Amp harness?

[Rogue Leader]

Ok folks heres a question.

I know Subthump makes a very nice harness to get preouts out to be able to hook up an amp. I have a different desire though.

What I would like is some sort of harness that goes to the factory plug that allows me to replace the factory amp while maintaining the harness, using the factory wiring and NOT cutting it. I would also be replacing my front and rear speakers as well. This way I can plug in there, run a power and ground, and hook the speakers right to the factory wires. I have no desire for a subwoofer. Just trying to avoid cutting any wires in the car, I'm a stickler for originality sometimes.

PS I have been a car audio installer on and off for 15 years, if I needed to I could wire it myself, I'd rather do it this way.

[Kevinshawnm]

Thats exactly what the Fark harness does.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by Kevinshawnm

Thats exactly what the Fark harness does.

Fark harness?

Link?

[Kevinshawnm]

Factory amp replacement kit, subthump.com

[darkrider01]

SubThump may not have the harness in stock at the moment. Best bet would be to call them and see if they have any. They have the V3 harness on the site, but the FARK harness is absent. The FARK harness (with the accompanying 6x9 plugs) allows you to power the factory speakers without cutting any wires.

I originally started out by cutting up my wires, but I have the FARK kit now.

I would like you to know that if you go with the FARK harnesses, you will lose the center channel up front and the tweeter channels or woofer channels in the rear.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by darkrider01

SubThump may not have the harness in stock at the moment. Best bet would be to call them and see if they have any. They have the V3 harness on the site, but the FARK harness is absent. The FARK harness (with the accompanying 6x9 plugs) allows you to power the factory speakers without cutting any wires.

I originally started out by cutting up my wires, but I have the FARK kit now.

I would like you to know that if you go with the FARK harnesses, you will lose the center channel up front and the tweeter channels or woofer channels in the rear.

Thanks for the info, I would probably be ok with losing the tweeters in the rear, and having a good front component set and have my bass come from the 6x9's. I REALLY don't need much bass, and in fact have set up similar sound stages in many cars in the past.

I would almost even be ok with using the factory amp, but I'd imagine it can't push enough juice to a good set of speakers.

[Kevinshawnm]

Your not gonna lose any sound in the rear because your replacing your 6x9's, You can also retain use of the center channel by running a small 1 ch amp. I replaced my Center Channel driver with a JL Audio 3 1/2 and i think it sounds great.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by Kevinshawnm

Your not gonna lose any sound in the rear because your replacing your 6x9's, You can also retain use of the center channel by running a small 1 ch amp. I replaced my Center Channel driver with a JL Audio 3 1/2 and i think it sounds great.

Ahh yeah forgot about that (with the rears).

I want to use this amp mount:

http://subthump.com/Chevrolet-GMC-Su...Amp-Mount.html

Which seriously limits my amp choices. But I want to hide the amp out of the way so I doubt I'd be able to power the front channel anyway. What are you using?

[Kevinshawnm]

Im Using 3 JL Audio amps HD1200/1, HD600/4, and 250/1. Im using that amp mount for my JBL MS-8.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by Kevinshawnm

Im Using 3 JL Audio amps HD1200/1, HD600/4, and 250/1. Im using that amp mount for my JBL MS-8.

Cool, I am assuming that amp mount is small. I've only really found one "good" amp that definitely fits, the JL Audio 400 one mentioned in the article about it.

I am considering that with a set of BA components and 6x9's but still on the fence. The factory sound system in here is really not horrendous, so it makes it tough to tear it out and change it.

[darkrider01]

Originally Posted by Kevinshawnm

Your not gonna lose any sound in the rear because your replacing your 6x9's, You can also retain use of the center channel by running a small 1 ch amp. I replaced my Center Channel driver with a JL Audio 3 1/2 and i think it sounds great.

If you use the FARK kit, you lose the use of the rear tweeters and the center channel. In order to power the center channel or rear tweeters, you will have to splice into the factory wiring.

