Subwoofer in 2021 Navigator with Ultima system

[KRC]

Here it FINALLY is folks!! After owning my ‘21 Navigator for a year, I found myself itching for better bass out of the factory stereo. I finally identified a viable option that wouldn’t take up too much room, look incognito, accentuate (not overwhelm) the factory speakers, and be affordable.

3 different installers agreed the factory Ultima’s highs and mids are pretty good, so I decided to dip my toe in by just adding a subwoofer- a Kicker preloaded shallow depth down-firing box with a 12” active subwoofer and 12” passive sub. It’s paired to Kicker’s recommended amp, the CXA800.1 pushing 600 watts at 2 ohms. The installer was skeptical this would satisfy my sound quality goal, but, once installed and tuned, he was “astounded” by the overall system performance. It kicks @$$! All this was installed for $1K.

The bass adjustment knob was mounted by the driver’s left knee and allows me to dial-in the bass for each song. Listening to it over the last 2 months, I’ve adjusted it periodically to my ultimate liking. Surprisingly, it’s normally set at about 40% volume, so there’s TONS more bass available when I want it. I love to rock out when I’m solo and turn it down while family is in the car with me.

Overall, I’m VERY satisfied with the results and don’t suspect there’s a need to replace any other factory speakers. I hope this helps others scratch their itch too, as I’ve literally seen NO other aftermarket stereo info posted on the Navigator forums.

 

[11MarkX]

Very nice. Thanks for posting. Do you know if anyone sells a sub that custom fits into the well?, so its hidden under the floor. Maybe install a luggage shade so your vehicle doesn't get broken into.

 

[LegalBrief]

I’d love to do the upgrade but can’t spare the space. As huge as the truck is it lacks storage. Any alternative locations the installers discussed with you?

 

[coolviper777]

It's a shame that one has to add a separate subwoofer to very expensive upgraded sound system in a $100K car. It should sound phenomenal out of the box.

I just got a 2020 Navigator Reserve AWD L, with the Ultima system.

In all honesty, the sound system in my 2014 Chrysler Town and Country is much better. It has excellent bass, and good balance.

In the Navigator, it's all treble, even with the treble turned all the way down, and bass turned up. There is bass, but it's very low, and you have to blast the system to have any significant bass. Which results in blasting your ears with the front speakers.

Overall, very underwhelmed with the Navigator audio system. Not to mention that very poor decision to remove ALL physical media. Do they expect you to throw away all your DVD's/Blurays?

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[APL Rep]

It's a shame that one has to add a separate subwoofer to very expensive upgraded sound system in a $100K car. It should sound phenomenal out of the box.

I just got a 2020 Navigator Reserve AWD L, with the Ultima system.

In all honesty, the sound system in my 2014 Chrysler Town and Country is much better. It has excellent bass, and good balance.

In the Navigator, it's all treble, even with the treble turned all the way down, and bass turned up. There is bass, but it's very low, and you have to blast the system to have any significant bass. Which results in blasting your ears with the front speakers.

Overall, very underwhelmed with the Navigator audio system. Not to mention that very poor decision to remove ALL physical media. Do they expect you to throw away all your DVD's/Blurays?

Go into sound settings, scroll down and select ‘revel audio demo’.
The sound and speakers in these vehicles is extremely nice. The problem is everyone wants bass from things like Sirius which only stream a compressed signal. Unlike a CD or other source most things nowadays don’t give you a full uncompressed signal. That right there robs the vehicle of its true capabilities. You can also easily hear and feel this difference if you select an HD FM station. It’s immediate.
I get complaints on this almost daily.
No idea what source or stream the Op is using. Just offering up a reason why people feel their ‘bass’ isn’t there.

 

[dlcorbett]

Im sure the bass is toned down to protect the speakers and sanctity of the cabin. I don't have the ultima, just the base revel and my goodness is it great. Listening back to back from the new escalade akg (base) and the gw Macintosh system (upgraded), the balance and clarity in my revel is the best to both my wife and i. My only problem is that it hides the highs too much and they come across as a bit flat, like the system is trying play the high, but runs outta breath. I will echo the media compression take. When I listen to my music off my usb stick, it is worlds better than listening on my phone via bt, but of all the cars I've owned, it's def the best and of the cars ive driven, top 5 so far. I wish I got to listen to the Ultima. I have listened to the 3d one in the 22s and up, and though I haven't listened to all lux upgrades systems, I'm sure it's one of the best sound systems on the market.

