New speakers/sub/amp and the spacial dilemma... a JBL story

Connections to the jbl amp speaker outputs. You can also see the ground for the LOC (top) and ground spot for the amp (bottom).

 

Still not sure about coiling the rcas under the jbl amp, but it's okay for now. These are 3ft, need more like 1.5ft.

 

Major milestone reached. Everything wired (for testing) and powered on for the first time. After making connections at the battery, and before turning the key to the accessory position, I got a blinking orange light on the amp. Judging by its flashing nature, i presume this to be a diagnostic code of some sort. I switched the key to accessory and the bling orange went solid green. I wonder it it just had to reset itself after being powered up for the first time? I need to check the documentation before proceeding any further.

 

Well, the product manual didn't reveal anything about this particular scenario, so i proceeded carefully from the beginning. Check the ground at the amp and LOC, check the +12v and remote in/out, then one by one attach each pair of RCAs, then one by one attach each pair of speaker wires then the sub. Everything checked out, the amp stayed solid green and music started pouring out. I'll burn in for a week or so before final tuning and dress-up of the wires. At low level, the HAT components sound pretty good.

 

I did 3 coats of primer and 2 coats of DEI Boom Mat spray on my adaptors, I love the way they came out. I am going to do my box/amp rack this same way but just do 2 light coats of primer and 1 coat of regular matte paint on the back of the box to seal it up





Oh and this is my back wall

 

Interesting. Looks like a rubber spray. I'm def going with paint on any future builds.

Day one listening to the new system, I have to turn the HU volume up a lot more to get the same level as before. I presume this will change as soon as I finish tuning and turn up all the dials on the amo and LOC.

 

whered you get the carpet from?

 

Honestly, I can't exactly remember now, but fairly certain it came from crutchfield.

 

WARNING: Avoid adding inline LOC at all costs!! Severe angst and confusion follows.

Spent a good part of the day working with @Mr Marv on tuning the system. Final result came out great. Marv definitely knows his sh*t.

Original LOC setup:

Input from JBL amp
main: tweets
ch2: rears
ch3: fronts

Output to new amp
main (summed with ch3): fronts
ch2: rears
ch3: sub

While working through the front speakers, I found that the sub signal was quite weak; adjusting the bass knob made no difference. We eventually decided that the ch3 input was not a full signal and the whole arrangement needed rework. We tried summing all channels, but only caused more headache. After much deliberation and questioning why audioControl would create such an overly complicated, almost out-dated, processor for the laughable purpose of providing multiple full range signal outputs...

Input from JBL amp
same as before

Output to new amp
main (summed with ch3): fronts
ch2: rears
ch3: not used

Brought the sub signal straight from the JBL amp. Now everything works like it should, while maintaining complete fade functionality.

I still need to finish routing and mounting the bass knob and some minor cosmetics on the amp rack. Other than that, bring on the tunes!

 

Nice n tidy...


Hidden bass knob.

 

Nice Set Up!! Well Done!

 

Looks great man!

 

Thanks!

 

Was the Mass Vinyl that you used self adherence? And a item # if it's convenient. Thanks.

 

Yes, the material is very sticky, but still easy to work with. Details found in post #2. Raamaudio also offers a discount for forum members.

 

Alright, it's been two weeks, time for a mini review. System has been performing flawlessly. The stock HU gives very little control over the levels, but that was to be expected. Otherwise the HAT components and Arc amp are handling quite well. I'm picking up on more of the fine detail in the music I'm playing, like the sound of fingers sliding over guitar strings. notes are more pronounced and less of a quagmire of indistinguishable sounds.

I had an alarm installed last week and the guy was trying to upsell me on a bit10 processor. while I'm sure that would help to squeeze every last ounce of available tuning out of the system, I think it would defeat the purpose since I'm still running the stick jbl amp.maybe one day, but for now an very happy.

One thing not up to par is sound when making a hands-free call via BT. not sure if there is adjustment for that, but i have to turn up the volume more than what's comfortable to actually hear the voice clearly.

 

Bit of an update. A couple days ago, a somewhat loud 'crack' came from the back seat and the radio cut out for a couple seconds then came back. Last night, same thing, except is was multiple 'cracks'. I immediately turned off the HU for fear something was shorting. This morning, I turned the HU on with some music and started poking connections to see if I could reproduce the 'crack'. Nothing. Getting close to the rear door speakers, I can hear a little static, but still mostly clean sound coming out. The fronts did not seem to have the same static.

Any thoughts?

@Mr Marv

 

Great job!

 

Sounds to me like something is grounding out. is anything on any sharp metal that might move just right and make contact?

 

That's what i have been looking for, but nothing found yet. probably 80% of the wiring has extra sheathing as well.