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Date:         Wed, 31 Jul 2002 10:38:30 -0700
Reply-To:     dave bowers <dave@SPARKPLUG.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         dave bowers <dave@SPARKPLUG.COM>
Subject:      boom boom boom!
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey Folks,

I have been to land of amplified car audio bass, and it is GOOD!!!!

I just wanted to pass on my good experience with adding an amplified bass subwoofer to my 1986 Westy.

First, thanks to all the folks who passed on all their positive experiences with using subwoofers in their Vanagons.

I started looking around for a used woofer, and finally found one at a local Pawn show. The previous owner had cut the wires to the internal amp, and hard wired the bass speaker directly to his amp. Being in an incomplete state, the pawn show owner passed it on to me for his cost (10 bux!!!) as is and wished me luck in trying to get it running.

http://kenwood.carclub.ru/subwoofers/ksc-wa80.html

I rewired the speaker to the amp, and paid 40 bux for a harness that would allow me to hook it up to my current deck.

After an hour of wiring VIOLA! I had powered bass! BOOM BOOM BOOM! And holy cow, what a HUGE difference. All I can say, is ... if your current radio is lacking in dynamic, robust sound, or if your front speakers are not enough, seriously consider a subwoofer!!! The entire interior of my westy is now filled with sound. It's really amazing. With just my front speakers, I used to have to turn my volume up to 7 - 10 just to hear my jazz station over the road noise. Now, with the amp'd speaker help, 2 - 4 is plenty fine. I never knew what range of sound I had been missing.

I really like having an amp'd sub woofer too. It avoids me having to rewire a separate amp somewhere inside. The particular sub woofer I found, is 8" It is, and can be WAY overpowering if I have it on certain settings. I would have been happy with a 6.5" amp'd Bazooka, which I could have put behind my drivers seat. The current woofer is 8" and doe's not fit well. So, I have it on the floor behind the passengers side with the speaker facing the sliding door. Does the job fine there. When I tried it behind my seat, it literally made my lower back and shoulders vibrate. I also couldn't hear it as well, not to mention I was too squished toward the steering wheel.

Here's my current set up: RFX 9000 Rockford Fosgate CD/MP3 deck 2 - 5 1/4" MB Quart front upper speakers 2 - 4" Eclipse speakers in rear AC cabinet 1 8" amplified Kenwood subwoofer

Again, if you need more sound, do consider an amp'd woofer of some kind. The difference is just amazing! 8" woofer might just be too much too. 6.5" would do just fine.

Just wanted to share. I am off, just to drive around, and listen to music (boom boom boom!)

dave bowers :) -- dave bowers Portland, Oregon 1986 Westy "G2"


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