Can I install a sub/amp to the stock head unit?
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Can I install a sub/amp to the stock head unit?
I just got a 1000W RF amp and a nice set of boxed 12" subs with a plexi cover and blue neon tube for effect from a buddy. Can this be hooked up to the stock head unit or are there no outputs for it, just thought I would ask before I take out the unit. But if there is a way, let me know, not looking to buy a new HU at the moment.
One Slow Civic.... But I can take turns pretty well :-)
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Those subs... They wouldn't happen to be dual's would they be? If so... All I have to say is ...
But with that asside. I think there is a way. But why not just buy a deck?
But with that asside. I think there is a way. But why not just buy a deck?
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From: Milford, CT
Rep Power: 0 whats wrong with duals. Im more of a lighting exterior performance guy stereos are not my big thing but wiring is in my blood. By duals I assume you mean 2 speakers in the box, if so then yes, is that bad?
Also I cant afford the deck I want at the moment since its a touch screen DVD/Nav/stereo unit.
Also I cant afford the deck I want at the moment since its a touch screen DVD/Nav/stereo unit.
to answer your question, yes, with a stock HU you can get your subs working
this is how i did it before i had an aftermarket deck
run a switch from the amp to the front of the car to turn the amp on
connect the subs to the amp
tap in to the rear speakers and connect them to the amp.
be sure to securely connect everything. always ground (black) first, i dont recommend connecting the power wire (red) first. i did this a while ago but it sounds like everything i did. if someone notices i missed a part, please add it in, but to my recollection, thats all i did.
this is how i did it before i had an aftermarket deck
run a switch from the amp to the front of the car to turn the amp on
connect the subs to the amp
tap in to the rear speakers and connect them to the amp.
be sure to securely connect everything. always ground (black) first, i dont recommend connecting the power wire (red) first. i did this a while ago but it sounds like everything i did. if someone notices i missed a part, please add it in, but to my recollection, thats all i did.
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you can tap into the antenna remote wire thats on the stock headunit , I think thats what its supposed to be for remote turn on and cannot remember the color, and then use high level inputs unless you get a converter to change the high level inputs to rca. Run power ground , remote and attach subs and your bumping
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Originally Posted by eye_see_you
you can tap into the antenna remote wire thats on the stock headunit , I think thats what its supposed to be for remote turn on and cannot remember the color, and then use high level inputs unless you get a converter to change the high level inputs to rca. Run power ground , remote and attach subs and your bumping
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From: Harker heights Tx
Rep Power: 388 you do have an antenna its in the rear window on the sedan model anyway, I cannot remember what wire it was I tapped into before I installed my aftermarket HU. The ignition wiring is another option but an easier solution would be to put a switch and constant power wire.
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Originally Posted by eye_see_you
you do have an antenna its in the rear window on the sedan model anyway, I cannot remember what wire it was I tapped into before I installed my aftermarket HU. The ignition wiring is another option but an easier solution would be to put a switch and constant power wire.
There are a couple ways of doing this. If your amplifier have speaker level inputs, you can splice your rear speaker wires and connect that to the amp, if not, you'll need to get a line level converter, to convert those signals to RCA connections for the amplifier.
Turn on-wise, I'd avoid the antenna signal, and stick with the ignition/cigarette, etc. Just run your power cable to the battery and you should be set!
Good luck!
Ed
Turn on-wise, I'd avoid the antenna signal, and stick with the ignition/cigarette, etc. Just run your power cable to the battery and you should be set!
Good luck!
Ed
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Rep Power: 328 Ed said it best...
If you can't figure out if it has high level inputs, tell us what the gear is, and I'm sure someone here can tell you whether or not you'll need a line-out/hi-level...
If you can't figure out if it has high level inputs, tell us what the gear is, and I'm sure someone here can tell you whether or not you'll need a line-out/hi-level...
Last edited by PopcornPlaya; Apr 18, 2005 at 02:38 PM.
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Originally Posted by Blahman2
No dual is the brand...
Why do you want an amazing head unit, but don't want to upgrade to top of the line speakers? Seems senseless to me.
Why do you want an amazing head unit, but don't want to upgrade to top of the line speakers? Seems senseless to me.
It's not only ignorant to make the above statement, mainly because one, just because a unit's an all-in one type unit doesn't mean it's top of the line. And 2, it's also unfeasible unless you have no budget, and sponsors, or money coming out of your a$$. Not to mention that the reply has no relevance to the thread, which all of your replies in here did, as far as answering the question. Thanks for being an a$$hat though, remember to play again next thread...
This message brought to you by the Church Of Christ of Latter Day Saints, Crown Royal, and the Makers of Slick 50.
Last edited by PopcornPlaya; Apr 18, 2005 at 02:37 PM.
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Rep Power: 0 Thanks for all the input guys (well the relevant ones at least)
I spoke to AlexF the other night and I need to pickup a converter for like $30 so that I can tap into the rear speakers then swap it to RCA for the amp since the amp is all RCA. At that point the rest is all just hookin it up. He also said he used his cig lighter as the remote power source, but what your all sayin is that I can get the power right from the antenna wire in the back? That would save a lot of time for me.
And to respond to the top of the line comment. I do plan on changing all the components evenutally but the amp and subs were a gift so I am working with what I have. Eventually the speakers will be replaced with Infinty Reference. I have always used them with great returns and they never had any issues, just great crystal sound.
