Frequently Asked Questions

I want to place an order. What should I do?

We believe car stereo should be personal, so we contact everyone before an order is processed - no matter how big or small the order is.

Want to order an amp or subs?  We want to hear about the rest of your system first.  Ordering an enclosure?  We want to make sure the fit is perfect. Did you order a t-shirt?  We verify the size.  Personal, extraordinary care has always been the Gately way. Contact us.

Do you offer enclosure designs?

We build some of the baddest, loudest enclosures on the planet, so we build all of the designs we create. Want a genuine Gately enclosure for yourself? Click here 

We don’t offer the plans to do it yourself. However, there is a company we trust to do it right!  Hit up our friend Hunter Martin at  EZ DB’s Designs 

Do you sell seat lift kits?

We do! Please contact us directly to place an order, or add the request to a future order in the comments section. The pricing is:

SUBWOOFERS

Why are Neo subwoofers better?

Relentless Neo subs deliver an extraordinary amount of motor force for their weight. The result is an incredible amount of acoustic control, far more motor force per pound, improved sound quality and high power handling, all in a sub that often weighs significantly less than a subwoofer rated for the same power - but with a ferrite motor.  

Are Gately subs made in the USA?

Every Gately sub is designed in-house by Bobby Gately himself. The Relentless Neo subs are also hand-assembled at Gately HQ in Sacramento, CA.

What makes Gately baskets so special?

Gately’s signature basket features more than a unique look. It is designed by Bobby Gately to be stronger and highly versatile, capable of taking immense amounts of power. The design is so good, we use it on every speaker we make!

What does RMS mean?

Simply put, RMS means “how many watts a speaker can take for an extended period of time.”  At Gately, that means we run bandwidth-limited pink noise (the full frequency range a sub can get) for 24 hours, at rated power. This kind of torture test ensures your subs can hammer for a long time to come!

Is a bigger magnet better?

A big magnet doesn’t always mean big bass. A well-built motor is going to have a focused magnetic field and a very close magnetic gap (the distance between the outer magnet and pole, where the voice coil travels back and forth).

Some subwoofer brands save money by using a big magnet with lower-quality steel, which has less magnetic power. They may also hide a larger gap inside the motor because it is less expensive to engineer. This requires more power to move the voice coil, so the power rating must be higher to make the same bass as a sub with a smaller, better motor.  

What is the warranty on Gately Subs?

We warranty our products from manufacturers' defect for one year. To see the policy, click here.

What are the differences between subs?

A good sounding system is very much about your goals. Want a massive system meant to shake the entire zip code?  You probably want to look at Relentless. 

Maybe you want great bass, but you don’t want so much power that you need to upgrade the electrical system? Shield is a great fit.

 Building a system somewhere in between modest and monstrous? Have a look at Alpha.

 No matter which route you go, every Gately sub is built to hammer!

Is a carbon fiber cone better?

Gately carbon fiber cones are incredibly stiff and light, needing less power to do their job than a pulp or paper cone – but the advantages don’t stop there.

Our carbon cones and dust caps are thermally coupled to the former below it, creating a rapid heat-dissipation system that keeps the sub cool under stress, giving the Relentless even more reliability and long-term power handling.

 

AMPLIFIERS

Are Gately amps made in the USA?

Gately amps were born out of a need for intense power delivery over full days of demos. Built on Korean boards, our standards are incorporated into every amplifier we design.

What makes your amps different?

Heat sink material is vital to an amplifier's reliability, so we doubled up - literally. We have nearly double the heat sink material per inch than any other amp on the market.

Gately amps are truly “no holds barred.” For the highest possible power and reliability, only premium internal components are used, to provide elite power levels and durability in every model we make.

What is the warranty on Gately Amps?

We warranty our products from manufacturers' defects for one year LINK

What is the amp mounting system?

Channels on the sides of the amp fits 80/20 10 series mounting hardware. This allows Gately amps to be mounted in a “floating” configuration if desired. 

Note: The Gately shield can be flipped 180 degrees for custom configurations.

 

ENCLOSURES

What’s the best subwoofer enclosure material?

For most enclosures, Gately chooses 1” 19-ply Marine grade Baltic Birch. Lighter and more durable than MDF, the Birch we use sounds great and is moisture resistant. It also secures screws more effectively than fiberboard, so your sub remains firmly in position, even after removing it for maintenance is necessary.  

What is a custom cutout, and what does it cost?

Most of our premade enclosures can be altered to accept a variety of subwoofer models, within certain tolerances. To do this, we first need to know the exact model of your sub to ensure it can perform properly in the existing airspace of the enclosure, and to ensure we have enough space to make the alteration. For one custom cutout, the charge is $85.  For two it is $150. 

All standard cutout dimensions are published on each product page. If you would like a custom cutout, please select the Custom Cutout option in the pulldown menu. We will contact you for your subwoofer details. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions before purchasing.

How long does it take to get a custom sub box?

For a custom birch enclosure, it usually takes 2-4 weeks. The timeline changes for additional customization, such as custom acrylic windows, custom color stains, LED lighting and more. A custom acrylic enclosure takes between 6-12 weeks. VIDEO

Custom projects involve a great deal of input from you. After we receive the dimensions of your vehicle, we will create a rendering for your approval. Once you are completely happy with the design, work begins. All custom enclosures are non-refundable, and paid in full up front.

How do I touch up a Gately enclosure?

We stain Gately enclosures with Minwax Varathane Classic Black Wood Stain and Minwax True Black Wood Finish. Both are widely available at DIY retailers like Lowes and Home Depot.

What screws should I use with a Gately enclosure?

We recommend using DeckMate 1 5/8” screws.

Should I use threaded inserts with a Gately enclosure?

We don’t recommend using threaded inserts. Using the recommended screws driven directly into the brich allows for the highest quality contact. It also maintains outstanding contact quality, even with multiple removals/replacements (like removing a sub for maintenance).

How do you make an acrylic enclosure?

Crafting an acrylic enclosure involves equal parts care, chemistry, and art. Gately has mastered this process, refining this unique craft for over 20 years. The result is an enclosure with nearly invisible chemical welds that are incredibly strong, along with a look as smooth as glass - a master's-level shaping, polishing and finishing technique that few have perfected. The outcome is a stunning enclosure that endures for decades – and hits like a sledgehammer. Watch this video and shoot us an email. 

SPEAKERS

How many mids/highs should I get with my subs?

Big systems typically need about a 4:1 ratio of bass wattage to mids and highs. So for a 2,500-watt system for example, 500 watts would be sent to the door speakers and 2,000 to the subs. This math would mean you need those speakers to have about a 125-watt rms of power handling per door.

How much power can your speakers take?

Officially, our G8 component midrange is rated for 120 watts. Peak is 240 watts. Power handling is more than a function of simple wattage ratings. It has a lot to do with how you tune it, the quality of the signal, and the space it is installed in. Contact us if you have questions – we want to help!

How good do your speakers sound?

We get it. Describing mids as "beautiful" is unusual, particularly when your system can reach extreme SPL. Extensive real-world research led us to incorporate Neodymium magnets and carbon fiber cones, delivering a distinctive blend of power and clarity unique to Gately mids.