Done w/ pics ! JBL Radio Replacement Interface

[Zogg]

- Volume is ok but not perfect...need to know more about Peripheral TJA product ( Ie-mailed them) Issue with the Bd gain dip switches. But I can hear no problem...

Sebas007,

Does the Peripheral TJA work well? Yours was the only comment I could find by Googling of someone actually using it. I have the Scosche JBL adapter and it acts a little weird at times, and I have read of some problems with the Metra adapter as well.

For example if I fade to the rear and then change balance to the left or right, the sound level drops off almost to nothing. Changes take several seconds to kick in at times. And it just doesn't seem like the rear speakers are as loud as the front.

I was wondering if the TJA's gain setting helped any or if you experienced similar problems to mine?

Thanks,
Z

[Sebas007]

- Volume is ok but not perfect...need to know more about Peripheral TJA product ( Ie-mailed them) Issue with the Bd gain dip switches. But I can hear no problem...

Sebas007,

Does the Peripheral TJA work well? Yours was the only comment I could find by Googling of someone actually using it. I have the Scosche JBL adapter and it acts a little weird at times, and I have read of some problems with the Metra adapter as well.

For example if I fade to the rear and then change balance to the left or right, the sound level drops off almost to nothing. Changes take several seconds to kick in at times. And it just doesn't seem like the rear speakers are as loud as the front.

I was wondering if the TJA's gain setting helped any or if you experienced similar problems to mine?

Thanks,
Z

Hi Zogg,


I got a weird issue too. After some hours (long trip) it makes some weird sounds and the volume go half way for some several minutes and go to normal again. But I don't know if it is the JTA stuff. Also when we install it I used the dip switches to boost the sound to test it...but it seems to have zero impact on the volume. I installed it in winter at a Kenwood supplier garage...since it is cold and snowy and I don't have any place to check it, I'll wait summer to work on it.


Seems that those little module, yours and mine, are not magical at all like they claimed !! I even call them to know more about the dips switches...because they said to use 3 first one on the 8. I just ask them why you put 8 dip switches and they answer me the module was first designed for an other aplication needing 8 dip swtiches. Anyway, you'll have to wait if you want some news from my setup.

[Zogg]

Hi Zogg,


I got a weird issue too. After some hours (long trip) it makes some weird sounds and the volume go half way for some several minutes and go to normal again. But I don't know if it is the JTA stuff. Also when we install it I used the dip switches to boost the sound to test it...but it seems to have zero impact on the volume. I installed it in winter at a Kenwood supplier garage...since it is cold and snowy and I don't have any place to check it, I'll wait summer to work on it.


Seems that those little module, yours and mine, are not magical at all like they claimed !! I even call them to know more about the dips switches...because they said to use 3 first one on the 8. I just ask them why you put 8 dip switches and they answer me the module was first designed for an other aplication needing 8 dip swtiches. Anyway, you'll have to wait if you want some news from my setup.

Thanks for the followup. I also am using a Kenwood deck (X591) although I don't think that matters. I went with Kenwood because of the Dual Zone feature they have, where you can listen to one source up front and another source like a DVD player in the rear. This is in a Sienna, not a Solara unfortunately.

I got a Metra JBL bypass cable and connected the speakers directly to the Kenwood yesterday, and it sounded a LOT better. You do lose the center speaker with this setup, but I was very happy with the sound and the Dual Zone worked very well.

I hope you get the kinks worked out of the Peripheral adapter, but I'm going to return the Scosche. There's just something not right about those adapters IMO.

Thanks,
Z

[Sebas007]

Thanks for the hint...what is the part number of your Metra JBL bypass cable ??? I don't know if I will be able to return the JTA unit...it makes more than a month I have it installed...need to read the return politic.

This cable must be not expensive at all. I forgot to say one problem I got with the navigation, caused by the JTA (I guess), is that the navigation voice telling me the way to go is at full volume (100%) but I can barely understand some unaudible sounds ! If the Metra cable solve this I would be very very happy !




Edit : By the way I google it and I found your post on Sienna forum !
http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.php?s=b39e60a3cfe3d10ffb37c87ad13aec7c&showtopic=18007&pid=139630&st=0&#entry139630


By the way...can you tell me if it is power cable only....no RCA connector isn't it ?? Any pics would be appreciate if you already took them !

