Adding a subwoofer via LOC

[robbiejames]

I have a 2022 f150 XLT with an 7 speaker system and want to install a couple subs under the back seat. My plan is to use a LOC and I am thinking of just tapping into the rear speakers. I have read a couple different things that are conflicting when it comes to the rear speakers being full range. So hopefully you can clear it up for me. Are the rear speakers full range and if so can I just tap in to the wires at the pillars? If they are not full range what is the best way to connect a LOC?

Sponsored

 

[rugedraw]

I have a 2022 f150 XLT with an 7 speaker system and want to install a couple subs under the back seat. My plan is to use a LOC and I am thinking of just tapping into the rear speakers. I have read a couple different things that are conflicting when it comes to the rear speakers being full range. So hopefully you can clear it up for me. Are the rear speakers full range and if so can I just tap in to the wires at the pillars? If they are not full range what is the best way to connect a LOC?

I believe they are full range. On the F150, I am pretty sure all the rear door speakers are the two-way ones with the tweeter built in.

 

[robbiejames]

I believe they are full range. On the F150, I am pretty sure all the rear door speakers are the two-way ones with the tweeter built in.

So I should be able to tap into the speaker wires in the pillars without any problems, right?

 

[rugedraw]

So I should be able to tap into the speaker wires in the pillars without any problems, right?

I am inclined to say yes. In my case, I tapped into the factory sub to get the signal for my subs. I'm sure someone will chime in to confirm.

 

[robbiejames]

I am inclined to say yes. In my case, I tapped into the factory subs to get the signal for my subs. I'm sure someone will chime in to confirm.

Mine does not have factory subs but if it did then I would follow your lead. Thank you for chiming in, I’m trying to figure it all out

 

[Buyer2021]

You can do a basic definitive empirical test on your truck by playing these files loaded on a USB drive while watching the AC voltage reading on a VOM with probes on the rear-door speaker leads.

Start with the volume very low and ramp-up looking for output at the subwoofer frequencies of interest.

 

[robbiejames]

You can do a basic definitive empirical test on your truck by playing these files loaded on a USB drive while watching the AC voltage reading on a VOM with probes on the rear-door speaker leads.

Start with the volume very low and ramp-up looking for output at the subwoofer frequencies of interest.

I have never heard of doing this but I am willing to try. Just to make sure I understand this correctly I take a multimeter and put the probes to the speaker terminals and set the meter to AC volts? Then play the music and watch to see what the response is?

 

[Buyer2021]

I have never heard of doing this but I am willing to try. Just to make sure I understand this correctly I take a multimeter and put the probes to the speaker terminals and set the meter to AC volts? Then play the music and watch to see what the response is?

Yepper, the analog output to speakers is good old AC volts (at low current). It's the alternating currrent that causes the speaker magnet to move and create the sound with the cone / dome.

Just be sure to start each playback of those files with your volume set very low (or at zero) and ramp up carefully so those pure low-frequency sine wave tones don't damage any speakers receiving a full-range signal connected to the system. Note that depending on your ears, you may not 'hear' the output at lowest frequencies / volume levels, but if the meter responds your speakers are getting the signal and trying to reproduce it

No response on the meter means either the system can't reproduce that frequency or the frequency is filtered on that output.

 

[robbiejames]

Yepper, the analog output to speakers is good old AC volts (at low current).

Just be sure to start each playback of those files with your volume set very low (or at zero) and ramp up carefully so those pure low-frequency sine wave tones don't damage any speakers receiving a full-range signal connected to the system. Note that depending on your ears, you may not 'hear' the output at lowest frequencies / volume levels, but if the meter responds your speakers are getting the signal and trying to reproduce it

No response on the meter means either the system can't reproduce that frequency or the frequency is filtered on that output.

Awesome, thank you for this tip. I will give it go soon.

Sponsored