00 Z28 Monsoon amp bypass
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 13
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00 Z28 Monsoon amp bypass I have a 2000 Z28 that I have installed a DD head unit. The speakers sounded muffled so I tried to bypass the monsoon amp using this
Right Front
F1--->F7
E1--->F6
Left Front
E3--->E15
E2--->E16
Right Rear
E4--->F14
E5--->F13
Left Rear
E7--->F15
E6--->F16
After I finished this, all that worked is the rear right sub speaker (sub maybe?). I know its almost impossible to diagnose what I did without seeing it, but have others had luck with this? I'm about to run all new to wires to the speakers directly to the head unit and didn't know if an obvious mistake jumps out at anyone.
Right Front
F1--->F7
E1--->F6
Left Front
E3--->E15
E2--->E16
Right Rear
E4--->F14
E5--->F13
Left Rear
E7--->F15
E6--->F16
After I finished this, all that worked is the rear right sub speaker (sub maybe?). I know its almost impossible to diagnose what I did without seeing it, but have others had luck with this? I'm about to run all new to wires to the speakers directly to the head unit and didn't know if an obvious mistake jumps out at anyone.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,320
Likes: 341
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
You probably should have done some searching in the forums here before trying this. Bypassing the Monsoon amp is never a good idea. If the amp is bad then replace it... they are available here in the For Sale section and on ebay. But Monsoon amps almost never fail, so any problems are likely elsewhere in the system. Granted the amp is not hugely powerful but it's 8 channels with filtered signal designed especially for the speakers that come with the system. Why give up even modest amplification to use only head unit output?
If you really don't want the Monsoon system then you can upgrade to an aftermarket system, but do it right... get a good aftermarket amp, new speakers, and run all new wires. Your options are limited only by your budget. I've seen some aftermarket systems which sound great for just a few hundred dollars and I've seen some absolutely amazing systems that cost thousands. It's all in how much you want to spend and how much time you want to put into it.
In this case, assuming you just want to get decent sound on a budget, I would put the amp wiring back the way it was and then replace your speakers as they are the most likely cause of the muffled sound (especially if they are still factory speakers). I suppose it's possible that you might have bought some sort of $49 Walmart special double DIN head unit (Pyle or Boss, etc.) which could be causing muffled or distorted sound, but that's a whole different discussion.
If you really don't want the Monsoon system then you can upgrade to an aftermarket system, but do it right... get a good aftermarket amp, new speakers, and run all new wires. Your options are limited only by your budget. I've seen some aftermarket systems which sound great for just a few hundred dollars and I've seen some absolutely amazing systems that cost thousands. It's all in how much you want to spend and how much time you want to put into it.
In this case, assuming you just want to get decent sound on a budget, I would put the amp wiring back the way it was and then replace your speakers as they are the most likely cause of the muffled sound (especially if they are still factory speakers). I suppose it's possible that you might have bought some sort of $49 Walmart special double DIN head unit (Pyle or Boss, etc.) which could be causing muffled or distorted sound, but that's a whole different discussion.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
You probably should have done some searching in the forums here before trying this. Bypassing the Monsoon amp is never a good idea. If the amp is bad then replace it... they are available here in the For Sale section and on ebay. But Monsoon amps almost never fail, so any problems are likely elsewhere in the system. Granted the amp is not hugely powerful but it's 8 channels with filtered signal designed especially for the speakers that come with the system. Why give up even modest amplification to use only head unit output?
If you really don't want the Monsoon system then you can upgrade to an aftermarket system, but do it right... get a good aftermarket amp, new speakers, and run all new wires. Your options are limited only by your budget. I've seen some aftermarket systems which sound great for just a few hundred dollars and I've seen some absolutely amazing systems that cost thousands. It's all in how much you want to spend and how much time you want to put into it.
In this case, assuming you just want to get decent sound on a budget, I would put the amp wiring back the way it was and then replace your speakers as they are the most likely cause of the muffled sound (especially if they are still factory speakers). I suppose it's possible that you might have bought some sort of $49 Walmart special double DIN head unit (Pyle or Boss, etc.) which could be causing muffled or distorted sound, but that's a whole different discussion.
If you really don't want the Monsoon system then you can upgrade to an aftermarket system, but do it right... get a good aftermarket amp, new speakers, and run all new wires. Your options are limited only by your budget. I've seen some aftermarket systems which sound great for just a few hundred dollars and I've seen some absolutely amazing systems that cost thousands. It's all in how much you want to spend and how much time you want to put into it.
In this case, assuming you just want to get decent sound on a budget, I would put the amp wiring back the way it was and then replace your speakers as they are the most likely cause of the muffled sound (especially if they are still factory speakers). I suppose it's possible that you might have bought some sort of $49 Walmart special double DIN head unit (Pyle or Boss, etc.) which could be causing muffled or distorted sound, but that's a whole different discussion.
I think my problems originated with the crappy snap connectors I chose to use. My HU is fine and has plenty of Wattage. I wiggled some wires and speakers cut in and out. I haven't had time this week to work in it, but I will this weekend. Thanks for you response and lesson learned, never cheap out on the easy snap connectors.