That's a great write-up. Thanks for posting. Ordering some of the posi-taps as we speak to keep in my electrical tool box. I'd be curious to know what your existing OEM stereo is, and how you like the new sub once you get it dialed in to your tastes. I'm equally curious how you like the Rockville product, as I'm going to need to do some updates/amp replacements on the boat soon and don't want to blow $1000 per amp for three amps. Appreciate any follow-up impressions on quality and sound you want to provide over the coming months.

Back in about 2017-2018, I did a similar upgrade as part of a full system changeout in my son's 2000 F150. Santa also brought him a new head unit, powered sub, and later on some Infinity Reference speakers. The sub is a Kenwood in a square format (kind of odd but it works), and was easy to install much like you found. Run a few wires, get everything situated, and then spend a good bit of time tuning and adjusting. Much like you've said, the powered sub isn't going to win any bass contests, but it will absolutely fill the cab of his F150 Supercab with more bass than you want. He has it adjusted down well below max gain and overall the system sounds excellent. Classic rock, country, pop, and jazz all sound very good. Better than most OEM systems and when he got it tuned the way he likes, he played "Something About You" by Boston, and absolutely blew the doors off the truck. Another one we've really enjoyed in his cab is "Highway Song" by Blackfoot. There's more, for sure. Glad you're finding the powered sub to be to your liking. I'll heartily recommend that if you have the OEM head unit, you consider the Infinity speakers. Infinity used to make the Reference at 4ohms, and the Kappa at 2ohms, I think. But both now appear to be 3ohm, and the Primus is 2.7ohm. I think you'd be fine with any of those. I may upgrade my 2011 Pro4X RF system to some Kappas or Reference soon enough. Relatively inexpensive upgrade and if the sound is as good as what my son's got, I'll be all set. Maybe I should add a powered sub behind the rear seat as a second to the decent but not as tunable sub under the driver's seat? Might get a wild hair and change out that cone to something with more definition to it, but really, I'm very pleased with the RF. Speakers have a dozen years of fairly hard use on them though, so time to think about changing them out.

 

The truck is an "S" model with what I assume is the most basic system it could come with. At the time I bought the truck I was just happy it came with Android Auto and a decent-sized screen.

I stopped by the hardware store this morning and picked up a longer bolt to secure the sub.

Going with the Rockville sub was a bit of a risk. I liked the form factor, the features, and the price point so I decided to give it a chance. I played around with the system some more this morning after securing the sub. As long as it doesn't break, I think it will be fine.

Funny you mention putting a square Kenwood in your son's truck; I put a similar (maybe the same) Kenwood sub in a 1994 Silverado back in 2016. I was very happy with it, so happy that I moved it to my 2018 Sierra a few years later. For what it's worth, that Kenwood is still in the Sierra and still working (now owned by my son).

I currently have this Pioneer sub under the seat of my 2019 Audi TT. It is similar to the Kenwood. I installed the Pioneer because it was a perfect fit under the seat. It also sounds fantastic.

I will say the best-sounding powered sub I have personally installed in a car I owned was a 10" Rockford Fosgate unit. It is bigger and significantly more money, but man oh man, it hit super hard. It was in a little Honda Fit (totaled by my son...).

As for front door/dash speakers, for $75, I may have to go with the Rockford front speakers I had in the Fit...

 

You guys must be a couple old dudes from my era...especially talking about songs I actually know and not some of the crap that's out today. I'm 53 by-the-way, old by my kids standards!

 

My favorite were fosgate 12s and i didnt have particular amp i liked but speakers were fosgate. I had a pull-out sony in a car that was great. And i had some Kenwoods and some super duper expensive head unit that were awesome, and i cannot think of the brand but it was the first radio i had that you could put a memory stick in for music. This was around 05 to 07.

I normally had a decent head unit, amp, crossover, nids, highs, subs, and a large equalizer to tune everything.

But i always ran fosgate series 1 12s for subs. I had 4 in my 65 mustang and 4 in my 85 f150 extended cab.

I did have some infinity 12 subs that were nice too, that last time i had subs in a car, though.

But, i got my license in the 90s and grew up riding with my friend and his dad in a nissan hardbody lowered with a shell and subs while cruising to Huntington beach, long beach, and newport on the weekends. And back then you could go to the city park snd see all the low riders, or the mains strip in town, for inspiration on cool cars

 

Those little amp / sub combos are wild. This is the first time I've ever ACTUALLY seen one other than like on crutchfield and stuff. I always found tapped speaker wires for the signal wires less quality than running RCA's but it's not like you're entering car stereo competitions and stuff and for 99% of people it's fine. Stock speakers are the first to go in all my vehicles, but the only car I ever actually cared to do an amp / sub install was my Z32. I'll have to get a pic of the custom built amp / box cover later when I'm home.

