Factory Headunit and Sub

[mRillfadE]

I just got a subwoofer and amp for a present and i was wondering if i could install it without buying a new headunit.
And if yes, how?

[Glix2]

The stock head unit has pre-outs...

I'm running off the stock head unit and it sounds real good.

[Jpax]

Originally posted by Glix2
The stock head unit has pre-outs...

I'm running off the stock head unit and it sounds real good.

thats the funny i havent seen them?..................




sounds like crap to me?

[Glix2]

Front
2 stock (1.5" tweeters)
2 stock (6 1/2" )
Rear
1 10" Infinity sub
1 10" IMPP pioneer sub
2 5 x 7 Infinity 2 ways
1 760 watt Sony amp

all running off the stock deck with RCA's from the deck to the amp.

[jaydub]

Well are you using a line level converter or what, because there are no RCA outputs off the stock head unit.

[Glix2]

I had a monster kit run from my deck to my trunk at a local shop.
If there are no pre-outs then I guess that's what they used. I just checked my bill and a line level converter isn't on it. So if that's what they used then it was free.

[mRillfadE]

I still dont understand how to use the sotck headunit for audio feed to my amp. we need some techs here

[mRillfadE]

Does anyone know how to install a amp without rca outputs on the headunit?

[jaydub]

You need an item called a "Line Level Converter." It connects to the factory speaker wires and coverts the signal to RCA. Looks like this.

[mRillfadE]

oh nevermind, i didnt read everything clearly...
how does a line converter hook up to the deck?
im trying to do this install with least amount of cash flow. rather go performance than looks. but since my girl gave it to me as a present i have to make it work. and it'll help me get more bitches.

[jaydub]

Actually it splices into the factory speaker wires. It's easiest to do it right by one of the speakers.

[mRillfadE]

Thanks for ur info input jaydubs , do u have any idea on how to get to the rear speakers?

[jaydub]

I think the panel pops off, and it's just a couple screws.

[BarracksSi]

Tell us more about the amp -- is it just for the sub? How many input/output channels? Does it have speaker-level inputs or just line-level RCA's?

If the amp has no speaker-level inputs, you need a line-level converter like the one mentioned above. No other way around that.

If it's a mono amp, you could just tap into one pair of the head's speaker outputs for a signal. Front or back, it's your choice. I would much prefer to combine a signal from the left & right channels, seeing that nearly every recording ends up with very mono bass, and there's not much room for stereo image separation for bass notes in a car.

If the amp has just two channels, you could run the sub and a pair of mains (I'd use the front speakers) off the amp. Use the head's front channels, connect the front mains to each channel, then bridge the sub across both channels (sub- to L-, sub+ to R+). Filter the frequencies by using "bass blocker" capacitors on BOTH sets of front & rear speakers and a low-pass coil on the sub. The sub will play the low notes; taking those out of the main speakers will clean up their sound.

Actually, filtering the bass out of the main speakers should be done no matter how you get your sub installed. Unless you're going to have an SPL monster, it's cleaner to have fewer speakers playing the bottom end.

The caps I used to have for my mains had a cutoff at 200 Hz of 6 dB/octave, and my sub coil was at 100 Hz, also 6 dB/octave. They sounded pretty nice, even without considering that the filtering cost less than 20 bucks or so.

[FailureToStop]

I was going to use a line converter but I had reservations on the sound quality. How does your set-up sound? Compared to a system that didn't use a line coverter, does it sound as good or a littler or a lot worse?