Bluetooth amp install with stock radio

ToddL

ToddL

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 29, 2017
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101
Location
Chandler, AZ, United States
I decided to get some better sounds this weekend. I had already installed Polk Audio speakers. Now I wanted more power and Bluetooth.
Enter Kenwood 400w marine amp:
CDF93DC0-1C79-46B0-B9DF-01529D5B5354.jpeg

Comes with a Bluetooth controller. I wanted to stick with the factory radio. Sentimental I guess.
First step, add a mini fuse box to the battery:
EF50C1C3-F63A-46CE-B293-B71BD089EFD3.jpeg

Next step, mount the amp to a board and attach to steering column:
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Now for the hard part. Tap into the factory harness. I always solder and shrink tubing. 8 cuts, 16 solder joints.
CADBA0F5-70B7-4F8E-8756-E37A87A224AC.jpeg

Getting the radio out was actually harder than I expected due to the bolt in the back attaching it to a support.
After the wiring time to start buttoning up the dash:
C0A5DC96-AA75-43B9-9560-3FE914C5D673.jpeg


Now to mount the Bluetooth controller. With some careful cutting with the dremel I got it nicely tucked into the switch panel:
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Really liked the way that came out. The amp has a usb for charging the phone, so I won’t miss the lighter outlet.

The amp really makes a big difference and I love having Bluetooth now. Highly recommended amp.
 
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Great stuff! Nice work all around.
 
That looks great. I noticed on the last pic that the small storage tray in front of your shifter has been replaced. What did you use?
 
RussTJ said:
That looks great. I noticed on the last pic that the small storage tray in front of your shifter has been replaced. What did you use?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the compliments. That piece in front of the shifter is actually a key switch to turn off the passenger air bag. It came from the factory.
 
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Install looks great! This is exactly what we want to do. A few questions if you ahve time:

1. When you cut the factory harness, it was basically to be able to route the speaker wires (out of the radio) over to the amp, then back, to go out to the speakers?

2. So, I understand that it is an amp with high level inputs, but am foggy on what that Bluetooth controller lets you do? Can you explain what it gives you and how it works? I see a bunch of buttons on that thing...

Thanks
 
TJ's-TJ said:
Install looks great! This is exactly what we want to do. A few questions if you ahve time:

1. When you cut the factory harness, it was basically to be able to route the speaker wires (out of the radio) over to the amp, then back, to go out to the speakers?

2. So, I understand that it is an amp with high level inputs, but am foggy on what that Bluetooth controller lets you do? Can you explain what it gives you and how it works? I see a bunch of buttons on that thing...

Thanks
Click to expand...
Looks like it allows you to connect a device, such as your phone, direct to the amplifier vs through the stereo or head unit. The buttons appear to control the connected device. Its a pretty clever work around for older systems. If my factory stereo was in good shape, I would be looking into this too.
 
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TJ's-TJ said:
Install looks great! This is exactly what we want to do. A few questions if you ahve time:

1. When you cut the factory harness, it was basically to be able to route the speaker wires (out of the radio) over to the amp, then back, to go out to the speakers?

2. So, I understand that it is an amp with high level inputs, but am foggy on what that Bluetooth controller lets you do? Can you explain what it gives you and how it works? I see a bunch of buttons on that thing...

Thanks
Click to expand...
That’s correct, I cut the wires and soldered in a rca connector to go into the amp, then the amp out goes to the other cut ends that run to the speaker.
The seperate control buttons are just to control the Bluetooth device. You press the bigger circular button to switch between the radio and bt device.
 
ToddL said:
That’s correct, I cut the wires and soldered in a rca connector to go into the amp, then the amp out goes to the other cut ends that run to the speaker.
The seperate control buttons are just to control the Bluetooth device. You press the bigger circular button to switch between the radio and bt device.
Click to expand...

OK I think I get it, big button to switch to the BT device, volume up/down, and forward/back...

Any capability to take phone calls?
 
TJ's-TJ said:
OK I think I get it, big button to switch to the BT device, volume up/down, and forward/back...

Any capability to take phone calls?
Click to expand...
No, it won’t do phone calls directly. I use Siri on speaker mode for that.
I do plan to add the Echo Auto when it becomes available, and that should enable calling.
 
So you ran the speaker wires from the head unit, spliced them to turn them into a rca imput for the amp? They send 2 different power levels. Won't that be overloading the amp? That is the reason most amps have a line level input and a separate low (rca) level input I thought. But a very clean input non the less.
 
Why, if they make an adapter to fit a double din head unit in the dash, don't they make an adapter to fit a single din head unit and a storage bin above/below? A useable size. Not the one I've seen that will just fit a piece of paper or two. There should be room for a 2 inch high bin in there.
 
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Goatman said:
So you ran the speaker wires from the head unit, spliced them to turn them into a rca imput for the amp? They send 2 different power levels. Won't that be overloading the amp? That is the reason most amps have a line level input and a separate low (rca) level input I thought. But a very clean input non the less.
Click to expand...
It is speaker level through the rca inputs, but the line level is selectable.
 
So the amp only has rca inputs and no regular wire inputs also? I've seen amps with just line level ins, but not just rca ins on a car amp. I'm by no means an expert. Just don't want you to accidentally blow your amp.
 
This is really cool, I would like to do something similar to this. I don't know much about car audio, but is it possible to add a subwoofer to this setup?
 
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