Connecting the amplifier to the grant's standard radio

Theoretical information

Let's look at what types of acoustics are generally used in a car. Four types of systems are popular - the so-called infinite acoustic screen, closed-type acoustics, strip-type acoustics and a case with a bass reflex. I would immediately like to note that the use of complex acoustics for the low-frequency head makes it possible to install lower-power amplifiers. At the same time, the volume and sound quality remain at the same level. Considering that the cost of an amplifier largely depends on its power, this aspect is very important.

When purchasing a subwoofer, you need to ask how many voice coil windings are in the device. Today, “low-frequency drivers” with 1, 2 or 4 windings are on sale. In principle, increasing the number of windings is some trick of manufacturers, who enable customers to use several devices of lower power instead of one powerful amplifier.

The so-called active cabinet subwoofers, which are sold in conjunction with an amplifier, are very popular. In this case, the car enthusiast’s task is simplified, because the time for choosing devices is significantly reduced. And the sound quality always remains at its best. The advantage of active subwoofers is simplicity and high speed of setup. In addition, they are easy to install and are equipped with all necessary inputs. But there is a drawback - there are no inputs from the built-in amplifier. This means that if it burns out during operation, the speaker itself will no longer be usable.

How to connect a subwoofer to the car's on-board network

We will not dwell on the choice of installation location for the subwoofer and the method of its installation. This depends on the car model, the size and shape of the subwoofer, and individual preferences.

First, it’s worth saying a few words about the types of subwoofers and how to connect them. Subwoofers are either passive or active.

A passive sub is a low-frequency speaker that contains one or more speakers, which can be installed with or without a factory box. This subwoofer receives only the audio signal from the amplifier.

The active subwoofer circuit has its own amplifier, so in addition to the signal wire from the radio, you need to connect power to it, the “+” and “-” terminals.

To complete the work you will need the following materials and tools:

• wires (we’ll talk about the requirements for them below);
• plugs and tips (tulips, etc.);
• nippers and pliers;
• screwdrivers of the required sizes;
• insulating tape;
• clamps for tying and fixing wires.

What power wire should I use and how do I connect it to the subwoofer in my car?

Power wires are the power wires of the amplifier - external or built into the subwoofer. That is, no power wires are connected to the passive subwoofer.

The main requirement for a power wire is its cross-section, that is, the thickness of the copper core. The resistance of the wire increases as its cross-section decreases, which causes a significant voltage drop when a large current flows. This leads to a drop in output power, the sub begins to “choke” at peak volumes, and damage to the amplifier or speaker elements may occur. In this case there is no need to talk about the quality of music playback. Below is a table that shows how much power wires can carry through them depending on their cross-section and length.

Wires should be copper, stranded. After purchasing a subwoofer or amplifier, check the quality of the standard wire included in the kit. It can look very beautiful. But in this case, appearance does not play any role. Inspect the conductors at the ends of the cable. If necessary, bite off a small piece of the wire to make sure it is copper and not copper-coated aluminum. Aluminum is a rather brittle metal, prone to oxidation and has a slightly higher resistivity than copper. Change this wire without regret. It’s good if the ends of the wires are already tinned, that is, covered with a layer of tin.

The power of a car subwoofer can reach several hundred watts, and the current consumption can reach several tens of amperes. Therefore, to power the amplifier or active subwoofer, separate wires are routed from the battery. It is better to route both the positive and negative power wires without using the car body as a conductor. This is highly recommended if the power of the amplifier (sub) is 1500 watts or more. The positive power cable must be protected by a fuse, which should be placed as close to the battery as possible. The fuse rating can be taken from the attached table below.

If you mount the terminals for connecting to the battery and amplifier on the wire yourself, do it as follows. Carefully strip the insulation from the wire to the length of the ferrule sleeve. Carefully clean the exposed end of the conductor until it shines. If the wire strands are not tinned, tin them with a soldering iron.

Next, insert the wire into the ferrule sleeve and crimp it carefully. You can heat the tip with a gas or alcohol burner. This will ensure that the wire is soldered to the sleeve (due to the solder that we applied to the wire) for more reliable electrical contact. After this, a cambric or heat-shrinkable tube is put on the sleeve, which must be placed on the wire before installing the tip.

The power cables from the battery to the amplifier must be laid in such a way as to prevent the possibility of accidental damage. Inside the cabin, the wires are pulled along the threshold; if the wire has a large cross-section, it is pulled under the rug. In the engine compartment, find a suitable routing route and secure the wires by fastening them with clamps to the electrical wiring harnesses and body parts.

