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After realizing the stock jbl amp and nav setup wasn't cutting it soundwise I decided to rip everything out and install new speakers and a 5 channel Infinity 5350a amplifier. I had already replaced the head unit with a Dual XHD7714 and was using the PAC TATO interface. All the new components sound much better then the old system and I'm pretty happy with it. However I have a strange issue with AM radio reception. I can barely hear any AM radio stations after the removal of the old components. At first I thought I must have not plugged the antenna cable in properly but I disassembled my deck and reseated the cable but the reception is still terrible. I'm thinking that the hookups to the old JBL amp may have had some connection to the antenna??? I'm at a loss as to why the reception is so poor now and before the installation it was fine. Any help would be appreciated.

Was there a 2nd cable? I don't know about Gen2, but on the Gen1 JBL there were 2 cables for a diversity antenna. Did you put in the right one?

after i got my sound setup installed i was gettin slightly weaker fm reception (i never listen to am so i don't know how it sounded before/after) but i went to the shop to get it checked out and they said that typically installing aftermarket sound systems, it will also sound a little weaker than oem. don't know the validity of that statement but its what i was told. i don't listen to radio anyways so I don't care too much

NeFaRiOuS_SLE wrote:Was there a 2nd cable? I don't know about Gen2, but on the Gen1 JBL there were 2 cables for a diversity antenna. Did you put in the right one?

No, I didn't know there was a second cable for the antenna. I used the wire harness from the PAC TATO interface and I thought that is all that I needed. I'm thinking maybe I need to get the Metra JBL bypass harness instead. Oh well, let me go and order that one now.

well after i installed my navi system AM sounded like grfdfgeahfeauhflheaifeaifhfieau
haha so i dont know if thats cuz i did something weird.....but i never use AM so i didn't care

Ok problem solved!! I found another post that mentioned connecting the power antenna lead from the head unit to the pwr antenna lead in the wiring harness. Go figure, even though I don't have a pwr antenna in my convertible I still have to connect it. Here's the post:

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19115&p=285855&hilit=am+reception#p285855

nice! I'll try mine when I get home. Thanks for doing the hwk for the rest of us.