Surprising as it might be, subwoofers do a lot more than make the bass in your UTV sound system better. Having a speaker and amplifier dedicated to reproducing low-frequency sound means that the small speakers don’t need as much power and don’t have to work as hard. While most audio enthusiasts associate subwoofers with home theater or premium car audio systems, they are a fundamental part of reproducing music with clarity and detail, especially at high volume levels. Let’s look at a few popular subwoofer solutions for powersports vehicles.

What To Look For in a UTV Subwoofer

There first thing you should take into consideration when shopping for a subwoofer for your RZR, Maverick, Ranger, YXZ, Commander or Wolverine is that the enclosure needs to be explicitly designed to fit the vehicle. Companies like JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate and MTX make subwoofer enclosures that bolt directly to the chassis of the vehicle to provide impressive bass without the need for permanent modifications. Depending on the brand, these enclosures are made from roto-molded ABS plastic or from hand-laid fiberglass. Fiberglass is typically more rigid than plastic but costs more.

The second thing you’ll want to look for in a UTV subwoofer upgrade is weather-resistance. You don’t want any wood that could swell or become moldy if exposed to water. All of the custom-fit enclosures can handle getting rained or splashed on. MTX has a unique enclosure design called Quick Install Port Seal (QuIPS) that includes a cap that can be installed over the vent in their enclosures. Vented enclosures offer better efficiency, but can be a problem if you plan on crossing a creek or small river.

Subwoofer Power Handling

You’ll want to look at the capabilities of the subwoofer. It’s not easy to compare how loudly a sub will play, as this depends on the amplifier you’ve chosen and the design of the enclosure. You can look at the excursion capabilities of the subwoofer used in the enclosure to give you a sense of how far the cone will move before distortion increases. Don’t put too much value in power handling ratings. All that those numbers really tell you is how much heat the voice coil can handle before it starts to melt.

Choose a Great Amplifier

As important as the enclosure is, picking a high-performance amplifier will have a significant role in determining the quality of the subwoofer system in your UTV. Not all amplifiers are created equally, and the differences are harder to identify when it comes to subwoofer amps. In general terms, you want to choose an amp that is efficient, will produce enough power to ensure that the system will play loudly enough and can handle the vibrations associated with use in a side-by-side. Many companies offer marine-grade amps with their upgrade packages. If you plan on forging a stream or something less logical like driving through a pond, then you need to make sure the amplifier is water-resistant. Most marine amps are NOT water-resistant, and dunking them is a recipe for failure. If you’re going to be adventurous, be sure to ask your specialty mobile enhancement retailer for a water-resistant amplifier solution.

Expert Installation Is Key!

While many companies market their powersports upgrades toward do-it-yourself installers, there are many reasons to pay a professional to complete the installation for you. First, a professional technician knows how to set the sensitivity controls on an amp to maximize output while keeping background noise in check. They know what filter settings will help ensure that your music sounds crystal clear at high volume levels while protecting the speakers from damage when they’re being pushed too hard. Of course, the best part is that you can drop your side-by-side off to them in the morning, then come back after a day of work, and everything will be ready for you to hit the trails.

Upgrade Your Powersports Vehicle with a Subwoofer Today

If you want your music to sound amazing while blasting down the trails, then adding a subwoofer to the stereo on your UTV is a good choice. Drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today to find out what is available for your vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Powersports speaker upgrades for UTVs and side-by-sides are all the rage these days. Car audio manufacturers offer pods, soundbars and enclosures to let your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer add or enhance the sound system on your Polaris, Can-Am, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki or Textron vehicle. Let’s look at some of the options available to make your time on the trails or dunes more enjoyable.

Choosing Suitable Powersports Speakers

Not all speakers are created equally. When it comes to powersports applications, you’ll want to search for a solution with elevated real-world power ratings. Look for speakers that are rated for at least 50 watts of continuous (sometimes called RMS) power handling. These systems get played loud, so having a speaker fail because it overheated wouldn’t be much fun.

Next, you should choose products that are designed specifically for outdoor applications. It’s pretty much guaranteed that your speakers are going to get dusty and dirty – everything else on a side-by-side does. If you are a bit more on the adventurous side, things could get wet if you are blasting through puddles, swamps, ponds or even a small lake. Finally, since most powersports vehicles spend most of their time outside, you’ll want to pick a speaker solution that is built with UV-resistant materials and tested to meet industry specifications.

As always, you should listen to the speakers you are considering purchasing using music you know well. Be sure to crank up the volume and see if the overall tonal balance changes when things get loud. Higher-quality speakers sound better at elevated volume levels. You don’t want the speakers to get bright or harsh when you turn things to 11.

The Importance of Proper Installation

Before we dive into the speaker options available for your side-by-side, we want to reiterate the importance of having your mobile sound system installed by a qualified professional. Using proper wiring, making secure electrical connections, mounting equipment securely and, of course, configuring each system properly is crucial to ensuring that the system will be reliable and sound great for many years. Yes, it will cost a little bit to have your audio upgrade installed by a pro, but it’s a good investment.

Vehicle-Specific Speaker Pods

Companies like Rockford Fosgate, JL Audio, MB Quart and MTX offer vehicle-specific speaker pods for a variety of side-by-side vehicles. In most cases, these pods are constructed from a reinforced ABS plastic to provide a good balance of strength to weight. A few companies build their pods from fiberglass. Fiberglass is more rigid than ABS plastic, so while they may cost a little more, they might sound better.

