Sub under seat with nav/jbl??

Since the stock JBL system already comes with 4 subwoofers, adding a tiny 5-6.5" sub in a tiny box is likely not helpful other than wasting money. The JBL system has 4 subs...2 6x9s in the front doors and 2 6.5" round in the rear doors. These speakers play only low frequencies and are part of JBL's Distributed Subwoofer System (DSS). So, adding a small 6.5" round speaker in a tiny box under the seat will probably not add much bass to the whole system other than robbing your bank account and electricity from the car's battery.

If you really want to enhance your bass in your Prius, then you need to compromise your cargo by adding a box subwoofer. If so, then i think that the Infinity BassLink is a good solution.

My opinion and hope that this helps.

 

Couldn't agree more, I have the Basslink in the back. It provides so much bass I have to keep it turned way down, but it sounds great. When I need the extra room I just take it out, not too hard with the quick disconnect connectors. Definitely recommend as an addition to the stock JBL sound.

 

Not in my book. A 6x9 or a 6 1/2 are certainty not subwoofers. Those run more full range. Typical subwoofers are designed to operate sub 120hz.

To the question at hand - I don't like the big ole things in the back. If you are just looking to fill-out the bass frequencies that are missing, there are a few subs that fit under the seats (and they fit quite well).

Tapping into the JBL system to get the necessary wires is a different animal. I *thought* there was an option (or standard) for a single sub in the rear hatch (???) - if so, there may be an actual sub out. You'll need to do the research.

I went with the amplified Boss Audio - mostly because it was almost free last Christmas (like $70 delivered) - they're now in the $130 range.

Frenchie (look up old posts) went with a hghend underseat which costs more like $500...

Mine is adequate for what I do and listen to. Quite nice on surround sound movies...

 

Well, your book is wrong. Please readup on the JBL system. And, if you get a chance, then put your ears next to the door woofers on a Prius (or Camry) with the JBL system. The door woofers are NOT full-range...they play ONLY bass frequencies...no vocals at all!

And yes, again, the 4 door woofers play only bass. That is far superior to any tiny box underneath a big seat. Like i said above, if you really want to improve bass in the JBL system, then you need to get a cargo-robbing subwoofer. Otherwise, it is a waste of money and electricity. My comments ONLY apply to JBL system. I have no idea how the base system is setup.

 

Granted, I have not been a car stereo aficionado since I was like 17, but from my observation, the door speakers in the 8 speaker JBL setup up seem quite capable of making the rear view mirror shake. For me, that's plenty base enough.

 

When playing my Black Eyed Peas CD @ volume level 25, bass setting at 0, my rearview mirror shakes so much the headlights of the cars behind me start looking like fuzz patches instead of pinpoint headlights...

 

If you really think these 4 speakers (6.5 and 6x9) are subwoofers , I have some nice land on the Mississippi coast to sell ya .

THX defines subwoofer as frequencies below 80hz. JBL itself sells nothing smaller than 8" in a speaker designed as a sub.

JBL *does* sell and design component systems which include *woofers* - 6.5" and 6x9".

A JBL subwoofer is offered on the systems sold in Europe - but not to my knowledge for the US. The subwoofer (the thing that fills out the bass at low frequencies) is located in the rear on top of the spare tire. Bass frequencies are not directional (to a listener), and hence the back is a good place for the sub.

I suggest you have very little real knowledge - and should be cast off to caraudio.com...

 

Oh, you're quoting THX now...and you actually think that your Boss (low-end name!) sub can put out THX bass frequencies?! Think back to your home theater, if you have one.

BTW, for music, bass does not have to be deep as it is with movies. Thus, THX certification/requirement is of much lesser importance (despite what Lincoln tells you) in a car.

Thus, in a the Prius or Camry, the 6x9s woofers provide deep enough bass for music...and the 4 woofers combine together to produce enough bass presence. As noted by poster above, the 4 woofers combined can produce quite a bit of bass. Is it deep bass as you get from a movie theater? No. But that is not the point of bass in a car audio system.

Now, as for your comment about bass being non-directional, you need to check again. Yes, bass is "non-directional". However, the feel of the bass is indeed directional. For example, put the bass box in the back cargo area. Crank up the bass song. Who do you think will hear/feel the bass more? The driver up front or the rear passengers sitting right next to it?

Take the home theater for example. Why do you think THX and whatnot recommends the subwoofer to be IN FRONT OF THE ROOM with your main speakers?

More examples? Go check out Mark Levinson Reference sound system in the Lexus LS460. What do you have up front? 6x9 woofers that play mostly bass frequencies, not much vocals through it at all! Why? Well, these 6x9s + the subwoofer in the rear shelf help provide enveloping bass. The rear sub does not have to play loud to compensate for the whole cabin. The 6x9s and the sub act together as one bass unit to provide bass for everyone in the cabin.

