Hi,

How did you do this? I can see how to run the cable under the door trim right up until the seatbelt mount. From there on, I can't see how to route the wires without taking out the rear seat panel.. is there any trick you can share on doing it?

 

Hello,
I just joined the forum specifically because you have this thread going and it is the most informative one I have found regarding the Boss Audio BASS600. I'll get right to the point...

1) Is it normal for the led power indication light to turn 'red' when the unit is first powered up? Anyone experience this with a working unit?
(the manual/book says this is not normal, but an earlier thread by 'toolazyforalogin' stated that's what theirs did each time)

2) The unit works when hooked up via RCA/low levels, but gives no sound at any setting when hooked up via the high levels, anyone else had this problem?

I did a by the book installation for both RCA/low levels, and high levels. 8ga rockford fosgate amp install kit, 12v direct to battery, bare metal ground 8 in. from the unit, 'remote power on' hooked up to a 'remote power lead' from the head unit, and utilized either rca/low level or speaker wire/high level feeds from the head unit, not both at once (checked for polarity...all properly connected).

I'm trying to find out if this unit is defective.
Seems wierd it would work okay with the low level feeds, but not with the high level ones...not poor quality, just no sound.
Also strange that it will show that red light when first powered up regardless of input method, which the manual says is a problem.
Thanks for any and all replies, feedback or thoughts on these issues...this is a great thread regarding these low profile powered subs, so I hope any responses will add to the knowledge base already accrued here, it has been a big help already.
Thanks again!
Robert

 

My MINI is apart right now so I can't check the light when it powers on.

Mine did not work with the high level inputs when connected to the X9331 connector (before the HIFI amp), but works fine with the RCW inputs. I did check it on my home system, and the high-level inputs worked fine. It is not clear to me from what source you connected the high-level inputs.

 

mine turns red upon powerup. most likely a self check on the unit.

 

Many thanks for the replies.

Regarding high level inputs> I'm actually not using a factory harness...I ran new wires directly from speaker leads on aftermarket head unit. I am sure the speaker leads work okay, because I hooked them directly to speakers with no trouble and good sound. I have heard and read here, that others experienced a lower quality of sound using the high level inputs...so I guess there is a slim chance I did not play with the settings well enough to make sure it is making no sound. I will double check that.

However the wiring diagram is vague is describing the purpose of the additional ground wire on the high-level input pigtail that comes with the unit. Based on the picture I assumed it is an additional chasis ground...I tried grounding it to the chasis, and tried it jumped to the large chasis ground for the unit itself...as well as without it connnected and none helped. I wondered if it could make a difference if you connected that small extra ground on the high level input pigtail all the way back to the head unit ground...could not figure that it would.

Regarding the Unit Powering up with the Red Light initially, then it Going Green>toolazyforalogin, your answer is what I was really hoping to hear, because the unit seems to work fine via the rca/low level inputs...and I am very pleased with the addtional low/mid range sound, based on my settings, and especially thanks to this thread for the great coverage of this unit. I guess that momentary flash of the protection circuit aka 'red light' is a self test as you described, or has to do with the power up sequence via remote start. Just wanted to make sure it was not as the manual indicated...<loosely paraphrased> "red light coming on when unit is powered up means the volume of head unit is too high or unit needs service".
Just needed to hear from someone who's had one functioning properly for a period of time, even while displaying this symptom...again thanks.

I'll probably play with the high level inputs some more, and if anyone has a tip/trick regarding those I'm all ears. I can always use the rca/pre-amp/low level inputs, but being able to use the high-level inputs would be a nice benefit for future expansion of the system.

 

I piggybacked the ground wire of the high level inputs to the ground wire on the unit.

 

Does anyone know what gauge the large brown wire and the large white wire are on the X9331? Thanks,

Nick

 

I have another newbie question. I have the standard Boost system. I've already done the channel swap but really want the bass filled in a bit more. I plan on getting the Bass600 from Amazon.

I'm wondering: you guys say to just pick it off at the X9331 plug...what do you mean? Do you mean just splice into the speaker wire either before or after that plug? Do you have a picture of this?

