I have a question, it should be very simple for you all. All I have is an aftermarket headunit w/ RCA connectors on the back, a 400 watt Kenwood Amp, and a 10" Subwoofer. The rest is all stock Bose.

When installing this setup for the first time, I tapped into the rear Bose speaker before the Bose amp. By using a converter to RCA. My 10" Sub was really, really quiet. So, I the switch the tap from, before the Bose amp TO after the Bose amp. It sounds loud. My problem is fixed.

I wanted to get rid of the converter and just use a long RCA cable from the headunit to my Kenwood Amp. When I did this, my 10" Sub got really, really quiet again. My amp is turned up. So, what do I do to fix the problem of the quiet subwoofer? Thank you.

 

Follow me on this one now....

First of all when you tapped into the bose speaker BEFORE the amp, you did it wrong because the wires going to each speaker before the amp is pre-amp. Which means it is only to be used when going to an amp. Bose runs amps and crossovers on the speakers, some of them have AMPS right on the speaker. Now you did it correctly when you took the wire after the amp because that wire was now a HI-LEVEL out instead of the LOW-LEVEL preamp wire you took before.

Now I cant tell you why the RCA wires straight from the Headunit did not work. I mean it should have, either there is something wrong with the headunit or you dont have LOW-LEVEL preamp selected on the amp. Secondly how are you using a aftermarket headunit with all the stock bose equipment? Are you getting clean sound? Cause most people replace the whole setup since the Bose uses their own sub-standard 1ohm signals from the headunit to the amp and to the speakers.

Another thing is if you want to get rid of the convertor by other means, just tap into the wires you did before the amp when it was really quite and run it DIRECTLY to the RCA INPUTS on the amp. That will do it, just get a RCA wire and cut one end off and use the cut-end to tap into the wires.

That will solve it, but i still would check out why the headunit and the amp with a direct RCA was not working.

Sorry for writing a book, just wanted to make it clear the FIRST time.

Dixit

 

I know for certain that there is not anything wrong with the HU. Also, I am not sure if I even have a LOW-LEVEL preamp setting on my amp. I will check to make sure.

About my HU, I got it professionally installed. I had to buy a special adapter made to convert the signal, I think. I also had to buy a Power Antennea Adapter. The sound is great coming out of my original Bose speakers.

The reason why I want to get rid of the converter is because some stereo shop guys told me it would sound much cleaner and louder. I will ask around to see why I am getting a quiet sound. Anybody else wants to take a stab at my problem? Thanks for your help BigDogJonx.

 

Well, like I said, just tap the wires like you did before the amp, and run it directly into the amp into the RCA in, just get a RCA wire and cut off the end and use the cut-end to tap into the wires.

That should work fine.

 

Thanks. Does anyone else have an idea on what is wrong? I checked my wiring again and it's right. My sub is just really, really quiet. I will take it back to the speaker shop that I bought my HU from and see what they say. In the meantime, any ideas? Thank you.

 

all i can think of is that maybe the fade on the head unit is turned down, or the sub is set to off or something like that. depends on the HU though. my kenwood has sub fade, and was REALLY queit until i turned it all up, and adjusted the bass and what not... goodluck

 

I have messed with all the switches and settings on my HU and amp. I have narrowed it down to a really weak signal coming from my HU, or a worn out amp. Well, anyways, I tapped back into my rear speaker and it's really loud now. It's sounds good....I think I will just keep it unless someone else has a suggestion. Thanks for everybody's help.

 

gain???

 

What is gain?

 

Gain is sort of a "volume" control for the amp.

 

If you mean that little **** that is on my amp that controls the power...I have already turned that up. I have got stereo shops to look at it and they can't think of anything except for my speaker or amp being messed up since it's so old.

What I did was, I disconnected the RCA cable coming from my HU and I plugged back into my converter that's tapped into my rear Bose speaker. The sound is plenty good enough for me. So, I guess I will leave it. I think what is happening is that I am getting an am amplified signal coming from my Bose rear speaker amp. And then, on top of that, I have my Kenwood Amp. Those two amps, I guess, are creating more power than just my Kenwood Amp. What's wierd is that I have a 400 watt Kenwood Amp powering one Orion XTR 10". There should be way more than enough power. But, I have no clue. Maybe if I buy a whole new setup, my problems will be solved. Thanks for everybody's help.