Installed An Infinity Basslink Today

[burnout8488]

So far, love it. I was able to tune the lowest frequencies out of the front speakers on my SC-901, which keeps them from distorting at high volume. The rears are also tuned to give them a break too, now that the sub can take over the lows. Still in the process of fine tuning the EQ but it's on the right track to sounding really fantastic for having the stock speakers. I'm running a 4x50w R-amp with the '901.

For the wiring, I tried a very cheap 8ga kit (The BassLink is only 200w) and was pleasantly surprised, even though the power cable was JUST long enough. When using the speaker-level inputs, you only need the power and ground anyways, with the appropriate terminations.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZOGRSK/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The only issue I had with the BassLink is that the auto-sense feature does not work at all for the speaker-level inputs. I'm not using RCAs since there isn't an aftermarket deck installed. Only my two rear deck speakers are feeding the BassLink right now. Does anyone have any ideas why the BassLink won't turn on using these, but it works beautifully when I hook the 12v antenna wire to the turn-on lead? (It's supposed to sense the sound in the speaker leads and turn on automatically)

I finished the job, put the interior all back together, then had to tear it all apart again to run a turn-on lead from the back of the radio. So that sucked. Not sure if my BassLink is defective or if I *need* to use the front speakers as well as the rears for the speaker level inputs. (The manual says 2 speakers is an allowed installation)

[TaskMule]

I was really happy with my Basslink setup, while it lasted. I bought it used, got about a year out of it before the amp went (well documented capacitor issues). Pulled the driver, threw it in a small box with a Pioneer monoblock amp, and am happy with that too.

You should be able to just use the two rears to drive the unit, which is what I did initially. But, I want to note that later on, when I wired it up directly from the head unit using an eBay harness, the sound quality improvement was vast. I recommend you make that move, and it will take care of the issues you are having, as well as sound way better. Good luck, enjoy your new toy :-)

[burnout8488]

Thanks for the input, didn't think there would be too many BassLink users on here. I've been reading some similar stories to yours on the internet. Even running a LOC would improve the sound quality by utilizing the RCAs on the BL it seems.

When you originally used the speaker level inputs, did your BassLink turn on automatically or did you need to run a turn-on wire as well?

[sjmcarz]

My son and I are installing a sub in his R today(if the heat doesn't get us). We acquired a harness that plugs inline right into the 901's din and has four rca's and a remote power turn on wire. I think he paid about $32 for it. I'll post the link when I find it. We were going to plug it into the 4 x 50 amp under the pass seat, but the connector is longer than the stock din and there is no clearance for it. We will pull the HU and connect it there.

We are using this kit for the install and picked up some 12 gauge speaker wire at Best Buy.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-680W-8-Gauge-Wiring-Kit-for-Single-Amps/14667122

[burnout8488]

I've taken a look at that harness before, that seller on eBay is a godsend! (If it's the guy I'm thinking about)

Since that harness only converts the DIN plug to standard, full range FL FR RL RR RCAs, how are you going to get the bass signal out of those? Are you going to use an aftermarket 4 channel amp for the factory speakers? IIRC, that harness is only for adding an aftermarket amp with standard RCAs on it.

[sjmcarz]

Added some more info to my previous post. Also, that harness allows you to keep the stock amp to run the existing speakers, it works INLINE and picks up the signal and gives you extra rca's to plug into an aftermarket amp input, which is what we are planning to do. We are using an Alpine MRP- M500 sub amp.

Here is the harness, hopefully this will work for us:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/AiH-VOL2.html

I think that you may be confusing this harness with this one:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/AiH-VOL.html

[burnout8488]

Ah! I see now, it's like a DIN passthrough.

So, two of the RCAs will plug into the M500, then you'll adjust the crossover on the amp to filter out the higher frequencies fed by the harness. Let me know if that works, I always thought the sub amps needed a dedicated pair of SUB rcas, with the high frequencies already crossed out of them. (Sort of like a dedicated sub output on an aftermarket HU would have)

[sjmcarz]

Exactly! I'm quite sure that our sub amp has a built in crossover to keep the frequencies in the lower range, and there are also adjustments on it. Don't most sub amps work this way? Anyway, off to work on it !

[burnout8488]

Exactly! I'm quite sure that our sub amp has a built in crossover to keep the frequencies in the lower range, and there are also adjustments on it. Don't most sub amps work this way? Anyway, off to work on it !

Not sure! I always thought the sub amp inputs were for dedicated subwoofer RCAs that have already been crossed over. We will see!

[andyb5]

The majority of mono (sub) amps have a built in low-pass crossover. They are usually adjustable, but that is because it are designed to be tailored to fit the sonic characteristics of the sub it is paired with.

On the basslink, the crossover is adjustable between 50-120hz

[sjmcarz]

Install completed and the inline harness works great! We just taped off the rca's for the front and used the ones for the rear. The blue remote on/off wire works as it's supposed to.

Not sure why this came through as a quote ^^

[burnout8488]

Awesome! Glad it worked out easily for you, makes me wish I went this route instead of tapping into the rear speakers. Oh well, I just got back from a drive and it sounds fantastic after fine tuning the x-over and the 901's EQ. Love it. Punchy but not overwhelming, and the Dolby Pro-Logic really makes the soundstage sing.

[Brad850]

Infinity is the shit. Very underrated.

[sjmcarz]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it! My son is very happy with his install, we were grinning at each other when we first listened to it. All that he's missing now is Dolby...........

[gilber33]

Added some more info to my previous post. Also, that harness allows you to keep the stock amp to run the existing speakers, it works INLINE and picks up the signal and gives you extra rca's to plug into an aftermarket amp input, which is what we are planning to do. We are using an Alpine MRP- M500 sub amp.

Here is the harness, hopefully this will work for us:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/AiH-VOL2.html

I think that you may be confusing this harness with this one:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/AiH-VOL.html

So that harness will let you use the 901 with the factory amp and run the Basslink using the RCAs????

I have a basslink as well, absolutely love it, and was sad that I wasn't going to be able to use it with a factory head unit and I wasn't about to tap into all of the speakers for signal.