Replacement for Factory Subwoofer

[JRA2000TL]

Not surprisingly, the subwoofer in my 95 MTX I just bought it blown. Since I like the stock look/setup, I wanted to get a direct replacement (high quality) subwoofer to fix in the existing box, so I picked up this little guy here:

Ebay Item # 130435406481

It's an 8" JL Audio W3 subwoofer. Since our factory subwoofers are roughly 6.5", how difficult will this be to fit in the box, and how will I need to modify it? know next to nothing about aftermarket stereo installs.

Should I expect an ok-quality sound? I know JL is pretty top notch stuff.

 

[Phoenix]

Not surprisingly, the subwoofer in my 95 MTX I just bought it blown. Since I like the stock look/setup, I wanted to get a direct replacement (high quality) subwoofer to fix in the existing box, so I picked up this little guy here:

Ebay Item # 130435406481

It's an 8" JL Audio W3 subwoofer. Since our factory subwoofers are roughly 6.5", how difficult will this be to fit in the box, and how will I need to modify it? know next to nothing about aftermarket stereo installs.

Should I expect an ok-quality sound? I know JL is pretty top notch stuff.

You will need an amp to drive this , then to carry the RCA signal to the amp , you will need either a new radio or some converters that converts radio signal into usable RCA wires.

Its not a drop in. BTW you will also need to hacksaw the box , cause the stocker is a 6.5''

 

[JRA2000TL]

You will need an amp to drive this , then to carry the RCA signal to the amp , you will need either a new radio or some converters that converts radio signal into usable RCA wires.

Its not a drop in. BTW you will also need to hacksaw the box , cause the stocker is a 6.5''

Great...sounds like a PITA. I just wanted to put in a better sub and use my existing factory stereo. Sounds like this isn't possible w/o alot of work now.

 

[JST4SHO1]

Better off to replace everything if you want to upgrade to an 8".
Or you could just get a new 6.5" and just pop it in there.
If you do modify the stock box a hack saw will not work, you need a jig saw.
Even still its a pita as it melts to itself, but will eventually come clean with some vertical cuts.
I just re-wired and droped an 8" in the factory box, with a new hu

 

[hawkeye18]

The box will need to be modified, but it's pretty easy with a dremel or a jigsaw. If you look at the lip that protudes from the top of the box, what you need to do is basically continue that vertical line down, and cut it that way. so if you get a jigsaw, you can just run that vertically around that lip, and then you'll have a hole that perfectly accepts an 8" speaker.

Oh, and don't forget to knock out the bottom support pillar with a hammer. It only takes one or two whacks. You can leave the foam stuffing in there if the speaker calls for a little more size than the box has, which IIRC is .43 cubic feet. The foam-ish stuff effectively increases the size of the box a little bit by slowing the sound down.

Actually, breaking the box apart is the hardest part. The seam in the middle's got some pretty awesome-tastic glue on it, and it takes a bit with one of those big ol' straight-head screwdrivers and a hammer to split it apart. Make sure you use some clear RTV to seal the box back up once you're done, and laying a bead around the speaker edge doesn't hurt either. With such a small box, the more sealed it is, the better it will sound.

And don't use the stock sub amp. It will not push an 8w0, much less an 8w3.

Really, honestly, unless you are really concerned with maintaining stock appearance, you're a lot better off just getting a single or dual box and getting some 10"s (for quality) or 12"s (for quantity). It'll be a lot easier.

 

[thegovernor9912]

JBL makes a 6.5 inch sub that fits in the stock box. I found out about it on the forum. I think its over **** for the stock head unit and amp, but it is a plug and play unit.


Search for it on the forum as I remember it was about 100 bucks...

 

[Jh8990]

if you want to do this, I have a 6.5 in brand new JL w0 subwoofer that I will trade you straight up for that 8". could allow you to keep it stock with stock amp

if you are interested send me a pm.

 

[JRA2000TL]

if you want to do this, I have a 6.5 in brand new JL w0 subwoofer that I will trade you straight up for that 8". could allow you to keep it stock with stock amp

if you are interested send me a pm.

Will the 6.5" JL work with my stock setup to where I can drop it in the box and go? I've heard that any of these JL subs require an aftermarket amp. Our stock subs run off of 4 ohms I think. Hawkeye just mentioned the JLs needing an aftermarket amp.

And don't use the stock sub amp. It will not push an 8w0, much less an 8w3.

