A4 B5 Avant Bose - adding powered sub

[Wtrbrdm]

I just bought my youngest his first car...B5 Avant with the Bose system.

Ive read a bunch of posts about adding a sub. I'm not trying to get too deep into the car audio weeds,but I do have a JL Audio powered sub box from my old Passat. I ran it with the RBC-1 bass controller in the Passat with their factory system.

Based on what I've read, this powered sub and controller should work in his Avant as well or?

Thanks in advance.

[joeobrien22]

Hi there. So...
That generation Bose system didn't have a subwoofer control as far as level is concerned.
The built in system was tuned and has different impedance than "normal" speakers.
You have the option of tapping into the high level speaker signal to the subwoofer, but the amp has to accept the high level signal. (Or your subwoofer controller.). I'm my experience, the sound quality will be terrible from the full range speaker outputs, but the subwoofer dedicated output from the stock amp might be ok, just not tuned very well. You're going from a very small subwoofer, to an aftermarket large one. If the unit you have to control the subwoofer is similar to the one I experimented with, it only has level controls and a bass exciter of some sort which can be a bit boomy and fiddly. Some frequencies can be very loud, some non existent.

If you don't want to replace the entire system, my advice is to make sure you have an amp that can handle a high level input, and avoid any bells and whistles like "max bass" etc, just use straight level controlling and adjust volume as necessary.
Tap into the dedicated subwoofer output and see how it goes. Be careful what you tap the remote turn on wire to, as your battery might drain for longer depending on what you tap into for the remote.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

[Bobby Kinstle]

In my old B5 I took the signal from the rear speakers, which were full range, and ran them into a line converter, then to the sub amp. Worked like a charm.

[Wtrbrdm]

Thanks for the replies....

In the Passat, I think they just ran the powered Microsub direct from the Fender head unit. I did have a C300 prior top that where they used an LC7i. I'm assuming that's a type of line converter. I'm an idiot when it comes to car audio.....really....an idiot.

[Bobby Kinstle]

If I remember correctly in my B5 one of the rear speakers actually had the amplifier hanging off the back of the speaker itself. Then it was wired from that speaker to the other speaker. The guy that did the installation soldered a little wire onto the output of the amplifier and then ran that into a line level converter. It was just a passive converter from audiolink as that will amplifier is not very sophisticated and doesn't really need any special tricks to keep it running. I don't think that company is in business anymore but this is the one I used:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/324677430170?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=324677430170&targetid=1264870805264&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1013950&poi=&campaignid=10454522054&mkgroupid=125880183801&rlsatarget=aud-622027676548:pla-1264870805264&abcId=2146002&merchantid=6296724&gclid=Cj0KCQjwssyJBhDXARIsAK98ITSgVedP4mgfZ-HIwuJleMjAK0CzHJAbWhgw_eNiRQP_GZLNnRQpZiwaAg67EALw _wcB

However just about any passive line output converter will work fine.

If you're planning on replacing the rear speakers and using a four-channel amp to run the rest of the speakers as well then it gets a little bit more complicated but not hugely so. The symphony heafd unit does have outputs on the back and it's best to tap them from there if you're going to replace all of the speakers and amplifiers

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Audizine Forum mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

[Wtrbrdm]

Thanks

Went by my local shop and they said they can set it up.

I'd be interested in maybe swapping out head units to something newer with bluetooth for my kid, but I'm sure that's opening up a whole new can of worms... I sent an email to the Enfig guys to see what either bluetooth or aux type unit of theirs they recommended for use with the stock receiver.....mainly for him to use it for music and not so much. the phone itself.

[Bobby Kinstle]

B5 uses a standard double DIN head unit. Very easy to replace as long as you can still find a faceplate for it.