First of all, thanks for all for the great info. Before working on this upgrade, i spent numerous hours on the forum to identify the potential issues. I felt confident i can do it. But still have an issue i can't figure out.
Bose audio replacement. I kept all the speakers but changed the HU (parrot smart, 6 rca) and the amp (jl audio xd600/6).
I followed the recommendations (rca feed):
- front on channel 1&2
- rear on channel 3&4
- door woofer on channel 5
- didn't decide on the sub at this time: driver directly connected to the amp, hu to bose sub amp,... As now, channel 6 is fed by HU but no output connected.
The door woofers need to be in serie in order to get the 2 ohm impedence. So at the bose amp plug, i connected the + from one door woofer to the - of the other. The remaining 2 wires going to the amp, making sure of the polarity.
Does it sound right?
I check the position of the wires on the big plug going the the speakers, the polarity, the connection between the 2 speakers. I even connected the channel 6 output to the bose sub amp (iknow, not a good idea to feed the sub amp with amplified signal! Only for test): got sound put of the sub. Now that i know that output of channel 6 works, i will try it on the door.
the channels 5&6 are set on LP, 150hz. Gain at minimum.
As a result: no bass from the door!
I am suspecting some issue with my wiring but can't nail it down.
I will try adding 1 ohm 10w resistor and run the 2 woofers independently. If that works, i would have to have a Y at the Hu rcato send the signal to the sub amp.
Any idea, comment are welcome. I would really prefer to keep the channel 5 for the doors and keep the channel 6 for the sub if i decide to use it later.
By the way, has any one run the sub driver from the xd600 successfully (i read someone fried an amp!)?
Emmanuel
Yes, the theory is correct. Are you 100% positive you go the bridge from the + to - on the right pins? If not, that's one possible reason why this wouldn't work. If you want to be absolutely certain you have the wiring right, pull the + and - off this amplifier channel. Use a battery (I grab the one off my cordless drill), hold one speaker wire on the batteries negative terminal, and tap the other on the positive terminal. If you're wired correctly, both door woofers will "pop" as the battery voltage moves the speaker. (You can also use this trick to verify polarity, based on which way the driver moves)
I'm a little confused about your explanation here. Sounds like channel 6 put out something, but when you connected it to the door woofers, you got nothing. "Gain at minimum" might just mean it's undetectable. Have you tried a medium gain level?
Also try switching the channel 5/6 RCAs (don't worry about left/right). If you're getting a signal on 6, you know that one working. Perhaps 5 came unplugged behind the hu, or the cable is bad (unlikely, but it could happen). It's an easy test to swap them at the amp.
Also, I am not a big fan of the resistor. Sure, it will work to make impedance safe, but about 50% of your amplifier output will be consumed by the resistor, generating heat and robbing power from that speaker. Just seems counterproductive, IMO.
I read the same thing you did, and I wouldn't try it. Doesn't seem worth the risk to me. Just run the bose sub amp, or put an 8" box in the corner of the trunk.
I'm about to upgrade my system, and trying to make up my mind if I want to keep the door woofers, or swap them out for 3-way component speakers and a 5 channel amp (front, rear, sub)
Thanks Jeff.
The battery helps. After having check my wiring, i energized and nothing. so i checked both sides individually. the left woofer pops. But not the right. Ohmmeter shows 0 ohm: open circuit. I need to find where the circuit is opened. I guess i Will begin at the door. Not looking forward removing the panel!
Thanks again to put me on the track.
Emmanuel
I'm using channel six to drive my subwoofer that is custom mounted in the trunk, no problems whatsoever.
One step further. The right driver works fine when energized. Now i need to figure out what is wrong with the car right woofer wiring! Any input welcome because i have no idea how to troubleshoot the car harness.
Btw, i suspect this problem has been going on for quite some time . Never noticed anything
Emmanuel
Hack,
I was refering the bose sub.
Emmanuel
Good troubleshooting practice is to start closest to the problem and work backwards. That means pulling the panel, and testing the speaker directly. It could be that the voice coil went bad on the speaker, or that a terminal is corroded or came loose. Rule those out, and then you're into the wiring (not a happy thought).
I am in the wiring now and stucked there! At the door harness plug in the right footwell, everything is fine. But i have not idea where to check between there and the amp plug!
I will try the run a speaker wire from the end to the door harness plug. If it works, it will probably bypass the car harness for this speaker.
Emmanuel
Well, i wasn't looking on the correct side. The left was the issue. Duh! The speaker wasn't connected. Probably like that the last 5 years! Once plugged, battery test at the amp plug et voila. Rewired the 2 woofer in serie and it works.
Now the sub woofer.
Jeff, thanks again for yoyr help. The battery trick was great and easy.
Emmanuel
