6.6 Bluetooth Tuning (VXi-BTC)¶
JLid Bluetooth communicator for wireless TüN configuration of the MV800/8i — lets DSP tuning be done from a phone or tablet without crawling under the rear seat to plug a laptop into the amp's USB port.
Type: JLid Bluetooth Communicator (control only — no audio streaming)
Model: VXi-BTC
Part Number: 010-13543-00
Manufacturer: JL Audio (Garmin)
Product Page: JL Audio VXi-BTC
Manual: JLid Bluetooth Communicator Connection Guide
Mounting: Clip-mounted in cabin near amplifier (under rear seat area), non-metallic surface preferred
Power Source: JLid bus from MV800/8i (no separate power wiring)
Specifications¶
All figures from the VXi-BTC Connection Guide.1
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Topology | LE (Low Energy) |
| Bluetooth Core Version | 4.2 |
| Connection Range | Up to 33 ft / 10 m |
| Host Interface | Proprietary JLid protocol |
| Input Operating Voltage | 5 VDC |
| Current Draw | 50 mA max (~0.25 W from JLid bus) |
| Streaming Audio | No — control interface only |
| Included Cable | CAT5e, 6.5 ft / 2 m |
| Included Mount | Snap-fit clip + 2 mounting screws |
| Pairing Capacity | Multiple devices may be paired; 1 active at a time |
Function¶
The VXi-BTC is a tuning interface only — it does not stream music. Use cases on this build:
- Adjust DSP crossover/EQ/delay on the MV800/8i amp while seated at the driver's seat, with the engine running and music playing
- Save/load TüN project files from a phone or tablet
- Switch between saved DSP presets without a physical preset selector (no M-DRC-50 in this build — see Design Decisions below)
The amp's USB-A/B port remains the fallback for laptop tuning sessions.
Compatible Apps¶
| App | Platforms | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| TüN Mobile | iPad, Android tablet | Full-featured tuning UI (preferred) |
| TüN Express | iPhone, iPad, Android phone/tablet | Streamlined — quick adjustments + preset switching |
Both apps are free on the App Store and Google Play.
Wiring¶
| Connection | Wire | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JLid (data + 5V) | CAT5e | MV800/8i JLid-COMM (RJ45) | Included 6.5 ft cable; ~3-4 ft used (BTC near amp) |
The VXi-BTC draws its power from the JLid bus — no separate +12 V or ground wiring needed.
Single JLid Port Constraint
The MV800/8i has one JLid-COMM port. The VXi-BTC occupies it. An M-DRC-50 preset-selector knob cannot coexist on the same amp without manual cable swapping (the MVi-HUB does not add additional accessory ports — it only adds amp-network ports). If a dash preset switch becomes a daily-use need, plan a swap procedure or revisit the architecture.
Mounting Location¶
Clip-mounted under the rear seat near the MV800/8i amplifier:
- Cable run: ~3-4 ft from amp's JLid-COMM port to BTC location (included 6.5 ft CAT5e has slack)
- Surface: prefer non-metallic mounting surface — the manual flags "avoid mounting directly to large metal surfaces or to wire harnesses" for RF performance. Mount to the trans tunnel cover, a fiberglass surface, or a fabricated standoff bracket above the amp.
- Status LED must remain visible for pairing/troubleshooting
- BT LE 33 ft range covers the driver's seat from a rear-seat mount with margin
Pairing Procedure (initial setup)¶
- Power the amp (key on); BTC LED ring initializes, then flashes blue (Open Visibility)
- On phone/tablet: launch TüN Mobile or TüN Express, open Select/Rename Device
- Pick
VXi (BT)from the list, accept Bluetooth Pairing Request - BTC LED ring goes solid blue → solid green = active connection
- Continue through TüN amp configuration prompts
The amp + BTC pair stays remembered; subsequent connects only need step 1-3.
LED Status Reference¶
| LED State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Flashing blue | Open Visibility (pairable by any device) |
| Solid blue | Paired but not actively connected |
| Solid green | Active TüN connection in progress |
| Flashing green | Restricted Visibility (only previously paired devices can connect) |
Press-and-hold the LED button 10 sec → Factory Reset (wipes paired-device list).
Design Decisions¶
M-DRC-50 deferred. The build started with only the VXi-BTC because:
- The MV800/8i exposes a single JLid port — only one accessory at a time without manual swapping
- The Fusion MS-RA670 head unit already provides volume, source switching, and zone fader/balance from the dash
- DSP tuning sessions are occasional (post-install, after speaker break-in, after seasonal soft-top vs hard-top changes); a Bluetooth link from a phone is the lower-friction tool for that frequency
- DSP preset switching from the dash is not yet a daily-use need. If multi-preset switching (e.g., "Top Up / Top Down / Quiet") becomes valuable, revisit by either (a) swapping in an M-DRC-50 with a swap-cable procedure, or (b) using TüN Express's preset switcher on a phone-as-remote (mounted to the dash via vent clip).
Outstanding Items¶
- Decide BTC mounting surface — trans-tunnel cover vs amp-mounting-plate standoff vs A-pillar/under-dash (whatever balances RF clearance with status-LED visibility)
- Source VXi-BTC product image (
docs/jeep_lj/images/jl-audio-vxi-btc.jpg)
Related Documentation¶
- Audio Systems Overview
- Amplifier (MV800/8i) — the JLid host
- Head Unit (MS-RA670) — primary daily control surface (volume, source, fader)
-
JL Audio JLid Bluetooth Communicator Connection Guide (
VXi-BTC_MAN_050718), pp. 1–2. Manual mirror used: customsounds.com. ↩