How To Install A Subwoofer To A Factory Stereo

Adding a subwoofer to a factory stereo is an excellent method to boost your sound while retaining your factory controls. The nifty devices can produce bass and sub-bass sounds at low frequencies. Thankfully, it’s pretty simple to wire one into an existing car stereo system.

Do note that subwoofers can be quite energy-consuming. So, remember to connect the device to your car battery as a stable power source. After you’ve hooked it up to an amplifier, complete the wiring, and you should be well on your way to enjoy pristine sound quality over your car stereo speakers.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the details of how to install a subwoofer in a factory stereo. Let’s have an entire rundown of the process.

9 Steps To Install A Subwoofer To A Factory Stereo

The steps of adding a subwoofer to a factory stereo are quite easy to keep track of. There’s no need to be concerned. You should be OK if you just follow along.

Step 01 : Gather all necessary equipment

Here is the list of equipment you will need to execute the process.

  • Subwoofer box
  • Basic tools
  • Speaker for subwoofers
  • Amplifier
  • Some speaker wire
  • Wire harness kit
Necessary Equipment for Installing a Subwoofer

Step 02 : Choose a speaker and an amp

A speaker or amplifier can only run at full power for about a minute before it burns out or overheats. You should consider the RMS rating of your subwoofers rather than the peak rating.

Step 03 : Remove the battery from the vehicle

This is the most important task you’ll have to perform. Nothing will work properly if you ignore this issue. After all, this is about your protection.

Step 04 : Disconnect the wires of the speaker

Simply disconnect your vehicle’s primary power source and turn it off, and then physically unplug the wires from their respective ports or terminals.

Step 05 : Identify the relevant connections

After establishing all of the output ports, look for any connections that might be important to this connection process. Make a connection between the LFE jack on the receiver and the output port on the subwoofer’s box. Simply connect the jack to the port using the provided hole.

Step 06 : Run wires

Begin by connecting the battery. Locate a gap in the car’s firewall. Run the majority of the power wire through the firewall hole, leaving enough wire to reach the battery. At the end of the wire, where the battery is placed, remove the insulation.

Then connect the in-line fuse to this terminal. Run the remaining wire beneath the vehicle’s carpeting or through a wire channel if one exists. You need to get this wire to the trunk.

Step 07 : Reinforce the connections

The next move is to strengthen the connections by connecting positive wires from the subwoofer to the left speaker marked (+). Connect the negative wires whose source is the sub box to the left speaker with the mark (-).

Step 08: Connect the speaker cable and plug in the battery power.

Now, carefully connect a speaker cable to the Subwoofer. You should now have the stock stereo’s signal. Finally, reconnect the previously separated power cable.

Optional: Mount your subwoofer

Mounting your subwoofer could improve performance but it’s not required.

Step 09: Test the Subwoofer

Test your subwoofer to make sure it’s good to go.

Also Read: How Many Amps Does A Car Stereo Draw?

How To Install A Powered Subwoofer To A Factory Stereo?

Step 01 : Unplug the battery

To safeguard yourself and your equipment during installation, it goes without saying that you must disconnect the negative battery terminal before beginning any electrical operation.

Step 02 : Join the power wires together

The power connection from the batteries to the powered subwoofer should pass through the firewall that separates the engine compartment from the rest of the cabin.

Step 03 : Connect the power and signal cords

Then run the power and signal lines. You’ll need to utilize a line output converter because most OEM stereos don’t have preamp outputs.

Step 04 : Attach the ground wire

A bolt should be used to attach the ground wire to the car chassis. The bare metal must make contact with the ground wire termination.

Step 05 : Make wiring connections

Your vehicle’s negative battery terminal should be reconnected. However, before you put your powered subwoofer to the test, make sure the built-in amp’s gains are turned down.

If you follow these steps thoroughly, you will get your answer on how to install a subwoofer to a factory radio.

How To Add Subwoofer To Stock Stereo?

There are two ways to add a subwoofer to stock stereo:

  • Hi-Low Converter

It is simply a small converter that connects to your speaker wires and provides RCA inputs. The main issue is that you won’t receive the authentic sound quality from your subwoofers.

  • Line-out converter

A line-out converter is similar to a hi-low converter but on a much larger scale. That simply means you’ll receive fantastic sound while preserving your existing stereo and controls.

Final Words

If you currently have a decent infotainment system from the factory but want to improve your car audio experience, adding a subwoofer to factory stereo could be the ideal solution. And to do so, you must know how to install a subwoofer to a factory stereo. Hope this post was useful in teaching you the fundamentals of the procedure.

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FAQ

Can adding a subwoofer make a difference?

Most definitely. Even though many car stereo systems come with subwoofers built in, there are some that don’t. In that case, adding a subwoofer can make a big difference in the quality of the sound.

Can I Put a Subwoofer in the Car Without an Amp?

It is possible to put a subwoofer in the car without an amp, but you will need some advanced skills to be able to get through this process on your own.

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