Just a quick question i just got an 03 LS430 and the ML sub is blown. I dont want to change the amps or pay for 250+ for a replacement ML sub. Does anyone have this sub or know if it fits?

Is it the 10" or the 8"

Thank you,

Aaron

 

Have you thought about refoaming the rear subwoofer? The kit is $15 bucks plus the labor to refoam and remove the rear seat. The majority of the subwoofers usually only need the refoaming to working properly. Changing the subwoofer and attempting to match it properly with the Amp gets into other issues. Do a search on this very subject. Good luck.

 

Did the glue gun repair. Too many issues with this sub id rather just buy a new one and not have to worry about it anymore

 

The glue repair is a cheap shortcut and will not resolve the issue long term and will also result in more sound degradation. Problem is there's no definitive answer on an alternative sub replacement. You need an 8 inch sub with as close to 12ohm as possible, and that's hard to find. The OEM ML sub replacement is guaranteed to work but really is a piece of junk and extremely overpriced. Sorry, no great answers here.

 

+1 In addition, the glue repair can hurt the speaker further by limiting the up and down movement of the cone. I've gone the refoam route and have had no problems since.

 

if your looking to replace it'll be a 8" sub

 

could you put in a sub plus a couple extra midranges and wire it as 12 ohm?

nevermind, it makes much more sense to add an aftermarket amp and sub.

 

I think Crutchfield sells 8 inch subs that are 8 ohm. A 4 ohm speaker would stress the amp but 8 ohm should run fine (and potentially maybe a little louder).

Here is one example - it actually has a review from someone that used it in an LS.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_20610C8...ir=FFCategory|[rank500]Car+Subwoofers&nvpair=FFSubcategory|[rank520]Component+Subwoofers&nvpair=FFSize|[rank6]8%22&nvpair=AG_General_Features|FFFree_Air

Likely at least as good and maybe a better built speaker than the OEM ML.

 

Yeah, I really wish I had just bought that instead

I am considering doing the same, just not sure where Id mount the additional speakers and dont want to go cutting holes in the LS interior. Might end up taking it to a pro shop to get it done, or changing out my amp. So far I havent had any problems with my 4 ohm Polk, but am expecting I will. I wish someone else running that sub could comment as to how its run for them.

 

Why not just find a 4 ohm resistor that will handle the wattage from the amp and add it to the + terminal of the speaker? This should increase your resistance to 8 ohms for that speaker...

 

This is simple in theory, and it does increase the ohm load. But it is not a great solution because you need to use a fairly high power resistor. The resistor will dissipate as much power as the speaker. Also, sound quality will suffer, because the speaker impedance changes with frequency, but the same is not true for the resistor. The resister will act as an unintended cross over filter.

I do agree that if my only choice is to run a 4 ohm speaker with the existing ML amp, I would put a 4-6 ohm resister in line with it.