Can I use an aftermarket amp with JBL speakers?

MediumD

MediumD

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I'm getting the parts together to set up a PC based info/entertainment center. I haven't really looked at the stock system, but I'd like to use the stock JBL speakers if I can. My amp (or maybe CD head unit, I dunno) is acting funny, when it's cold it doesn't produce much volume and pretty much makes no bass, then it's fine when it warms up. Anyway it's getting on my nerves so I want to just use a 4 channel aftermarket, this way I can set up a 4.1 surround system.

Are the stockers 4 ohm?

They don't have individual built in amplifiers like my ETC's Bose system has, do they?
 
You're going to end up replacing the speakers and running new speaker wires.

Using the stock speakers means using the stock wiring and is just not doable as far as I know with an aftermarket amp setup.

If you're going to keep the stock speakers/wiring - buy a used amp. I sold mine to a needy user who was quite happy with the results.
 
For a while I used stock with after market just fine. Eventually replaced stock speakers but still use front stock tweeters. All original wiring, except for RCAs from head unit to AMP.
 
I think that the stock amp in our car contains the crossovers for the speakers, so if you bypass the amp you will no longer be able to seperate the highs/lows going to the stock speakers. I would just order a couple sets of 5x7 components and be done with it.
 
unity said:
For a while I used stock with after market just fine. Eventually replaced stock speakers but still use front stock tweeters. All original wiring, except for RCAs from head unit to AMP.
Click to expand...

JBL? :confused:
 
I did this, and my aftermarket amp sounds MUCH better than the POS JBL amp. It is definitely the weak link in what is otherwise a pretty good stereo.

The factory amp has 4 separate channels for each tweeter, then 2 channels (left and right) for the woofers. They do not fade front-to-rear.

I ran new wire to the rear woofers (really easy), so that the fronts and rears are wired separately like the tweeters are. Otherwise the wiring & speakers are all stock.

I wired each channel's woofer and tweeter in parallel, and used 100mfd capacitors as bass blockers to protect the tweeters.

The stock power wire really sucks (my connector was slightly melted!), so I ran a new wire from the battery. For everything else I chopped off the old connectors and soldered on extra wire & RCA plugs for the inputs. Everything is pretty easy to access if you take out the back seat and work from inside the car.

One gotcha is that the head unit's amp turn-on lead is only 6 volts. A lot of aftermarket amps will respond to this, but not all of them.

The stereo behaves exactly like it did before, except it's louder, sounds far better, and the woofers fade front-to-rear. The amp is mounted in the same location as the JBL was; there's plenty of room in the tray.

The first time I did this was on my friend's '93, because his JBL amp crapped out. I was so impressed by how much better it sounded that I replaced mine the very next week.

It's not an easy project by any means. Full wiring diagrams for the stereo are an absolute must. It'd be much easier to upgrade the head unit and run new speaker wire; I mainly did it the hard way because I couldn't find any aftermarket head units that don't look cheesy.
 
MediumD said:
I'm getting the parts together to set up a PC based info/entertainment center. I haven't really looked at the stock system, but I'd like to use the stock JBL speakers if I can. My amp (or maybe CD head unit, I dunno) is acting funny, when it's cold it doesn't produce much volume and pretty much makes no bass, then it's fine when it warms up. Anyway it's getting on my nerves so I want to just use a 4 channel aftermarket, this way I can set up a 4.1 surround system.

Are the stockers 4 ohm?

They don't have individual built in amplifiers like my ETC's Bose system has, do they?
Click to expand...


i use a sony 4 channel amp to run my stock jbl speakers with the stock wiring and have been doing this for over 2 years...they sound awesome.
 
Thanks for the responses, especially segxr7. I may eventually go with aftermarket component speakers but I want to see if the stock speakers will do well enough for my tastes.
 
driller said:
JBL? :confused:
Click to expand...


Yes. The stock JBL tweeters are rather nice, at least in my Mark. The audio shop and I decided to use them to provide more dynamic sound in the cabin. I am using the crossover supplied with the Type-R (which means I am not using the conical tweeter on the speaker). However in the back I am using the component Type-R as they should be used :)
 
unity said:
Yes. The stock JBL tweeters are rather nice, at least in my Mark. The audio shop and I decided to use them to provide more dynamic sound in the cabin. I am using the crossover supplied with the Type-R (which means I am not using the conical tweeter on the speaker). However in the back I am using the component Type-R as they should be used :)
Click to expand...

I suppose I acted in haste when I told the installer to simply rewire and install new speakers with another amp after he whined about the factory wiring.
 
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