 

When I first installed the Bass600, I pulled the pins out, soldered a wire from a CAT6 cable to each pin, and put them back in the housing.

Now that I know where to get X9331 connector parts, I might make an in-between plug that could just be plugged into both sides of the X9331 connector. This is a more expensive option (around $70 for parts ) but less invasive, and you don't have to do the soldering in the car.

Part numbers and links are in this post.

A third option is to tap into the wires near the X9331 connector. This is also invasive, and might give a dealer something to blame if you have electrical problems.

 

I'll have to give that a try and see if it resolves the issues with my 'high level input'. I think the rca/'low level' input will actually be better quality as long as it does not suffer from me splitting the rca/'low level'/pre-amp outs on my head unit (using a high quality monster cable setup to use the rca pre-amps to power another parralel component). Thanks again!

And just so folks know Boss Audio is capable of replying to help tickets, and to further beat the dead horse ...there is this:

[#RCL-636xxx]: BASS600 LED Protection Light‏
From: Billy Dominguez (noreply@bossaudio.com) Sent:Thu 9/24/09 3:23 PM
To: xxxxxxxxxx@hotmail.com


Only if the red led remains ON, is when the unit is defective. When powering on it is normal to see the red led light turn on for a short time, as long as the green led remains on you should be good.

Ticket Historyxxxxxxxxxx (Client) Posted On: 18 Sep 2009 02:25 PM

I have a new Boss Audio BASS600. The 12 volt power is wired directly to the battery. The ground is hooked to a bare metal ground 10 inches from the unit. The remote turn on is connected to my head unit's remote power connection. Input from the head unit is via RCA pre-amp connections. (power & ground are 8ga wire, remote wire is 16ga, and RCA are high quality insulated cables.
When the unit first powers up the 'red protection light' comes on, after a couple seconds it turns green and the unit seems to work normally, but according to the manual the light should not turn red when the unit is first powered up...in fact the trouble shooting portion of the manual says this is a problem and that this 'unit needs service'. Is this correct? Should I send this unit back to the seller as defective?

 

Well, I like the idea of being able to go back to stock for warranty issues and all, but $70 is pretty steep! I also don't like the idea of cutting any factory wires. So, I think the soldering-the-wire-into-the-pin option is probably best.

Ok - I do have another quick newbie question though. Am I pulling signal from just one of the speakers--or, do I pull signal from BOTH of the speakers that give the lower frequency?

 

Both. The Bass600 has inputs for right and left channels. You never know which channel will have the drums more dominant.

 

Ok. Thanks for all your help. Very much appreciated. I can't wait to get at least a little more thumpa thumpa.

 

right answer...wrong reason

It is to give the amplifier the max input signal possible....the bass should be summed mono. Although i am not sure if this amplifier does that or not...if not you should work on that...but my guess is that it does it internally.

 

Yes, it sums both channels to a mono feed -- which is why you need to be very careful about phasing, or leave things in a changeable form so you can reverse one channel and see if you get more bass...

 

Just finished installing the bass600 sub and have a problem. The sub sounds fine and I believe I have it wired correctly...problem is, when I turn up the volume the audio goes dead and will only turn back on again if I restart the car. I have the hifi and used the low level imputs.

Any help would be appreciated...thnx!

 

Got my Bass600 delivered today. I've read through this thread and didn't see where anyone says which wires are which in the X9331 connector. This might be something I should already know, but don't.

Could some please let me know the best place to pull the wires off the X9331, and what color those wires are? After reading I need to tap the High Side, I have the Boost radio. I have to remove the rear seat to put in a new 6x9 in anyway, so if I can tap everything under the seat or behind the left rear panel that would be great.

Here are my specs:

• Boost system in my 2009 Clubman S
• still need to put in my new driver's rear 6x9(so removing the seats etc)
• planning on putting the Bass600 in the spare tire area
• planning on tapping the inside of the rear cig adapter(so I can still use it)

Thanks for the help.

 

JohnJohn
Here is all the info you should need

One other option for getting an easy RCA ouput for an amp is using a wire harness from NewMiniStuff.com. I bought the harnes but never used it.
http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...uctshow&id=469
If someone is installing an amp this is probably the easiest way to do it. PM me if any one is interested in the wire harness it's plug and play. It's yours for $40, 50% off purchase price.

