adding a sub, need advice

[smashedz28 110]

This topic is to help a friend at work. He recently bought a 1996 Lexus ls400, he loves the stock system as far as clarity just wants to add some bass. It has a stock free air 8" in the rear deck but its guttless on any bass. He doesn't want anything outrageous just needs to get it bumpin a little bit.

What do you guys suggest he do?

He has mentioned maybe just find another free air 8 to replace what's there...who makes a decent free air 8?

Maybe do a LOC and just add a sub and amp to the trunk?..but he has a stock amp and I have no clue how that works..

Another question he asked me was if he changes his stock head unit, will he lose the ability to use the stock amp and end up ruining what he is already happy with?

Just trying to help him out all my experience is with just ripping out the old equipment and replacing it, but he's made it clear he doesn't want to get into all that. So what do you guys suggest? Is there other options? Maybe someone has dealt with something similar? As far as his budget he doesn't want to go nuts but is open to any ideas for further research. Thanks for any help.I'll show him this thread on Monday to hopefully help him out.

[S.DeYoung 968]

The easiest route may be another IB subwoofer. But I would try and do one that's bigger. Would a bigger size fit easily?. Fi IB3s would be a good choice or Dayton makes an IB woofer also.

[smashedz28 110]

I took a quick peek and maybe squeeze a 10 but I doubt any bigger. Are the ib3s sold in a 10"? I don't think fi messes with 8's...do they.

[altoncustomtech 773]

Going larger would help some I'm sure, there's no replacement for displacement. One major thing that might need done is making sure the IB is sealed off really well. Look at how many places the rear wave has to come back through the rear deck, back seats, etc. Sealing it up and sound deadening the back of the car will likely help a great deal and would be very necessary in the event you replace it with something bigger and more powerful.

[altoncustomtech 773]

And no, Fi doesn't mess with 8's... The IB3's are sold in 12's, 15's, and 18's.... sorry no 10's according to the website...

[S.DeYoung 968]

I believe the IB3s are 12" at the smallest. Fi has no 8" woofers. Alton beat me to it.

[S.DeYoung 968]

I've also had a few experiences with mid 90s Lexus cars. They are hard to get bass to travel into the cabin without modification. Why not add a subwoofer into the trunk and take out the stock subwoofer and add a small grill in its place.

[altoncustomtech 773]

^^^^ Sounds like a good idea to me.

[smashedz28 110]

That's something he has been considering. Just unsure what's needed and how it all goes together since the stock system is amplified. I have just about no experience with line out converters. As far as I've ever seen don't those tap into speaker wires giving you rca's to use? Tapping in before the amp sounds like a pain in the ass. Doing it after the amp seems like a no go. He said everything is ran on 1 amp I didn't look at all so I'm unsure. He said the amp is a stock pioneer? Not sure if Lexus used them.. I know the head unit is nakamichi..

Edited January 28, 2012 by smashedz28

[altoncustomtech 773]

Yes they do. I doubt the factory sub amp puts out any real power to speak of and would be the ideal source to use on the LOC to give input to the amp for another sub.

I personally hate using LOC's, but sometimes there's just no choice, especially when the person doesn't want to lose the factory HU.

[S.DeYoung 968]

I'd suggest using the JL cleansweep or MTX makes a factory add on processor. Don't go cheap on a factory add on.

[altoncustomtech 773]

Again, I agree with him, lol.

Like I said before, I hate LOC's.