New under seat sub install - Kenwood KSC-SW11

[JAR0023]

So it’s late in the day on Friday. I’ve got an hour left to work and I just cracked open an O’Fallen. What better time to post on Pelican about a new under seat subwoofer option. I’m sure the audiofiles will pile in soon enough and tell me you can’t get good bass sounds from such a small sub but this little unit puts out a ton of sound for it size. A 911 is tiny and the sub has no problem filling it with bass even at 80 with the windows down. I’ll cede there is some vibration coming up through the passenger seat but no one has complained yet. My car is a daily driver. I fill the boot with groceries at least once a week and in MS I need my A/C so I’m not filling it with stereo. I regularly haul around multiple 10 year olds so the back seats need to remain functional.

I purchased the car with a clapped out old Kenwood CD player and equally crappy sounding speakers. I picked up a Kenwood KIV-701 media deck since I have a large music collection and at least one copy of everything as MP3. Nice head unit with a whole bunch of digital signal processing to make the most of the speakers. After some research I found out my existing speakers weren’t so bad they just needed some parts thrown at them. a/d/s 325is separates in the doors and 300is plates in the rear deck. I found an online vendor for parts. I sealed up my doors and shored up my mountings. A couple of crossovers and one tweeter later and I was good to go until this spring when we bought my wife a new(used) car with a nice sound system. I realized again what was missing from my 911 system.

Enter the Kenwood KSC-SW11. I had read back through the other sub thread here and was cruising Amazon looking for some option that would allow me full use of my floorboards front and rear. 8”x5” speaker in a 11”x7.5”x2.75” case. Built in 75w RMS amp and a remote for crossover/gain/phasing. Everything needed was included except a set of RCA cables for input. A second wiring harness for speaker level input was included.

I’m not one for full on detailed install threads but here are some photos post install so you guys can see what it looks like and how it fits. -J

Lots of complaints about stripped seat bolts. These worked great. ž” drive, reduced diameter. Also, handy for barrel nuts on Carrera intake manifolds.



I mounted the sub behind the hump with industrial strength Velcro. Power wires up the center tunnel. Speaker inputs up the outside. All wires taped down to keep them secure. I left enough slack so I can slide it out from under the seat to remove. I did not install the remote. My HU has better controls that make the remote redundant. The factory rear carpet would need to be folded. I have thick Lloyds mats so I just left the factory piece out. Lloyds mat was a perfect fit.



I found a convenient grommet behind the HU and ran the power wire directly to the battery. The wiring and fuse was included with the Sub.



Here are a couple of shots showing installed height.

[SilberUrS6]

That's nice. Too bad my amp is mounted in that location - and there isn't room under the driver's seat.

Velcro - I used it to secure my amp. In fact, I wanted to reposition it slightly, so I tried to pull it up. It took two hands, so I figure Velcro is a pretty good way to secure electronics under the seat.

[ioBuddha]

I have an amp in that location as well. I opted for a 6" Bazooka Tube (amplified) behind the drivers seat mounted against the rear seat foot well. It almost fits there. It angles up just a bit, but looks fine back there. The bass response is very nice and I have a Cabriolet so you immediately loose your sound to the surrounding open air world, but the bass is enough for the wife to enjoy. When I drive I just like the engine music.

[The Hippie]

did you put holes on the car floor to screw the sub in place?

[JohnJL]

I did this with the same kenwood unit too a few years ago. I put an amp under the passenger seat too. Hid a bluetooth and ipod played in the glove compartment. Worked great.

[DRACO A5OG]

Funny, i have the JVC sub there too, it matches my JVC head unit.

[The Hippie]

Originally Posted by JAR0023

So it’s late in the day on Friday. I’ve got an hour left to work and I just cracked open an O’Fallen. What better time to post on Pelican about a new under seat subwoofer option. I’m sure the audiofiles will pile in soon enough and tell me you can’t get good bass sounds from such a small sub but this little unit puts out a ton of sound for it size. A 911 is tiny and the sub has no problem filling it with bass even at 80 with the windows down. I’ll cede there is some vibration coming up through the passenger seat but no one has complained yet. My car is a daily driver. I fill the boot with groceries at least once a week and in MS I need my A/C so I’m not filling it with stereo. I regularly haul around multiple 10 year olds so the back seats need to remain functional.

