Subwoofer install in OEM location on 400DA - What gives?

[Wylie_Tunes]

Space is not an issue, since you have a proper IB woofer.

Flex can be an issue.

Still need get a dedicated input into each chnl of the amp. Splitting that single output into the amp, cuts the line level in half. This results in that higher gain level.

Now that you have a fuller range of signal to the amp, its time to set it correctly. Gain is not the only setting on the amp that limits the woofers performance.

 

[Craig]

So I'm just now back from a week on the boat. Had a blast. I got a lot of projects done during the week but I would say the audio project is still 15% "open".

I did confirm that I had the sub crossover setting on the Fusion head unit set at 50hz. Changing this to the highest setting (250 I believe) made a noticeable difference. I was able to bring the sub level down substantially as a result, mid-teens now.

I think I'm probably functioning normally at this point with maybe only the flex/space issue changing the way this sub performs when I compare it to my other. I'd say it's plenty loud now but I still don't love how high I have the gain on the amp.

I did not have a chance to remove my couch but just to clarify - I am connected to the Zone 1 sub out on the head unit. There was some question over whether or not it is a stereo out vs mono out. I haven't confirmed this yet. But I'm 76% sure it was a mono-out, hence the Y RCA adapter being used. I still plan to confirm this....eventually.

In terms of the overall system setup I will someday want to add something aft facing and maybe even something in the anchor locker. I hope to keep this boat a while so why not make it just the way I want it....

I would set all your head unit filters to "pass through" if your are using the filters on the amp. Then just adjust gain. I don't think I have ever set gains on a amp with a multimeter that sounded good to my ear. Always seems to sound better a little higher.

 

[OllieC]

Sure enough, it's bridged. Like a champ. I have the sub-out from the Fusion head unit connected to a "Y" RCA adapter, L+R inputs into the amp and bridged on the way out. The amp has a built in low pass crossover which is active. Passover frequency has been toyed with but I left it at something just under 100hz. Sub level on the head unit is at 24 or 27 which is the max on the Fusion unit. I reversed polarity just for kicks, no noticeable change in performance.

I'm going to assume the confines of the gunwale are the problem unless I can find some other smoking gun. The solution is cheap...fortunately.

For kicks, here is what the amp install looks like before I completed cleaning up the cables. Nothing fancy, nothing terribly tricky. I simply replaced the OEM setup with something I've used before with very good results.

Looks great btw.
She's bridged alright.