Sub Install...Need some advice

A forum for the legendary Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4.
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SOUTHSHOREQX4
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2010 7:46 am
Car: 2002 QX4
Location: LINDENHURST, NEW YORK

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I'm planning on installing a 10" Rockford Fosgate sub Box in my QX4. I already have the sub from my old 95 Pathy but I'm trying to decide on a AMP. Anyone have problems with their AMP that's installed in that compartment under the carpet in the cargo area??? Overheating??? Let me know. Here are the specs for the sub. Any ideas what AMP would make this sub boom?? :confused:

10" Punch HX2 subwoofer
• Dual 4-ohm Voice Coils
• CONsealer gasket
• LXcursion basket
• Frequency response: 30-200 Hz
• Power range: 150-500 watts RMS
• Peak power: 1000 watts
• Sensitivity: 85 dB
• Top mount depth: 5-7/16"
• Sealed box volume: 0.2-0.75 cubic feet
• Ported box volume: 0.75-1.75 cubic feet


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miamiheat3332
Posts: 1211
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:43 pm
Car: 2002 Nissan Pathfinder SE - 2006 BMW X5 4.8is - 2001 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Sport

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Ok, i did a my full soundsystem install like 1.5 months ago so its all still fresh in my head.

For the amp look for a 2 channel amp that puts out like 300-400w RMS in bridged mode, i could help you out with finding one, just give me a price range.

2. I dont know if you have an aftermarket headunit or not, but lets go with you dont and you have the all stock bose system.

What you need to do is get a Scoshe SL4 Line output converter, its like 20$ from crutchfield. Along with that get something called Posi wire taps.

3. Get a good wiring kit for the amp, at least 4 gauge so then in the future if you upgrade it will still be good, i can show you one i bought for like 30$ which was good quality. It also comes with a set of rca cables which you will need.

4. First run the wires and stuff from the battery to under the cargo mat storage compartment, mount the amp and all, also buy like 5-6 feet of 10 gauge speaker wire which will run from the amp to the sub connection.

5. when standing in front of your trunk, the left panel on the side will need to be removed so you can access the bose amplifer back here. Also behind this panel there is a good grounding point for the amp. You will need to tap 4 wires with the posi wire taps which will be the rear right +/- and rear left +/-. Then you will hook them up to the line output converter in slots a1, a2, a3, and a4.

Once that is done run the rca cable from the line output box which will stay next to the bose amp, to the amp for the subs.

And last thing is the remote turn on wire, run that down the drivers side of the car, ( just pry up the running board plastic things when you open the rear and front door, and i when i only had subs i had it hooked up to my windshield wiper fuse, pull the fuse out, put the wire by one of the leads and push it back in.

I actually still have my sub amp this way i never got around to changing it.

Also if you need help on what color wires you need to tap for the line output converter i will take it apart quick and find out. Also to take of the left panel where the vents are in the trunk, just take off the middle peice of plastic that runs down the center with the screws, and then start prying off the panel from there, then go to the rear left door and pry of the plastic running board peice, and pull up some of the rubber weatherstripping and start prying off slowly there.

After the first time you do it, i can take it all apart in like 30 seconds, its really easy.

If you have any other questions, just ask me, and ill probably throw up some pics within an hour or 2.


EDIT:

Here is a link to my full soundsystem install thread,

post5911003.html#p5911003

And here are pictures i took quick just for you:

amp mount location ( sorry a little dirty under here, i will be cleaning it up come warmer weather )

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The part with the screws you take off first before prying out the left panel ( note these screws are like clips )

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This whole long panel with the vents you pop out, bose amp is right behind vents. you will also be hiding the spool of rca cable behind here and probably finding a ground point, and hiding the schosche converter box

Image

My subs:

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The bottom floor kickpanel peice i was talking about, pry this off, then pull away some of the weather stripping to the right, and pry off the long left panel

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The remote turn on wire running to my wiper fuse ( this is behind the drivers coinbox )

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My headunit:

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My amp for all my upgraded door speakers and 14 gauge speaker wire i ran to them ( have yet to do some cable management here )

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My power wires running and fuses ( flash makes the engine bay look dirtier than it is )

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And thats about all you need to know.

Hope it helps you

devonianwalk
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 2:05 pm
Car: 99.5 Pathfinder LE 3.3

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I have an Infinity Bass Link (sorry, no pics) that has the integrated amp/sub combo. It is tiny but sounds GREAT! It won't turn any heads but, the mirrors shake and the SQ is off the chart. I ran all of my signal and power cables very similar to miamiheat's (I don't get the tapping into the wiper blade fuse though?). My remote power came from the "amp turn on" lead from the back of my head unit.

