i was just wondering if you can install a subwoofer without having an amplifier? any answers really appreciated.

No, Your H/U will not have the power to drive a sub. I work in car audio and I have never heard anyone run a sub without an amp.

If it is a cost issue then you could get a cheap amp, until you can afford a good one.

cant be done mate
just go out and buy a cheap 2ch amp or monoblock

No, Your H/U will not have the power to drive a sub. I work in car audio and I have never heard anyone run a sub without an amp.

If it is a cost issue then you could get a cheap amp, until you can afford a good one.


errr wrong,

i have seen a headunit with a 5th channel for a sub to be powered from the deck

you could bridge the rear channels of a high powered deck... if it can handle it....

but why bother.... for $5 you can get any amp and that will be miles better

Run it full pass and bridge the rear speaker outputs. But it will sound like crap......
Dont know how long the head unit will last?:nuts:
Not reccomended. save for an amp, or get some 6x9's if you want bass.

errr wrong,

i have seen a headunit with a 5th channel for a sub to be powered from the deck

The headunits cost twice the price of a sub and amp, and the quality is crap. I don't recommend them and had actually forgotten they existed since no one talks about them anymore.

Also are you sure it was a proper output, or just a sub preout to run into the amp. That is what my Pioneer DVD has, makes the 5.1 sound good.

was just curious cause i already have 2 subs and was just wondering if you could do that looks like ill have to go pick up an amp tomrrow thanks for the replies and skaboy12 where do you work?

You can hook it up and it'll play music, but will sound terrible and won't go very loud, you'd barely be able to hear it. Unless you were to get some 6" woofers, but still you're not going to get WOW bass.

i look at it this way

normal HU = 4x 18wrms

so say approx 36wrms bridged


my sub is 600wrms



i cant imagine any noise comming outta that


sill idea



case closed

Can you even bridge headunit outputs though?

Unless you were to get some 6" woofers, but still you're not going to get WOW bass.
Even so, 6x9"s would kick out more bass than a 6" woofer off a headunit.

Get some Sony XSGF6932X 6x9"s if you haven't got any already, we just put some in our TR ($55 from Strathfield) and its got enough bass to shake the carport roof, and its only just over halfway at that haha.

Even so, 6x9"s would kick out more bass than a 6" woofer off a headunit.

Get some Sony XSGF6932X 6x9"s if you haven't got any already, we just put some in our TR ($55 from Strathfield) and its got enough bass to shake the carport roof, and its only just over halfway at that haha.

Just because you have your windows down and boot open doesn't mean it makes great or accurate bass replication..

You can get low powered subs like the Alpine type S.. Jaycar 2chan A-0424 is under $300 and will power a decent sub.

thanks for the replies and skaboy12 where do you work?

Strathfield, here in Canberra

Just because you have your windows down and boot open doesn't mean it makes great or accurate bass replication..
Aye? Never said it would be great bass (although I reckon its pretty good), but it is definitely more than any subwoofer being powered off the head unit.

And for the record, the windows were up, doors shut and the boot was closed.

Aye? Never said it would be great bass (although I reckon its pretty good), but it is definitely more than any subwoofer being powered off the head unit.

And for the record, the windows were up, doors shut and the boot was closed.
Technically it's not bass... it's a midrange frequency.

no i know where to stay clear of.

Possible. You need a sensitive sub (like a Jaycar polycone) 10" or preferably a 12" in a ported enclosure. High powered subs and small sealed boxes need not apply.

I wouldn't be trying to bridge a HU, not designed for it. Highpass needed.

Dont expect loads of bass, but you may be suprised at the results. Did it in my first car prior to running an amplifier. 2 X 12" Jaycar polycones, worked better than you might expect.

Get a DVC 2 ohm sub to really push the crap out of your headunit. With the Pioneers with direct sub drive they will run it 70W @ 2ohm ( that is Max power!! ).

Who can't afford $250 for the Jaycar 2x 150WRMS amp? Do it right, do it once.

forgive my ignorance but dont most aftermarket headunits have rca outputs on the back of em? AFAIK i thought they were for a sub OR amp and you select on the stereo which you are using....may not be huge power but would still work. Maybe he dosn't want to buy an amp or run cables etc?????

yes but u still need an amp...

The headunit puts out very little power, not enough to drive a sub with any authority. You could get small 6" subs possibly. But there are no cheap ways around audio, u get what u pay for.

If you want budget audio go jaycar. good bang for buck.

forgive my ignorance but dont most aftermarket headunits have rca outputs on the back of em? AFAIK i thought they were for a sub OR amp and you select on the stereo which you are using....may not be huge power but would still work. Maybe he dosn't want to buy an amp or run cables etc?????
RCA preouts are for audio signal output to an Amplifier.

Please feel free to correct me, but the RCA preouts only output enough power to transfer the signal, if you plug a speaker in I'm fairly confident you will get nothing, maybe a little whisper from a small speaker, but thats at most.

RCA preouts are for audio signal output to an Amplifier.

Please feel free to correct me, but the RCA preouts only output enough power to transfer the signal, if you plug a speaker in I'm fairly confident you will get nothing, maybe a little whisper from a small speaker, but thats at most.


No need for correction... all you will get is a voltage hiss.. no sound from RCA Pre outs.