By the way another question for the people who are actually helping, since its two 12s would it be best to only hookup one for now or would two be too much for the trunk?
I spoke to AlexF the other night and I need to pickup a converter for like $30 so that I can tap into the rear speakers then swap it to RCA for the amp since the amp is all RCA. At that point the rest is all just hookin it up. He also said he used his cig lighter as the remote power source, but what your all sayin is that I can get the power right from the antenna wire in the back? That would save a lot of time for me.
And to respond to the top of the line comment. I do plan on changing all the components evenutally but the amp and subs were a gift so I am working with what I have. Eventually the speakers will be replaced with Infinty Reference. I have always used them with great returns and they never had any issues, just great crystal sound.
By the way another question for the people who are actually helping, since its two 12s would it be best to only hookup one for now or would two be too much for the trunk?
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From: Painesville, Ohio, Ohio, US
Rep Power: 0 I'm trying to do the same thing with my car. Would a 20 amp buss fuse be sufficient? I was thinking of using one of the spare fuses and putting it in a spare slot if it will work.
On the same note...How many LED's can a 10 amp fuse handle. I'm just using them for various switches in my car.
On the same note...How many LED's can a 10 amp fuse handle. I'm just using them for various switches in my car.
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i tapped into my rear speakers as well which i connected to the amp.. it was perfectly .. im amp has a lil harness input next to the rca inputs.. i used that harness to wire out and tap into my left rear speaker... then i just wired my amp to the subs which i wired to a switch .. then a power to the battery and a ground from the amp.. its pretty simple and it works fine ..
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Originally Posted by Ed
There are a couple ways of doing this. If your amplifier have speaker level inputs, you can splice your rear speaker wires and connect that to the amp, if not, you'll need to get a line level converter, to convert those signals to RCA connections for the amplifier.
Ed
Ed
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yes it is very possible to run subs and an amp with a stock hu. My system, two 10" L5 Kickers and a 1100 watt RF amp is hooked up that way. The first step is to buy an rca converter (go to the local audio shop, they should have some for 20-30 dollars, which is much cheaper than a new hu, at least a quality one) and then hook it up to your rear speakers. It should have 4 wires, 2+, 2- and maybe 2 ground wires that run into a small boxlike thing that has 2 rca hookups on the other side. Hook the wires up, that is solder or securely tape them to the rear speaker wires, and run the rca converter next to the amp. You may have to buy some rca cables to run from the converter to the amp. Then you need to hook up your power wire, or the wire that gives the amp a signal to turn on, to a fuse in the fusebox. Get a voltmeter and check some of the fuses to make sure they will give a steady 12 volts when the car is on, and no volts when the car is off. This wire should be relatively small, so it will be easy to conceal beneath the seats and carpet. Make sure 
to hook up the wire to a fuse that does not give power when the car is on, or else it will run the battery down while the car is off. After you hook up these things, all you have to do is the normal stuff. Run a power cable to the battery (with a fuse close to the battery so you don't burn your car up) through the firewall and hook up a ground cable. You should be set to hook up the speakers to the amp. It took me about 3 days of on and off work to do this, but that was because I figured it out by myself. Doing the job yourself will ensure that no moron at best buy or audio shop screws with your vehicle and you will have learned something in the process.
to hook up the wire to a fuse that does not give power when the car is on, or else it will run the battery down while the car is off. After you hook up these things, all you have to do is the normal stuff. Run a power cable to the battery (with a fuse close to the battery so you don't burn your car up) through the firewall and hook up a ground cable. You should be set to hook up the speakers to the amp. It took me about 3 days of on and off work to do this, but that was because I figured it out by myself. Doing the job yourself will ensure that no moron at best buy or audio shop screws with your vehicle and you will have learned something in the process. Registered!!
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From: Painesville, Ohio, Ohio, US
Rep Power: 0 I just did this in my car yesterday. It really was a breeze as I've done it in other cars no problem. However, I've checked every connection possible and I'm getting crazy noise when I turn the cd player off 
.
I'm at work brainstorming the problem now and the only other thing I can think of is that I left the RCA's coiled in the twisty they came in.
If that would create a problem, let me know. Otherwise I'd greatly appreciate ANY suggestions. Thanks.
.I'm at work brainstorming the problem now and the only other thing I can think of is that I left the RCA's coiled in the twisty they came in.
If that would create a problem, let me know. Otherwise I'd greatly appreciate ANY suggestions. Thanks.
if u use a line out converter when u turn the deck off alot of times if u didnt install a switch on your remote line or find the correct wire to tag ur amp will stay on and pretty much just amplify engine noise
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Originally Posted by nick95673
if u use a line out converter when u turn the deck off alot of times if u didnt install a switch on your remote line or find the correct wire to tag ur amp will stay on and pretty much just amplify engine noise
Seriously. Punctuation. Please.
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Rep Power: 0 When you use a switched fuse to tap the remote turn on wire off of instead of the radio's antenna or remote turn-on, the amp will be on with the car even when the radio is off. This will cause it to just amplify any interference that the amp is picking up.
I had a customer who had a custom audio shop install his amp with his factory deck and he had the same problem. I was able to move his remote turn-on wire to the factory power antenna output from the radio and his problem was solved.
I had a customer who had a custom audio shop install his amp with his factory deck and he had the same problem. I was able to move his remote turn-on wire to the factory power antenna output from the radio and his problem was solved.
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