Dashboard removal
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...em-stereo.html

Info on X9331 Connector
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ust-do-it.html
color codes for X9331
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...questions.html
setting up an amp for a HiFi System
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...the-hi-fi.html
Wiring diagram for the OEM Amp X10266
http://www.roadstersound.com/other_f...0MCS%20R56.pdf

 

Video removal of of Speedometer.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...al-on-r56.html

 

THANKS, you got a PM

 

Just installed the Boss Bass600 tonight.


On a note... on my 09 Clubman S the Front left Positive is now Black and Red.

It's funny I connected the speaker wires to the high input feed first and it worked, then I connected RCA jacks to the speaker wires and it worked too. I stuck with the RCA as thats preferable.

Thanks to everyone here it was relatively painless except I couldn't get the plugs out of the jack to solder my wires in so I tapped them instead. Fits perfectly on top of my added spare tire and tool kit and the wires are hidden perfectly. I did solder the power wire to the 12v lighter socket wire and hit up the ground on the body behind the drivers side rear trunk panel.

 

I seem to have the same problem, I thought I hooked everything up ok but it does exactly the same thing, cuts out when I turn up the volume. Anyone?

 

Haven't had the problem. The only thing different that I did was get the ground from the cig lighter socket. I actually just plugged in to the socket with a Radio Shlock cig plug. The turn-on circuit was just jumped from the power input connection on the Bass600.

Schatzy62 says their are some peculiar aspects to grounds on the MINI. So, that would be what I would change first.

Otherwise, it would have to be something at the X9331 connector.

 

Putting on my EE hat ---

(1) HiFi system
(2) Low-level inputs on bass600
(3) Mini radio craps out when volume gets turned up, system needs to be power cycled.

This tells me that the self-protection circuitry in the radio is being triggered. This is good -- much better than no self-protection circuitry and the magic smoke leaking out of the radio...

One thing I see as a big difference between the low-level and the high-level inputs on the bass600, I would bet that the common legs (the outer rings on the RCA connectors) of the low-level inputs are connected together. It's cold out, and I'm too lazy to go out and check mine right now, but that's my bet. Common engineering practice using RCA connectors as inputs the outer rings would be connected together.

I'm also betting that the outputs from the OEM radio in the HiFi system are bridge outputs -- each leg goes to a power amplifier. For example, the left front output has a "+" and a "-" connection -- but these go to the outputs of two power amps which are fed 180 degrees out of phase. This is a common trick used in automotive electronics.

If my supposition about the low level inputs to the bass600 are correct, then what you're doing is tying the outputs (negative legs) of two amplifiers together, through the low level input connector.

Technically this is known as "not good."

When the volume gets turned up high, and the music is complex enough, the two amps fight, and the radio's self-protection circuitry cuts in and calls it a day.

Verifying this hypothesis -- unplug your cable from the low-level inputs. Use an ohmmeter to see if the outer rings on the two RCA jacks are connected together. If they are, that confirms the problem. If not, check your wiring to make sure you haven't shorted things together or to ground somewhere else.

Solutions are to use the high-level inputs. Given the rated input sensitivity of the bass600 and the range of the bass boost control, you can get just as much thumpa-thumpa using the high level inputs with the bass boost turned up (0.11 volts on low level inputs v 0.5 volts on high level inputs and +12dB available from the bass boost control all according to the manual).

If you insist on using the low-level inputs, put a 100 ohm resistor in series with each of the four wires coming from your connector of choice (such as X9331). This will convert the signals to what's known technically as a half-assed voltage source.

Using either of these two approaches should result in your radio not shutting down anymore. Using the high-level input would be my preference.

I haven't had my morning can of Mt Dew yet. Let me know how close to reality this hypothesis is.

 

1)
Ok, Its been suggested that it might be my ground wire which is to the body on another Mini ground and I should change it to the cig lighter ground.

2)
I wired the RCA plugs with the Positive wires to the center of the RCA plug, was that correct?

3)
Last ditch I'll try the high outputs instead they worked when I hooked them up.

Thanks again everyone.