poses a very bad problem. Having your center console ignite in flames isn't something that you'd want I imagine.

What exactly is a your budget? Perhaps, some of us can recommend an amp (+ sub[s]) combo...?

cupcakes · 06-28-2005, 10:50 AM

It's not so much that I can't afford the amp, I just don't want to spend the money right now, plus I wouldn't be able to install it myself as that is definitely beyond me. Were I to buy an amp though, it would have to be $150 or less. I have subs already so that's not a problem. So amp + installation for less than $200, is that doable? I have friends that could install the amp wiring / amp for me, but damn if I don't trust them at all.

***Silver Streak*** · 06-28-2005, 12:13 PM

Sell one of the 10" subs, having two isn't really necessary, esp since you're trying to get bass from a headunit. Use the money to buy a cheap amp...I started with Kenwoods and Pioneers, they sound just fine for the average user. Not sure how many watts you need, but typically low end amps can push 150watts rms, which shoudl be good enough for your sub...better than the 10watts your headunit pushes.

TokyoRacer · 06-28-2005, 12:39 PM

Yeah and it's not hard tos et up an amp..I did it pretty easily..buy an amp..and wiring package and jsut follow the instructions in the packages..it's really basic. stuff.

cupcakes · 06-29-2005, 12:31 AM

Thanks for the tips guys. I don't really want to ditch the other 10'', so I'll just find a used amp from a friend or something and wait to install it when I have the extra cash.

~Russell Cannon