Which wiring harness??

[jbserra]

I have a 92 SHO with the JBL. I purchased a new head unit with 23watts RMS/channel.

I need help with wiring harnesses. Which to get?

1) convert the head unit's outputs to line level outputs and use the factory amp.

2) use the second set of wires in my car to bypass all the JBL stuff = no subwoofer.

3) use the harness that connects to the premium wires in my car, but includes an amp bi-pass which essentially, I believe, does the same as option #2

Crutchfield recommended the amp bypass (option #3).I am confused because I read in a FAQ that the JBL system is bi-amped, and that just replacing the amp, or just replacing the speakers is bad. If I use option #3, then I am replacing the amp with my HU, and problems will result? Or are the wattages close enough?

If I use option #2, or option #3, I lose my subwoofer?

Do I care if I lose the subwoofer?

Thanks in advance. This has been bugging me for days now...

<small>[ February 10, 2003, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: jbserra ]</small>

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

you want to bypass the factory amps and use the ones in the stereo. i guarantee you they are better than the old JBLs in your trunk. unfortunately i do think you will lose your sub ( i never checked to see if there was a kit to sidestep this) from the power you will gain though i dont think you will miss the sub. and if worse comes to worse you can always buy a small aftermarket amp to power the jbl sub from your headunit (i did this for a while before getting something bigger). it will sound much better from the headunit. but whatever you do, do not pass the amped signal from the headunit to the JBL amps, it will sound attrocious. signals cant be amplified twice, makes it sound like garbage. have fun!

 

[Dave Ladely]

The original wiring is a nightmare, and the color codes dont necessarily even match what the factory manual states, so I decided to go completely around it. The tiny subwoofer kinda sucks anyway, so just add one. The Infinity Basslink has amp combined with a 10" woofer with a servo system to keep distortion low, might work out well and be easy to install.

 

[Blue-By-U]

Amp bypass harness (17.99 @ best buy or circuit city) and seperate sub amp with a new sub since you will be losing your stock one

 

[jbserra]

BlackOnBlackATX:
you want to bypass the factory amps and use the ones in the stereo. i guarantee you they are better than the old JBLs in your trunk. unfortunately i do think you will lose your sub ( i never checked to see if there was a kit to sidestep this) from the power you will gain though i dont think you will miss the sub. and if worse comes to worse you can always buy a small aftermarket amp to power the jbl sub from your headunit (i did this for a while before getting something bigger). it will sound much better from the headunit. but whatever you do, do not pass the amped signal from the headunit to the JBL amps, it will sound attrocious. signals cant be amplified twice, makes it sound like garbage. have fun!

Thanks for all the responses! Isn't the original setup amplified twice? Or does the head unit only output line level?

 

[projectSHO89]

The original head unit was line level only (if equipped with an amp in the trunk)

Steve

 

[jbserra]

projectSHO89:
The original head unit was line level only (if equipped with an amp in the trunk)

Steve

Finally, the setup makes more sense. I didn't get a response here until after I received my head unit, and installed it, so I had already decided on the wiring harness. I only crimped the connectors in case it didn't work out. I chose the one that uses the factory amp, and so far it sounds decent. I may just leave it. The only problem is the HU is defective. The CD part doesn't work.

If I want to try bypassing the amp, can't I also use the second harness in my car?

OH! There were 3 connectors in the back of the factory cassette. 2 of them came with my wiring harness, the other was a single wire. Does anyone know what this single wire is?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Blue-By-U]

If you bought a kenwood, hit the reset button. Some newer kenwoods come from the factory with non working cd players...all u have to do is hit the reset

just a shot in the dark
~Alex

 

[jbserra]

LL-Cool-A:
If you bought a kenwood, hit the reset button. Some newer kenwoods come from the factory with non working cd players...all u have to do is hit the reset

just a shot in the dark
~Alex

Made me pray there was a reset button, but none on this Panasonic. Thanks for the idea, tho...