Where's My Bass?

[ThatGuy]

Hi Guys
First post here, great site, very helpful.
I'm having one issue that someone with a Titan LE (or anyone else of course) might be able to answer for me.
OK, I just picked up a 2004 LE, it's like new with every bell and whistle.

It has Nav, DVD etc. and (as per the sticker) 350-Watt Rockford Fosgate Powered Audio System AM/FM CD6 Stereo w/10 Spkrs Incl. Sbwfer & Cntr Spkr.......... OK, so that sounds reasonable but because I'm not looking at an actual radio (all built in with the nav. etc) I can only control the radio with a push of the audio button and then I find a couple of cheesy sliders.
I've got the bass up to full but in a word, it Sucks!

Is there any way to get any more bass out of this thing?
I don't want to drive the streets making peoples windows explode or anything but I'd like a little more bass than I'm getting right now. The system description sounds OK but I'm thinking that Fisher Price may have made it.

The system certainly seems loud enough but the controls for bass, treble etc. don't seem worth a light!
I just want some more bass, any ideas?
Thanks so much.
(no solution = ripping that thing out real soon)

[ttugrad95]

I've never listened to the RF system but could your expectations of how much bass it produces be a little high? I believe the sub is under the driver's seat, have you confirmed it is working?

[grunge311]

gut it and get some new better stuff.

or you can just get a tube and put it under the rear seat if all you want is a little more bass

[faith+1]

From what I have trolled around and seen is most people think the RF is a decent "Factory" system, heck they somehow figured out how to get more wattage than possible (theoretically speaking).

If you have standards like.. a real system you put in your last vehicle... You are going to be like me... dissapointed with the RF and want to rip it out... however.. I didnt want to do that until I got my baby ready to tear up the trails and I have to now save money again.. vicious cycle of things.....

either rate.. There is no real easy way to get more bass out of the RF... It just sucks beyond all belief if you have ever had a decent system before. What guys have done (Very well to boot) is show us how they ran and installed the amps and new speakerwires / subs everything. Some of these guys just make me mad cuz I wish I could do it... Id screw something up though.

Hope this helps look at my sig for the RF part haha

[Mr. B]

I enhance my bass by hitting on my steering wheel with my fist to the beat....try it before you laugh at me.....it even makes my outside mirrors vibrate like the cool system I had in my T-Bird.....back in the 80's.

[Blackbeauty]

Originally Posted by Mr. B

I enhance my bass by hitting on my steering wheel with my fist to the beat....try it before you laugh at me.....it even makes my outside mirrors vibrate like the cool system I had in my T-Bird.....back in the 80's.

Thanks Mr. B! I just spewed coffee all over my monitor & keyboard!

Seriously, though, I get a massage when I play certain CD's in my truck. Even the Sirius radio booms through my sub under the driver's seat. Now, I haven't ever had a "real" system that would walk the vehicle up steps just by cranking the stereo, so I can't compare it to anything like that. I have noticed that most of my older CD's have MUCH worse sound engineering and the quality just isn't there. (DUH!) But a lot of the newer CD's I play vibrate the whole truck! I'd definitely check out the connections or the sub itself. Whether you like the music or not, try it with a newer CD that is pretty rocking.

[bestatchess]

You can keep the RF HU, NAV & replace speakers & sub & amps and have a decent system.

I used a Navone 4 channel LOC, Scosche NN03 & NN03 R harnesses, an Audio Control Matrix pre-amp, 2 sets of edesign components, a couple of amps, a capacitor, an Optima blue top battery, a 200 amp alternator, & some sound deadening. With an 04, you can make an amp rack for the rear cab wall as there is no power rear window mechanism in the way.

Check Sammy Sandbags gallery for photos.

JL audio has a stealth box with two 10's that should be fairly easy to install if you are looking for an easy solution to just add bass. I think a problem with just adding an amp & subs is that you may have some sheet metal resonating w/o adding sound deadening.

[ttugrad95]

Originally Posted by Mr. B

I enhance my bass by hitting on my steering wheel with my fist to the beat....try it before you laugh at me.....it even makes my outside mirrors vibrate like the cool system I had in my T-Bird.....back in the 80's.

I sat in this stereo chair once many many years ago. Had two small speakers that went by your ears and the chair simulated bass by vibrating. Since the bass frequencies that you can really feel are below the human hearing range any way it was a good simulation.

I think its a long jump from wanting a little more bass to a full system re-do. I don't want that much any more. I get on here and start thinking about adding a sub of some kind to get a little better sound and I get in my truck and find myself listening to AM talk radio. I'm getting old.

[faith+1]

Originally Posted by ttugrad95

I sat in this stereo chair once many many years ago. Had two small speakers that went by your ears and the chair simulated bass by vibrating. Since the bass frequencies that you can really feel are below the human hearing range any way it was a good simulation.

I think its a long jump from wanting a little more bass to a full system re-do. I don't want that much any more. I get on here and start thinking about adding a sub of some kind to get a little better sound and I get in my truck and find myself listening to AM talk radio. I'm getting old.

Talk radio in the office, good music in the truck :-) Depends on the mood though...

[jerbroni]

My opinion is that the RF system in my 06 LE is excellent for a factory stereo. I have had good systems in the past, and I will eventually have one in the Titan, but I'm just not ready to start tearing it up while it still smells new. The bass is pretty weak when I'm listening to the radio, but it hits pretty good on +2 when listening to mp3's.

[grunge311]

Originally Posted by ttugrad95

I sat in this stereo chair once many many years ago. Had two small speakers that went by your ears and the chair simulated bass by vibrating. Since the bass frequencies that you can really feel are below the human hearing range any way it was a good simulation.

I think its a long jump from wanting a little more bass to a full system re-do. I don't want that much any more. I get on here and start thinking about adding a sub of some kind to get a little better sound and I get in my truck and find myself listening to AM talk radio. I'm getting old.

The vibrating things you are talking about are ~35$ from parts express, back when I had a spare open channel I was going to put one in for ****s and giggles but I got rid of that amp and don't have the spare channel anymore.

[ttugrad95]

Originally Posted by grunge311

The vibrating things you are talking about are ~35$ from parts express, back when I had a spare open channel I was going to put one in for ****s and giggles but I got rid of that amp and don't have the spare channel anymore.

At the time it was probably a $5000+ chair. lol

[ThatGuy]

Well Thanks Guys
I appreciate your answers, most of which are more entertaining than my RF lol.
I did forget to mention that CD's sound great and I'm generally happy with with the original set-up so I think that for now, I'll go with a combination of the most amusing answers and see how it goes!

Thanks again, I enjoyed the read

[faith+1]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

Well Thanks Guys
I appreciate your answers, most of which are more entertaining than my RF lol.
I did forget to mention that CD's sound great and I'm generally happy with with the original set-up so I think that for now, I'll go with a combination of the most amusing answers and see how it goes!

Thanks again, I enjoyed the read

I want a report when you hit your steering wheel as to if it does or doesnt enhance the "effect" lol! (If you dont mind )

I would also agree that for some reason those guys got the CD Player 10000000% dead on.. but who the hell listens to CD's when you got Sirius Car Portable, MP3 Players, and other IPODish type things ?

Okay so I dont I have 6 disks in but Im much happier with an MP3 or Sirius than CD's any day.

[RaDaRkInG]

That is too funny.