I wouldn't go that route.

Read this thread (different forum but still a good product.)
DIY: Build your sub box for $30 in 5 minutes. No woodworking skills necessary. - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

Similar money and you're working with something far closer to a good component setup. Expect to spend a little more cash on wiring... but it's a damn good deal for a cheap, first stab - better than the powered woofer setups IMO.

 

my original setup was a 200 watt tube sub and a $30 dollar amp. for the money it put out really good. then after about 4-5 months it started going in and out then the amp started to go. i recently upgraded to $150 subs and a $200 amp. but it will give u some decent bass for the money but they wont last forever

 

Looks like I wont be buying a powered sub then...

I guess I'll just spend the money and get something worth having.

Should I get an optima battery?

 

Naw, you won't need that. I'm using the Die Hard battery. I got a 1200 watt amp powering the 2 12's in the trunk with three capacitors lol.

 

Eh.. Bazooka tubes are ok (the ten inch ones are actually pretty nice), but its better to invest in better quality equipment that allows room for upgrading (once u start, u cant stop). The amp is one of the most important components, make sure its more powerful than ur subs so u dont have to turn the gain all the way up. A lot of people will talk shit about kicker products, but they offer decent bang for the buck. I personally prefer MTX; they are more expensive but WELL worth it. Of cours JL would be the best IMO, but quite pricey

 

Oh, and normally I would say yes on the optima battery, but Ive had exceptionally good performance out of the walmart Everstart Maxx series (the yellow ones). Capacitor is a good idea also (1 farad per 1000 watts)

 

I was actually thinking of getting the costco brand battery (made by Kirkland).

But this is the second time I've seen someone here recommend the Walmart brand. And I've never heard anyone say they have a Kirkland battery. Might go w/ Walmart.

Does the capacitor make a huge difference?

 

the capacitor is like a rechargeable battery, when the amp needs a lot of power quickly, like when the bass drops it draws from the capacitor instead of the battery. that way your headlights and dash won't dim every time the sub hits. you shouldn't need one unless you are pushing at least 1000 watts RMS not peak power which is what is advertised.

 

I guess I have too much capacitor's :

 

Ya that setup is a lil pointless. U cant really have TOO many farads, but that many for a 500 watt sony and what appears to be a 4-channel is overkill

 

unless that power acoustic is another giant cap. if that is the case, thats pretty silly.

 

At some point I've tried a number of powered compact subs and found that their amps aren't very good, especially, if the "specs" the companies post are true.
I ended up going with Bazooka EL 8'' non-powered with a small 100W RMS (bridged) Alpine amp. It's nothing amaizing, but considering that sound quality in a car starts and ends with road and engine noise, it did the job just fine. I like the fact that it was compact, had a very log through driver and a really long port. This made it very efficient.

What I mostly liked about it is that it really blended in with rear woofers very well producing a very tight low end. I'm not really into booming around with "Journey in bass" on all the time, so that worked great for me.

 

Its a capacitor lol.

 

wow dude. that thing must be at least 5 farad (will support 5000 watts RMS!) What is the point?

 

Ive installed many of those 8'' EL in various types of vehicles, from pickups to well insulated sedans, and they definately offer good sound quality. way better than forcing bass out of door speakers. If u dont think u will upgrade down the road, its a good choice. Hit up circuit city, since they are closing, these should be marked down around 50% off, if they still have any left.

 

Thats like putting 26's on ur legend.

 

That shit looks so stupid, I'm glad I've never seen it on a Legend.

There are other ways of showing you have thousands lying around.

 

Not kill the main car battery :lol:.

 

I don't car lol, but I'm about to move up to 15" subs soon.

 

Antik years and years ago I ran a PPI Art Series 300W amp on 2 JL 12's using 8 gauge wiring and never suffered blinking or anything.
My last major setup in my Civic was 2 Kenwood 12's powered by a US Acoustics 4085 also powering 6 inch Blaupunkt separates in the kicks. 8 gauge wiring done by myself and never had a problem.

Now for the OP, I am on my second Bazooka tube I have a 10" non powered version and right now I am running about 200w. I am out of my "everyone needs to hear me coming stage" so with the OEM Bose fronts(no rears) I love the sound. The 10 inch goes just low enough that I get good base, I will say that 200W is about all I would throw at the sub. I have some Gospel music that will bottom out the sub. Oh yeah, the Bazooka tube doesn't quite fit in the space on the right side of the trunk, although for bass performance it is perfect. Make sure you strap down.

 

Antik years and years ago I ran a PPI Art Series 300W amp on 2 JL 12's using 8 gauge wiring and never suffered blinking or anything.

In a Legend w- an 18 foot power lead? I'm using an Alpine 350W class D mono-block - the Art boasts a more robust power supply than the V-Powers do but the Alpine was definitely struggling when it was pushing its hardest without the cap.

Actually, come to think of it, I was using my old battery which I was told was slightly undersized when it was replaced for what I currently have in the car.

Still... the cap took care of all issues I was having. :thumbsup:

 

No definitely not 18ft cable. More like 12-15ft at the most. I miss those Art series amps. I got what you were saying though.

 

Werd - I haven't had the privilege of working with the Arts yet but good PPI gear was something of legend when I first got into car audio gear and their reputation seems to have sustained itself since; I frequently see high praise about the Arts as they're traded among car audio forums, eBay, etc.

I'm not at all surprised you miss them