Before suggesting that i have little knowledge, maybe you should listen to more systems. I have seen your handywork...even caraudio.com would laugh!

 

Holly Molly If you want too add a subwoofer just do lt. I have the BossLink sub installed ln the cargo bin connected too my Jvc HU. This ls connected too the Oem JBL amp and wll add the xtra bass you will enjoy with stock JBL amp.
Regards,
Jim

 

You clearly are schooled - and showing you do not have the ability to simply point out you are wrong. People like you - who argue an incorrect points, just to try to prove they are right - typically come off as a "know it all" who really can't be trusted in general.

Through this dialogue, you have made that very clear.

Point of all the comments relating to your lack of knowledge is the 6x9 and 6.5 are *not* subwoofers as you claimed.

Further (and interestingly), we also own a Lexus GX470 with the 14-speaker Mark Levinson upgrade (a nice thing for the kids in the back - overall sound quality is OK+).

It features one - yes one subwoofer, that is combined with (2) woofers, (2) midrange woofers etc.

I mentioned the THX spec only as a reference (and why you decided to talk 'home theater' is beyond me - maybe trying to show how little you know about that too?) - and to teach you a bit more, THX is available in the automotive industry - along with home and commercial .

My personal preference is my SoundLab A1 electrostatics for home - combined with a Sunfire subwoofer - far to the left corner of a very large room. Sadly, electrostatics need a lot of space, hence are fairly impractical in automotive applications

You are what you type - think about it....

 

Wow anyone who things a 6x9 is a sub woofer is fine, it just your taste in movies. I have my 6x9 and 6.5 all crossover to above 100hz cause they distort and cannot handle the low frequencies. I don't have the JBL system but I don't think the 6x9 can produce anything below maybe 65hz if I had to guess unless it had a really large voice coil????

I think you are very wrong when you say music does not require the deep low frequencies of a Movie. All depends on the music you listen to. If you listen to lots of classical that is going to require quite a large and low subwoofer to help with the low frequencies. Bass is non directional if you didn't know already.

 

i've sat in the jbl system... did a little sound test at prius connection san francisco.

it needs a sub. (period)

if you're going to post on this forum.. be helpful and stop arguing crap that people get tired of reading about. if a person wants a sub.. shut your mouth and let them install a sub.

i recommend placing the sub so it faces the hatch.. it helps the bass travel throughout the car.

btw... rattling of the rear view is NOT a good way to figure out if you need a sub or not.

on a side note... my sub had a remote up front so i can turn it up and down as desired. it's kinda nice (i'd recommend it to everyone)... if it's late and you have a headache, turn it down... if you really want your spine to rattle, turn it up.

 

Good luck with your new set up. I think the further away the sub is the better it will sound. My basslink sounds a little better behind the passenger seat (I'm guessing its not better for the passenger). I did have some rattling underneath, and keep a towel and some t-shirts (need them anyway) in the pan above the tire, which help deaden its vibration. Basslink definitely is not the best, but it is good enough for me so far and convenient (paid $220 for basslink and wireing kit). I'm would think a component sub in the right box and amp will sound better. The best looks like a fiberglass enclosure over the battery built for a good 10", but I don't want to spend that much money, ... yet. Show us a picture and review when your done.

You can turn up and distort the bass to be plenty strong on the standard unit too. A dedicated subwoofer is about quality as well as quantity. To my ears the JBL and stock do not faithfully reproduce those lower frequencies. Your ears could be different and don't care. I have deaf friends that like to feel the beat that ride with me too.

The mirror should be bopping to the beat ;-)

It's marketing fluff JBL/Toyota are putting out. Does anyone know the frequency response of the woofers and/squawkers? It sounded like some midrange was coming from the woofs (which is actually proper).

They also don't sell any squawkers to the public. hmm, I wonder why.

I'd love it if we got a review from the europeans on how the tire sub sounds. I would like to hide my bass but don't think it will sound as good.

It probably can put out the low frequencies better than the jbls in the car. I doubt it does a great job, but I don't criticize your or rrolf's choice.

each of us have our own priorities. I fly a lot on business, and have some small speakers for my phone to listen to music in hotel rooms. They are small and light for traveling, and most music sounds better than no music, or the rental car. It can not reproduce the low frequencies I hear at home or in a club though

40 hz has a wavelength around 25' (8.6 meters), and human's do not have any organs to detect direction of wavelengths this long. The car has vibrating and attenuating material and these will act differently depending on placement. sub woofers should be placed as far away as possible, then volume set appropriately for the attenuation. So the trunk or hatch are better than under seat, but volume and crossovers can be set to make under seat subwoofers sound better than the typical "premium sound systems" with no subwoofers at all.