Most vehicle-specific front speaker pods mount down in the footwell area of the average side-by-side. Some applications include options for dash-mounted speaker upgrades. The pods typically mount in place using factory fastener locations or use band-clamps that attach to the tubular chassis of the vehicle. While mounting the pods can be fairly easy, running the wiring to the amplifier and ensuring that it’s safe and secure can be tricky. The last thing you want is to get your feet caught in a speaker wire while trying to drive.

Universal Speaker Upgrades

Another option to add or upgrade the sound on your side-by-side is to use an enclosed speaker system, like marine wakeboard tower speakers, on the rear of the vehicle. These pods mount to the rear roll-cage and chassis and can be angled and aimed to direct sound right at the driver and passenger. Speaker pods are available with speakers sized between 5.25 and 10 inches. Many solutions have RGB LED lighting options if you want to add a little more style to your ride.

Powered and Bluetooth Sound Bars

Another easy way to add sound to your side-by-side is to choose a soundbar. These compact speaker systems typically include four or six 4-inch speakers and a pair of tweeters. Many are available with built-in amplifiers and a Bluetooth receiver, so the system is fully self-contained. All you have to do is pair your smartphone to the receiver and you can play music or listen to a streaming audio service like Pandora or iHeartRadio. Many bars have RCA preamp inputs so they can be integrated with a factory or aftermarket source unit.

Custom Speaker Solutions

As always, if a drop-in solution doesn’t exist, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer can craft a bespoke speaker installation for you. Let them know what you have in mind, and they can build something that fits perfectly with the vehicle and sounds great.

Upgrade Your Powersports Speaker Today

Whether you want to upgrade your existing speakers so the sound system on your side-by-side or UTV will sound better or play louder, or you want to add an entirely new audio system, your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer has dozens of options available. Drop by today and ask about their powersports speaker solutions.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

UTVs and side-by-sides from companies like Polaris, Yamaha, Honda and Can-Am can provide hours of fun on the trails or sand dunes. While some of these vehicles come with basic audio systems, none has the power to drown out wind and exhaust noise entirely when the pedal is to the floor. Adding a powersports-specific amplifier to the audio system is the best way to ensure that your music will sound great. Let’s look at a few amplifier options and explain what to look for when shopping.

What Does a Powersports Amplifier Do?

The job of an amplifier is to take the signal from the radio – be it factory-installed or an aftermarket solution – and increase the signal to a level that can drive the speakers. The amplifier needs a robust power supply so that it can also provide adequate current to those speakers.

What to Look for in a Side-by-Side Amplifier

Many companies produce great amplifiers for powersports applications. The amps fall into three classes. The best choices for those who are the most adventurous with their vehicles (i.e., elbow deep in water) is a water-resistant amplifier. These amplifiers can get wet or muddy without any fear of the internal components becoming damaged. Most of the manufacturers who produce water-resistant amps ask that you don’t submerge them, especially for long periods.

The second and most popular group of amplifiers falls into the marine-grade category. These amplifiers are designed with a corrosion-resistant chassis and hardware, and typically have a coating on the circuit boards to prevent moisture from damaging components. These amps aren’t designed to get wet or really dirty but should be able to shrug off a splash or two.

Finally, we have regular car audio amplifiers. For a dusty, dirty and often wet environment like a side-by-side, these aren’t a great long-term solution. Debris can get into the amp and block cooling vents and fans. Without proper airflow, the amps can overheat and will stop working. If you are using your side-by-side in an application more like a heavy-duty golf cart and it’s going to stay dry, you might be able to get away with this for a while. We recommend staying with marine-grade or water-resistant amplifiers for powersports applications.

Whether you choose a water-resistant or a marine amplifier, you are going to need to decide how many channels the amp needs to have. The product specialist at the store can help you figure this out. If you didn’t bring the vehicle with you, having a set of pictures on your phone is a good idea. If you’ve already made upgrades, be sure to tell them. If you plan on adding more updates in the future, let them know that information as well.

Suitable amplifiers are available in configurations from single-channel, high-power monoblock solutions for subwoofers to four-channel full-range solutions to power your speakers. There are even compact marine amplifiers with as many as eight channels for complex systems. In short, you want an amplifier channel for each speaker on the vehicle and enough power to ensure that any subwoofers will play loudly without the amp distorting.

Amplifier Installation Is Crucial to Longevity

Once you’ve decided on the right amp or amplifiers for your vehicle, the next step is to ensure that they are correctly installed. Powersports amplifiers can draw a lot of current from the electrical system when the volume is cranked. So that they function as designed, they need to be connected to the battery with large-gauge, high-quality wiring. Wiring, connectors and protection devices (fuses and circuit breakers) are not items to skimp on. You wouldn’t buy a Porsche as a track-day vehicle, then outfit it with off-brand all-season tires to save a few bucks, right?

Amplifiers need to be mounted securely. Stable mounting not only prevents the amp from moving around as you bounce off rocks and logs, but it makes sure that the electrical connections won’t be unduly stressed from vibration and motion. Mounting locations and methods vary from vehicle to vehicle and may include composite panels or metal brackets. You don’t want wood in your powersports vehicle – it’s going to get wet, swell and potentially become moldy.

The last step in installing the amplifier is its proper configuration. Crossover and input sensitivity settings need to be configured correctly so that you get the most performance for your investment. Many shops use oscilloscopes and test equipment to optimize the installations they do. Hearing mention of this equipment is a sign that you’re dealing with a reputable facility.

Enjoy Your Day on the Trails

Upgrading your side-by-side, ATV or even a snowmobile or personal watercraft with a high-quality sound system is a great way to make your fun-time even more enjoyable. Visit your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today and talk with them about the amplifier options for your powersports vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.