Are you tired of listening to low-quality music on a car factory stereo? Want to spice it up but can’t seem to figure out how?
The greatest option to upgrade a factory stereo and take your music listening to the next level is by adding a subwoofer.
But the next question that may concern you will be. How can I install a subwoofer to a factory stereo without having any technical DIY knowledge?
The method of adding a powered subwoofer to a factory stereo is simple.
You must first unplug the battery before connecting the power wire to the battery and the subwoofer at both ends.
After that, connect other cables to the stereo, set up a ground wire, and make wiring connections to binge listen to subwoofer high bass sound.
Now you’ll get a rough idea of how to install a subwoofer to a factory stereo.
But that’s not enough; because it’s a challenging undertaking, you need to be fully informed before beginning the installation procedure.
And to help you with that, we’ve provided a step-by-step guide below that will provide you with in-depth knowledge and make your task seem easy.
Let’s get started right now without further ado.
How to Attach a Subwoofer to a Factory Stereo in 7 Simple Steps:
Required Tools:
No matter how difficult a DIY project may be, the right equipment can make it seem simple. The necessary tools that you need to acquire before beginning the process are listed below.
- A toolbox
- Subwoofer box
- RCA cables
- 50 amps inline fuse
- Speaker wires
- Amplifier
- Wiring kit
- Screws
1. Disconnect The Battery:
Your safety and life are the most important things in the world. First, you must the car’s battery to ensure you find the battery under the vehicle’s hood.
All you need is to remove the black-colored wire from the battery’s negative terminal.
You’re safe once you’ve successfully broken apart the black cable. The process of installing the subwoofer can be finished.
3. Inspect the Car Stereo Wires:
The following step requires you to pay close attention to the stock stereo cables and ports. Your subwoofer cables must be connected to the stock stereo in your vehicle.
First, look for a red-colored power wire, which must be attached to the car battery. This wire will provide the subwoofer with a constant flow of energy to work smoothly.
The power wire can be run from the firewall to the subwoofer’s location.
The trim panels only fall along one side of the rug, so you may tuck the wire under the car carpet to prevent it from any more harm.
The cable must then be connected to the positive terminal of the battery before the fuse is added. Most of the time, the fuse comes installed with the kit, but sometimes it doesn’t.
The cable must be severed at a position where the battery can easily access the other end. To attach the fuse and connect it to the terminal, first, remove the isolation from both ends.
Mounting the fuse relatively close to the battery is considered good practice since it prevents short circuits and other hazardous occurrences.
Read More: How to Charge Car Battery Using Home Electricity
4. Check the RCA Cables and Turn-on wire:
After running the power cable to the subwoofer, you have to make the way of turn-on wire and signal cables towards the stereo. It’s the exact opposite of what you’ve previously done.
When running the RCA cables and turn-on wire to the stereo, you must watch out that they don’t come into touch with the power line.
If they don’t, the sound entering the system will be distorted, ruining your music-listening experience. After completing this, it’s time to secure the wires in place.
The Turn-on wire (blue line) must be connected to the stereo’s wiring harness and the RCA cables must be connected to the stereo’s corresponding RCA outputs.
You can only complete this step if your aftermarket radio has preamp outputs. The Line Output Converter (LOC) can assist in getting the signals from a factory stereo to the subwoofer if you have one.
The LOC works with signals ranging from RCA preamp level to highly amplified signals.
5. Connect the ground wire:
The ground wire is the third primary connection.
Using the bolt, which you can fasten, you must link this wire to the vehicle’s chassis or any other close component. The naked metallic component of your car must come into contact with the ground wire.
Sandpaper should be used to remove any paint or other materials from the metallic plate in order to make sure the wire is properly grounded.
After completing this, it’s time to set up the subwoofer’s wire connections.
6. Setup the wiring connections:
The next step is to test the powered subwoofer that has just been attached using the OEM stereo in the car.
To confirm that everything is linked correctly and in the proper location, double-check the wire connections. Connect the battery’s negative terminal, i.e., reconnect the powered wire.
If all goes according to plan, you should be able to enjoy your favorite songs with crystal-clear high-bass sounds.
7. Get into the groove:
With your vehicle’s new sound system, get in the groove. Turn on your favorite music, jump on your friends in the car, and enjoy the long drives.
Safety Measures You Should Follow Before Getting Straight Into Process :
Installing the subwoofer to the OEM sound system of the automobile. To prevent any damage or mishaps, you should adhere to safety precautions.
Let’s look at the safety precautions we’ve stated below.
Disconnect the battery first:
While installing the subwoofer, ensure the negative wire is disconnected from the battery. It is switched on if you walk away, which might seriously hurt you.
Avoid contact with moisture:
If you’ve any liquid material around you while setting up the wires, please move it to another place away from your car.
This will help prevent short-circuiting in your vehicle.
Use safety gloves if possible:
Wearing gloves is a smart idea because you’ll be fiddling with cables when installing a subwoofer, protecting yourself from potential harm.
During a test run, turn the volume all the way down:
Make sure all the volume buttons are set to the lowest setting before running a test. It helps prevent your subwoofer from any uncertain damage when it gets instant power.
Make use of a capacitor:
A capacitor will help prevent a voltage drop when the deep bases hit the amp. Keep the capacitor as close as possible to the amp and use the same ground as the one used for the amp.
Conclusion:
When you get your hands dirty with the procedure, installing a subwoofer to the factory stereo in a car is really just a low-hanging piece of fruit. Make sure to follow precautionary steps to ensure your safety in the first place.
Once your subwoofer has been installed properly, maintain its good condition by cleaning it with lint-free materials. We provided instructions on how to attach a subwoofer to stock audio in a car as simply as possible.
Don’t be afraid to send us a note if you’re having trouble understanding the procedure; we’d love to assist you.
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