Has anyone had a good experience with the PAC TATO with JBL synthesis?

[Dpassmore]

This did it. MAX VOLUME is around 63 or 65. I turned it up to 50 and unplugged the 3 OEM connectors (with the key still in ACC mode). Worked perfectly and now it sounds like I expected it to from the beginning. Thanks!

Three times trying that did not fix mine. Got a line converter from PAC. That DID fix it.

 

[zimdba]

Three times trying that did not fix mine. Got a line converter from PAC. That DID fix it.

The SNI35 (variable) or the SNI15 (10:1 reduction)? They look like roughly the same price. I'd rather not have to deal with variable, which I would assume requires tuning & fiddling.

 

[bigswoleone]

I recently had the scosche version of the PAC tato installed. I have a 4v output alpine head unit and have to say that I am pretty disappointed with the sound quality at higher volumes. In a previously owned 4th gen with jbl me and my neighbor installed a 2v alpine HU. At the time of install I was not aware of the stock jbl amp. My neighbor, who is pretty smart when it comes to these things was able to install the HU by splicing it in with no jbl interface adapter. That system greatly increased the volume and the sound quality of the jbl. Plus I didn't have to spend an extra 100 bucks or so. I am going to get his help and try to do this on my new 4th gen that has the scosche harness installed.

If on a scale of 1 to 10, the spliced system sound quality and volume being a 10. I would say the scosche harness is a 4. Really, really disappointed with he money spent on this crap.

 

[adamderry]

So after starting this thread and then doing my own stereo install, I will share a little bit of what I did so that hopefully it helps other members here.

I installed a Pioneer AVH-X4600BT using the Metra 70-8117 amplifier bypass harness. The harness worked great on my 04 with JBL system, it simply plugs into the vehicle harness near the amp and is then run to the headunit and connected to the headunit harness using crimp connectors or solder. This allowed me to eliminate the center speaker and rear tweeters and have my headunit power my front and rear door speakers including the front door tweeters. I then replaced the JBL sub and amp with a Rockford amp and MB quart shallow 8" sub and just ran the RCA cables to the headunit like any other system.

Overall I'm very happy with the setup. More than anything I was looking for bluetooth calling and audio streaming and both of those work flawlessly. The sound quality of the JBL speakers powered by the Pioneer headunit is quite good, certainly good enough for me. I find it actually sounds cleaner at high volumes which seems counter intuitive. Either way, I'm very happy and would highly suggest this option to those who are interested in bypassing the amp without having to run speaker wires to each speaker. You will loose the sub if you don't replace the amp with something else, but if you can afford to throw another couple hundred bucks at an amp and sub then you'll be golden.

Hope that helps someone!

 

[zimdba]

So after starting this thread and then doing my own stereo install, I will share a little bit of what I did so that hopefully it helps other members here.

I installed a Pioneer AVH-X4600BT using the Metra 70-8117 amplifier bypass harness. The harness worked great on my 04 with JBL system, it simply plugs into the vehicle harness near the amp and is then run to the headunit and connected to the headunit harness using crimp connectors or solder. This allowed me to eliminate the center speaker and rear tweeters and have my headunit power my front and rear door speakers including the front door tweeters. I then replaced the JBL sub and amp with a Rockford amp and MB quart shallow 8" sub and just ran the RCA cables to the headunit like any other system.

Overall I'm very happy with the setup. More than anything I was looking for bluetooth calling and audio streaming and both of those work flawlessly. The sound quality of the JBL speakers powered by the Pioneer headunit is quite good, certainly good enough for me. I find it actually sounds cleaner at high volumes which seems counter intuitive. Either way, I'm very happy and would highly suggest this option to those who are interested in bypassing the amp without having to run speaker wires to each speaker. You will loose the sub if you don't replace the amp with something else, but if you can afford to throw another couple hundred bucks at an amp and sub then you'll be golden.

Hope that helps someone!

That sounds like a better option than dicking around with more PAC products. Do you find that you miss the center channel or rear tweets?

 

[adamderry]

That sounds like a better option than dicking around with more PAC products. Do you find that you miss the center channel or rear tweets?

I haven't missed either of them. A lot of posts on here even mention how simply disconnecting the center channel can add sound quality so it's like killing two birds with one stone

 

[Dpassmore]

One day I probably will gut it, but I didn't have the money and time to do all that after buying the HU.
I used this one.
Amazon.com: PAC LP7-4 L.O.C. PRO Series 4-Channel Line Output Converter with Remote Turn On: Car Electronics

 

[JD914]

Funny that there's so much negativity about the PAC unit - I'm running it with my JVC head unit and it sounds great. Did you guys experiencing low volume turn up the gain on the PAC? I initially installed everything and experienced crackling at higher volumes, and thought I had blown a tweeter. I reread the instructions, noted the gain adjuster and reinstalled everything, turning up the gain on the PAC, and now everything sounds excellent! Much better than stock (although not as good as with an amp or speaker upgrade, I'm sure).

 

[zimdba]

I just drove home from the bike shop in silence because the TYTO didn't even trigger the amp. I'm done with it.

 

[Sporin]

After reading so many threads about the troubles getting the JBL Synth speakers/am/sub working with an aftermarket radio, I've pretty much decided to scrap the whole thing.

If I drop in a modern double din, and do the steering wheel controls add-on, can I just bypass the complicated JBL stuff and reuse the existing speakers in some way? (Don't care about amp and sub)

This is the one I'm interested in. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWR910B/JVC-KW-R910BT.html?tp=5684 Gives me all the features I want and need (particularly BT) and the color can adjust to match the rest of the dash.

 

[zimdba]

After reading so many threads about the troubles getting the JBL Synth speakers/am/sub working with an aftermarket radio, I've pretty much decided to scrap the whole thing.

If I drop in a modern double din, and do the steering wheel controls add-on, can I just bypass the complicated JBL stuff and reuse the existing speakers in some way? (Don't care about amp and sub)

This is the one I'm interested in. JVC KW-R910BT CD receiver at Crutchfield.com Gives me all the features I want and need (particularly BT) and the color can adjust to match the rest of the dash.

I think the point of the Metra 70-8117 harness is to bypass the JBL amp and utilize the factory speakers. The purpose of using a harness is to leave all factory wiring unmolested, so you can remove/reverse everything.

 

[Sporin]

I think the point of the Metra 70-8117 harness is to bypass the JBL amp and utilize the factory speakers. The purpose of using a harness is to leave all factory wiring unmolested, so you can remove/reverse everything.

Thanks! Maybe I'll just run new wire and 4 new speakers... someday when I have the shred.

EDIT: This is what comes up when I add this to my cart at Crutchfield...