Infinity BassLink 10" Car Subwoofer

I installed the Basslink into my '98 Ford Contour about a week ago. I purchased the unit for $185 from an eBay seller (why do retail outlets charge over $100 more?), and purchased a 10-gauge amp wiring kit from Crutchfield for about $25.

Installation:

Compared to a traditional separate amp/subwoofer box, the all-in-one design of the Basslink greatly simplifies mounting and wiring.

The Basslink includes both RCA preamp-level inputs and speaker-level inputs; RCA inputs are the way to go if you have an aftermarket headunit with a set of preamp outs. Just keep in mind you will need to purchase the appropriate lengths of RCA cable separately (17' is appropriate for most sedans and SUV's; 10' is usually enough for pickups and small hatchbacks).

For those with factory headunits, Infinity includes all the wiring necessary for speaker-level connections. However, keep in mind many audiophiles recommend against using this method because sound quality is degraded. An alternative to this scenario is to use a line-level converter and connect into the RCA inputs.

The Basslink includes a wired gain control, which is a great feature, but one that has to be mounted somewhere in the interior. No big deal, though - the wire is long enough to facilitate mounting just about anywhere.

As for the mounting hardware, Infinity includes brackets and self-tapping screws that will work with most types of wood, composite, and sheet metal. I do not necessarily agree with other reviewers that the hardware is cheap - it's really no worse than traditional sub boxes I've seen. You do have to make sure the you choose a solid surface, though, because the Basslink is more upright and therefore a bit more top-heavy than a typical sub box. But it only weighs about 15 pounds, so this effect is negligible.

I mounted my Basslink in the right rear corner of my trunk, facing the opposite side at about a 20 degree angle. As other reviewers have noted, aiming the unit towards the opposite corner is ideal from a sound perspective, but I wanted to preserve luggage space. I figured I could move the Basslink if output was inadequate.

Sound Quality:

Infinity recommends setting all controls to their midpoints to establish a baseline. At these settings, with the engine off, I was happy to note that the Basslink was actually too loud, overpowering the music. I opened the trunk and listened for any voice or midrange information leaking through, and adjusted the crossover point until I was satisfied it was handling only the low-end information.

After a week of daily use, I've ended up with the boost level set at the midpoint, crossover at a bit more than 90, and master gain at the midpoint. I vary the gain using the remote while driving; settings generally vary between 1/4 and 3/4 depending on the recording.

The Basslink has no problem overcoming road and wind noise, and the bass doesn't get muddy at the volumes I listen to. I primarily listen to rock and metal, with some jazz, classical, and occasionally rap/hip-hop and electronica thrown in. The Basslink handles all these types of music fine by my standards, providing a noticeable improvement to the low end. I'll probably never hit it hard with hardcore bass music, so I'm not the best guy to ask when it comes to that type of music. But for my everyday varied tastes, the Basslink has proven itself a worthy addition to my system.