Adding Bass

[ryan_g]

Not sure if this has been a topic before (if it has feel free to direct me to the thread), but I'm thinking about adding a subwoofer or two to increase the bass of the 17-speaker Lexicon system in my 3.8 Ultimate. While the sound system is overall excellent, it could definitely use some more bass. Has anyone else done this and, if so, what would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[dfyffe]

This is my first weekend with my 15 G2 3.8 with ultimate package, as a music lover, I listen to mostly genre that has deep sub bass, like reggae, modern jazz, trip hop etc. There is definitely a lack of bass in this car, but with a little Eq tweaking I was able to get some good, not great sounding bass, Here is my sound setting, Front rear (center), surround (off), Treble (+4), Midrange (-3), Bass (+9). now Im hearing and feeling the bass.

 

[armen212]

I had one 12 in kicker in my 16 gen before then made it 2 12 in cerwin vegas then crashed then got the G80 Sport and have 2 12 inch focal subs installed. If I’m completely honest 1 12 inch is more than enough. I get so much shaking in my car that a lot of things start rattling. Just get a single 12

 

[glennk]

I had one 12 in kicker in my 16 gen before then made it 2 12 in cerwin vegas then crashed then got the G80 Sport and have 2 12 inch focal subs installed. If I’m completely honest 1 12 inch is more than enough. I get so much shaking in my car that a lot of things start rattling. Just get a single 12

Was this in a box or subbed into the shelf?

 

[armen212]

In a box not ported

 

[diamondmit]

I'm adding a subwoofer to my 2015 Genesis Ultimate tonight....should have the wiring completed by Thursday. Took quite a bit of exploration to figure out what I wanted to do....removed the rear seats....had a tough time removing the rear deck and ended up leaving it pretty much in place. In the process though, I identified the wires that run from the amplifier to the sub so I could tap the wires. The job is quite a bit easier than I made it..

In the trunk, driver's side, if you remove the left panel you can access the amp. The lower wire bundle (gray connector, not white) has the leads that run to the subwoofer. I tagged them in the attached pictures with blue tape. I don't yet know the phase of each but the wires are pins 3 and 4 on the upper row. One is blue and the other gray with a black stripe. From my pictures it looks like the blue wire may have an orange stripe but I don't remember noting this while I was doing the work, so just look at pins 3 and 4, match up the gray with black stripe wire and the blue one next to it is its partner (stripe or no stripe).

I've ordered a PAC Audio LP7 line converter with remote output and I'll connect all that up to a Bazooka tube I have left over from a previous vehicle that has since been sold. With any luck, everything will arrive on Thursday and I can complete the wiring. I simply tapped the wires going to the sub and I plan to connect them to both the left and right inputs of the PAC device, and then run line level inputs (RCA) to the new sub. I'll let both the factory sub and the new sub work together since the Bazooka has its own amplifier, crossover and level control. I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures but I didn't plan to be so involved with this today.

If you decide to go through the bulkhead, behind the seats or under the rear deck, be very careful of the push connectors. I broke two connector holders and had to glue them back in place even though I was being careful and using plastic pry tools to protect the connectors. I missed a couple and ended up pulling the connector frame too aggressively causing the break.

Good luck!
dd

 

[Hotboi]

I had one 12 in kicker in my 16 gen before then made it 2 12 in cerwin vegas then crashed then got the G80 Sport and have 2 12 inch focal subs installed. If I’m completely honest 1 12 inch is more than enough. I get so much shaking in my car that a lot of things start rattling. Just get a single 12

How did you connect your sub to your system? I have a 10" with an amp on the side that'll do me just fine, that I would like to hook up. Any instructions on how toos or what?

 

[diamondmit]

I added a Bazooka 8" amplified subwoofer to a Genesis Ultimate this weekend - had it left over from a BMW that needed the bass but was sold.
1. Remove the trunk mat and/or spare tire cover
2. In the trunk, remove the 3 push fasteners from the trunk linker; two near the left rear brakelight and one near the left rear chrome tie-down
3. Remove the two 10mm bolts from the left rear liner, and the two phillips head screws also on the left
4. Pull the liner away from the quarter panel opposite the fuel filler cover
5. Amplifier is mounted there vertically. There are two connectors attached to the amp, one white, one gray.
6. On the white connector, the pink wire is the switched wire that turns the amp on/off. You can use this wire to turn your new subwoofer amp on and off.
7. On the gray connector, the blue wire and the gray-with-black-stripe wire are the leads for the factory subwoofer (pins 3 and 4). You can use these wires to feed your new sub.


I didn't take a picture of the pink wire, sorry.

