Infinity BassLink

[noahe]

I stumbled across this item, while searching Cruchfield for any kind of Blitsafe info.

I like the MINI's Radio BOOST CD I have, quite a bit. Not astounding, but quite capable as far as a factory stereo is concerned. As much as I think it is more than adequate for the car, after reading the blurb, and searching a few write-up, I think this is a great little product:

Infinity BassLink (not directly linkable, sorry)
A Harmann International Company (as in Harmann/Kardon)
Basically, it's a small (12.5" x 14.5" x 8") 10" Subwoofer, with a built-in 200 watt amp. It can be mounted horizontally, or vertically, and takes up .75 of a cubic foot (good, 'cause our MINI's ain't big).
It has line-level and speaker level inputs, and switches it's self on automatically when it senses a speaker-level signal.
It utilizes Infinity's propritary servo-control (sounds bigger than it looks).
It has level, cut-off and phase controls, so you could easily 'tune' it to the factory stereo.

So, I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this product. I don't care if it's more money than a box, sub and amp. I don't care if it only fills in the sound (doesn't need to make the car dance).

Because, it looks small, could easily hook up directly to the MCS battery (auto on/off), a short run to tap off the rear speaker wires (high level input), screw it to the side of the boot wall (like the factory CD-Changer location), and you're off.
Hell, a clever lad could even wire up a quick-disconnect for the power and signal, and a mounting bracket - and you could actually make it removeable for those times you need to cart lots of stuff!

So, it looks good, it hooks up dead-easy, it's small, and it's made by the folks BMW themselves chose for the MINI's audio.

Does anyone know if it sounds any good?

Pic: BassLink X (clear plastic - just so you can see. There is a black one that looks better, and is cheaper too!)

[paulmon]

This does look interesting. I want better sound in my MCS but don't want to go to the crazy expense of having to put new head unit, amp, seperates, sub, etc. Mostly I'm going to miss the bass that my current Bose (ICK!) system in my current car provides. This looks like a pretty good compromise. It's small, good for the Mini, and easy to hook up. My goal is to replace the head unit anyways with one that can play MP3 CDs. So I could go line-level with this or skip the head unit get an MP3 cd changer, the Blitzsafe and go high-level input into the Basslink. All in all not bad.

Know of anywhere in Canada that sells it? Know how much it is in Canadian? I went to etronics.com and it works out to $525cdn incl tax and shipping. That sounds quite high. Let me know if you get a price in Canada or find a Canadian dealer.

Paul

Quote:

Originally posted by noahe

Infinity BassLink (not directly linkable, sorry)
A Harmann International Company (as in Harmann/Kardon)
Basically, it's a small (12.5" x 14.5" x 8") 10" Subwoofer, with a built-in 200 watt amp. It can be mounted horizontally, or vertically, and takes up .75 of a cubic foot (good, 'cause our MINI's ain't big).
It has line-level and speaker level inputs, and switches it's self on automatically when it senses a speaker-level signal.
It utilizes Infinity's propritary servo-control (sounds bigger than it looks).
It has level, cut-off and phase controls, so you could easily 'tune' it to the factory stereo.

[macncheese]

www.thezeb.com has the basslink with the remote for a really decent price. Plus their shipping is only $6.95 (US). I've bought from them before and been satisfied with the service.

FWIW, they have a KILLER deal on the CDT Audio MS-80, 8" cast mini subs ($99) and on the CDT 6x9s if thats your cup of tea. Enjoy.

--
Cheese

[MiniE]

Here are some more choice,

Kenwood.
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/pr...&productId=742

Rockford Fosgate.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/ezcom...model=10059473

They are all very small size, should fit nicely in our cooper.

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniE
Here are some more choice,

Kenwood.
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/pr...&productId=742

Rockford Fosgate.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/ezcom...model=10059473

They are all very small size, should fit nicely in our cooper.

The Kenwood one is okay. Small, less power (which is fine for me) and looks like it'd visually blend. The controls are a little sad. No infinately variable cut-off freq. If it didn't match the sound of the car, you're not going to be able to tune it very well.

The Rockfordfosgate is small overall, but not compact. Being a short tube, it'd still take up more room than I wanted to sacrifice. Probably the most powerful of this group.

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by macncheese
www.thezeb.com has the basslink with the remote for a really decent price. Plus their shipping is only $6.95 (US). I've bought from them before and been satisfied with the service.

FWIW, they have a KILLER deal on the CDT Audio MS-80, 8" cast mini subs ($99) and on the CDT 6x9s if thats your cup of tea. Enjoy.

--
Cheese

Yeah, that's a good price. About $420 CDN.
As for the rest, they do have some great deals. But I've never altered the factory stereo in my own cars. I've hooked up some wild ones for friends, but I only turn the radio on in the winter, and on long drives.

The little BassLink looks like it'd nestle right up at the side of the trunk, and not be in the way.

Also, for anyone leasing their MINI, this could be a really easy upgrade that does not modify the car, and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle as they trade-in.

[noahe]

Oh, BTW... The question was, has anyone heard these things? Are they any good?

[macncheese]

Noahe,
I've never heard the basslink but since you're more into packaging then performace ....

Check this lil guy out.
Clarion SRV303


--
Cheese

[paulmon]

Quote:

Originally posted by macncheese
Noahe,
I've never heard the basslink but since you're more into packaging then performace ....

Check this lil guy out.
Clarion SRV303

I think the great thing about the Basslink is that you're still getting a full 10" sub. All alternatives that have been posted thus far are quite a bit smaller.

Paul

[chiph]

If you're willing to sacrifice a back-seat passenger, you could put a powered SAS Bazooka tube on the floor behind the driver's seat.

I've heard them - you won't win any SPL contests, but they're quite nice. Since they're ported, you get decent volume, but the sound isn't "tight" like a sealed box would be (I think the Infinity is a sealed box).

Chip H.

[macncheese]

The Infinity uses a passive radiator.


--
Cheese

[paulmon]

Quote:

Originally posted by macncheese
The Infinity uses a passive radiator.


--
Cheese

I'm confused by that. Why does it have a 200Watt amp if it's a passive radiator?

Paul

[macncheese]

Quote:

Originally posted by paulmon


I'm confused by that. Why does it have a 200Watt amp if it's a passive radiator?

Paul

I think you're confusing a passive sub with a passive radiator. A passive radiator is a type of enclosure. Its more similar to a ported enclosure than sealed. You have a port thats covered with some sort of membrane (another sub without a motor usually). Generally, the passive radiator is supposed to be larger than the driver, so im not sure how good this thing sounds. However, I've never heard it.


--
Cheese

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by macncheese
Noahe,
I've never heard the basslink but since you're more into packaging then performace ....

Check this lil guy out.
Clarion SRV303


--
Cheese

Well, to be fair, I'd like a potent, fun little wonder, like the car it is going into. While I like some bass, if I was going to compromise, I'd lean towards a smaller package, than a boomy system.

I was just kind of thinking along the lines of little computer subs... Some of them are advertised at crazy 500w, and sould like hell. Then I've got a relatively cheap Altec Lansing 4.1 system for my PC, and for what it is, it really impresses me. Better than some ghetto blasters.

So, yeah, the little Clarion looks good too. Are any of these little all-in-one solutions any good? Or are they like the hundreds of bad PC subs?

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by macncheese
The Infinity uses a passive radiator.


--
Cheese

As well. It is a non-ported, sealed 10" sub, with a 10" passive radiator mounted in front of the sub.

This is the same set-up that a Bob Carver Sunfire Labs Sub uses, and they could demolish a house a full-volume.