how to set up gain for subwoofer with stock bose speakers

[sadler1988]

2003 mercedes c320 w203 stock bose speakers, alpine type x 12` ,lc2i INCRIMINATOR AUDIO IA10.1 1200W RMS but running only 800rms@2 ohms, 4gauge wiring. ok so i want to set the gains on my amp and should play a 50hz test tone with a ddm but i dont think i can since i cant unplug the interior speakers(fiber opitcs) so what should i do? maybe there is built in bass filter in stock amp for 50hz but dont want to takt the chance so should just turn up the volume and adjust the lc2i and set the amp to the same output volts on that or just play to ear? oh and the lc2i is tapped off the connection where the stock sub was but there is no separate adjustment for sub.

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[Side Show 10+ year member]

what amp are you going to be using to drive the sub? how are you getting signal to that amp?

I tune to ear, only coz I don't have the correct tools

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

2003 mercedes c320 w203 stock bose speakers, alpine type x 12` ,lc2i INCRIMINATOR AUDIO IA10.1 1200W RMS but running only 800rms@2 ohms, 4gauge wiring. ok so i want to set the gains on my amp and should play a 50hz test tone with a ddm but i dont think i can since i cant unplug the interior speakers(fiber opitcs) so what should i do? maybe there is built in bass filter in stock amp for 50hz but dont want to takt the chance so should just turn up the volume and adjust the lc2i and set the amp to the same output volts on that or just play to ear? oh and the lc2i is tapped off the connection where the stock sub was but there is no separate adjustment for sub.

Even if you had a high pass filter in place, if you can't mute the speakers you will hear the 50 Hz tone from them. You can adjust the subwoofer amplifier gain until the bass sounds balanced with the speakers, or if you like a lot of bass you should at least check the output voltage with your DMM.

 

[sadler1988]

ok cool , well here another issue i am facing. so i want to tap in the stock subwoofer wiring and hook the the lc2i loc, well the stock sub is wired for dual voice coil , so it has voltage from the + and - and the the sub was grounded , so there three wires. now i can just use the + and ground but i only get one channel. do i just run each wire to the + side on the left and right channel on the loc and just gorund the - side just like the the stocker, or just run channel to the amp? wouldnt that mess with the sound if only one channel was used?

 

[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

ok cool , well here another issue i am facing. so i want to tap in the stock subwoofer wiring and hook the the lc2i loc, well the stock sub is wired for dual voice coil , so it has voltage from the + and - and the the sub was grounded , so there three wires. now i can just use the + and ground but i only get one channel. do i just run each wire to the + side on the left and right channel on the loc and just gorund the - side just like the the stocker, or just run channel to the amp? wouldnt that mess with the sound if only one channel was used?

the sub being grounded does not sound right. they havent done that stuff in 30 years.

 

[sadler1988]

Thats what i thought was weird too, i will have to take pictures of the connecter and the stock sub , one wire as a + for positive , a brown one in the middle and thats ground and i thought the other one would be negative but i get voltage from it too and then read it was a dual voice coil sub. I tested them with a volt meter and i forgot the voltage (6 v i think) but every time the bass hit i got the same voltage on both terminals. Thats why it look like there feeding signal to each voice coil then grounding it.

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

low bass frequencies are generally the same in each channel until around 200hz. If you only can tap into one side you'll likely not hear a difference.

 

[sadler1988]

thank you for the info, now with the loc lc2i if i adjust it like they say to i dont have to touch the gains on the amp if any just a little bit right?

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

you will have to adjust your gain on the amp. YES