2022 2023 MK8 Golf GTI Golf R subwoofer amp install

Quick overview of adding a subwoofer (and amp) to a MK8 GTI (or Golf R).
Female adaptor for Harman Kardon OEM sub: part 191972714. I would buy one that comes with the open barrel terminals (Amazon, aliexpress).
You don’t need this, you can spice into the connector wires instead.
This is what I found for speaker wire connection:
1.) Solid Brown - Positive (Right)
2.) Solid White- Positive (Left)
3.) Stripped Brown - Negative (Right)
4.) Stripped White - Negative (Left)
To run power wire from firewall to the hatch, need to remove floor trim, see MK7 videos such as :
• Subwoofer Install on a...
• 2014 - 2020 VW GTI / G...

[@DaBinChe]

I enjoy mine in my FIT. Sounds good and hits hard for what it is.

[@bobk6434]

Great video. Thank you. Could you do a follow-up video showing your finished result and letting us know if you're still enjoying the improved lows from JBL sub?

[@chloeleedow7250]

Good video. I'd be throwing a decent multimeter over the ground point with ground disconnected and check the resistance because these cars are unibody and sure it will work but you're asking for trouble if it's got a lot of resistance. Professionals (and I only just learned this myself but in these newer cars they are they reccomend running power and ground all the way from the battery both positive and negative terminals. Still a nice upgrade and not trying to be negative just sharing info 😊

[@JuanPerez-yy5hr]

Great video

[@benwoodruff4466]

Well done, I didn’t get the HK with my 2022 R as I upgraded to a full JL Audio set up but proved to be an absolute nightmare requiring a FIX too. Great sound tho, much prefer over the HK I test rode. 🎶

[@ashfaqali4773]

Awesome video , i bought rockville spare tire sub for my 2019 gti with lc2 . Can you make or refer a video with more detail on how you wired everything . Appreciate it 🙏

[@ochenas]

Thank you for the vid; very helpful during my identical install. Are you able to provide the car-side harness color codes/polarity? Would like to check my work. Bring the thunder!

[@rwbirrjr]

COOL THANKS! 👍

[@TwoPak-iq4ih]

So this sub doesn’t have a loc built in it? I thought you could just connect the oem factory sub wires straight to the high level inputs of the jbl and it will convert it to a low line? I believe the Cerwin Vega and Rockville spare tire subs do that

[@absolutelegend9430]

Hello! Does the car still have drivers assistance features? Lane keep, centering? How’d you get that to work

[@dualaftstrakes]

I have a base S. Does anyone know if that stock OEM sub connector is in our S models? Is it hidden behind the trim?

[@Hacker4991]

whats the model of the JBL unit? i see there a couple versions

[@Michael-jm5gw]

Do you think just splicing the stock Harman Kardon sub wiring connecting it directly to the new sub and connecting it to the battery will cut it?

[@Jam3sH1]

Hi, great video, looking at ordering a gti mk 8. Is this connected to the standard audio system which comes with the car ?

[@TheSunderlands1]

Yes, if your car has the HK radio system (comes with all trims except the base model), then it connects like the video. If your car doesn’t have the HK, then you may need to splice into one of the speaker wires in order to provide a signal to the subwoofer since I’m not sure if you’ll have the sub wire already out in from the factory.

[@ZJSProMedia]

Is there a reason you went through the lc2i instead of speaker level direct into the sub? I was doing research to do this and found that the amp built into the sub has line level inputs and speaker level inputs. I am wondering if i dont need to spend the extra to get the lc2i

[@TheSunderlands1]

I believe you are correct, no need for the LCI. I used it because I had one from a previous car, so I threw it in there!

[@chrix2006]

sound test video pls

[@123macario]

Hi, is the remote wire supposed to go direct to the stereo ?

[@TheSunderlands1]

The remote wire could go to the stereo, but it just needs to go to a power source that turns on when the ignition is on. In my case the LC2 turns itself on when it senses a signal from the speaker wires, so I used that for the power source. But any 12 V outlet that you can splice into, etc, would work as well.

[@Michael-jm5gw]

Does the eq in the screen still control the subwoofer level?

[@TheSunderlands1]

Yes it does.

[@MLDstxspartan]

Is the line output converter required? Is there no way to adapt the stock subwoofer connection to the jbl sub?

[@TheSunderlands1]

You don’t need the LOC. I just had one laying around and wired it in!

[@MLDstxspartan]

@@TheSunderlands1 ok thanks. I’m totally out of my comfort zone when it comes to car audio. Does the jbl already come with an adapter to plug the stock subwoofer connector to the jbl sub?

[@TheSunderlands1]

@@MLDstxspartanit does not. If you don’t want to cut the stock connector off to splice wires, you’ll need to order the connectors on Aliexpress or something. That’ll allow you to keep the stock connector intact. I out the part number in the vid, make sure it comes with the metal crimps as well.

[@gregoryschwarz2730]

Can this be installed if you don’t have a factory sub?

[@TheSunderlands1]

You can follow the same steps but would need to splice into the speaker wires to provide the signal. I don’t think the models without the sub have the sub wiring installed but could be wrong. VW Vortex forums may have more info.

[@gabm1937]

Is it the same with the Leon cupra mk3 ?

[@TheSunderlands1]

Not sure about that. You would need to search a good discussion forum to see if clips, etc, are the same.

[@aarondawesum]

Do you remember what polarity the wires were on the stock connector? There’s brown, brown/yellow, white, white/yellow Are the yellow stripes positive?

[@TheSunderlands1]

This is what I did: 1.) Solid Brown - Positive (Right) 2.) Solid Yellow - Positive (Left) 3.) Stripped Brown - Negative (Right) 4.) Stripped Yellow - Negative (Left)

[@vipermanx99]

Does the rear cargo close when inserting the hub or doesn't close up?

[@TheSunderlands1]

It closes!

[@vipermanx99]

@TheSunderlands weird tried to put it in with the small spare tire but it wouldn't close due to the size of the hub

[@TheSunderlands1]

@@vipermanx99 did you cut part of the bolt? It’s too long, need to cut it so the cargo closes flat.

[@vipermanx99]

@@TheSunderlands1 which part again can you please explain?

[@TheSunderlands1]

@@vipermanx99 the long black bolt that screws into the middle of the subwoofer is too long. It needs to be cut by about an inch or so in order for the cargo floor to not hit it.

[@Chris-xq2je]

What gauge is red power wire?

[@TheSunderlands1]

8 gauge for the power and the ground.