PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

So I'm installing an aftermarket radio in my GXP with three sets of pre-outs. The stock speakers don't have as much bass as I'd like, and I don't want a lot either. I just want to hear a wider range of the notes in the music I listen to. I suspect the new radio will sound pretty good on the stock door speakers, so for now I'm gonna focus on bass. I ran across the Tang Band 6x9 sub and a few different options from CDT Audio. The Tang Band are 8 ohm and made in China, so I don't really want to go that route. The CDT are 4 ohm and have ~90db sensitivity. They're also designed for open air use, and the frequency range matches what everyone claims is possible to produce in an unsealed trunk environment. From what I've read, doing this sounds pretty good, but obviously lacks the deep bass in certain songs. The stock Monsoon system already lacks even some midbass, so I figure anything is an improvement. I'd be running these off a dedicated amp and relying on the head unit's built-in crossover. It's been my experience that 8" and smaller subs are much more accurate than anything larger, and I can't sacrifice any trunk space, so a sub box is out of the question. What do you guys think about it?

The crossover is built into the amp I believe, the stereo only outputs four channels to the amp where it powers the four door speakers, front door tweeters, and rear deck stock subs.

As for how it will sound I have no idea, I would sacrifice trunk space and at least go with a 10" sub in a box.

Anything built in to the monsoon system is irrelevant. Even if I have to use pre-outs to wire in the aftermarket head unit I still have a third pre-out designed for subs. The stock amplifier can split up the signal however it wants but it won't affect what I'm thinking of doing for the 6x9's. I literally can't sacrifice any trunk space. I need to be able to fit a 4ft ladder and it just barely makes it. A sub box would not allow the ladder to fit.

I completely missed the part about the aftermarket deck

The factory subs on the rear deck are already 6 x 9. They are 4 ohm but wired in series. You could try your new subs with the monsoon to see if will drive them and then if not, add the sub amp direct from your HU sub outputs.

I suppose if they still sound like crap with just the new head unit I could put the stock subs on a different amp. So what if I blow them. It should give me an idea of what to expect. I already have two different amps that aren't being used. One is stereo and the other 4 channel. The stereo is 200w if I remember correctly, and other should be about 50w per channel. Clarion and pioneer respectively.

If you are going for pure sound quality, get a 10, you have to. The 6X9s will not cut it. Then get a set of component speakers for the front doors. That's all you need, and that's what will sound best.

I can't stress this enough... I cannot and will not sacrifice trunk space. I've got to do the best I can with 6x9's. If the door speakers in a Lincoln zephyr can crank out some serious bass on the base level sound system, then I should be able to do pretty good without a 10. I'm not looking for thump, I just want to hear more of the music. I have thx certified thump on my computer.

The 6X9s will not be able to go as low as a sub would, not loud but low.

But in your case, I'd get a nice 4 channel to power all your speakers. Depending on the output, the 6X9s should be enough for your needs with enough juice.

i put in a set of powerbadd 6x9s in my rear deck and made an amazing difference.. if im not mistaken they r alrdy wired to b subs so if u get some they should work just fine. monsoon i thought was 2 ohm tho

I can argue the lowness of 6x9's a bit a really good set that only gets sent the low frequencies could do well. I had looked at CDT's in the past and i think they would to well. 6x9's have the same surface area as an 8 inch sub so it should be similar to two 8's. The only problem i see is that plastic deck in the back will rattle like a mofo so dynamat it and every spot it touches the car and you should be ok. Could also build an MDF rear deck for it but idk how good your crafting skills are. I can show you my design for a new rear deck if you want.

Defiantly power them from an external amp, don't try to use the monsoon it won't push them enough.

This is encouraging news. I have built a couple sub boxes with mdf, so I don't mind building something if I have to. The first one I built sounded fantastic, but the second one was a disaster. I built it to fit behind the wheel well in a s10 blazer and it just would not touch the low notes. Both boxes were sealed.

My deck acts like the stock one open on the bottom but with proper power my 6x9's could go pretty low and pound like crazy. There is also zero rattles from the deck.

If you go with cdt their gold level 6x9's seem like the best option for lower frequency response.

Or go crazy and just mount some 10's on the rear deck!!!! (Sorry you have given me some bad ideas now...)

I don't think the 2000+ deck would hold up the the abuse of a 10 mounted to it. But enclosures for the 6X9s should do well. I second the idea of an aftermarket amp vs the Monsoon.

So what do I need to do with mdf to properly install some 6x9's? Will it still look stock? I don't want to alter the appearance.

Mine still looks stock for the most part. Ill post some pics for you in a bit.