If you splice into the factory wiring, you can power them all.

[Kevinshawnm]

The op said in the 1st post he was replacing the 6x9's so he wont lose the tweeters, In my response i said he would need to use a 1ch amp to keep the center channel.

[Kevinshawnm]

Originally Posted by darkrider01

If you use the FARK kit, you lose the use of the rear tweeters and the center channel. In order to power the center channel or rear tweeters, you will have to splice into the factory wiring.

If you splice into the factory wiring, you can power them all.

No sir I used the Fark harness before i switched to the MS-8, you'll only lose the tweeters on the BA 6X9's And i said to retain your center channel you will need a 1ch amp.

[darkrider01]

Originally Posted by Kevinshawnm

No sir I used the Fark harness before i switched to the MS-8, you'll only lose the tweeters on the BA 6X9's And i said to retain your center channel you will need a 1ch amp.

Right - but in order to connect to the center channel, you will have to splice into the factory wiring. The FARK kit does not have connections for the center channel. And technically, you don't "need" a 1 channel amp, you could always bridge the fronts with a resistor or LPAD, as in this article. Best bet - if you really want a center channel - would be something like an AudioControl LC6i that could give you a summed channel with level control and a small amp.

Also, how you like that MS-8? I have been considering something like that or the IMPRINT. Do you have the MS-8 powering your speakers, or only providing EQ/time alignment functions?

[Rogue Leader]

Either way I have no interest in the time and money to install another amp to power a single 3.5 inch speaker. Just not worth it, when the components and 6x9s will sound way better anyway.

I'd maybe consider the resistor route....

[2010SSRSM6]

You may reconsider swapping out the factory speakers after you install the JL amp. The factory amp is garbage and the JL really cleans the sound up nicely. If you do want to swap out the speakers, Steve (Subthump) sells a quick connector for the factory speaker harnesses that keeps you from having to cut any existing factory wires.

I went with an Arc Audio 900.6 so I added the amp rack. The only problem with running the FARK is the chimes are running through the amp so the turn signal and seatbelt alerts are louder. I think I saw something on here a while back that fixed this issue, but I can't find it now that I need it.

[darkrider01]

Originally Posted by 2010SSRSM6

You may reconsider swapping out the factory speakers after you install the JL amp. The factory amp is garbage and the JL really cleans the sound up nicely. If you do want to swap out the speakers, Steve (Subthump) sells a quick connector for the factory speaker harnesses that keeps you from having to cut any existing factory wires.

I went with an Arc Audio 900.6 so I added the amp rack. The only problem with running the FARK is the chimes are running through the amp so the turn signal and seatbelt alerts are louder. I think I saw something on here a while back that fixed this issue, but I can't find it now that I need it.

The chime and indicator volumes are tied to amp gains. Lower amp gain = lower chime volume.

[Kevinshawnm]

Originally Posted by darkrider01

Right - but in order to connect to the center channel, you will have to splice into the factory wiring. The FARK kit does not have connections for the center channel. And technically, you don't "need" a 1 channel amp, you could always bridge the fronts with a resistor or LPAD, as in this article. Best bet - if you really want a center channel - would be something like an AudioControl LC6i that could give you a summed channel with level control and a small amp.

Also, how you like that MS-8? I have been considering something like that or the IMPRINT. Do you have the MS-8 powering your speakers, or only providing EQ/time alignment functions?

I love the MS-8, I was orginally was using the JL Clean sweep and was VERY happy, Now i cant imagine life without it.

[jeepguy_1980]

Originally Posted by Kevinshawnm

I love the MS-8, I was orginally was using the JL Clean sweep and was VERY happy, Now i cant imagine life without it.

Don't you loose your fader options from the factory head unit with the MS-8?

I wanted to put an MS-8 in my car, but I absolutely didn't want the MS-8 touchscreen in my car. And I wasn't thrilled about losing my HU fader control.