Good luck!
dd

 

[TheDr9669]

I added a Bazooka 8" amplified subwoofer to a Genesis Ultimate this weekend - had it left over from a BMW that needed the bass but was sold.
1. Remove the trunk mat and/or spare tire cover
2. In the trunk, remove the 3 push fasteners from the trunk linker; two near the left rear brakelight and one near the left rear chrome tie-down
3. Remove the two 10mm bolts from the left rear liner, and the two phillips head screws also on the left
4. Pull the liner away from the quarter panel opposite the fuel filler cover
5. Amplifier is mounted there vertically. There are two connectors attached to the amp, one white, one gray.
6. On the white connector, the pink wire is the switched wire that turns the amp on/off. You can use this wire to turn your new subwoofer amp on and off.
7. On the gray connector, the blue wire and the gray-with-black-stripe wire are the leads for the factory subwoofer (pins 3 and 4). You can use these wires to feed your new sub.
View attachment 12695View attachment 12696

I didn't take a picture of the pink wire, sorry.

Good luck!
dd

I found that the pink remote wire would not turn on my amp. I then tried tapping into the remote power lead for the rear curtain and that would not do it either. I ended up using the remote activation feature of the LC2i Line Converter. I went with the LC2i because it allows me to compensate for the factory radio pulling bass, (it pulls lots of bass) at higher volumes. Another idea which involves a little less work, is tapping into the factory sub audio signal right at the sub. This way you only have to drop down the upper trunk/lower deck panel for access. (See here for example)

 

[Alfer]

Speaking of bass. I owned a 2009 V6 Genesis (with Nav) and it had some amazing deep bass. I just this weekend swapped it out with a 2015 V6 AWD Signature model and I'm not getting near as much deep bass as the 2009. So is the 14 speaker model lacking a sub or is it just there but a lot smaller than the 2009 version?

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[thrice62]

Man I remember reading all of these forums for my girlfriends 2016 3.8 sedan. Everyone made me concerned about how complicated the audio system is and how insulated the trunk is blah blah. I just had an audio shop attempt the full install. I did NOT replace the stock Navi or radio I did gut the OEM speakers tweeters and the lame subwoofer. I also added 2 aftermarket amps 1 for the speakers and 1 for the subwoofer. U don't need an equalizer but u will need a sound processor for factory radio settings otherwise the speakers will sound muffled as I had that issue with out the processor. Once that was installed in the car it sounded great.

 

[GMonee16]

Just added a sub...thank you all for all the help found here in the forum

 

[BWalla]

!!! Wow, after reading this thread i have enough confidence to try this on my '18 3.3t. Hey diamondmit, can i ask you where you got the wiring diagram that you show?

 

[Bocagenesis70]

I found that the pink remote wire would not turn on my amp. I then tried tapping into the remote power lead for the rear curtain and that would not do it either. I ended up using the remote activation feature of the LC2i Line Converter. I went with the LC2i because it allows me to compensate for the factory radio pulling bass, (it pulls lots of bass) at higher volumes. Another idea which involves a little less work, is tapping into the factory sub audio signal right at the sub. This way you only have to drop down the upper trunk/lower deck panel for access. (See here for example)

How does it sound once you added the LC2i line converter? I added 2 JL Audio 12s and it didn’t do the trick. I decided to add the LC2i to it and haven’t yet. I didn’t know a lot about the lexicon system, but figured it had some type of processor that was limiting the bass when I added an amp and the 2 12s.

 

[kaigoss69]

How does it sound once you added the LC2i line converter? I added 2 JL Audio 12s and it didn’t do the trick. I decided to add the LC2i to it and haven’t yet. I didn’t know a lot about the lexicon system, but figured it had some type of processor that was limiting the bass when I added an amp and the 2 12s.

Are you saying you don't have a good signal, or that the bass is not getting out of the trunk?

 

[Bocagenesis70]

Are you saying you don't have a good signal, or that the bass is not getting out of the trunk?

 

[Bocagenesis70]

Are you saying you don't have a good signal, or that the bass is not getting out of the trunk?

I’m not getting the same loudness and bass response as I was getting when they were in my Cadillac ATS. I was guessing something in the way the Lexicon system processes the music was preventing the bass to fire at lower volumes. I’m thinking the LCi2 line converter might fix the issue, but since I’m not an expert I decided to bring it to a shop that I trust. I’ve used them for different cars over the last 25 years. Unfortunately they are 30 miles away from me and don’t have an open appointment until a week from Saturday.

 

[kaigoss69]

I’m not getting the same loudness and bass response as I was getting when they were in my Cadillac ATS. I was guessing something in the way the Lexicon system processes the music was preventing the bass to fire at lower volumes. I’m thinking the LCi2 line converter might fix the issue, but since I’m not an expert I decided to bring it to a shop that I trust. I’ve used them for different cars over the last 25 years. Unfortunately they are 30 miles away from me and don’t have an open appointment until a week from Saturday.

Did you tap the OEM amp subwoofer output? Can your amp or current LOC handle the high power output? - The LC2i will be able to do that perfectly. But perhaps the problem is that the trunk is much better sealed than in the Caddy...how does it sound when you open the ski-pass?

 

[bcunni12]

Just added a sub...thank you all for all the help found here in the forumView attachment 18119View attachment 18120

Hey where did you connect your power and ground wire from your line output converter? Did you use the pink wire for power? If so, which wire did you connect your ground?

 

[GMonee16]

I did use the pink, and since ground is ground...I just tapped into the amp ground