Toward the end of track 23 on the DVD that comes with the car, the subwoofer channel is demonstrated. The narrator says, "Though subtle, it greatly enhances the experience." Well, it was so subtle that I could barely hear it, even with the volume cranked up. Didn't "feel" anything either. How loud should it be? What does yours sound/feel like?

Has anyone tried the demo disk in their home DVD audio or home theater set up? How does it compare to the experience in the TL?

 

The subwoofer is not too subtle, its just mixed very subtle on that particular song. I've found its very strong on other tracks.

 

On the Sound screen you can increase the Sub.

 

I thought so too. In fact, at first I thought it wasn't even there, like they didn't connect the speakers or something. Then I turned up the Subwoofer channel in the options, and it's now audible.

Audible, but weak. I'm fixing that today.
I'm having the sub from my old car put into this one - a box with 2 10" subwoofers and an amp to drive them. The install place is going to put them on the speaker line leading to the stock subwoofer, so I'll be able to control it from there.
That should help fill out the lows and low-mids.

 

I agree. After I had my sub installed a listened to that demo again, it sounded almost the same as it did with the stock sub.

 

the stock subwoofer is so subtle I cant hear it...I may look to upgrade some components of my stereo...the CD sound isnt so hot. DVDA rocks though!

 

It is probably a good idea to FIRST replace the driver with one with better frequency response and higher efficiency. This can greatly increase the output with no other mods.

With ALL OEM car stereos the weakest part is the drivers.

 

Turn that "mo-fo" over to track 21, and let ol' Missy show you a trick. She'll have that sub jumpin'. Sheeeeeit!

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

 

Got the subs put in last night, and it sounds GREAT now. I still need to tweak it a bit, but I can now feel the lows, not just hear them.

Nothing overpowering, just enough to truly accent whatever music is playing.

 

Gronk what sub did you replace the stocks with ? I am not happy with the amount of base either in my car. It's ok but i want a little more

 

I had a sub box from my previous car. It has 2 10" Rockford Fosgate Punch speakers in it.
Not necessarily the best quality subs out there, but I figure they'd suit my purposes just fine without having to spend money on a new setup.

 

SO GRONK YOU put a 1 t0 inch were the 6inch sub was or you just put the box in the car

 

I have a 97 Toyota Celica and I am looking at the TL now. My Celica factory premium JBL with 8 speakers ((2) 8.5 in woofers in doors (2) 4" mids and (2) pillar mounted tweeters plus 2 6x9s in rear- 240 watts with Harmon Kardon amp). I think my old Celica still pumps out more clear bass than the TL. Toyota's premiums rule !!!!

 

If you can hear a sub its not paired appropriately. A sub should always be invisible. You should only know its there if you turn it off. Listen to any deep track and turn it off in the controls, then you will "notice" it.

 

I totally agree, that was how I tested my subwoofer. Try turning the SW all the way down and THEN listen to Missy. Definitely not the same.

Having survived the piece of sh*t BOSE system in the 2G TL, with a crappy, muddy, subwoofer, the TL system is miles better. It is one of the best stock systems I've ever experienced, and I'm keeping it stock.

 

Actually, a high quality subwoofer designed for reproducing live (meaning unamplified) music is supposed to be subtle. A subwoofer shouldn't be something that you hear all the time, just when it is needed. The subwoofer should let you know that it's there, but not draw your attention to it.

The ELS sound system is the first car audio system that I have heard this done right in. The bass response is quite smooth and flat down to 30 Hz, which is difficult to acheive in even most home theater systems. In a lot of car audio systems the frequency response drops like a rock after around 55 to 50 Hz (where there's a huge boost before the drop-off to seem like there's a deeper bass response - Bose / JBL anybody?).

I know that there's a lot of folks out there that prefer an unnaturally large amount of bass and subwoofer response, and that's cool. You can replace the speakers & amps as you wish to get the sound that you like.

I'm just glad that Panasonic/ELS went the route they did to provide a "flatter" sound, because it's much easier to add to a sound system by replacing components than it is to subtract. If the ELS sound system designed a heavily boosted bass response, it would be almost impossible to remove the artifacts without turning off all of the bass altogether, even if speakers/amps were replaced.

 

Nitrotiger - the original 6" sub is still in there and functional. The additional 10's are using the same singnal that goes to the 6", just to give it that tangible *BUMP* when the kick drum hits.

 

My sub was set to its weakest setting when I got the car, changing it to 5 has helped.

 

I also like things flat. While the sound system has some flaws, I think it is incredibly well balanced. I had planned on putting in new amps and speakers but I am hesitant to do this after realizing how balance things are.

 

A properly set-up sub fills in the bottom octave without bringing attention to itself. However, most people prefer to boost the lower octave. Boomy car stereos and home theater systems are good examples of the second group.

 

Some music calls for a boosted bass sound. This is why I like the Infinity Basslink. I have a knob within arms reach I can use to adjust the Basslink without affecting the stock sub. For some music I have the gain at 0(off), the stock sub is more than adequate for this music. If I'm listening to some King-T or something of the like, I want to hear that boom. This is when I turn up the Basslink.

 

Agreed. Most stock audio in the cars I've had sucked as far as balance is concerned and a single treble and bass adjustment only made things worse.

In the 04 TL, I've found that I've rarely had to fiddle with anything. Not all music is recorded with (or should even have) butt jigglin' bass. On those albums that *should* (and do) have that kind of bass (i.e. Crystal Method - Legion of Boom), I find that the ELS responds quite nicely without further adjustment.

Than again, I'm probably what most consider old school. I don't think *any* music warrants the kind of bass you hear coming from the j-kwon-playin-23"-spinners-make-all-cars-around-ya-rattle-escalades.

Just me, I guess.

 

Not just you, maecrispy!

 

<---getting on my audiophile high horse...bear with me.

The bass in the TL is simply outstanding. With all controls centered the sound is pretty darn accurate. Only thing I do is boost the treble one notch.

Most folks haven't heard what a good stereo sounds like. If it doesn't BOOM-SIZZLE then they assume it is reproducing music poorly. To each their own I guess but IMHO the stereo in the TL is top notch and one of the main reasons I bought one.

I used to install car stereos way back and I'm not sure if I could ever get the even tone the ELS system puts out with an aftermarket stereo without some serious EQ work.

As others have said if you notice the sub, then its too hot.