Ok I bypassed my amp and hooked the Stealthbox directly to the factory sub signal. Buschy, I hear what you are hearing now, and I think it's all relative. You were coming straight from the OEM subs/OEM amp to the Stealthbox/OEM amp. Yes, you are right it sounds much better than the OEM subs. The difference to you is greater than it is to me - I have been using a separate sub and sub amp for two years and have probably forgotten just how pathetic the OEM subs are. I am used to hard hitting tight bass when called for, so the Stealthbox on the OEM amp sounds good, but way underpowered. I can't get it to deliver big enough bass to really feel it.

That said, compared to what I remember of the OEM subs, the Stealthbox has much more bottom end, specially below 50-60hz. Even at lower volumes you can hear deep bass that did not exist with the OEM 'subs'. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the amp is generating more power on the sub channel due to the lower impedance. When cranked up I was surprised to see that factory amp is generating enough power to get the sub to actually move some air (I think OEM is 35 watts per sub @ 8ohms). As Alpac noted, though, the amp was not designed for a 4ohm average load, and this could lead to premature amp failure if cranked a lot.

I'll leave it like this for the rest of the weekend and give it a longer listen. The Stealthbox sounds decent enough on the OEM amp to use until a good dedicated sub amp can be installed. For me, I am already missing my sub amp. It pushes the JL with so much more authority and doesn't have to be cranked to deliver very deep, tight, satisfying sub bass.

Interesting comparison and surprising to see the OEM amp hold it's own with the aftermarket sub. :thumbup:

I put in the amp today, and the bass is too much. I didnt have time to fool with the settings yet, so should be good once I get the setting adjusted, but damn major difference with the amp(of course) but imo this is booming, I mean for what it is. IT way more then I thought it would be. wow!

one more question where did you wire in your remote wire, I actually hooked my power into the box behindt the spare but its a remote so I am going to have to change it directly to the battery tomorrow.

I am using a remote turn-on from the front fuse box. I ran a wire from a switched, empty fuse location back to my amp. There is remote 12v in the trunk area if you don't mind tapping some wires. Alpac's article will help: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/s...ctory-amp.html

I got a dvd player back in the rear, going to tape into that, that makes life easy. thanks

Hey I have an '05 4.4i with factory nav and I bought a stealth box for it. I have not installed it, and had a question about your post. I really do not want a ton of bass, just something to give me some good low sounds strong bass without the car next to me hearing it. Do you think my OEM amp is what I should use? Do you think it will ruin the OEM amp?

Not sure how much bass you are thinking of when you say "strong bass". The Stealthbox will put out some satisfying low end on the factory DSP amp sub channel. It is not loud bass but it is definitely lower, tighter and more substantial than the wimpy OEM subs. I have not heard the Stealthbox connected to a non-DSP OEM stereo, only a DSP stereo.

As far as ruining the amp is concerned: If you continually crank an amp with a speaker than is half the required impedance, you will create more heat and distortion at the amp and it will likely fail earlier. How much earlier... who knows.

The Stealthbox is a great addition for your X. :thumbup:

Interesting post from the past, thanks buschy and all other contributors.

Zero, have you heard the JL stealthbox? in comparison with the route you went?

M

I have not heard the stealth box :dunno: