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Hi guys,
I've recently bought a Sony CDX-CA900 headunit for my 9n, which has a separate sub out connection at the back. In the manual it shows you could connect it directly to an active sub. bear in mind i'm a newbie at ice, is this a new feature or do i still need an amp for better sound quality? I don't want to invest too much if I don't have to, just want the bass asap
Thanks everyone!

you will still need an amp, It just means that this is were you will plug the amp for the sub into instead of using the rear amp channel.

The stereo will have a seperate EQ for the sub which will controll this output. Hope this helps

so what kind of an amp do i need? is there amps for subs or is an amp an amp? is there channels with different specs on amps for subs or does it not matter where the speakers and subs go? should i go for a 3 channel amp if i want to hook my rear speakers and my sub together? sorry for the level of questions but this is my first encounter with ice

thanks a lot, cheers

If you only want the sub to be amped you will only need a single channel amp but these can be expensive, the other thing to do is to buy a 2 channel which is bridgable.

Its not a good idea to link up subs and 6*9's on the smae amp coz then you will get only bass through the 6*9's or you will get music through the sub.

You need to know what sort of amprage your sub is before you can decide on what kind of amp you need, A thing to remember about amps is that you get what you pay for so it's better to settle for a ??? amp just because it is £x cheaper than the next one.

Hope this makes some sense

You can connect an active sub straight up to that connection in the HU. An active sub means the amplifier is already built into the sub, so yo won't need an extra amp. These don't really look like subs in the normal sense, they're usually in a closed box which is bigger than usual. People like alpine, vibe and JBL all make active subs for about £200 i think.

If you are looking for a good, simple setup, then this is probably the way to go.

The other way, is to get a 2 channel bridgable amp, with a passive subwoofer, and connect it to the preouts on the HU. THis is much more common and a bit more complex to install and set up. Cost is probably about the same as an active one.

I personally wouldn't bother with 6x9s as the sub is plenty good enough bass for me. Remember, less is more!

John

thanks!! i think i'll go with the active sub to avoid extra cabling + effort.

the amount of cabling will be exactly the same though wouldnt it?

logistix wrote:Hi guys,
I've recently bought a Sony CDX-CA900 headunit for my 9n, which has a separate sub out connection at the back. In the manual it shows you could connect it directly to an active sub. bear in mind i'm a newbie at ice, is this a new feature or do i still need an amp for better sound quality? I don't want to invest too much if I don't have to, just want the bass asap
Thanks everyone!

There are two kinds of subs: active ones and passive ones.

The active subs are allready pre-amplified and DO NOT need an amplifier. You just need to connect them to your HU.

The passive subs aren't pre-amplified and therefore you'll need an amplifier because de power output of the HU won't be enought to get your sub pumping!

Well the cabling would just be to the sub only. not from amp to sub as well, so slightly less wires. It is less hassle I'm sure!

John