300w bridged amp to 1 x 12" sub. Thumps enough for me in a hatch back and I"m not trying to rattle the whole neighborhood (but it will running that 600w RMS)

 

Kid Clean and I are from the same era. Turned 53 not too long ago myself. And yes, it was a real treat when my kids started getting into "good music" as opposed to the junk out today. I will say there are a few true rock acts out in the last few years I like. Among them, Three Doors Down had a great string of hits and albums (look how I dated myself there...) back in the last couple of decades. There are a few others. On the country music side, I'm pleased to see that the BroCountry and HickHop era is crashing and burning, finally. Almost killed Country music. Now, to be sure, I'm as old school as they come in that area, too, but love some of the new stuff coming out. If you haven't heard it, check this out. It's hilarious, good fun, all of what Country ought to be. And there's a surprise guest...

@Rikki-Tikki-Tavi - I appreciate the info on your experience with powered subs. I'm seriously considering one for behind the rear seat in the Titan (and some Infinity speakers for the doors/dash). Every now and then I get the project bug. And yes, same Kenwood sub. It's really a great piece of audio kit. The price/benefit ratio is strong! I like the Rockford, but I don't think it will fit where I want to put it in the T. Probably try either the Rockville or the Kenwood and see what happens. Either should fit behind the seat, I think. Have to measure the space for the KW, as it may be just slightly too thick.

 

Ah yes, the "good old days"... I am enjoying all the nostalgic talk here. I too am old (-ish). I went ahead and ordered those Rockford front speakers yesterday; they will be here today. Gotta love Crutchfield. I placed my first order from their "mail-order" catalog back in 1986. Speaking of Crutchfield, attached is a late Christmas gift for anyone needing 2nd gen Titan audio install help...

 

Linking front speaker installation here

 

I graduated from HS in 1980, which makes a bit on the older side. With the improvements in technology in cars and for many, just how integrated the stereos have become with all the other controls and tech in the cars, and with the size and shape far beyond double-din, there is a trend to just accept what you have with no desire to change it.
I remember in HS, what you had as a head unit, speakers and subs ran a close second to what you had under the hood for many, and for some, what was under the hood was irrelevant.
I recall many a day, laying on our backs in the floor board or trunk, trying to wire in power and speaker connections, figuring out crossovers and equalizers, taking our learned "experience" over to a buddy's house to help him with his car/truck, all the while saying that one day, when we had money, we would just have the local car audio shop do all the hardwork for us.
I think I changed the head unit in my Camaro 4 times counting the factory unit, each time for a newer model with new features and functionality, changing door and rear speakers a couple time.
Last car I really did any audio work on was a 97 Jeep Wrangler, upgrade the head unit and new speakers in the sound bar.
On the 2009 Jeep JK, I upgraded the head unit from the base model to a Pioneer display unit, but I paid BestBuy to do that one.
I am attacked and intrigued by the Phoenix units, I and still just hanging in with the stock unit.

I think that my sons have missed out on being a "stereo head" and working on them in cars.
And I am relieved that they have matured into appreciating good music as well

 

I graduated from HS in 1980, which makes a bit on the older side...

Man, what is the median age of the Nissan Titan owner? Do we have that data here at TT?

 

 

 

well, I never thought my fond recollections on working on audio systems in previous century would be over shadowed by the fact I graduated HS in 1980, but hey, here we are. . I am not bothered in the least by being almost 62, I hope everyone here makes it to 62 and beyond.

At least I am not as old as Robert Duvall....

 

...I am not bothered in the least by being almost 62...

Just keep saying that over and over... You've got me by 4 years by the way.

At least I am not as old as Robert Duvall....

Alexa tells me he is 93.

 

My lovely bride turned 50 not too long ago. She looks about 35. She hates birthdays. I keep telling her there are two alternatives and despite the costs I'll take birthdays every time.

 

How does she feel about my powered subwoofer install? On a serious note, you had previously mentioned an affinity for Infinity speakers. Two powered subs to consider:

Infinity BassLink SM 2- (~$349) This one is a bit pricey, however, I think it would fit well tucked behind the Titan's back seat, and it is a luxurious piece of gear. I should have sprung for this one...

Or this Infinity BassLink Mini (~$289). I almost bought one of these before Xmas. It was on sale for $179-ish, maybe Black Friday. I passed on it and the price went back up... It's also a nice piece and would fit easily anywhere.

Or t