[pro]

Crutchfield told me, and I think flat out lied, that running the speaker wires from my new JVC unit to the bose amplifier is no big deal. But it sure seems that the sound quality sucks, especially at higher levels. Even with the volume at the lowest setting, it is still quite loud.
Not only that, every time I press a button on the HU, the sub bumps. Background/white noise in between songs or stations is very loud.
I really dont feel like ripping everything back out (risk breaking the metra) to install some sort of line converter.

 

[tuckNroll]

Your stereo should have RCA outputs on the back of it unless its 5 years old. You don't need to go buy a LOC, What model number do you have?

 

[pro]

Its a JVC Arsenal KD-AHD69
JVC Arsenal KD-AHD69 CD/MP3 Car Stereo w/ Built-in HD Radio

Iv never seen the bose amp or even know where it is.

 

[tuckNroll]

You dont need to touch the Bose amp at all...
From what I understand, you spliced together the wiring harness that came with the metra to the one that was supplied with the JVC unit correct? If so, I'd reframe from using the system at all until fixed or you're going to blow your bose system...

What should've been done is only the power lines(negative, positive, accessory, maybe the dim) should be spliced into the metra wiring harness and there should be another wiring harness that goes from the car harness to the white and red outputs on the back of the stereo.

I am not familiar with the metra kit or the wiring harness of the 6 because when I upgraded my 6's stereo, I choose to keep my factory stereo and added an aftermarket amp and upgraded speakers. I also made my own wiring harness for that matter. Nontheless, I've upgraded quite a few stereos in my past.

 

[pro]

What I meant is that this metra came with an adaptor that plugs into the Mazda radio adaptor - one end obviously into the big mazda radio plug, and then other all the loose wires that are spliced and soldered to the JVC radio harness.

 

[zchrisz]

you run the rca jacks on the head unit to the speaker wires in the harness supplied with the metra kit, it's all a big waste anyways, either take the entire bose system out or leave it alone.

 

[pro]

I already bought and installed everything anyway. I suppose it wont hurt to just take it all out and put in a rca to line converter or whaatever it is in there as well.

 

[tuckNroll]

What I meant is that this metra came with an adaptor that plugs into the Mazda radio adaptor - one end obviously into the big mazda radio plug, and then other all the loose wires that are spliced and soldered to the JVC radio harness.

All those loose wires you said you spliced and soldered. You were only supposed to spliced and solder the power into the JVC harness. All the speaker outputs on the back of that harness you need to undo.

The reason being is because the harness on the JVC unit is outputting speaker level power(meaning its already been amplified).
And what your Bose Amp needs is a line level output(has not been amplified) similar to the output of any headphone jack such as your iPod.

What you need to do is hook the car harness up to RCA jacks(which are line level, what your bose amp wants), here is one way how:
How to Convert Speaker Wire to RCA Plugs | eHow.com
or buy something similar to these:

or you can make them very easily by cutting a standard RCA cable in half and stripping the cable very slowly and splicing and soldering the lines to the car.

Until you fix this you are basically overloading your bose amp with about 95% more power its supposed to handle. So re frame from using the system at all until fixed.

 

[tuckNroll]

Don't wast money buying a RCA to line converter, your stereo already has one built in!

 

[pro]

Ok so just like i thought, metra and crutchfield were incorrect when saying to solder all the loser stereo wires into the bose amp inputs.
This JVC does have have a low/med/high preamp setting, which I am assuming lets you set the voltage at the RCA outputs (I believe max is 5v). What is the bose amp expecting? If a conversion of the RCA outputs is STILL too much, then I suppose I would have to get some sort of filter to tone down the voltage.

 

[pro]

I guess the voltage is still too much. the sound is shitty and i just realized that the preamp outs are for front 2 speakers, and 2 subs. so that means no rear door sound. no wonder you dont see many mazdas at car shows

 

[tuckNroll]

Play with the voltage settings, and according to crutchfield, you can change the sub output to a regular output. I must say, jvc decks have the best features for your buck but they don't always have the best sound or balance of power, I know first hand, I bought a jvc for my truck and sometimes I wish I bought a pioneer, but those are more and you get less features....

 

[pro]

i got it all put together, but I think I might just take it all out. 2 of the buttons are broke on this POS metra.
Will this fit?:

Kanatechs Stereo Install Kit For 2003-2005 Mazda6 | Mazda | ShoKits

 

[tuckNroll]

That should fit, Notice where it says:
Note: If your car comes equipped with a BOSE Premium Sound System you will need to purchase an additional adapter for your new stereo to operate properly.
Thats where you went wrong last time.
Thats the number one reason I didn't replace the factory HU in this car, The aftermarket kits are expensive and they usually the quality of some tinker toy you purchased outside of a grocery store for a quarter... Plus I like the ACS the system has to offer, as well as in dash 6 disc, and steering wheel buttons...

 

[pro]

ok cool thanks. im just going to just do with 2 front speakers and let the rear just sit there and do nothing. same with the crappy buttons (one of which doesnt work - the defroster). maybe when the price comes down at shokits then ill go doubledin (assuming i still own the vehicle)

 

[tuckNroll]

If the Metra kit is new, just return it. I've heard more success with a kit called turbo or something like that....

 

[pro]

they wont take it back.
the box says "metra turbo 2". Maybe thats where youre getting turbo from.

 

[tuckNroll]

Then leave a bag of dog dodo on their porch and set it on fire and casually walk away...
Yea thats probably the turbo...

 

[zchrisz]

wtf?

dude i had bose in my 6, i added a metra kit with a pioneer single din head unit, preouts for front and rear tie right into the metra harness supplied with the kit, i dont see the big deal....

i have the shokit kit now with a pioneer double din works fine, you need automatic climate control though.

and like i said before, if your going this route then pull all the bose crap out, not many mazda's at car shows? mine moves the windows...

 

[pro]

ill get the shokit when it can be afforded