After completing this stage, we should have two wires in the trunk, this is the power one, which is protected by a fuse, and the ground from the body.

Connecting the subwoofer to the radio

A modern car, filled with electronic devices and having a high-voltage ignition system, is a source of electromagnetic interference. Analog electrical signals are very sensitive to them. Therefore, when choosing a cable for transmitting an audio signal, pay attention to coaxial shielded wires. The shielding braid of the cable, connected to the car body, reliably protects the central wire from induced interference.

When buying a wire, you should not choose the cheapest one. Enterprising Asian manufacturers often sell aluminum cables under the guise of copper cables, which are coated with a thin layer of copper using modern technologies. This wire looks very decent; it is impossible to distinguish it by eye from one made of solid copper. If you cannot bite off the tip and examine the cut, you can compare the weight of the wire that is in doubt. with the same length and cross-section, aluminum wire is much lighter than copper.

Ready-made sets of interconnect wires always include a control cable. His role is as follows. The car audio amplifier is usually located in close proximity to the subwoofer or built into it if the subwoofer is active. Power is supplied to the amplifier via separate wires. In order for it to turn on together with the radio, there is a special input for the control plus, which is supplied to the amplifier from the output of the radio when it is turned on, usually this is a blue wire in the harness, labeled remote or ant.

To connect interconnect wires and wires in the radio, there are usually two tulips marked SW. If there are no such outputs, information on how to connect a sub to the standard radio can be found here .

After completing the above procedures, all that remains is to connect the wires that transmit the sound signal from the amplifier to the subwoofer; the sound after amplification has greater power, so the cross-section of the wires must be appropriate.

Installing a subwoofer in a car: where, how and why

Actually, it’s no secret to every experienced car enthusiast that installing a subwoofer in a car largely depends on the vehicle’s body type. Moreover, today there are three main classes (of course, this is conditional) - convertible, sedan and hatchback (station wagon). Each type must be considered separately, which is what we will do next.

Installing a subwoofer in a sedan

One of the options for installing a subwoofer in a sedan

So, let's start our excursion with one of the most difficult options - installing a woofer in a sedan. There are “craftsmen” who install a subwoofer in the trunk or mount it in the side wall, believing that this is enough. But this is the wrong approach. With this method of “installation”, only the lowest frequencies will reach people in the cabin, and this will happen due to the body elements. Therefore, there is no need to talk about any sound quality. What options are there?

1) Installing a subwoofer in the rear shelf. This method is considered the most convenient and promising in terms of sound quality. Moreover, the car enthusiast has the opportunity to use a variety of sound design options:

— endless acoustic screen. One of the simplest ways. But here it is necessary to acquire special low-frequency heads, without which it is impossible to achieve high sound quality. In addition, the task of the car enthusiast is to completely separate the trunk from the passenger compartment. This is easy to do - you just need to seal all existing holes. The next step is to redo the rear shelf. It is desirable that it be made of thick MDF board. As a last resort, you can use regular plywood or a sheet of chipboard. The use of these materials will avoid rattling of the speaker. In general, the thicker the rear shelf, the better for overall sound quality. In addition, a thick shelf allows you to “get” the subwoofer out of the trunk a little and save time on creating a hole for it.

To prevent the speaker from breaking down after just a few days of active use, it is very important to use a special infra-low frequency filter (the ideal setting in this case is about 30 Hz). With such an installation, we must not forget that the quality of low frequencies will directly depend on the contents of the luggage compartment;

Choosing the best subwoofer in the Lada Granta

The Lada Granta car is a bestseller in recent years from the domestic automobile industry, which has won the hearts of consumers with its affordability and very good characteristics for its price. However, the sound quality of the standard audio system in the basic configuration of this car leaves much to be desired, as, in fact, in the vast majority of domestic cars. And there’s no need to talk about the deep sound of low frequencies - to get truly powerful bass, you can’t do without a high-quality subwoofer.

The online store of audio and multimedia systems for cars 4CarAudio offers you to choose the best car audio option for your Lada Granta car. From us you can buy an active or passive subwoofer, choose the best subwoofer option for the standard radio or a new, more powerful audio system kit. In one of the service centers that are partners of our store, the purchased subwoofer will be installed in the fender or trunk of your car, and the warranty from the manufacturer and the store will not lose its validity.

