Kenwood KSC-SW11 Compact Powered Enclosed Subwoofer for CAR

I'm Lou, writing this review for this product we purchased through Mary's Prime account. I'm writing the review because frankly, I don't understand the negative reviews.I've retailed and repped boutique home audio. I've installed custom tri amped car stereo with DSP and all the trimmings. As a custom home builder, I've installed acoustically isolated and optimized home theatre. I've generally been an audio tweak.For our 2002 Odyssey, which just never breaks down and continues as our second vehicle, I wanted to keep it simple and I didn't want to give up any cargo space or passenger comfort. I wanted to invoke appropriate technology, application and cost.You need to know what else I put in the car to understand the review: it's an audio system, nothing works in isolation. I was a step ahead because I already had a pair of Boston Acoustics component speakers (surface mounted tweeters for direction), from a car the kids totaled. I upgraded the radio to an Alpine 145BT Bluetooth unit with Sirius for $150, and that's all I'm running at the moment. No external amp.* This unit lessens the need for an external amp, if you have a quality radio (head unit). I have reduced the bass level from the head unit, easing up on the mid range speakers, letting the subwoofer properly take over the bottom end.* This subwoofer fit under the front of the driver seat. It didn't even take away any foot space from the mid seat passenger. I fuse tapped the power from the driver side fuse box, used chassis for ground and ran the harness wires under the kick panel to under the driver seat. Very quick and easy. I just laid the box under the seat and ... done.* It looks really slick - great styling - it would look great if made visible in a custom installation.* It sounds very nice. You have to tweak the rolloff and volume for your material, but get that right and it blends in very nicely. I can definitely make it bump my butt, but that's not how I listen. I want deep bass, but I don't want it to overshadow.* The controller is a big deal. Normal installation: Listen, hop out, crawl under the seat, into the trunk, wherever the bass amp is, turn a knob or screw a sixteenth, get back in the car, listen and repeat about a hundred times. Then play different material, decide it's all wrong and start all over again.The controller let's you adjust the rolloff, rollin actually, and volume as you're driving down the road. You can do it by feel, you don't need to take your eyes off the road.* I drive and listen and bask in the glow that the woofer, amplifier and controller all cost $150. It's a great value.Don't let it's lesser size prevent you from trying it. It sounds really good. I suspect negative reviewers were expecting a boom box or perfection for $150 or perhaps the units were defective or not properly installed. I may have written a glowing review because the product exceeded my expectations, but ... it exceeded my expectations. I have no idea how you could improve on this deep bass, in this space, at any cost.

So I'm an MECP Certified Technician Professional Installer. I bought my truck a little over a year ago (2000 Chevy 2500) So please pay attention to what I'm going to tell you about this subwoofer. The installation is much easier than installing a Kicker Hideaway system. The sound is close to it (The Kicker has a little bit better lower sound). Now I had plenty of options to put in my truck I could have went with a custom built box however I have tools under the seats that I keep away from the elements and tend to use my back seat for storage (It's rained for the past 53 weeks in my area). So keeping in mind that I Needed something that was going to deliver enough bass that I enjoy without breaking the bank or getting my pulled over for a noise violation (3 communities in my area have Noise Ordinances that are STRICTLY Enforced with $400 fines). So when I bought the truck the previous owner blew the speakers, the AC Delco Radio was trashed, so I decided to install a high end pioneer touchscreen single-dinn radio with back up camera. Fronts I went with the new Kenwood 6 1/2's and swapped out the suicide door speakers with Rockford Fosgate 5 1/4's since I was going to have a hide away subwoofer. The Installation can be done a few ways if you have a good understanding of your vehicles electrical system. Running aftermarket I decided to go with the RCA's instead of military tapping into the speakers rear wires or using a Line out Converter to give it a better sound. You can run the power wire to the battery if you'd like to or if you want to you can also run it to the accessory wire of the Radio or another accessory wire in the vehicle. I ran mine to the accessory wire to the radio which pulls more than enough current for this subwoofer after testing it with a Digital Multi-Meter. The ground wire is slightly shorter so please find a VERY good place to ground it on the chasis (I ran mine under the carpet stripping the paint and tapping in with a self tapping screw & Star washer sealing the bottom with Silicone as to prevent any water leaks). The sound pressure level in the cab is amazing. It's not too loud and believe me you're not going to win any sound competitions with this subwoofer however for as small as it is, fit firmly and neatly underneath of the drivers seat. I used some 3M Velco Strips to ensure that it didn't slide around underneath in case I hit a bump or went up on an incline. Impressive Yes. Easy to Install Yes. Great Sound Yes. Competition NO. But those who get in your vehicle will know that you have a subwoofer. The controller is wired and will need to be mounted somewhere (I ran mine to the 3rd Seat and left it there in case I have to turn the sub off when I go through these Ordinance enforced communities nearby) and my only complaint IS the remote. It takes about a half second to react, but that's not a big minus to me for me to mark it down any. Now with all speakers, your initial sound on installation isn't going to be the best. The speakers have to flex for a while in order for them to mature but after 2 weeks the sound was just amazing. Parked and watching movies on break makes me feel like I'm in a theater setting. Listening to Rock, Metal, Rap, Hip Hop and other various genre's will need some tweaking within your head unit but the subwoofer itself is very reactive and doesn't phase out the other high end woofers I added to the doors. In fact it enhances the over all performance (The Rockford Fosgate 5 1/4's have bass blockers built in so there's no bass overpowering coming in from the back other THAN the subwoofer) Overall a great performing subwoofer, with easy installation and for the price WAY worth the recommendation. I still give it 5 stars because of the fact even though I'm not very pleased with the remote control it's NOT the selling point for me on an inexpensive self contained AMP/Sub. Great Job Kenwood!