Beginner - wiring a sub?

[Promethean]

Hi, Im looking to connect up a single sub to a basic system (no amp yet). The way a friend of mine explained it, you could just splice some wires off those running to the rear speakers, run them through a high-low converter and straight into the sub, so the sub and the rear speakers run off the same wires. Is this the case, or do you need to run dedicated wires from the head unit to the sub?

Thanks

JD

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[zack39648 10+ year member]

i would run and hide people are going to FLAME you so bad just //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif you dont run a sub without an amp

 

[DePratt 10+ year member]

completley edit it your post to say, how do i wire a sub 2 an amp

 

[zack39648 10+ year member]

he wantz to power a sub off of his HU wich is idiotic

 

[Promethean]

Thanks for the heads up. So let me say that if you have some actual advise for me (which may even be dont wire the sub until I can afford the amp), I'd be glad to hear it. If you're just gonna flame, and sit back and feel superior, save us both some time and dont say anything.

Any constructive advice would be much appreciated.

 

[zack39648 10+ year member]

actual advice - do not try to run a sub off a HU that puts out 15-20w full range its just stupid and will most likely fri you internal amp of your HU ...

 

[teen 10+ year member]

your better off just turning up your your mid bass, because the sub your trying to install will sound similar.

id just hold off and get an amp if i were you. what type of sub are you trying to wire up?

 

[x1le 10+ year member]

what type of sub are you trying to wire up?

x2

 

[Patrick Simmons 10+ year member]

as others have said already. Wait till you get an amp that can be dedicated to the sub or you will wind up either messing up the sub or your headunit.

 

[JediMentality 10+ year member]

You need more specifics. What headunit and what sub? And yes, you will most likely need an amp, unless you have a stock system with a stock subwoofer you are trying to replace. In any case, those systems come with an amp. So do you really plan on getting an amp? Another thing you could do, if you aren't going to get an amp and the things associated, is get a good headunit and speakers that have adequate mid-low frequency extension. Fully deadened doors will greatly aid with this.

 

[romans535 10+ year member]

actual advice - do not try to run a sub off a HU that puts out 15-20w full range its just stupid and will most likely fri you internal amp of your HU ...

Is that 15-20 watts rms or max:laugh://content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[deLeo 10+ year member]

i think his main question was can u splice the back speaker wires into a converter then 2 ur sub.. answer = yes

 

[Promethean]

Hi guys, thanks a lot for all the replies so far. Its a Blaupunkt 'Melbourne' head unit and a 10" MTX Thunder4000 sub (I think). It has come complete from a system that has been running ok for a while (with no amp, to my knowledge), which is why I thought I could get away with wiring the sub in without the amp until I can get one later down the track. But from most of the replies here, it looks like I should probably just leave it disconnected until then. One of the guys locally that I spoke to said that if it has been wired up before, it probably wont blow the HU but just not get enough power and basically just act like a speaker, is that a reasonable call?

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

underpowering speakers/subs causes damage to the woofer and could also blow the rear output on the deck, most decks hav wiring diagrams in the manual saying that it can be done at a 2ohm load or more..... most power rms that speaker would see is about 40rms witch isn't enough to run your sub without doing it damage.. hope this helps you

 

[endofdays89 5,000+ posts]

haha........... one time a person at my school actually had two jl 10's hooked up to his head unit and i went in his car and listened to it, and i couldn't even feel the bass. If you hook a sub up to an amp you are really wasting your time.

i would seriously not let it be known you even thought about this idea