[ubkta]

I just got a used 2018 civic hatch sport (Canada) and it comes with the 8 speakers and 7" touch head unit (180W I guess?) and I want to upgrade my audio system and I am in doubt in two possibilities:

Just add a small powered subwoofer, most probably the Rockford Fosgate P300-8P.
Can I use 16 gauge speaker wire to tap my front speaker wires in the back of HU to send a signal to the powered subwoofer?

Thinking more about it, I was wondering if I would get more clarity in general if I add a 5 channel amp (or a small 4 channel amp like the Alpine KTP-445U Power Pack) and keep the stock speakers and tweeters for now or I would have to upgrade the speakers/tweeters all together? I don't want to spend a lot of money right away, so I was thinking about changing the speakers later and just add a sub + stock speakers if I decided to go this way.

Another newbie question, I read a lot about adding a DSP due to the head unit built-in EQ. I don't listen to music very loud (I'm happy around 15 volume), I'm just looking for some bass, and more clarity. Right now the stock audio is OK(ish), but I do miss some bass. Adding that powered subwoofer or an amp would require adding a DSP like the lc7i or lc2i to get the best out of it?

Thanks, folks.

 

[barenaked]

I put in a small powered subwoofer that was meant for mounting under the passenger seat, but I mounted it in the trunk underneath the package shelf. I 3D printed some spacers to give it some clearance and allow for cooling, and I simply tapped off of the rear speakers as high-powered inputs. While it isn't the most desirable way to go about increasing the bass response, it did work well enough and it wasn't expensive.

Mike

 

[ubkta]

I was thinking adding those under the seat, but they are almost the same price as this 8 inches portered sub. Anyway, nice job looks pretty stealthy!

 

[barenaked]

The issue I had with mounting under the passenger seat is that I would have to trim off about 6" of my rear seat Weathertech mat as the unit needed all the space under there. The mat was expensive so I immediately looked at other alternatives.

I currently have a 2019 Sedan, and before that was a 2017 Hatch. Going back one further was a 2008 Civic Coupé, and in THAT car I had a 400W JBL 12" subwoofer that really packed a lot of punch, but it was fairly bulky and ate up more trunk space than I really wanted to part with. I had considered installing it in the 2017 Hatch but I sold it off and considered other options. Crashed the car a year ago and now here we are. . .

In any case, these cars don't offer much in the way of bass, and a powered sub is a nice, inexpensive way to go. Bigger offers more, but if you're like me and don't run the volume all that high in the first place then one of the slimmer, powered 8" units will do just fine.

Mike

 

[devito.coke]

I just got a used 2018 civic hatch sport (Canada) and it comes with the 8 speakers and 7" touch head unit (180W I guess?) and I want to upgrade my audio system and I am in doubt in two possibilities:

Just add a small powered subwoofer, most probably the Rockford Fosgate P300-8P.
Can I use 16 gauge speaker wire to tap my front speaker wires in the back of HU to send a signal to the powered subwoofer?

Thinking more about it, I was wondering if I would get more clarity in general if I add a 5 channel amp (or a small 4 channel amp like the Alpine KTP-445U Power Pack) and keep the stock speakers and tweeters for now or I would have to upgrade the speakers/tweeters all together? I don't want to spend a lot of money right away, so I was thinking about changing the speakers later and just add a sub + stock speakers if I decided to go this way.

Another newbie question, I read a lot about adding a DSP due to the head unit built-in EQ. I don't listen to music very loud (I'm happy around 15 volume), I'm just looking for some bass, and more clarity. Right now the stock audio is OK(ish), but I do miss some bass. Adding that powered subwoofer or an amp would require adding a DSP like the lc7i or lc2i to get the best out of it?

Thanks, folks.

Do you have a DIY for us to follow your steps?