Swapping just subs out...

SWOLE · 07-10-2009, 04:43 PM

I know there are plenty of people that are experienced with this type of stuff on this board. My question is would I experience any increase in performance if I were to swap the stock subs for SWS-8s and change nothing else? If so, which resistance should I get?

I am not too clever when it comes to wiring whole audio systems but I would like to increase the performance in the lower frequency tones.

Your thought are appreciated. Thanks!

Cheers,
Tom

Technic · 07-10-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWOLE

I know there are plenty of people that are experienced with this type of stuff on this board. My question is would I experience any increase in performance if I were to swap the stock subs for SWS-8s and change nothing else? If so, which resistance should I get?

I am not too clever when it comes to wiring whole audio systems but I would like to increase the performance in the lower frequency tones.

Your thought are appreciated. Thanks!

Cheers,
Tom

I don't think that you will notice the improvement in the standard system. You will definitely notice the improvement if the system is the Premium Audio, however the OEM amp will overheat and shut down due to the change of impedance (from 7 ohms OEM to 4 ohms SWS-8).

SWOLE · 07-10-2009, 05:30 PM

Thanks for your input, Technic. I do have premium audio, which I should have mentioned. But my understanding is that you could purchase SWS-8s in 8 ohms as well. Is this not true? If it is correct, would the swap be worth it if I were to change nothing else?

Thanks again.

Technic · 07-10-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWOLE

Thanks for your input, Technic. I do have premium audio, which I should have mentioned. But my understanding is that you could purchase SWS-8s in 8 ohms as well. Is this not true? If it is correct, would the swap be worth it if I were to change nothing else?

Thanks again.

I have not seen an 8 ohms SWS-8... where did you see them?

SWOLE · 07-10-2009, 05:51 PM

i thought I saw both 4 and 8 ohm speakers on the internet. It was an online stereo/speaker warehouse. I can't find it now, however, so I am probably wrong in that statement. I can only find 2 and 4 ohm variants.

Let me ask this: Couldn't I just add a 4 ohm resistor before the sub to simulate a total resistance of 8 ohms?

If I could find a direct replacement 8 ohm sub would I even notice a difference in the sound?

Thanks again for your help!

dvn · 07-10-2009, 06:39 PM

Are the sub enclosures under the seat both 8" for the standard and premium audio?

Technic · 07-10-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWOLE

i thought I saw both 4 and 8 ohm speakers on the internet. It was an online stereo/speaker warehouse. I can't find it now, however, so I am probably wrong in that statement. I can only find 2 and 4 ohm variants.

Let me ask this: Couldn't I just add a 4 ohm resistor before the sub to simulate a total resistance of 8 ohms?

If I could find a direct replacement 8 ohm sub would I even notice a difference in the sound?

Thanks again for your help!

Definitely adding a 4 ohms resistor should keep the OEM from overheating. However, you will be reducing the power to the SWS-8 in half -slightly less than OEM levels- by doubling its impedance which defeats the purpose of increasing the performance of the OEM subs.

The SWS-8 requires plenty of power to really hit hard, and after my experiment of swapping the OEM woofers with SWS-8, I basically concluded that the improvement was mostly due to the OEM amp putting out almost double its OEM power, from around 150W peak at 7 ohms to 250W-260W peak at 4 ohms than due to anything else. The OEM woofer can hit pretty decent bass if you tweak the EQ bass bands, but the advantage of the SWS-8 is that they hit deeper and cleaner, with this "thuuuump" instead of "thuump" if you know what I mean.

That requires much more power than what the OEM amp can safely produce...

Technic · 07-10-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvn

Are the sub enclosures under the seat both 8" for the standard and premium audio?

Yes, but different woofers.

Adonislike · 07-10-2009, 09:30 PM

Tech, have you changed your system at all since we last spoke??

Technic · 07-11-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adonislike

Tech, have you changed your system at all since we last spoke??

No, I only added a LC6i to better manage the high output levels of the OEM amp into the bit one.1.

Adonislike · 07-11-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

No, I only added a LC6i to better manage the high output levels of the OEM amp into the bit one.1.

Im aggravated the mObridge isnt avail yet

SCtud · 07-15-2009, 10:42 PM

has anyone tried using the skipass to put in an infinite baffle subwoofer? seems that that would be the best way to add real bass to the car without losing trunk space (which is at a premium for me since i have the convertible).

http://m.mfestforum.com/showthread.php?t=879

This looks like a pretty sweet setup. I am just having a really hard time finding other similar installs and there seems to be a lack of good infinite baffle subs out there.

07-10-2009, 04:43 PM	#1
SWOLE Private First Class 12 Rep 113 Posts Drives: This week? Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Apex, NC iTrader: (5)	Swapping just subs out... I know there are plenty of people that are experienced with this type of stuff on this board. My question is would I experience any increase in performance if I were to swap the stock subs for SWS-8s and change nothing else? If so, which resistance should I get? I am not too clever when it comes to wiring whole audio systems but I would like to increase the performance in the lower frequency tones. Your thought are appreciated. Thanks! Cheers, Tom
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07-10-2009, 05:30 PM	#3
SWOLE Private First Class 12 Rep 113 Posts Drives: This week? Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Apex, NC iTrader: (5)	Thanks for your input, Technic. I do have premium audio, which I should have mentioned. But my understanding is that you could purchase SWS-8s in 8 ohms as well. Is this not true? If it is correct, would the swap be worth it if I were to change nothing else? Thanks again.
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07-10-2009, 05:51 PM	#5
SWOLE Private First Class 12 Rep 113 Posts Drives: This week? Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Apex, NC iTrader: (5)	i thought I saw both 4 and 8 ohm speakers on the internet. It was an online stereo/speaker warehouse. I can't find it now, however, so I am probably wrong in that statement. I can only find 2 and 4 ohm variants. Let me ask this: Couldn't I just add a 4 ohm resistor before the sub to simulate a total resistance of 8 ohms? If I could find a direct replacement 8 ohm sub would I even notice a difference in the sound? Thanks again for your help!
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07-10-2009, 06:39 PM	#6
dvn Lieutenant 32 Rep 412 Posts Drives: 2012 C63 Coupe Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Are the sub enclosures under the seat both 8" for the standard and premium audio?
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07-10-2009, 09:30 PM	#9
Adonislike Captain 26 Rep 842 Posts Drives: Toyota Insight/Honda Prius Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	Tech, have you changed your system at all since we last spoke??
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07-15-2009, 10:42 PM	#12
SCtud First Lieutenant 20 Rep 329 Posts Drives: 2008 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	has anyone tried using the skipass to put in an infinite baffle subwoofer? seems that that would be the best way to add real bass to the car without losing trunk space (which is at a premium for me since i have the convertible). http://m.mfestforum.com/showthread.php?t=879 This looks like a pretty sweet setup. I am just having a really hard time finding other similar installs and there seems to be a lack of good infinite baffle subs out there.
	Appreciate 0 Quote