Whether you have an old car with broken speakers or a new car with speakers that don’t have enough power to produce the low frequencies, a subwoofer can add a dramatic difference to your sound system. But wiring a subwoofer requires careful consideration, as the connections and location of your speakers can affect their performance.
1. Set up an LFE port on your receiver or amplifier for a subwoofer output
This is the main output for your subwoofer, and you may see it labeled as SUBWOOFER. This is the output that is best for bass-only sounds and will provide a strong bass response. Depending on your equipment, you can connect this to a dedicated jack or RCA connector on your receiver or amp.
2. Connect your subwoofer’s speaker output to your receiver or amplifier
Most receivers and amps have two speaker inputs, one for the front left and one for the front right. You can use a single cable from the subwoofer’s input to your receiver, or you can buy a subwoofer cable with an Y-adapter on one end that allows you to run two separate cables at once.
3. Choose the correct speaker wire for your setup
A good rule of thumb is to use a speaker wire with a gauge that matches the subwoofer’s impedance, or resistance. This will help the speaker wire handle the increased current it will have to carry, and will make your subwoofer work more effectively.
4. Connect your speaker wire to the appropriate terminals on your subwoofer enclosure
The terminals on a subwoofer are located inside its box, usually near the center of the enclosure. These are easy to remove if needed, but be sure to cover them with electrical tape or plastic wire ties to prevent your wiring from coming apart.
5. Crimp a quick disconnect connector on your wire to complete the connection
Most subwoofers have a series of quick disconnect crimp terminals on them for connecting speaker wire. Be sure to get the correct sized crimp terminals for your setup and that you have a good quality crimp tool on hand.
6. Wire the subwoofer using a standard speaker wire
A subwoofer produces bass, which requires a large amount of power to generate. This makes it important to use a high-quality speaker wire for your setup. This is because a high-quality speaker wire can handle the increased current it will have to carry and will make your subwoofer work more efficiently.
7. Connect the subwoofer to your amplifier
An amplifier modifies the frequency signal and voltage coming from your head unit and battery before it is replicated by the speakers. This increases the overall power of your music and enables your subwoofer to generate the loudest sounds possible.
8. Connect the power wire to your vehicle’s battery
Once you have the wiring completed, turn on your vehicle and play some music with the subwoofer and your new amplifier. This is the perfect way to start enjoying your new sound system.