lacking input power?

[dcyphure]

I used to have an OEM converter (David Navone engineering NV 7 with 10 volts pream output). connected from rear OEM speakers and HU, to the NV 7 to a RF amp, L7 sub. I always had amp gains at 0 and sounded fine...i still have sub and amp. Now i have Pioneer UB4200 HU 4 volts preamp output....now i have to turn gains at max, along with Amp 40hz 18db bassboost....AND HU bassboost along with Loud mode on high...just to get the bass i used to get.

I even put my sub into a 3.3 ft3 ported enclosure (previously posted about, i ended up using two 4 inch ports) and its not any louder really. So i swapped that to a JL Audio w3v3 sealed just to test and it too had no more or less bass output. UNLESS i max out the gain, and all the bass boost options i have. at this point it actually sounds pretty decent...but this can't be right.

Does my HU not have enough output? what can i do?

i do have a kicker crossover that has 8 volt preamp outs, but would rather not hassle with more wiring or possibly make system more difficult to configure.

I should also note that the 6.5's fronts i upgraded to, are connected to a JL Audio 450.4 and i also had to turn gain up to about half way just so i didnt have to turn volume knob 10 times....seriously, volume goes to 100 and takes like 10 turns to get to 70 which is loudest i'd listen to, but i have 2 tweeters hooked to HU so i had to adjust gain to compensate to tweeter loudness, but sub amp gain has to be full blast with bass boost and loudness on...something is wrong. Either way, IF i use FLAT EQ settings at HU...everything sounds like an old clock radio, dull and lifeless no matter what gains are at or if i use bass boost or not.

so i think my HU sucks.

[BboyTaktix]

I had a similar problem on my subs after i did some custom work in my trunk and hooked up a 4-channel. The reason for my problem is because different head units have different input sensitivity (gain) ranges. My amp had 3 settings for input sensitivity from the head unit. These settings were: 1) 0.2-0.6V 2) 0.6-2V 3)2-6V

Depending on the head unit, the settings changed. IF I don't have my clarion double din head unit set to the first setting, I hardly got any bass at all. The appropriate setting depends on each head unit. Don't know if this helps In your case or not.

[dcyphure]

ok, maybe that does help. I restarted my HU to factory default and played with it. Amount of bass varies depending on variations of several settings. I have Bass Volume, Bass Boost, Loudness (which is just a lows and highs booster) Also a "Compressed" music booster (which also boosts lows) along with a standard EQ 100hz to 8khz which doesnt effect my subs due to LP Filter. i just don't know what settings i should leave alone or not.

My JL Audio amp has 2 settings for input sensitivity from HU, bass boost and gain. RF (sub) amp only has bassboost and gain.

too many settings. Should i just max out my RF Amp gain and don't use any bass boost or try not to? each bass option i have except for sub volume seems to effect how the subs sound. HU bass boost is too boomy, Amp bass boost makes my car rattle like a tin can. Loudness makes everything sound fuller and brighter but doesnt hit hard at all. MP3 booster makes it sound like total crap but changing them all to various levels sounds decent but something sounds muddy still...might be my box and or car accoustics.

so now i'm considering going back to sealed. but gonna play with settings some more and i still have an MTX 1501d amp to replace my RF amp. Either way, this new vented box is not any louder than sealed and Bassbox Pro shows it being 6 db's louder at 40hz area than my previous sealed. Then again, its car audio...is anyone ever really satisfied with them?