Image

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miamiheat3332
Posts: 1211
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:43 pm
Car: 2002 Nissan Pathfinder SE - 2006 BMW X5 4.8is - 2001 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Sport

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See you dont really have anywhere to hook up the remote turn on lead to the stock bose HU, as it already has remote turn on hooked up for the other amps in the car for the door speakers. And its usually not recommended to hook up 2 remote turn on leads to one wire on a HU as you could burn out that lead in the HU and then you have no remote turn on lead.

For example my clarion headunit has one, which is the amp for my all my door speakers and tweeters, and my sub amp stays in the wiper blade fuse for now.

you can get a special converter so you to the input for it you wire in the Headunits turn on wire, and then it has like 2-3 outs for amps in your cars.

I dont recall the price but i think like 30-40$ which i will stick to attaching it to one of the fuses in the fuse box.

iceman14n
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:16 am
Car: 2002 Infiniti QX4

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oh miamiheat, you always are very helpful,

I have another problem that is i have 02 QX4 and i want to change the headunit. Now there is a special trim for this car which only allows third party manufacturers to make single din dash kit for some reason. I find it very odd because i have the 6 disc Bose system in my dash and double din shouldnt be a problem.

Now i want to know that without doing all the rewiring and everything that you showed in your other post where you tore everything apart. Can i just install a new headunit and a sub with amp?

Thats all i want to do and please tell me what exactly i need!.

thank you

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miamiheat3332
Posts: 1211
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:43 pm
Car: 2002 Nissan Pathfinder SE - 2006 BMW X5 4.8is - 2001 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Sport

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What i had at first if you read my full sound system install thread, is i had subs with the stock headunit,

Then i purchased my clarion headunit, which bose amps and stuff have some stupid special setup, which i didnt really know of, but after i put in my new headunit, the speakers sucked even more and i had my headunit on max ( 40 volume ), and there were no mids or highs, if i turned the equalizer up, the speakers just distorted, and i had unclean and unmatched sound which is why i did the whole shebang.

After i installed the door speakers and everything i rarely go over 26-28 volume and thats if i want to play it REALLY REALLY LOUD, i usually play at 15-19 volume, which is like 1/4 of my headunit range as it goes up to 40.

The only other option i see, is if you want to do it on the cheap, is i can show you a link to a good set of cheap door speakers ( like 30 bucks per pair, not as great as my kenwoods, but they will blow away the stock ones anyways ), and that will set you back 60,

Get another headunit of your choice, and then run speaker wire into the doors which is like 14$ for a 50 foot spool of 14 gauge which is what i used.

And then you can just use the headunits built in amplifer and it will blow away the stock bose system.

Im kind of an audio junkie so i went big on mine.

But all that depending on the headunit should only set you back like 70-80$ plus the cost of the headunit and the factory wiring harness adapter which is another 10 and 7 bucks for the antenna adapter.

So your looking at about 100$ plus the cost of the headunit.

Not much considering your replacing all the original stuff.

Unfortunatly theres not really an easier way to do it. Installing just a new headunit will make the bose speakers sound even worse and play not as loud, i had an idea it would happen and i hated the stock bose speakers anyways so i had a full audio system in my plans anyways.

Edit:

I wanted to explain all of that to you, but if you dont care, then its just the matter of getting a factory wiring harness for 10-12$ and the antenna adapter,

Then just hook up the headunit and your done.

But as i said above the results will be a good headunit, sh!tty sound.

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SOUTHSHOREQX4
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2010 7:46 am
Car: 2002 QX4
Location: LINDENHURST, NEW YORK

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Hey Miami, Thanks for your advice and the pics. I had a Kenwood DVD-Navi installed a few months ago. It sounds better than stock now but you know how it is...you want more more and more. I wanted to upgrade all the speakers as well but not sure how much $$$ it would be. I'm looking to do this sometime soon when the weather breaks. It's 16 degrees here today. I was thinking somewhere around $500 for the AMPS and interior speakers. I searched Crutchfield and it comes up for component speakers for the rear?? I wired my old Pathy but now time is precious. Not sure if a can set aside a full weekend to do it.

I know going to a audio shop they'll charger me an arm and a leg for everything cuz they gotta make money too. I also want to get the cleanest look out of it....just in case i need the full cargo space I want to be able to just unplug the speaker wires and take the box out and still be able to fold down the seats.

Image

Forgot to ask...does the AMP stay cool under the carpet??? any problems with overheating?

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iceman14n
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:16 am
Car: 2002 Infiniti QX4

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hey looks like you got single din dash kit and did a custom cutting on it and installed it with you Navi system... is that what you did?

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SOUTHSHOREQX4
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2010 7:46 am
Car: 2002 QX4
Location: LINDENHURST, NEW YORK

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I personally didn't install it. I had a shop do it for me. Looks like they put some sort of plastic frame around the unit. Came out really nice and clean. I'm happy with it


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