I purchased the car with a clapped out old Kenwood CD player and equally crappy sounding speakers. I picked up a Kenwood KIV-701 media deck since I have a large music collection and at least one copy of everything as MP3. Nice head unit with a whole bunch of digital signal processing to make the most of the speakers. After some research I found out my existing speakers weren’t so bad they just needed some parts thrown at them. a/d/s 325is separates in the doors and 300is plates in the rear deck. I found an online vendor for parts. I sealed up my doors and shored up my mountings. A couple of crossovers and one tweeter later and I was good to go until this spring when we bought my wife a new(used) car with a nice sound system. I realized again what was missing from my 911 system.

Enter the Kenwood KSC-SW11. I had read back through the other sub thread here and was cruising Amazon looking for some option that would allow me full use of my floorboards front and rear. 8”x5” speaker in a 11”x7.5”x2.75” case. Built in 75w RMS amp and a remote for crossover/gain/phasing. Everything needed was included except a set of RCA cables for input. A second wiring harness for speaker level input was included.

I’m not one for full on detailed install threads but here are some photos post install so you guys can see what it looks like and how it fits. -J

Lots of complaints about stripped seat bolts. These worked great. ž” drive, reduced diameter. Also, handy for barrel nuts on Carrera intake manifolds.



I mounted the sub behind the hump with industrial strength Velcro. Power wires up the center tunnel. Speaker inputs up the outside. All wires taped down to keep them secure. I left enough slack so I can slide it out from under the seat to remove. I did not install the remote. My HU has better controls that make the remote redundant. The factory rear carpet would need to be folded. I have thick Lloyds mats so I just left the factory piece out. Lloyds mat was a perfect fit.



I found a convenient grommet behind the HU and ran the power wire directly to the battery. The wiring and fuse was included with the Sub.



Here are a couple of shots showing installed height.

did you put holes on the car floor to screw the sub in place?

[dipso]

Originally Posted by The Hippie

did you put holes on the car floor to screw the sub in place?

I used to have one, no screws needed. Gravity holds it in place.
Occasionally it would peek out the back, but not the front.

[samourai71]

Nice!
Did mine this winter, only with an amped Kicker sub.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by The Hippie

did you put holes on the car floor to screw the sub in place?

No. Heavy duty Velcro. There are raised sections in the floor that make a basic cross pattern. I wiped the floor down with alcohol and put down both side of the Velcro. Once I was ready to place the sub for the last time I wiped the bottom of the amp, peel the backing and set the sub down. It's not going anywhere until I need it to. -J

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Funny, i have the JVC sub there too, it matches my JVC head unit.

Your install and I think Gogar's were the inspiration. I just waited until I found a sub that didn't take up any usable space in the footwells front or rear. -J

[Craig_D]

How does it sound?

[Brian 162]

I did the same install 2 weeks ago. I thought about the Kenwood but the dimensions said it would be to tall to fit under my seat. (Don't believe everything you read on the internet). I purchased a Sound Ordinance sub. So far so good. Mine is under the drivers seat with my amp.
You did a nice clean install.

[sacoffee]

Originally Posted by Craig_D

How does it sound?

Same question from me

[chaquisu2]

Hi again.

Finally install my KSC-SW11 and Im very happy with this buy. the sound improvement is notable. the bass sound is rounded and envolve all inside car.
Here is a link to my video. the sound is not to good but is blame of the phone mic. (the iphone 4 not to best for this test). but I think work.


KSC SW11 - YouTube

I hope help to anyone who try find out how is the sound of this Sub.

[SweetWaterSurprise]

How's it feel for the person sitting in that seat with the bass going

[chaquisu2]

Hi.

I try in the passenger place and say to You is not annoying at all. a little buzz in the bottom but nothing really bad.

And always there is the other choice and place the Sub under the driverīs seat

[pc100porsche]

I just purchased a KSC-SW11, its a Kenwood factory refurbished unit, which ran $129 incl shipping.... price seems reasonable ?
I hope it improves the bass in my 88 Coupe !

[pc100porsche]

Website .. If anyone is interested .. (they gave me a $10 coupon when I emailed them) :
https://www.salectronics.com/shopexd.asp?id=1742

[DRACO A5OG]

You should like it, I have the JVC sub for my JVC head unit. Programming is most important. I did not follow instructions and raised the input values over the recommended and blew my sub. Had it fixed but when I followed the instructions the sub woofer was nice and clean, very deep base.