I'd be interested in trading, but I want to verify this other setup is plug and play. I'd really like to keep my stock system. I know that sounds weird. I just kinda feel like I wasted 50 bucks now. If I have to "redo" the whole thing, I'd rather have 1, 10". Right now, I can't afford to spend $ on stuff like this. I just wanted a cheap, direct replacement.

My setup on my old 93 ATX was the best IMO. I had a standard Kenwood deck, a Kenwood amp, max wattage was only 225 or something, and 1 10" MTX blue thunder. I ran stock JBL speakers. It sounded superb.

 

[Jh8990]

i think our stock sub amp is 6 ohms and my sub is an 8 ohm 75 watts RMS. perfect direct replacement.

I sent a pm with a picture i just took 3 seconds ago anyway

 

[Eric VerValin]

I am really enjoying that Polk Audio DB804... you need an amp tho, and must cut like the others said here....

Plus its the perfect size..

polk audio 840 8" rated @ 180 RMS...

Electrical
Overall Frequency Response 30-200 Hz
Nominal Impedance 4 ohms
Power Handling (continuous) 180 w
Power Handling (peak) 360 w
Efficiency 85 dB
Voice Coil Diameter: Driver 1-1/2" (3.81cm)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Driver Mounting Depth
Top Mount 4" (10.16cm)
Bottom Mount 4-14/25" (11.58cm)
Cut-out
Driver Cut-out Diameter 7-1/4" (18.41cm)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thiele/Small Parameters
Recommended Enclosure Sealed/Ported/Bandpass
Resonant Frequency 49 Hz
Qms 14.1
Qes .6
Qts .6
Vas .42 cubic feet/11.9 L
Cms 157.6 Micro Meters
Bl 10.3 Tesla Meters
Sd 35.65 sq inch/ 230 sq cm
Xmax (linear) .51 inch/13 mm (peak to peak)
Mms 67. g


I found it easiest / fastest with a 4" angle grinder.. That box will melt away in no time, cut right around where the lip starts to taper inward and it's right about the perfect size for an 8"





http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=111880

 

[thegovernor9912]

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=47187&highlight=subwoofer+replacement

Post 17

This is the one that is a drop in. I can't really say how big of an improvement it is because mine never worked in the first place.

 

[hawkeye18]

That amp is rated at 75Wrms @ 6 ohms. That's about 100Wrms @ 4 ohms, and 55Wrms at 8 ohms.

That was when it was new. I would be very surprised if it actually put out numbers like that 15-20 years later.

 

[the4biddendonut]

That amp is rated at 75Wrms @ 6 ohms. That's about 100Wrms @ 4 ohms, and 55Wrms at 8 ohms.

That was when it was new. I would be very surprised if it actually put out numbers like that 15-20 years later.

Where do those numbers come from? Did someone take the time to measure the power output?

 

[hawkeye18]

Where do those numbers come from? Did someone take the time to measure the power output?

I don't have empirical data, but those are numbers that were bandied about waaaaaaaay back when I first got into the SHO community and the first big wave of OE subs blowing out (including mine) hit. I do believe it's pretty well known that the OE sub was 6 ohms.

I probably should have included an IIRC in that post.

 

[the4biddendonut]

I was just curious if the power output is linear to the impedance in these amps or not.

 

[JRA2000TL]

Jh, I will get back with you on the trade out. Haven't figured what I wanna do yet (if I wanna make this 8 work with an aftermarket amp and a line out converter) or if yours will work directly (if I can get any additional input to know for sure), I may go that route.

I wanted a drop in, direct replacement for now. No amps, no head units, no wiring, no extra $ to do all this. Just wanted a simple fix.

 

[hawkeye18]

You're best off finding a 6.5" sub out there somewhere. Although at 6.5" it's a woofer, not a subwoofer. But hey, who's counting, right? (your front speakers are 6.5", for reference)

 

[Jh8990]

Jh, I will get back with you on the trade out. Haven't figured what I wanna do yet (if I wanna make this 8 work with an aftermarket amp and a line out converter) or if yours will work directly (if I can get any additional input to know for sure), I may go that route.

I wanted a drop in, direct replacement for now. No amps, no head units, no wiring, no extra $ to do all this. Just wanted a simple fix.

This 6.5 is one of the best drop in replacements for that stock sub box. If you wanna do it just let me know.

 

[hawkeye18]

The JL 6.5" sub was often quoted as the best direct replacement about 5-6 years ago when I was personally involved in this topic.

 

[JRA2000TL]

Jh...PM sent.