I am looking to install an amplifier to the factory head unit and it was recommended to me to purchase a CAN bus system interface. Is this something I need and if so which interface should I buy?

 

You will need a high level output converter to create RCA's for the amplifier. It is very much more easy to just replace the HU

 

Point us to one of these Can bus interfaces you were recommended to purchase. Just so we can understand what the heck they're talking about. It sounds like you talked to some sales guy who knows very little about how the audio system is put together.

Also, is your current system the Infinity system and which radio do you currently have? There are 3 letters on the bottom right corner of the radio. Those letters will tell us what radio you have.

 

I was replacing my deck last year and tried to do it without the cambus as my jeep is basic and was told that stock deck (doesn't have volume controls on the steering wheel or gps) talks to another systems in the jeep and it might not start or run properly which I thought was crazy. I ended up buying it and it make installing the deck easier as it uses the existing wiring and doesn't require an additional wiring harness although at $130 it wasn't cheap. I really didn't want to buy the cambus but it was needed and if you got a Rubicon you probably need it y

 

This is what you want -

Pac-Audio.com Product Details | iPod Integration for your car and More by Pac-Audio - Connecting you to the future

It is a little pricey for an interface unit, (shop around, I found it for about $100) but I installed it in my 2011 last year when I upgraded my entire sound system while keeping the stock head unit. Doesn't mess with the CAN bus whatsoever, does not require any special wiring, splicing, etc., and is small enough to fit neatly behind the head unit. Clean RCA outputs and a 12v soft turn-on lead for your amp... easy and done. Would highly recommend this for what you're looking to do.

 

YES!! that's what I was looking for! Is that the model number I need or are there diferent ones for different radios? I.E. Base model vs Infinity.


P.S. I did notice that the discription at the bottom of the page says that it does not work with the factory HU treble or bass functions.. Is there one that keeps those adjustments?

 

Well there is, but it was a lot cheaper and caused my ABS light to go off about 6 months after instal. All dash lights and ABS went off at 70mph on the highway. ODBC2 errors should that the CAN bus thought the radio was dead and putting lots of errors on the. CAN Bus

I would go with the PAC one as it appears to be the only one that does not show errors on the CAN bus and long term that's what you need

 

[QUOTE=bOLsAK=3;3157843]YES!! that's what I was looking for! Is that the model number I need or are there diferent ones for different radios? I.E. Base model vs Infinity.


That's the exact model I have and the one you'd need. (You can check the compatibility chart just to be 104% sure and safe.) This should work on any of the head units, and no, it does not matter whether you have the premium sound system (Infinity) or not.

The reason they tell you it will not be controlled by your radio's EQ controls is because the PAC unit gives you completely unfiltered signal so you can tailor the sound from your amp, which is essentially what you really want to do is you're adding on to a factory system. If you're still shopping for your amp(s), look into detailed audio controls... not just gain, but variable crossovers, bass filters, etc. This will help you tailor the sound of your aftermarket gear to any existing factory speakers you're leaving in the jeep. For instance...

I bought my Jeep with the infinity system. I wanted more more oomph from the low end, so after a bunch of homework, I bought a JL Audio 8" sub that fit perfectly into the factory sub enclosure. While I was at it, I thought, "Why don't I power up those infamously near-inaudible rear roll bar speakers while I'm at it?" so I have an Alpine 4 channel amp powering the rear speakers, with the other two channels bridged to the sub. The amp receives signal from the RCAs coming out of the PAC interface unit, and I kept the 4 front dash speakers running off the factory amp as is. (I found their sound quite satisfying, both in volume and quality.) So with a few weeks of listening to different genres and keeping a small screwdriver in the glove box for on-the-fly amp adjustments, I now have a MUCH better sounding system that suits my tastes in every way.

The great thing about that PAC unit is that it really is true plug-and-play. The only thing requiring any type of wire work is grounding the unit, and there's a screw in the dashboard frame right behind the head unit that will work perfectly.

 

By the way, I just did a quick search on Amazon and found it for around $82.00, so the retail price has come down a bit!

 

Awesome man!! Great info! I've been looking getting a 10" sub for the back door, one with a built in amp. As for the main speakers, I've been looking @ the kickers but after hearing a set of kenwoods next to them @ bestbuy the kenwoods had much deeper richer sound... Don't know if it was the enclosure though.