SVS as a car sub

Airplay355

I have a 12" older SVS driver that I got when someone wanted to upgrade to the new drivers. I want to use it as a car sub, but I currently don't have a car amp.

However, I do have a head unit, Pioneer DEH-6800 MP that allows me to use the rear channels to power a sub instead of rear speakers. The power is 70 watts at 2 ohms.

I'm a little scared though, I don't want to fry my sub by using a head unit as a power source and I don't want to fry my head unit by using a sub that needs a lot of power.

So, I know this is a car audio question, but not as many people frequent the car audio section and the ones that do are somewhat clueless, but I want to know it it's safe to use the subwoofer output of my head unit to power the SVS sub until I can get an amp. Do I risk frying the sub? I'm not one of those kids who wants earth shattering bass to make my ears bleed and I'm not going to have the bass boost on or some crazy SuperBASS equalizer on. I just would like to suppliment the low end a little better and maybe have some more bass then I currently have.

Right now I have MOMO components in the front, running off the head unit, and stock (semi-blown) 6x9s in the back.

So what's the general consensus? Is there a serious risk of breaking things? Or should I be fine as the little head unit couldn't produce enough power or distortion to break the giant SVS.

Sherardp

I would sit it out until you get an amp buddy. Why even take the risks of either component.

dudeinaroom

If you really want to just make sure when you are setting it up to play the heavyest bass you can find and make sure that their is absolutly no distortion coming from the sub, I mean none at all, and never go past that point!!!!!

Airplay355

Why would they put a subwoofer output on the head unit if it couldn't power a sub? I am a little nervous but maybe if I didn't try to crank the volume of the sub I'd be OK.

Any other opinions?

Airplay355

Well I tried it against my better judgement and I didn't get the results I had hoped for. Everything worked and nothing was damaged, but the sub was barely putting out any volume lol. It was the kind of volume you'd get from turning a highly powered amp all the way down and you still hear that little itty bit of music coming out.

So I just unplugged everything and called it a day. I guess I need an amp lol.

Meechsterlee

Airplay355 wrote:

Why would they put a subwoofer output on the head unit if it couldn't power a sub? I am a little nervous but maybe if I didn't try to crank the volume of the sub I'd be OK.

Any other opinions?

I have a Pioneer DEH-P4800MP in my truck. This head unit allows me to use the rear channels for a sub...I use the pre out not deck power. Due to a lack of space in my truck's cab, I chose this deck to help me run an active SAS enclosure. The sub enclosure does not have an electronic x-over...the deck allows me to manage the low freq in a MUCH better fashion.

If one were to run the rear channels using deck power, I would estimate that a sub no larger than 8" 'might' work okay.

An amp will make all of the difference in the world.

Airplay355

Yea, the 12" SVS ate it alive. It barely moved lol.