Just finished the install of my new JL XD600/6 Amp with Technic's harness.
As I had a few requests about posting pics I thought I'd oblige.
Install took about 2 hours, but was taking my time, enjoying the process.
As complete noob, I'd rate the difficulty as mild to moderate. Thanks to Technic and previous posts on this forum in making the whole process easier.
I ordered Technic's harness for my F30 Hi-Fi (non HK) and wired it up to the amp first. I disconnected the 50 amp fuse.
The harness makes this plug and play process so much easier. For me it was worth the $.
Here I removed some of the trim in the trunk.
To remove the rest of the trim required unscrewing the metal tie down anchors with a star shaped screwdriver bit.
Here is the trunk with all of the trim removed.
Close up shot of the exposed OEM amp and wiring.
Close up shot of the exposed battery and distribution block.
I removed the amp by removed 1 screw and then sliding the amp and it's holder out. The existing harness is removed by moving a small plastic latch. The amp seemed quite light and unsubstantial compared to the JL xd600/6.
Here it is disconnected.
I used industrial strength velcro between the amp and the exiting amp compartment.
Here it is velcro-ed down but not connected yet.
Then I attached the brown ground cable to a metal bolt above the existing amp compartment. There was already another harness being grounded here.
I then (very carefully) unscrewed the nut under the red flap containing the positive bolt on the battery. Once the nut is loosened you can actually pull the entire metal connector off the battery. I removed the nut and bolt completely and put the ring from the amp power cord inbetween the clasps that squeeze together when the bolt is tightened. (you'll get a better idea when you are actually doing this step). I had to do it this way rather than outside of the clasp touching the nut directly because the ring was too wide and could not make the nut sit flush against it.
Then it all tightened back up again.
Here is a clearer shot of the entire battery and distribution block.
I decided to run the power cabling along the back of the trunk. I used plastic ties to keep some of the cabling in place.
Then the fuse was reattached and the trim pieces put back in place. All done!
Sound Quality:
I tried researching other users' settings for the amp but couldn't find a lot relevant to F30s.
So I tried a variety of combinations.
Speaker gains at 10% and subs at 40%. High filter at 200. Low filter at 200
Then a variety of different filter settings. HF at 150. LF at 150.
I only fiddled for about 20 minutes, though it appears this process could take a while longer. I left it at the following before I came inside:
Speaker gains at 20%. Sub gains at 50%. HF at 120. LF at 110.
So overall the sound is better. The bass is definitely "punchier" and more distinctive. I didn't hear many ups and downs in bass signal the way I used to. It was more consistent.
I would say the highs were slightly muddier though.
The sound is definitely different than with the OEM amp.
Certain albums sounded better. Eagles Hell Freezes Over and John Mayer' Room For Squares sounded truer to my home sound system.
ACDC's Back in Black and Shoot to Thrill sounded "flatter". As did Metallica's Master of Puppets.
However the bass line on Take Six's Sing A Song made me smile. Super tight and plucky.
I think I need to fiddle much more with the settings on the amp, as I noticed that even small changes in Freq and gain produced large variations in sound.
Also wanted to note that the only music tested so far was the music imported on the the hard drive from CDs. I haven't checked any of the songs on my USB key which I downloaded online.
Does anyone have any suggestions for amp settings?
Thanks and special thanks to Technic for his help.
As I had a few requests about posting pics I thought I'd oblige.
Install took about 2 hours, but was taking my time, enjoying the process.
As complete noob, I'd rate the difficulty as mild to moderate. Thanks to Technic and previous posts on this forum in making the whole process easier.
I ordered Technic's harness for my F30 Hi-Fi (non HK) and wired it up to the amp first. I disconnected the 50 amp fuse.
The harness makes this plug and play process so much easier. For me it was worth the $.
Here I removed some of the trim in the trunk.
To remove the rest of the trim required unscrewing the metal tie down anchors with a star shaped screwdriver bit.
Here is the trunk with all of the trim removed.
Close up shot of the exposed OEM amp and wiring.
Close up shot of the exposed battery and distribution block.
I removed the amp by removed 1 screw and then sliding the amp and it's holder out. The existing harness is removed by moving a small plastic latch. The amp seemed quite light and unsubstantial compared to the JL xd600/6.
Here it is disconnected.
I used industrial strength velcro between the amp and the exiting amp compartment.
Here it is velcro-ed down but not connected yet.
Then I attached the brown ground cable to a metal bolt above the existing amp compartment. There was already another harness being grounded here.
I then (very carefully) unscrewed the nut under the red flap containing the positive bolt on the battery. Once the nut is loosened you can actually pull the entire metal connector off the battery. I removed the nut and bolt completely and put the ring from the amp power cord inbetween the clasps that squeeze together when the bolt is tightened. (you'll get a better idea when you are actually doing this step). I had to do it this way rather than outside of the clasp touching the nut directly because the ring was too wide and could not make the nut sit flush against it.
Then it all tightened back up again.
Here is a clearer shot of the entire battery and distribution block.
I decided to run the power cabling along the back of the trunk. I used plastic ties to keep some of the cabling in place.
Then the fuse was reattached and the trim pieces put back in place. All done!
Sound Quality:
I tried researching other users' settings for the amp but couldn't find a lot relevant to F30s.
So I tried a variety of combinations.
Speaker gains at 10% and subs at 40%. High filter at 200. Low filter at 200
Then a variety of different filter settings. HF at 150. LF at 150.
I only fiddled for about 20 minutes, though it appears this process could take a while longer. I left it at the following before I came inside:
Speaker gains at 20%. Sub gains at 50%. HF at 120. LF at 110.
So overall the sound is better. The bass is definitely "punchier" and more distinctive. I didn't hear many ups and downs in bass signal the way I used to. It was more consistent.
I would say the highs were slightly muddier though.
The sound is definitely different than with the OEM amp.
Certain albums sounded better. Eagles Hell Freezes Over and John Mayer' Room For Squares sounded truer to my home sound system.
ACDC's Back in Black and Shoot to Thrill sounded "flatter". As did Metallica's Master of Puppets.
However the bass line on Take Six's Sing A Song made me smile. Super tight and plucky.
I think I need to fiddle much more with the settings on the amp, as I noticed that even small changes in Freq and gain produced large variations in sound.
Also wanted to note that the only music tested so far was the music imported on the the hard drive from CDs. I haven't checked any of the songs on my USB key which I downloaded online.
Does anyone have any suggestions for amp settings?
Thanks and special thanks to Technic for his help.