I don't know if I would say to run in the other direction. True, there are better places IN the car to get power, even though the battery is in the hatch, the main junction block is under the hood.
Since you said you were keeping your radio, but didn't specify whether you had JBL or not. The JBL system has a digitalally controlled amp that also controls the volume, not the radio, so it cannot be replaced without replacing the radio also. The non-JBL has standard speaker outputs at the radio.
Oh, another thing: the MFD beeps are generated at the amp, whether that be the JBL amp or the buit-in amp in the radio for non-JBL. That means if you add an external amp with gain greater than 1:1, you'll be uncontrollably amplifying the beeps. For the non-JBL, the beeps are only from the front speakers, but the JBL it is the rear speakers and the front tweeters. By the way, the JBL amp has separate front tweeter outputs and the front crossover is actively in the JBL amp itself.
Since you said you were keeping your radio, but didn't specify whether you had JBL or not. The JBL system has a digitalally controlled amp that also controls the volume, not the radio, so it cannot be replaced without replacing the radio also. The non-JBL has standard speaker outputs at the radio.
Oh, another thing: the MFD beeps are generated at the amp, whether that be the JBL amp or the buit-in amp in the radio for non-JBL. That means if you add an external amp with gain greater than 1:1, you'll be uncontrollably amplifying the beeps. For the non-JBL, the beeps are only from the front speakers, but the JBL it is the rear speakers and the front tweeters. By the way, the JBL amp has separate front tweeter outputs and the front crossover is actively in the JBL amp itself.
