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Hi folks. I just had an infinity basslink mini installed in my xlt hybrid (so base, non b&o branded audio system) and I thought I'd leave some [rambling] initial impressions. Here's an obligatory pic
My preference would've been to install it under the driver's seat or passenger seat, but I didn't want to delete the under-seat air vents. I had measured and made little cardboard mock ups of various options to check on fit, and I decided that the basslink mini would be best for me.
Now, the me of 20-25 years ago would've just done this install myself... But I'm older now and I had always wanted to go to a particular install shop (mobile car audio) as a kid but could never afford or justify paying others. So my installs were, shall we say, not as clean as this turned out. They made the wired remote look almost stock
Here's the review part. I have only driven it home and sat in my driveway a little bit (more on that below) so these are initial impressions. I also installed the hertz k170 uno series 6.75" component set (running off stock head unit power). This setup is exactly what I wanted. Caveat: I am not a bass head. Or chasing spl. in my youth I had many different systems in a little Honda CRX that was great for sounds. So I've ran mtx, Rockford, infinity, Sony es, infinity, image dynamics, jbl, jl audio, cdt before they went nuts, and the list goes on. But now I am older and just want something that sounds nice and isn't missing the low end of the range. In non-mobile environment, I like Sennheiser headphones, elac speakers, and I'm the kind of person who has separate speaker amp, headphone amp, and DAC...
But in a mobile environment, I don't expect or need to have great hifi. But I love music. The hertz speakers are pretty good. They were 129 from crutchfield. I chose them bc I liked their sound profile and, since they are paper cones, they are very efficient. This was important to me, since I was not going to amplify them--i don't want to tax the hybrid system so I wanted to cap things at whatever the basslink mini draws. Yes, I realize this is very conservative. Anyway, the paper cones don't worry me and will be sufficient for my use case. The hybrid has an 8 year warranty so I'll plan to move on from the maverick in 7.5 years. The speakers ought to last me that long. The mid-range and high end is a noticeable improvement over stock. The bass is not... It might even be thinner. Anyway, I am satisfied and feel like, given my limitation of wanting to run off head power, this is probably the best I could do. I wish it were a little more detailed and exciting, but I don't regret this purchase.
I did not change the rears because I'm team no rear fill. I get that there are differences of opinion here, but I want my mobile experience to at least sort of approximate my home HiFi experience (which itself is meant to approximate live music...ie the band/orchestra/artist is not behind you lol).
The basslink mini is not going to rattle your rear view mirror or give you the kind of thump as a traditional setup. I have never auditioned any other powered sub options such as hideaways or other brands--this is my first mobile powered sub--so I can't compare. But it's pretty musical, can produce a surprising amount of low end range and volume (I kept the gain properly set on the unit itself and did not move the remote past 2/3, nor did I turn the master volume above 12) for a tiny metal box with a 6x8 driver. It is also pretty quick and musical. I am satisfied and feel like I made the right decision for me.
There's may be question as to whether one could just keep the stock speakers, high pass them, and run a hideaway...I think the answer to that is maybe. There are gains to be realized by replacing the stocks, but query whether that is worth the cost and effort to you. Finally, an ode to the stock fronts:
***I forgot the "more on that below" part. So, these are cheap trucks. Cheap in price and cheap in quality in many aspects. One such aspect is fit and finish. So I sat in my driveway for a bit with bassy music playing in order to locate and insulate various rattles. The plastic behind the seat back, I've found, is rather floppy.
My preference would've been to install it under the driver's seat or passenger seat, but I didn't want to delete the under-seat air vents. I had measured and made little cardboard mock ups of various options to check on fit, and I decided that the basslink mini would be best for me.
Now, the me of 20-25 years ago would've just done this install myself... But I'm older now and I had always wanted to go to a particular install shop (mobile car audio) as a kid but could never afford or justify paying others. So my installs were, shall we say, not as clean as this turned out. They made the wired remote look almost stock
Here's the review part. I have only driven it home and sat in my driveway a little bit (more on that below) so these are initial impressions. I also installed the hertz k170 uno series 6.75" component set (running off stock head unit power). This setup is exactly what I wanted. Caveat: I am not a bass head. Or chasing spl. in my youth I had many different systems in a little Honda CRX that was great for sounds. So I've ran mtx, Rockford, infinity, Sony es, infinity, image dynamics, jbl, jl audio, cdt before they went nuts, and the list goes on. But now I am older and just want something that sounds nice and isn't missing the low end of the range. In non-mobile environment, I like Sennheiser headphones, elac speakers, and I'm the kind of person who has separate speaker amp, headphone amp, and DAC...
But in a mobile environment, I don't expect or need to have great hifi. But I love music. The hertz speakers are pretty good. They were 129 from crutchfield. I chose them bc I liked their sound profile and, since they are paper cones, they are very efficient. This was important to me, since I was not going to amplify them--i don't want to tax the hybrid system so I wanted to cap things at whatever the basslink mini draws. Yes, I realize this is very conservative. Anyway, the paper cones don't worry me and will be sufficient for my use case. The hybrid has an 8 year warranty so I'll plan to move on from the maverick in 7.5 years. The speakers ought to last me that long. The mid-range and high end is a noticeable improvement over stock. The bass is not... It might even be thinner. Anyway, I am satisfied and feel like, given my limitation of wanting to run off head power, this is probably the best I could do. I wish it were a little more detailed and exciting, but I don't regret this purchase.
I did not change the rears because I'm team no rear fill. I get that there are differences of opinion here, but I want my mobile experience to at least sort of approximate my home HiFi experience (which itself is meant to approximate live music...ie the band/orchestra/artist is not behind you lol).
The basslink mini is not going to rattle your rear view mirror or give you the kind of thump as a traditional setup. I have never auditioned any other powered sub options such as hideaways or other brands--this is my first mobile powered sub--so I can't compare. But it's pretty musical, can produce a surprising amount of low end range and volume (I kept the gain properly set on the unit itself and did not move the remote past 2/3, nor did I turn the master volume above 12) for a tiny metal box with a 6x8 driver. It is also pretty quick and musical. I am satisfied and feel like I made the right decision for me.
There's may be question as to whether one could just keep the stock speakers, high pass them, and run a hideaway...I think the answer to that is maybe. There are gains to be realized by replacing the stocks, but query whether that is worth the cost and effort to you. Finally, an ode to the stock fronts:
***I forgot the "more on that below" part. So, these are cheap trucks. Cheap in price and cheap in quality in many aspects. One such aspect is fit and finish. So I sat in my driveway for a bit with bassy music playing in order to locate and insulate various rattles. The plastic behind the seat back, I've found, is rather floppy.
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I bet you could do something much deeper, but I'm not sure if anything exists that would still fit in that spot.