 

rrolf...please do your research...the GX470 has a...ready for this? Yes, it has a 6.5" round subwoofer in the cargo area. And it does have 6x9s in the front doors. It is all about proper management of bass in a car environment. Don't worry, it is not embarrassing at all when I know more about YOUR car than you!

THX is available in Lincolns...this is why i mentioned Lincoln in my previous post. Are the THX system in Lincolns well-known as audiophile systems? Nope.

As for electrostats, i have Martin Logans.

As for how low 6x9s can go, there are plenty of 6x9s that can go below 45 Hz. Do they do it well? Probably not. But, can they produce the bass that is needed for most music? Yup.

Here is an excerpt: "The lowest octave that can be heard (20Hz to 40Hz) virtually has no energy in most music. The lowest note on a bass has a fundamental frequency of about 41 Hz. So this first octave contains such things a "room rumble" and the lowest notes of a pipe organ. The second octave (40 Hz to 80Hz) contains the fundamental frequencies of the low bass notes and the Kick drum. So this is the first octave we are really concerned with, unless we are reproducing earthquakes and the like."

So, does a car audio subwoofer really need to hit below 40 Hz? Nope. This is why i said that a movie theater needs a good subwoofer, but not necessarily a car system. In a car, all you really need is a good (sub)woofer that can hit 40-80Hz well (or half decent). I am sure that most car systems probably won't go down past 50 Hz well, but it sounds just fine for 95% of music out there. A lot of the aftermarket folks (like some here) love to mention how low their subs can go and how much it enhances the music...i chuckle every single time.

A sub can be localized, regardless of the crossover point, if it causes nearby objects in the room to resonate or if the volume is not matched to that of the main speakers. The key to integration is setting phase and matching volume. In a car, bass integration is quite a challenge because it is not easy to move around speakers and there are too many variables (glass area, cloths, etc.).

Lastly, i could not hear much midrange from the JBL's door woofers.

Anything else?

 

nothing like a good 'ol fashioned internet forum drama...

we should have a popcorn emoticon...lol

 

YUP Agree

 

Well, how would they sell it? Lets see...the midtweets differ in size b/w different brands. For example, midtweets for BOSE car systems are generally either 2" or 3". Midtweets for Lexus Mark Levinson center channel is around 2" i believe. Prius/Camry JBL midtweets are 2.5". So, how can JBL market midtweet to the public when there is no consensus on the size for different auto brands?? If JBL makes the midtweet 2.5", then the market is rather small because only Toyota uses this particular size midtweet.

With aftermarket speakers, it is fairly easy to design a one-size-fit-all. You either have 4", 5", or 6.5". For tweeter, it is either 1" or 0.75".

With the midtweets, there is no consensus size nor depth. Each manufacturer designs the midtweet differently and to different application. For example, on the lexus ML system, the midtweet is mainly for center channel application. For JBL, it functions as a tweeter and midrange. The crossover for each of these midtweets are much different, again due to different application. Lastly, i would bet that each midtweet design is specific to that system requirement...because these midtweets are NOT easy to incorporate, certainly not as easy as just putting in a 6.5/1" component system. These midtweets need to be integrated into the whole system. I would bet that the JBL midtweets are different in design, crossover, etc. than the midtweet that Lexus use in the ML system. So, how can you market a midtweet when there are no consensus on design, feature, crossover, etc..??

And as you can see, from the very few "coaxial" midtweet available aftermarket, none of them really fit the Prius or Camry. And you wonder why aftermarket speaker manufacturers don't make midtweets aftermarket!

 

First - and yet again, to clarify - there *is* a difference between a woofer and a subwoofer. The reason you could not hear much mids from the door *woofers* is because they are *woofers*. A subwoofer needs to displace air - this is why there are few speakers capable of running truly full range.

You MLs (if memory serves me correct) have a subwoofer - not a woofer (which operates on a wider frequency range). The SoundLab does not have a woofer because it's large enough to run full range.

Now - back to your lack of knowledge. The Mark Levinson system is comprised of 14 speakers as follows:
(4) 25mm tweeters
(5) 65mm midranges
(2) 100mm midrange woofers
(2) 16cm woofers
(1) 20cm inverted subwoofer

In my opinion, it is no more 'highend' than the Lincoln.

THX is a spec. We were talking subwoofer - and not talking about overall sound. For a car to meet the THX spec, it must reproduce bass to a given level and frequency - this requires - get ready - a subwoofer.

Now go away - lest I need to taunt you yet again.