I wanted more bass, but didn't want to install any subs yet. I just wanted simplicity for now. Maybe next summer I'll install more, but for now, this will do.

Anyway, I have a RF Punch 100 DSM that has been in more cars than I have women. The factory system sounds OK, but it could always use help.

I went to Wal*Mart to look to see what line level converters they had, but the only one they had was this Scosche unit.



It was under $18 but I've used it before and didn't find it very user friendly. I wanted something easier to set up.

So I went to Best Buy and asked someone in their car audio department if they had any type of line level converter. He said they did, then went back into the installation dept. and brought out one of these.



It's made by Rockford Corp. and cost me $25.99 + tax.

It works quite well. All I did was jump off the speaker wires going to the subwoofer, installed my amp, hooked it to the factory sub, played with the gains on both the converter and the amp, and presto-chango; I have more bass.

Granted, the factory sub has its limits, so I don't have a whole lot more bass, but it's certainly enough to notice and puts a smile on my face, for now.

Just wanted to let everyone know what was out there.

 

yeah thats cool, I actually own both of those convertors and had the last one in my Ion for a while

 

i was thinking about doing the same thing!

 

that scosche unit is the same on crutchfield sells to do the job..... what kind of problems did you have with it? The rockford corp one looks very simple and easy to hide. I may go that route.... was the scosche just a piece of junk or is it useable?

 

First off, IIRC, it requires an outside power source. I didn't want to mess with that.

Second, it's basically set up for through-put in order to work properly. I suppose if you just had four speakers and no sub it would work well for you. But, IMO, it would be cheaper and easier to just jump off the rear speaker wires into another type of line-level converter. The time I used it, I helped a friend hook it up in his '00 Cavy. It works well if you intend to use it to its fullest potential, but it was a lot more than I needed.

Thirdly, it's somewhat confusing for what I wanted. There are gains for each input/through-put & the more for the output to the RCA outs. And each channel is labeled A-B-C-etc. But only certain ones can be use in order to use the RCA outs.

Fourthly, not that I needed it, but if you need a cross-over, this doesn't have one. The unit I bought didn't either, but as I said, I didn't need one. The factory amp already has one so jumping off the sub wires worked well for me.

Fifthly, the Install Edge converter was easy to use. AAMOF, I didn't cut one factory wire. I pinned each wire on the converter and stuffed them into the factory plug coming from the factory amp. Then I bent the wires back around toward the plug and black taped them to the plug inself. Now they can't accidently be pulled out.

Then, for the wires from my RF amp to the sub, I just cold cut the speaker wires. I didn't strip the insulation or split them down the middle. I just slowly and gently worked each pair of wires over the pins coming off the sub, being careful not to bend the pins. The pins slid up into the insullation jackets and meshed with the wires inside.

Then, again, I looped the wires around back on the plug and taped the wires to the outside of the plug.

For the remote lead I just ran a wire up the fuse box in the center console and tapped into the sunroof fuse.

I guess I should have taken pictures to give you a better idea. It was really quite easy. I spent about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes hooking up the converter and amp, then another 1/2 hour playing with the gains to get the sound just right.

Personally, I like more front stage in my car(s). I normally keep the Cobalt's fader three ticks from the center detent toward the front. The way I set up my gains was...

1. I set the fader all the way to the front. I don't know if any of you have done this, but it completely turns down all audio to the subwoofer. At least in my '07 it does.

2. I set the bass level two clicks above the center to give me the best bass (no distortion) from the front speakers at 3/4 volume. That was using bass heavy music (Hip-Hop). Your tastes (read audio sensativity) may differ from mine.

3. I set the gains on the line-level converter to the middle.

4. I returned the fader setting to my prefference (three bars biased toward the front).

5. I adjusted the gains on the amp so the bass from the sub is audible, but doesn't drown out the bass from the front speakers. This took quite a few trips from the front seat to the trunk, but I eventually got it.

Now, I have ample bass that doesn't sound like it's all coming from the trunk. If I listen to other types of music (or different radio stations that have different levels of bass) I can easily adjust the bass level on the factory radio to my taste and the balance of bass from the front speakers and the rear sub remains the same.

 

Pretty good bit of information, thanks! I'm pretty sure I'll use the rockford corp converter.