Subwoofer show and tell

[BigIron]

Hey all,

I'm looking to commit on a subwoofer/amp system for my 2020 XLT to pull the best I can out of the truck...

Of those of you who have upgraded your systems did you go with the JL Stealthbox (and how do you like it?) or did you go a more custom route? Trying to compile some reviews and experiences before minimum $2,200 on having a shop do the install - I've done all my own mods including Powerbass door speakers, but thinking I'll let a shop do this one... so curious on any other custom jobs you tried as well and how much it set you back.

How do you all like your systems, anyone recommend an option aside from the $1,100 stealthbox I could tell a shop to do?

Bonus points if you live in the Raleigh NC area and I can give it a listen!! I'll owe you a 6 pack

Nick

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[tcour]

Don't have any photos to share at the moment, I'll see if I can dig some up. I took the passenger side storage bucket from under the rear seat, wrapped both sides in dynamat, then attached some 3/4 MDF to the top using butyl sealant tape and screws. Has held up since 2019 when I installed it and sounds very impressive. Amp is mounted behind the rear seat on the wall. I like the stealth box from JL but I already had all the supplies so it cost me nothing =P

 

[tcour]

Found some old photos, not the most detailed

 

[hookem57]

Hey all,

I'm looking to commit on a subwoofer/amp system for my 2020 XLT to pull the best I can out of the truck...

Of those of you who have upgraded your systems did you go with the JL Stealthbox (and how do you like it?) or did you go a more custom route? Trying to compile some reviews and experiences before minimum $2,200 on having a shop do the install - I've done all my own mods including Powerbass door speakers, but thinking I'll let a shop do this one... so curious on any other custom jobs you tried as well and how much it set you back.

How do you all like your systems, anyone recommend an option aside from the $1,100 stealthbox I could tell a shop to do?

Bonus points if you live in the Raleigh NC area and I can give it a listen!! I'll owe you a 6 pack

Nick

You know i put pics on a thread somewhere. I put an "Aussie Box"{came from down under}. Went with the 10". Fit perfect under the seat where the storage box was. Got it on ebay. Bout $125 or so plus shipping. Took about two weeks to get it. I went with Audiophile for my whole system. Paid about $1600 for the complete install. I have a Lariat so I changed tweets, door spk, sub, amp, crossovers. Only thing I had to get a Nav/Atv to hook it up to the factory unit which i did not want to change. But it sounds really good in the space of the Ranger.

 

[That_one_Ranger]

Custom blow through for me ?

 

[BigIron]

Found some old photos, not the most detailed

This is awesome, how have I not thought to just use the bin that came with the truck? Did you end up bringing it to a shop to install? That's the part that scares me. What was your total cost?

 

[stinkechin]

i just bought a Aussie box from someone on here. they got it from ebay. i cant recommend the black plastic Aussie box. it fits inside the cubby so to me its not as big as it should be. i think im going to take the cubby out and seal up inside where it goes and use that as the box.

 

[Msfitoy]

Follow the Caddy with 30" wire wheels with enough bass for the entire block...these guys are experts...

 

[BigIron]

Follow the Caddy with 30" wire wheels with enough bass for the entire block...these guys are experts...

HA! Fair. Although something tells me those guys go for quantity not quality lol

 

[BigIron]

You know i put pics on a thread somewhere. I put an "Aussie Box"{came from down under}. Went with the 10". Fit perfect under the seat where the storage box was. Got it on ebay. Bout $125 or so plus shipping. Took about two weeks to get it. I went with Audiophile for my whole system. Paid about $1600 for the complete install. I have a Lariat so I changed tweets, door spk, sub, amp, crossovers. Only thing I had to get a Nav/Atv to hook it up to the factory unit which i did not want to change. But it sounds really good in the space of the Ranger.

That sounds like a nice setup and it's not a bad price from my quoting. I may see if anyone has those available...

 

[Msfitoy]

HA! Fair. Although something tells me those guys go for quantity not quality lol

LOL... don't follow the one with rattling windows and trunk...follow the one with super deep but clean bass...which is hard because bass is non directional and hard to pin point...unlike the rattling trunk...

 

[geezmo2020]

I went the same route as hookem57, except went with alpine/kicker/audio control products. Quick question for tcour: how did you overcome (if you had it) the dreaded speaker popping with the ktp-445u amp? I installed one and the popping drove me nucking futs.

 

[tcour]

I did the install myself. Put in a LCi7 line output converter next to the JL monoblock powering the sub and mounted both of those to some MDF that I glued to the back wall behind the carpet. Installed a 6 channel inline amp hidden behind the dash to give some life to the factory XLT speakers (want to upgrade just haven't gotten around to because I am pretty damn happy with what it sounds like already). The worst part of the install is removing all the dash and trim plastics, but once those were out I used a harness that I found mentioned on the forms here that plugs in between the factory harness and the deck to give speaker leads which I ran to the line output converter and the inline amp. All my wires were run on the floor under the trim and the monoblock amp wire was ran through the rear cabin vent. I had everything on hand from previous set ups and my boss gave me the sub out of his truck when it got totaled. So I lucked out and did not pay a penny.

I am by no means a pro and this is definitely the most "tech advanced" vehicle I've ever done an install on. If you have reservations about installing it or have not had much experience installing electronics into cars I would strongly suggest finding a reputable and respected shop to do the wiring for you. I used to work at Car Toys (please Please PLEASE do not trust them to do your install. At least when I worked for them, the shops around my location were beyond sketchy), and I would see customers come in with some pretty significant damage done because they wanted to save money on install and attempt it themselves. It's not rocket science, but the wrong mistake can be very costly.

Thankfully the only mistake I made and cannot seem to remedy is that when the truck turns itself off at stoplights, the entire sound system shuts off. I know it has to do with the remote wire to either the line output converter or one of the amps but I hated pulling the dash so much I just live with it and try to always turn off the auto start/stop ?

This is awesome, how have I not thought to just use the bin that came with the truck? Did you end up bringing it to a shop to install? That's the part that scares me. What was your total cost?

 

[tcour]

I went the same route as hookem57, except went with alpine/kicker/audio control products. Quick question for tcour: how did you overcome (if you had it) the dreaded speaker popping with the ktp-445u amp? I installed one and the popping drove me nucking futs.

Thats where the LC7i line output converter came into play. It takes the signal from the deck and filters it based on how you tune it (lots of videos on youtube about setting one up properly) then sends that signal back to the inline amp. Makes a huge difference in just about any setup and allows me to crank up the volume while still keeping things nice and crisp. They can be had for around $130-ish I believe off Amazon.

 

[tcour]

i just bought a Aussie box from someone on here. they got it from ebay. i cant recommend the black plastic Aussie box. it fits inside the cubby so to me its not as big as it should be. i think im going to take the cubby out and seal up inside where it goes and use that as the box.

I was worried about the volume of the boxes I've seen too which is what led me to use the OEM bin. I figured I wouldn't get the same volume unless I went with custom fiberglass box. After wrapping inside and out with dynamat I was really impressed with the output. Inside the cab is BANGIN but outside the truck it's hardly noticeable which I prefer. Depending on the sub you end up going with, you can always try stuffing some acoustic fluff in the box. Sometimes this can help the sub perform as if its in a slightly bigger box but my experience with that stuff has been very hit or miss.

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