Thanks

[[SMAN]]

Thanks for the hint...what is the part number of your Metra JBL bypass cable ??? I don't know if I will be able to return the JTA unit...it makes more than a month I have it installed...need to read the return politic.

This cable must be not expensive at all. I forgot to say one problem I got with the navigation, caused by the JTA (I guess), is that the navigation voice telling me the way to go is at full volume (100%) but I can barely understand some unaudible sounds ! If the Metra cable solve this I would be very very happy !




Edit : By the way I google it and I found your post on Sienna forum !
http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.php?s=b39e60a3cfe3d10ffb37c87ad13aec7c&showtopic=18007&pid=139630&st=0&#entry139630

On my unit, there is like 2 settings for the guidence voice. There is one in the user settings of the GPS, but then there is also another one in the input settings on the actual reciever. This also lets you choose what speakers you want it to use (right, left, or center)

[Zogg]

Thanks for the hint...what is the part number of your Metra JBL bypass cable ??? I don't know if I will be able to return the JTA unit...it makes more than a month I have it installed...need to read the return politic.

This cable must be not expensive at all. I forgot to say one problem I got with the navigation, caused by the JTA (I guess), is that the navigation voice telling me the way to go is at full volume (100%) but I can barely understand some unaudible sounds ! If the Metra cable solve this I would be very very happy !




Edit : By the way I google it and I found your post on Sienna forum !
http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/index.php?s=b39e60a3cfe3d10ffb37c87ad13aec7c&showtopic=18007&pid=139630&st=0&#entry139630


By the way...can you tell me if it is power cable only....no RCA connector isn't it ?? Any pics would be appreciate if you already took them !

Thanks

You found me!!! LOL

The very small instruction sheet that came with the kit says it works with 2004-06 Solara and other models so hopefully yours is in that range. If not go to metraonline.com and put in your car info, and it will show you a list of items they have. I googled the cable p/n and found it for $27, although some wanted up to $50 for it, so not too bad.

The kit has 2 cables, one for power and one for the speaker wiring. The speaker harness plugs into the existing speaker harness you unplug from the JBL amp, so that now you are bypassing the JBL amp. It has 17 feet of wiring that you route to your stereo. No RCA plugs unfortunately, just bare wires, but my Kenwood came with RCA jacks and wires so I just connected up to the wires. The sub output uses only RCA though so I need to get some connectors from Radio Shack or somewhere.

The power cable is short and plugs into the connector that used to go into your factory radio, where the JTA is connected now. It has only 4 wires for power, ACC, ground, and power for the antenna amp.

I just did a quick "twist the wires and tape them up" test yesterday, but last night I cut the main harness to length and soldered up the wires yesterday inside at the workbench. I'm going to install it all today hopefully. I also read in the Kenwood manual how to turn on/off the subwoofer amp so I hope that it's off and that's why it didn't work.

Regards,
Z

[Sebas007]

Thanks guys for this info. It appears to be a bit difficult to me to understand all the tech stuff, since I didn't make the connection myself...maybe Sean we could take a look when I'll be in Massachussetts ! Why not !

By the way I read that the sub-wires need to be cross-over to prevent any damage blablabla...

[[SMAN]]

Thanks guys for this info. It apperas to be a bit difficult to me since I didn't make the connection myself...maybe Sean we could take a look when I'll be in Massachussets ! Why not !

By the way I read that the sub-wires need to be cross-over to prevent any damage blablabla...

Just get yourself some real amps and speakers and stop complaining

[Sebas007]

Thanks guys for this info. It apperas to be a bit difficult to me since I didn't make the connection myself...maybe Sean we could take a look when I'll be in Massachussets ! Why not !

By the way I read that the sub-wires need to be cross-over to prevent any damage blablabla...

Just get yourself some real amps and speakers and stop complaining

You focker !!

I just want my setup to be functionnal without any issues. I think it might be possible as Mr. Z told it.

[Zogg]

Thanks guys for this info. It apperas to be a bit difficult to me since I didn't make the connection myself...maybe Sean we could take a look when I'll be in Massachussets ! Why not !

By the way I read that the sub-wires need to be cross-over to prevent any damage blablabla...

Just get yourself some real amps and speakers and stop complaining

You focker !!

I just want my setup to be functionnal without any issues. I think it might be possible as Mr. Z told it.

LOL I'm not really an audiophile, I just want something that sounds okay. The JBL was good enough but not with the JBL amp interface unfortunately.