The price of the goods presented in our catalog will pleasantly surprise customers, in addition, for each there is the possibility of an individual discount. Are you choosing a subwoofer, audio system, recorder or other accessories for your car? Call or write to us - we will offer the optimal solution.

conclusions

Thus, you can always install a subwoofer in your car and achieve maximum sound quality. The main thing is to approach the organization of the process correctly, take your time and choose the right woofer (but that’s another story). Good luck.

A subwoofer is an acoustic system that reproduces low sound frequencies, the range of which ranges from 20 to 300 Hz. It is intended for use in confined spaces (for example, in a car). A properly configured subwoofer fits harmoniously into the overall playback system, making its sound richer and more saturated. So which subwoofer is better to choose for your car?

Types of devices

There are two types of subwoofers:

Active. An active subwoofer is a full-fledged acoustic system, which includes a speaker in the housing and a built-in power amplifier. Almost all models of compact active subwoofers use 8-inch speakers. Standard devices are most often produced in standard sizes of 10 and 12 inches. Prices for such devices range from 3 to 12 thousand rubles.

An active subwoofer looks like a big cylinder

• Passive. This category has a fairly large selection of subwoofers, the differences of which lie in their characteristics and designs. The usual speaker sizes in this segment are 10 and 12 inches. The cost of such devices is from 2 to 40 thousand rubles, and in the last price category the most powerful subwoofers are usually presented, having two speakers at once.

  
  Passive subwoofer resembles a hexagonal prism

The main differences between active and passive subwoofers:

1. An active subwoofer has a built-in amplifier, while a passive subwoofer must be connected to external sound amplifiers.
2. An active subwoofer is easier and faster to set up.
3. If the system is configured with maximum precision and of sufficient quality, then the passive subwoofer produces a more voluminous and dense sound. It is rare to achieve the same effect with an active system.

How to connect a subwoofer without an amplifier

1. On the rear panel of the car radio there are two inputs through which the subwoofer and the radio are connected using a linear cable.
2. Then the power is connected: the power cable is laid under the interior trim and connected to the “+” terminal of the battery with one edge, and the other is connected to the subwoofer.
3. The negative contact is connected to the battery “-” terminal and is grounded to the housing with a bolt connection. For these purposes, the edge of the wire must be stripped in advance. Cleaning is done with a knife and wire cutters.
4. Since the power supply to the battery is 12V, the connection is only permissible through a fuse, which is installed on the power cable near the battery.
5. Next, the connecting RCA wires are laid from the subwoofer through the interior and connected through the LOW-Input connectors, having previously cleaned the edges. If the connectors in the radio do not have RCA connectors, then you can connect them via the HI-Input connector.

Important! When connecting a device, do not confuse the active with the passive; remember that the active already has a built-in amplifier, while the passive does not, so the connection diagrams are different in both cases.

Design features of devices

To understand what parameters to use to choose a subwoofer for your car, you need to thoroughly understand how it works. By design, subwoofers are divided into four types:

1. Closed, with a sealed housing. The subwoofer is mounted in a box of a given volume. It dampens the closed sound wave behind the speaker. However, devices with a closed design are not the best subwoofers for cars. They are rarely used due to low efficiency. A closed subwoofer box extinguishes a closed sound wave
2. Bass reflex. These are closed boxes with a tunnel (bass reflex) of a certain size. Thanks to the tunnel, increased pressure is created on the speaker used, which allows you to raise the sound level at a given frequency in the range from 50 to 120 Hz. The enclosed space increases the pressure exerted on the cone, which reduces the likelihood of sound distortion. The occurrence of mechanical damage to the speaker is also excluded. In this case, the phase inverter corrects the rise in the frequency response (amplitude-frequency characteristic) and relieves the diffuser from excess pressure. All this leads to a significant increase in the efficiency of the subwoofer. Bass reflex box reduces sound distortion
3. Stripes. These are subwoofers with speakers tucked inside. The most complex type of device, it requires additional space. This is explained by the need to combine the features inherent in the closed-type design and the bass reflex. The basis for the product is a box with a bass reflex tunnel. A speaker is installed inside, which also acts as a partition. Thanks to this design, there is a closed, sealed space behind the speaker, which adds rigidity to the cone. A volumetric compartment is formed in front of the speaker, which has an output due to the presence of a bass reflex.

   
   Subwoofer bandpass requires additional space

4. Subwoofers with a passive radiator, having a second passive speaker designed to reduce the resonant frequency. The installation of such systems is practiced in E-class cars (for example, Mercedes-Benz E-class).

