I just finished adding to my 08 Nav head unit the following components.

ARC Audio 300-4
Focal 165VR Speakers
Boxology enclosure with an Image Dynamics 10 inch Sub

I removed the center dash speaker and the rear fill speakers.

I used a Peripheral Adapter (SVEN4) & Smart Harness (SVHGMAA1) to get RCA cables to the amp.

The system sounds good, but not as good as I had hoped. It just seems to be lacking. What it is lacking is hard for me explain, but the system doesn't seem very dynamic or involving. I had a 08 C6 with the Bose non nav unit and I was happy with the sound it produced. So I'm obviously not an audiophile.

I have adjusted the crossovers both on the amp and the speakers in just about every combination available.

I'm wondering if maybe I have something hooked up incorrectly.

One thing that does not seem correct is the front and rear speaker fader adjustment. When I move it to the rear the right speaker gets more volume and the left goes dead. Move it to the front the left gets louder and the right looses its sound.

The right/left control funcutions correctly.

I have checked my connections several times and they are correct according to the lables on the RCA cables, adapter and amp.

Any input would be appreciated. Although I'm fairly handy, I'm a not good with car electronics. I'm considering doing the following

Can I hook the head unit to amp connections at random to check to see if it sounds better without damaging anything?

Anyone remove their rear speakers then put them back in back in because they liked the sound better with front and rear speakers?

 

It sounds to me like you have the RCA connections hooked up incorrectly. Based on the fader/balance controls you've described it sounds like you have the right rear output of the head unit going to the amp's right front channel, that's why when you fade rear the right comes on strong and the front left disappears(which is what the front left should be doing).

However I gotta tell ya, using the SVEN adapters was a waste of $, there's RCA line-level available at the head unit that you can tap into with just some wires, or you can get a little fancier with a harness if you'd like. Click the FAQ link in my signature and there are links explaining how to do that (look for the thread about using the ADD-GM24).

As to the sound deficiencies.. well the issues could be coming from the SVEN adapters and wiring issues, so get all that straightened out before making the evaluation. But if it still sounds that way afterwards, well the NAV units are notorious for poor sound quality. They produce flat signal response but they also produce a very flat sound. I pulled my factory NAV back in August and it was night & day different with my aftermarket head. The sound came alive.

 

Thank you for your reply.

I used the SEVN basically because I was too lazy to do the soldiering.

I will try changing the connections to see what happens, but I think a new head unit my be the only answer.

 

Just an update. I changed the wiring and the system sounds so much better. Not sure why I couldn't figure this out myself.


Thanks for the help

 

glad to hear u got it going

 

Likely one of those things where you've written an e-mail and you're proof-reading it over & over and you still don't see the mistake you've made.... you stare at something long enough and you see what you expect to see. Glad to hear everything is working!