Okay, showing my ignorance here, what does "the sub wires need to be cross-over" mean? Is there some difference between the JBL amp sub output and that of other units such as a Kenwood HU?

And really, this isn't too hard. Right now your setup goes Kenwood->JTA->JBL Amp->Speakers (mine was Kenwood->Scoshe JTA->JBL Amp->Speakers) but after using this bypass cable it goes Kenwood->Speakers. You eliminate the JTA and then this harness eliminates the JBL Amp.

Thanks,
Z

[Sebas007]

I just want to know what you received when you bought the Metra 70-8117...from what I'm reading it is only power wires no RCA...do I'm right ??

[Zogg]

The kit came with 2 harnesses.

One harness for power, only 4 wires. Goes between the stereo and the factory power cable.

The other harness is for the speakers, either 12 or 14 wires. Goes from the stereo to the JBL amp, where you unplug the big cable bundle from the amp and plug it into the end of the Metra harness.

The Metra speaker harness doesn't have any connectors on the end that goes to the stereo, you have to put connectors on the wires or just solder them to the wiring that came with the stereo.

Z

[[SMAN]]

Yeah this amp bypass isn't exactly rocket science (however you will need to run some sub RCAs out to there for your sub and i don't know if that will need to be spliced or not since i don't have a jbl amp to look it. The issue here is power, the amp puts out more power than your deck will (usualy) so thus you'll be underpowering your speakers. I don't know about the sub cause it sounds like it has it's own amp, but if it doesn't your going to be SOL on using it. What can happen, and i know with the last 2 kenwood decks i've had, any volume usualy over 25 has sever distortion and causes clipping. I could clearly see this during SPL competitions on the meter. So in a sense, you'll be downgrading your audio by bypassing the amp. And for those wondering what a crosover is, it's basicly a method of filtering out frequency ranges so that you eliminate the ones the speaker isn't designed to play. Most amps have these built in, the kenwood deck has it too if i remember correctly. Allthough they are usualy not as good as a nice external adjustable one. Anyways we can look at it when you come up (assuming were still good for that), and depending on how much free time and spare money i have lying around, i might have my system all instlaled and fiberglassed. Anyways the amp bypass shouldn't take more than an hour to install, usualy less.

[Sebas007]

Yeah this amp bypass isn't exactly rocket science (however you will need to run some sub RCAs out to there for your sub and i don't know if that will need to be spliced or not since i don't have a jbl amp to look it. The issue here is power, the amp puts out more power than your deck will (usualy) so thus you'll be underpowering your speakers. I don't know about the sub cause it sounds like it has it's own amp, but if it doesn't your going to be SOL on using it. What can happen, and i know with the last 2 kenwood decks i've had, any volume usualy over 25 has sever distortion and causes clipping. I could clearly see this during SPL competitions on the meter. So in a sense, you'll be downgrading your audio by bypassing the amp. And for those wondering what a crosover is, it's basicly a method of filtering out frequency ranges so that you eliminate the ones the speaker isn't designed to play. Most amps have these built in, the kenwood deck has it too if i remember correctly. Allthough they are usualy not as good as a nice external adjustable one. Anyways we can look at it when you come up (assuming were still good for that), and depending on how much free time and spare money i have lying around, i might have my system all instlaled and fiberglassed. Anyways the amp bypass shouldn't take more than an hour to install, usualy less.

Cool...just tell PM me when you willl have enough free time (no car contest nor big exam to study for...) Spring is coming soon...the new rims too !

[NewShockerGuy]

Yeah, like i said in my PM, i got my Factory Nav trim bezzel from Reggie. And as for those harnesses, those are for the digital amps. I couldn't remember when they switched to digital, but i thought it was only in the 07+ because otherwise an 04 factory JBL radio wouldn't work in an 06. What year is your car anyways?

I just ordered the OEM navigation panel. Are there gaps on the sides since the OEM navi is wider than an aftermarket?
I wasn't sure if I could use my oem radio brackets so I ordered the receiver (nav) brackets along with the nav screen panel... all the other non oem ones look bad to me since they are either not the correct silver or they bulge in areas...

I found something like this that might take up the slack in the sides?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J ... QO8C&psc=1

This listing on Ebay looks to be just like an oem panel and with the above...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Stereo-Rad ... %7Ciid%3A1


Thanks,
-Nigel