   
   Passive subwoofer driver reduces resonant frequency

Specifications

When purchasing a subwoofer, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• peak power (W). It is with the help of peak (maximum) power that buyers are attracted. After all, car owners first of all want to know whether the system can “rock” the car with bass in order to attract the attention of others. Peak loads indicate at what level the speaker can operate most efficiently. Most often, they are approximately 3 times higher than the indicators that are optimal for long-term operation, however, devices with such characteristics are often at the very top of the rating of subwoofers for cars;

  
  Table showing the dependence of the peak powers of subwoofers on the volume of the premises

• rated power (W). The manufacturer tries not to focus on the rated power - this indicator is not as impressive as the previous one. But it is this information that tells the buyer what level of sound the selected speaker can produce without distortion. At the same time, it can operate at higher powers in optimal mode. Most car enthusiasts who decide to purchase a subwoofer are not looking for high power. Therefore, the optimal devices are those for which this indicator ranges from 200 to 300 W;

By the way, for expensive high-quality speakers there is no significant difference between peak and nominal loads, which cannot be said about cheap models. This is explained by the fact that a high-quality speaker has the ability to reproduce high-quality bass even at very high powers. This means that its rated loads are close to peak values. At the same time, the peak power of inexpensive speakers can be even higher than that of higher quality speakers. However, the rated power will certainly be lower.

There are sizes that are recognized as optimal, that is, they allow you to produce a sound that suits the majority of car owners. So, 10” is the best option for those who like not very powerful bass, and 12” is for those who like it “hot”.

How to choose the right subwoofer for your car

In order for the selected subwoofer to sound high quality and look organically in the interior of the cabin, it is enough to follow a few rules:

1. The power characteristics of the subwoofer must match the operating parameters of the low-frequency amplifier. In this case, it is necessary to take into account all output channels of the amplifier. That is, if it has 3 channels with a power of 100 W each, then the subwoofer should have at least 400 W. In addition, both rated and peak power must be taken into account.
2. The equivalent volume of the subwoofer is calculated taking into account the power of the speakers. However, the car interior has volume limitations, which means that before purchasing speakers it is necessary to calculate their maximum allowable dimensions. It is also very important to choose the right location for installing the device.
3. When choosing the type of subwoofer, you should take into account the desired level of sound quality and the parameters of the head unit. If it has enough power to drive it, a passive speaker system can be used. If the power is not enough, it is recommended to use active options, or you will have to use an additional amplifier.

Common mistakes when installing a standard Granta liftback radio with your own hands

• when connecting additional terminals, manual twisting of wires is used instead of classical soldering;
• regular insulating tape is used on connections instead of heat-resistant sleeves;
• Incorrect connection of a large number of speakers on one branch leads to overload, heating, and short circuit.

Installing a sound amplifier

By liftback radio amplifier we mean:

• crossover installation;
• subwoofer installation.

The choice is up to the owner of the Lada Grant, as different goals are pursued: cleanliness, sound quality. Obviously, the cost of equipment will also increase. Crossovers are installed in the cavity of the glove box, since their dimensions do not exceed 100 x 150 mm and are rectangular in shape. Subwoofers are fixed in the luggage compartment. Equipment requires more space.

Connection of an external device is carried out strictly in accordance with the operating instructions:

• brown wire color: responsible for the operation of the system;
• black: power supply to equipment;
• yellow: audio module activation;
• red: settings and programming.

At the very end, do not forget to connect a red wire with a pre-installed fuse to the positive terminal of the battery. It directly connects the amplifier (subwoofer) to the current source.

Installing two speakers in the front doors

1. dismantle the door card, handle, control unit;
2. We compare the standard cutouts for the speakers with the actual dimensions. If necessary, expand with a file or fine sandpaper. It is strictly forbidden to use cutting objects, as there is a high risk of damage to the plastic of the door card;
3. we check for the absence of roughness in the hole, install the speaker, fix it, connect the standard terminals with wiring;
4. we check the operation of the speaker, install the door card, and fix the metal grille to protect the speaker from mechanical damage.

Location of the subwoofer in the cabin

For proper operation of the subwoofer, it must be installed taking into account the specific body type:

1. In station wagon cars, the subwoofer should be directed with the bass reflex and speaker towards the rear of the car.
2. If the body is a hatchback, it is best to position the device so that it is directed towards the roof of the car or the trunk door. If directed towards the back of the seat, loss of sound quality may occur.
3. The sedan body assumes that the subwoofers are directed towards the rear seat. In this case, the gap between the subwoofer and the seat should be at least 8 cm.