brianmp007

So I have spent hours searching the forum trying to find a way to do this and I just wanted to check a few things out. I have a 2005 TL with stock audio and no navi. I am trying to install a 12" MTX 4500 sub and a Infinity Reference Series amp.

Would this method work?
tap in to sub wires near stock sub. Connect to Line Out Converter. From LOC, wire to AMP. From AMP wire to Sub.

And the second question I had was how would i control the bass considering the subwoofer option only goes up to +6

Would I need this?
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-PjkQCGH.../MTX-re-Q.html

And finally if anyone has any easier suggestions feel free to put in you two cents.

Thanks in advance, Brian

TypeSinNC

iTrader: (2)

You can use that, but you can just get a simple LOC (they're around $30)

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Fused power from battery to amp...
ground amp to car
remote wire to any accessory that turns on with the car...
Cut sub wires and wire to new LOC (get from best buy) and run RCA's from LOC to amp...
Then speaker wire from amp to your sub.

That's it. Easy Peasy..

Since the factory system has a subwoofer setting...adjust your aftermarket amp accordingly so you can keep the bass mild at negative 6 and thump hard at 6. I have 2 12's and I can't put the sub setting higher than 0 without thumping too hard.

redsox04tl

i did the same as rockstar but didnt bother with the LOC. just cut the stock amp wire and spliced on a rca cable n connected to amp. adjusted the amp and can still control it from h/u.

brianmp007

So do you only need the LOC to keep the stock sub?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Don't keep the stock sub...one or the other. It will give you conflicting bass sounds and make distortion.

I wasn't that good to splice the RCA's on...but it's true, you can bypass having an LOC at all.

I hate cars

You said you tried a search but this question has been answered 999,999,999 times.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

^^^
Make that, one MILLION times ***pinky to mouth***

brianmp007

Haha yea im sorry I just wanted to get a few thing cleared up before I start just cutting wires.
Thanks for your help

jdmintegra00

iTrader: (1)

good info..

brianmp007

Just a quick question about the LOC. I got a PAC sni 35 and the instructions say to put the radio up to 2/3 volume and turn the two knobs to adjust the volume. Would I just do this on the Subwoofer setting on the HU?

For instance put the Subwoofer on +4 and turn the knobs until it sounds good to me?

brianmp007

PS I ended up getting ripped off for it I paid $26 then realized Walmart had this one http://bit.ly/5KmJP for $18. The Scosche one has way more setting on it seems easier to use. Should i buy that one and return the other? Or does it not matter. Personally I would like to save myself from making a trip to the store again so if there is no major difference I'll take the loss.
(damn missed the 5 min edit time)

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Take the loss brother...LOC is simply really for getting sound to the amp. PLUS...aside from voltage out...there's not much you want to adapt.

On the gain on the sub...I keep mine hitting hard at about 0 or -2. They mean set your radio volume at 2/3rds...about 30 or 35 so you're not at capacity output for the radio for everything to sound good/balanced.

brianmp007

Hey thanks for your help everybody. Im installing it tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.
Dont hate me if I come on if I have any questions or problems during the install lol.

PS I really like these forums and hope to post more on them

Thanks, Brian

brianmp007

So nine hours later, the install is done. Ran into a couple of problems but finally figured them out and everything is connected and put in place. However I still have one problem, the LOC I used (PAC-SNI 35) is the most confusing thing ever. Here are the instructions from the box (and the only ones I could find)Can anybody make sense of this for me? Right now I have the positive from the stock sub going to the white/black strip wire (-) and the negative going to the white wire (+). After listening to the sound it produced and all the empty wire I feel like this is just wrong.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

You only need sound from one of them...use one set...either greys or the white set...connect whichever one to the positive and negative wire that goes to your factory sub (that you removed, I hope)...then turn your volume on your radio to 2/3rds full volume (about 26 or so) and use a small screw driver to turn the voltage/volume out of the LOC to where you want it. So the bass isn't too low or high.

Easy!

brianmp007

WOW so this is really frustrating and I'm sorry I keep asking questions but all of a sudden there is no audio coming from the sub. I even tried grounding the loc and still no luck. It worked all day yesterday but not today. Let me make sure I hve the wiring right.
Black/yellow (+) to white (+) and green/red (-) to white/black (-)
the amp is on but still no luck.
Any ideas?

brianmp007

So I've been working on it all day and im pretty sure that is blown. I tested my amp and LOC buy connecting the amp to an old speaker I had and it worked (almost blew up in my face tho). I took apart the box and made sure all the connections were right in there and they were, and still no sound. Can anyone confirm that the sub is blown?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

How long had the sub been sitting for?
If a long time...it's possible.
Also, is it rated the same ohm load as the amp is giving it?
Also, is it rated for the power you're giving it?

