Sub/amp help!!!!

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vsofouk

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Ok, I've been screwin around with my stereo for like a month now and I'm literally at my wits end. 1995 Taurus Sho JBL sound btw

I noticed a couple months back that the factory sub started popping a little bit. OK makes sense since it's 15 years old.

I got a 6.5" JL auto 2ohm sub. Not even thinking the factory amp wasn't 2 ohm stable, I put it in. Now it sounds worse.

So then I got an aftermarket JBL 2ohm stable amp to hook in , the power, ground, and the speaker outputs are good. then I spliced the signal +/- wires to rca's into the amp. Now it still sounds like utter crap, but just louder. It sounds like the speaker is blown when i turn the gain up, when i turn it down I have no bass..

Thoughts, suggestions, slaps across the face???
 

deercrusher

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you can't splice + - signal wires into RCA's. What you need to use is called a line level converter to do that. That's why your setup sounds like garbage. Go to your local audio shop - and get an amp install kit. Run the power wire from the battery to your amp - ground the amp to a place such as your seatbelt bolt under the backseat. Run the RCA's directly from the rear of the headunit to the amp. Be sure to run your amp power wire on the opposite side of the car as the RCA's to prevent signal interference. Be sure to install the inline fuse on your amp power wire as close to the battery as possible to minimize damage in case of a short.
 
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vsofouk

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i still have all the factory equipment in the vehicle (less the sub and the sub amp) i was using the signal from the original amp which i though was the equivalent of an RCA.
 

SuperHO

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sounds like you need some line out converters. they splice into your rear speaker wires and convert that signal into an RCA signal for your amp.
 

JRA2000TL

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FWIW, I just replaced my blown stock sub with the same JL audio 6.5" sub. While it doesn't sound like crap, I really don't notice a difference between now and when I had no sub running. Not sure if it's just b/c it's a small sub or what.
 

SuperHO

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when i bought the one i used to have, i was informed the box is way too big for that sub. i ended up baffling mine and adding a tuned port which made an enormous difference.
 

Art5

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why are you guys trying to put new sound components into 14-18 year old car together with some of the original components, that are barely working. To me, it's like you're driving your lovely SHO and not changing oil for years.
The only thing I'm still keeping for right now from factory audio system is wiring, but not for too long, hopefully.
 

JRA2000TL

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why are you guys trying to put new sound components into 14-18 year old car together with some of the original components, that are barely working. To me, it's like you're driving your lovely SHO and not changing oil for years.
The only thing I'm still keeping for right now from factory audio system is wiring, but not for too long, hopefully.

I like the original, clean stock look.

SuperHO, what all did you do to make yours sound better? I did some reading about subwoofer enclosures and found that the "stuffing" in the box can make a difference. There wasn't a whole lot in the stock box....should I add more in there? It just looks like pillow stuffing.
 
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Art5

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I didn't say anything about changing the look. At least if you're not expecting your your sub to play very loud, you can use your stock sub box, but speakers and radio could be changed. If you want ford looking radio, there are a lot of options as well.
 

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