A subwoofer is a speaker designed to reproduce low-frequency sounds, known as bass.
Bass is essential for any good-sounding car audio system, and a subwoofer is the best way to get it.
Many people try to connect their subwoofer to their car stereo without an amplifier, but this can be a difficult task, especially if you don’t know the processes involved.
In this article, we will show you how to do it! We will provide step-by-step guides for connecting a subwoofer without an amplifier.
Let’s get started!
Step by Step Guide to Connecting Subwoofer to Car Stereo without Amp
This is the general guideline that applies to all types of subwoofers. In the next section of the article, we’ll guide you with specific types of subwoofers so that you can make things work for you without getting help from an expensive mechanic.
Things you’ll need:
There are some key tools and supplies that you’ll need to gather before starting the process-
- RCA wires
- Power wiring kit
- A 50-amp in-line fuse and fuse holder.
- A plier, and
- Screwdriver
STEP 1: Finding A Perfect Location For The Subwoofer
The first thing you need to do is find the right location for your subwoofer. You want to avoid putting it in a place where it will rattle or vibrate.
Locations such as the trunk or the back seat are usually the best places to put a subwoofer. You can also put it under the front seats.
Once you have found a suitable location, it’s time to start connecting your subwoofer!
STEP 2: Connecting The Subwoofer To The Car Battery
The next step is to connect the power cables to the battery. Make sure your vehicle is switched off.
You will need to use a power wire for this connection. The wire should be thick enough so that it can handle the current draw of the subwoofer.
Start by connecting one end of the wire to the battery positive terminal and the other end to the positive terminal on the subwoofer. Now, take the other set of wires and connect one end to the negative terminal of the battery.
The final step is to connect the other end of the wires to the negative terminal on your subwoofer.
Once you have connected the power wires, you will need to connect them to a fuse holder.
The fuse holder will protect your car’s electrical system from any damage that might be caused by a short circuit.
Here’s how to connect the fuse holder-
The best way to do this is to use a pair of needle-nose pliers. Remove the cap on the fuse holder.
Then, insert the end of the power wire into the hole on the side of the fuse holder.
Proceed to use the needle-nose pliers to twist the wire around itself. Make sure that you twist it tightly so that it doesn’t come loose.
After twisting properly, refix the cap on the fuse holder, and you are done.
STEP 3: Connecting The Subwoofer To The Stereo
The next step is to connect your subwoofer to the stereo. You will need to use a set of RCA cables for this connection.
First, connect one end of the RCA cables to the positive and negative terminals on the back of the stereo. Then, connect the other end of the cables to the positive and negative inputs on your subwoofer.
Now, you will need to run the power wire from your fuse holder to your subwoofer. Make sure that you route the wire so that it is not in danger of being pinched or cut.
Once you have done this, you can now turn on your car’s stereo and enjoy some bass-heavy music!
STEP 4: Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble getting your subwoofer to work, there are a few things you can try.
First, check all of your connections to make sure they are tight and secure.
Next, check the fuse in your fuse holder to make sure it is not blown.
Finally, if you are still having trouble, you can try connecting your subwoofer to an amplifier. This will usually solve any problems you are having.
How To Connect Different Types Of Subwoofers Without An Amp
There are six types of subwoofers that you’ll find on the road:
- Passive Subwoofers
- Powered Subwoofers
- Bandpass Subwoofers
- Horn-loaded subwoofers
- Sealed/Ported subwoofers
We will be going over how to connect each type to a car stereo without an Amp.
As stated in the detailed guide above, the majority of these subwoofers will require a special type of cable called an “RCA” cable to connect to your stereo.
RCA cables are designed for audio applications and have two conductors (positive and negative).
Connecting A Passive Subwoofer Without An Amp
A passive subwoofer features a driver (speaker) that doesn’t have a power source. They are often used in car audio applications because of their compact and lightweight design.
They are also easy to connect to a car stereo without an amplifier.
As we’ve stated above, you will need to find a suitable place to mount the passive subwoofer. Once you have found a suitable location, you can start the installation process.
After installation, you need to connect it to your car stereo.
Note that the process of installing a passive sub requires you to disconnect the rear speakers in your car and use the same wires to connect your subwoofer.
Doing this means you won’t be able to use the rear speakers while using the subwoofer.
First, start by unmounting the rear speakers in your car to access the wiring unit and disconnect the speakers.
After doing this, connect the subwoofer’s positive wire to the rear left speaker and the negative wire to the right rear speaker wire. That’s all.