Blown speakers usually smell blown IIRC. Like an electrical smoke...try putting your old crap speaker in the car and that will make it a for sure thing. If it turns on and works (turn gain down to test) then you know your LOC, wiring and AMP are straight. If that is the case...get a new sub and make sure it's meant to be paired with your amp.

As an example...I had a system taken out of my old car...sat in attic for 3 months...the amp came out working fine...but I put it in my new car...and it's friggin fried. Some things just happen!

Oh well.

Good luck man,
Jeremy.

brianmp007

Thanks for your help man.
My buddy's brother moved to Cali like two weeks ago so thats when it was taken out. He had the same amp and sub connection that I had, but for some reason it blew to shit in the first hour.

This is the amp
http://bit.ly/2kU45i

And the sub
http://bit.ly/PDFhV

But I honestly think the reason it blew was my friend who gave me the sub turned the bass boost (gain?) up all the way along with the LOCs. And it did smell like electrical smoke, however when it happened I thought it was either a fuse or another wire.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

no problem man...I know the frustration, trust me...Well...if the LOC you installed had the gain all the way up...and the dude you got it from had his all the way down and had the gain on the amp up...you may have hit a sub meant to take 250 watts max with 450. Possibly...then again, who knows...turn your little knobs on the LOC counterclockwise and start from low and work your way up...keep the gain on the amp at like 1/2 or 3/4's up. It's a juggling act.

Also, make sure you understand your wiring and are putting the correct load on the amp...most amps are only 2 ohm stable...some are 1...with a 4 DVC coil you can make multiple loads depending on your wiring. Research before you drop your new one in!

brianmp007

Yea the frustration of not knowing what was wrong was killing me, at least theres some weight of my shoulders. But he has a second sub (same kind) that im going to put in tomorrow, hopefully with much better results this time

thanks again

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

np...keep us posted!

TypeSinNC

iTrader: (2)

take a DMM and use the ohm setting to check the coils...

You'll be able to tell if the sub is blown by doing that

brianmp007

Ok so new sub is in. Now im just working on tuning it. Does this sound right?
1) Tune the input level (which im assuming is the gain because i dont have it anywhere else) all the way down.
2) Play a test tone (a 50 hz one?) and turn input level until it clips then turn it down
3) what do I do about the LP and HP filters? since im only using the amp for one sub so do I even have to worry about them?

also when im setting these would i put all the settings (bass, treble, subwoofer etc. at -6 or 0?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I can't tell you about settings for hz or lpf or hpf because I don't know about them...what I have been told is start high at the source and work your way back.

Meaning...turn radio to 32 or 35 and the sub at 0 or whatever you want to be able to adjust up 6 for rock and -6 or whatever for hip hop or songs with a lot of bass. Then crank up the amp input until you get the level you want. Also...turn the little screw knob on your LOC down to a quarter or whatever. I had mine up and it overpowered my mids and highs and didn't sound balanced.

brianmp007

OK I THINK IM DONE! So Ive tuned it and it sounds great, still needs a little adjustment but I'm very happy how it came out. Not goin for anything flashy so I'm happy.


Need to vacuum the trunk lol



And unfortunately had a casualty in the process

Fell out of my pocket right onto the pavement

But thanks again for your help man, couldn't have done it without you

Fresh23

iTrader: (2)

Nice, after all you went threw it came out very good , but sorry to see what happened to the iphone.

Carbon Bronze S

iTrader: (1)

It looks great, i recently got an 07 tl s and im thinking of doing a system how did you know what was compatable and did you also end up leaving the stock sub???
Also anyone know if a sub/ amp would void a warranty??

thanks!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Congrats man...this install was HAUNTING you! Glad you got er done. Question...do you not find that you get more BOOM from pointing the sub back so that it bounces off the trunk? If I face mine forward it sounds muffled.

brianmp007

Hey sorry it took so long to respond, just got back from a little vacation.
The only reason I put the system in was because my friend had an extra sub and amp laying around so I didnt do much research on what was compatible. And I just took the stock sub out because from what i read it ends up causing more problems then just taking it out.
I dont think that this would void the warranty, but dont take my word for it.

And rockstar I know what you mean about the sound. Up until like yesterday it almost sounded like the sub was 300 feet behind me. I did a little more tuning and got it to sound better, but I'm gonna try turning it around and let you know what happens.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Oh yeah...it's counterintuitive to face it back...but trust me...you WANT that thing bouncing the vibration off the rear trunk and back toward the front of the cabin. I know certain woofers are meant to bang forward, but that doesn't look like a setup for it for some reason. As a matter of fact, since you only have 1 12"...turn it around and move it over so it bounces off the back and you still leave the pass thru open to send the vibrations back into the cabin. Lemme know what you decide and if it helps!

Dang, I miss my hatchback RSX and SI's...the bass in those was friggin awesome. Even with the same setup I have in the TL.

Either way, congrats...free systems usually end up sounding the best !