 

[APL Rep]

Im sure the bass is toned down to protect the speakers and sanctity of the cabin. I don't have the ultima, just the base revel and my goodness is it great. Listening back to back from the new escalade akg (base) and the gw Macintosh system (upgraded), the balance and clarity in my revel is the best to both my wife and i. My only problem is that it hides the highs too much and they come across as a bit flat, like the system is trying play the high, but runs outta breath. I will echo the media compression take. When I listen to my music off my usb stick, it is worlds better than listening on my phone via bt, but of all the cars I've owned, it's def the best and of the cars ive driven, top 5 so far. I wish I got to listen to the Ultima. I have listened to the 3d one in the 22s and up, and though I haven't listened to all lux upgrades systems, I'm sure it's one of the best sound systems on the market.

Don’t forget even with base Revel systems you have two listening modes. ‘On stage’ and ‘audience’ will move the sound forward or backward. It also helps somewhat on the sound itself.

 

[dlcorbett]

Yes I found d that onstage is best to listen to very intricate songs, and audience is better for songs to sound fuller in the cabin

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[Black Label]

I believe @7.62Kolectr has the best answer above about the source of music having a big part in this. No one HAS to upgrade this system. That is very subjective. I used to care about that stuff when I was 20 something. I didn't buy a $110k+ vehicle to blast music as I luxuriously drive down the road, but hey that's just me.

 

[dlcorbett]

I believe @7.62Kolectr has the best answer above about the source of music having a big part in this. No one HAS to upgrade this system. That is very subjective. I used to care about that stuff when I was 20 something. I didn't buy a $110k+ vehicle to blast music as I luxuriously drive down the road, but hey that's just me.

BUt u also didn't buy a 110k luxury land yacht to not enjoi the system. Jk lol. My navs system truly opens up after turning it up to 13, and is incredible at 16. 17 and up is too loud though lol.

 

[Vics 2024 Black Label]

It's a shame that one has to add a separate subwoofer to very expensive upgraded sound system in a $100K car. It should sound phenomenal out of the box.

I just got a 2020 Navigator Reserve AWD L, with the Ultima system.

In all honesty, the sound system in my 2014 Chrysler Town and Country is much better. It has excellent bass, and good balance.

In the Navigator, it's all treble, even with the treble turned all the way down, and bass turned up. There is bass, but it's very low, and you have to blast the system to have any significant bass. Which results in blasting your ears with the front speakers.

Overall, very underwhelmed with the Navigator audio system. Not to mention that very poor decision to remove ALL physical media. Do they expect you to throw away all your DVD's/Blurays?

The last truck I had that had the built in CD player was my 2019 reserve since that I have owned 3 Black Labels and none of them have a cd player built in which I find to be totally ridiculous on a 100,000 plus vehicle.I bought an aftermarket cd player unit so I can play my cds.

 

[coolviper777]

So, far, I've gotten the best balanced sound by turning the bass up completely, the treble down completely, and midrange down to about 1/4.

That seems to have helped with what I felt was overly trebly response.

I've also been playing high quality/high bitrate MP3's, which I extracted and compressed myself from CD's several years ago. Seems like that's sounding better than decent sounding HD Radio channels, or for some reason high-quality MP3's playing over USB on my phone.

Perhaps it's just taken time for the system to break in also. It sat on the dealer lot for several months, so who knows?

But, it is a very detailed sound, I will give it that. But like someone said, it sounds best in the 7 to 12 range. So, it's kind of like a diva, a bit finicky.

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[ahuertasf]

I'm looking into doing a setup like yours using the kicker 12" downfiring subs, what did you use to convert the signal to the amp?? Thanks

 

[philanthropist420]

I tried to do this myself and tapped to the 2 speakers in the rear. Not the tweaters but the midrange and it's not turning on my lc2i. Any ideas?