Some passive subwoofers may not include any wires. If you own such a type, simply draw power from the wiring harness located in the head unit.
Unmount the head unit and get access to its wiring.
Also, you’ll need an adapter to act as a power source for some rare occasions. But the adapter kit should have the guidelines for you to follow so we’re not elaborating that here.
Connecting An Active Subwoofer Without An Amp
An active subwoofer has an internal amplifier. This makes it easy to connect to a car stereo without an amp.
Start by connecting the power wire from the subwoofer to the car battery. The positive (red) wire goes to the battery positive terminal, and the negative (black) wire goes to the negative terminal.
Next, connect an RCA cable from the subwoofer to the “sub-out” or “line out” jack on your car stereo.
If your car stereo does not have a dedicated “sub-out” or “line out” jack, you can use an adapter that will split the signal from your stereo’s preamp outputs.
Now, turn on your car stereo and adjust the volume level until it is at a comfortable listening level.
Then, slowly turn up the volume of the subwoofer until you reach the desired bass level. That’s all there is to it!
Connecting A Bandpass Subwoofer Without An Amp
A bandpass subwoofer is a type of subwoofer that uses a sealed enclosure with an acoustical filter to regulate its driver’s frequency response.
Most bandpass subwoofers have RCA input jacks, making it easy to connect them to a car stereo without an amplifier.
To connect a bandpass subwoofer without an amplifier, you will need RCA cables and a car stereo with RCA output jacks.
First, locate the RCA output jacks on your car stereo. These are usually located on the back of the stereo or in the glove box.
Then, take your RCA cables and connect them to the RCA output jacks on your car stereo.
Ensure that you connect the positive cable (usually red) to the positive jack and the negative cable (usually black) to the negative jack.
After that, take your bandpass subwoofer and connect it to the other end of the RCA cables. That’s it!
Connecting A Sealed/Ported Subwoofer Without An Amp
Ported subwoofers are the most popular type of subwoofer on the market. They are designed to produce a lot of basses and can be used in any type of car audio system.
Ported subwoofers have a port (or hole) tuned to a specific frequency. This feature allows it to produce more bass than a sealed subwoofer.
Sealed subwoofers are not as popular as ported subwoofers, but they have some advantages.
Sealed subwoofers are smaller and more compact than ported subwoofers. They are also less expensive and easier to install.
However, sealed subwoofers do not produce as much bass as ported subwoofers. Both ported and sealed subwoofers are connected the same way so you will need to use an RCA cable as usual.
Connect the positive (red) wire of the RCA cable to the positive input on your subwoofer. Then, connect the negative (black) wire of the RCA cable to the negative input on your subwoofer.
Finally, connect the other end of the RCA cable to the “Sub Out” or “LFE Out” of your car stereo’s input jacks.
Your subwoofer should now be receiving signals from your car stereo and will reproduce bass without an amplifier.
Connecting A Horn Loaded Subwoofer Without An Amp
Horn-loaded subwoofers are a type of subwoofer that uses a horn to increase its efficiency. This design allows the subwoofer to produce more bass without using an amplifier.
Many horn-loaded subwoofers have RCA input jacks, which makes it easy to connect them to a car stereo without an amplifier.
Once again, you’ll make use of an RCA cable. Find the RCA input jacks on your horn-loaded subwoofer.
Connect one end of your RCA cable to the positive (+) jack and the other end to the negative (-) jack.
Next, locate the RCA output jacks on your car stereo. These are usually located near the speaker outputs or in the rear of the unit.
Connect one end of your RCA cable to the positive (+) output and the other end to the negative (-) output.
Now, turn on your car stereo and adjust the volume to a comfortable level. You should now be able to hear the bass from your horn-loaded subwoofer!
Can I Hook Up Subwoofers Without An Amp?
You might be wondering if you can get away with powering your subwoofer without an amplifier. The short answer is yes, you can. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind if you want to do this.
For starters, the subwoofer will not be as loud as it would be if it were powered by an amp.
This is because an Amp provides ample power to the subwoofer, making it louder. Without an amp, the subwoofer will still produce sound, but it will not be as loud as it could be.
Another thing to keep in mind is that without an amp, the subwoofer may not sound as clear as it could because it will lack power.
So, if you’re looking to save money or don’t want to deal with installing an amp, powering your subwoofer without one is an option. Just know that it won’t sound as loud or clear as it could be.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to connect different types of subwoofers to your car stereo without an amp, you can enjoy the bass from your favorite songs while on the road!
Remember to use high-quality RCA cables and ensure all your connections are secure.
We hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below! We would love to hear from you!
