Car Stereo Question

[olds]

I bought a new truck and pulled the factory CD and installed my Apline CD player and MTX amp from the old truck in it. That was 2 years ago. Now the FM tuner has died and I want to put the factory unit back in it. Is there some type of adapter(s) that will allow me to hook the amp up to the factory unit which has no outputs for an amp?

 

[Colt45]

i take it your amp doesnt have high-level inputs?

 

[NutBucket]

It should. Although, my high-end Kenwood amp lacks speaker level inputs.

 

[olds]

IIRC, it only has RCA type connectors for the front and rear channels. I'll have to look at the manual when I get home as I have the amp mounted behind the rear seat in my truck and I can't see it unless I pull the seat.

 

[Doodoo]

A PAC

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Doodoo
A PAC

Political Action Committee?

 

[IamDavid]

There are converters but they are garbage.. You might as well take yu amp out also..

 

[Doodoo]

I think they're a called a line level convertor...PAC is one of the brands i think. Yeah they don't sound as good as RCA's coming from a deck...but i guess they're better than nothing. You can pick one up for about 10 or 20 dollars at Walmart or CC.

 

[olds]

It's the MTX Thunder 4320. It has RCA's for the front and rear inputs and speaker terminals for the outputs. It does have a SUM OUT in RCA for a sub.

 

[Doodoo]

With the PAC, you take the speaker outputs from the deck and connect them to the PAC...then the PAC has RCA outputs which u can connect to your amp.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Doodoo
With the PAC, you take the speaker outputs from the deck and connect them to the PAC...then the PAC has RCA outputs which u can connect to your amp.

Something like this?

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: Doodoo
I think they're a called a line level convertor...PAC is one of the brands i think. Yeah they don't sound as good as RCA's coming from a deck...but i guess they're better than nothing. You can pick one up for about 10 or 20 dollars at Walmart or CC.

Holy shiznit.. they cost that much? You can make your own with a couple of resistors.

 

[olds]

It's sounding like I better just get a new head unit. How's the Pioneer DEH-P7400MP? I know a guy who is selling one for $200 but I think I can get if for $150. It's about 2 months old.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
It's sounding like I better just get a new head unit. How's the Pioneer DEH-P7400MP? I know a guy who is selling one for $200 but I think I can get if for $150. It's about 2 months old.

Yup, you would be better off with a new head unit considering the fact that you'll need a pair of those $20 line level converter for your amp. For $130 more, you could get a nicer and much better looking headunit than your stock. Not to mention better sound quality.

 

[olds]

The guy is going to sell me the Pioneer for $150. It will be replacing an Alpine CDM-7836. I bought a wiring adapter for the Alpine so I wouldn't have to splice my truck's factory wiring. Will it work with the Pioneer or does each manufacturer have a propriety plug? Also will the kit to make the alpine fit in the dash opening work with the Pioneer?

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The guy is going to sell me the Pioneer for $150. It will be replacing an Alpine CDM-7836. I bought a wiring adapter for the Alpine so I wouldn't have to splice my truck's factory wiring. Will it work with the Pioneer or does each manufacturer have a propriety plug? Also will the kit to make the alpine fit in the dash opening work with the Pioneer?

AFAIK, the wire harness is specific to your car not your headunit.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The guy is going to sell me the Pioneer for $150. It will be replacing an Alpine CDM-7836. I bought a wiring adapter for the Alpine so I wouldn't have to splice my truck's factory wiring. Will it work with the Pioneer or does each manufacturer have a propriety plug? Also will the kit to make the alpine fit in the dash opening work with the Pioneer?

AFAIK, the wire harness is specific to your car not your headunit.

One end of the harness is for sure. I am not sure about the end that hooks up to the head unit.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
The guy is going to sell me the Pioneer for $150. It will be replacing an Alpine CDM-7836. I bought a wiring adapter for the Alpine so I wouldn't have to splice my truck's factory wiring. Will it work with the Pioneer or does each manufacturer have a propriety plug? Also will the kit to make the alpine fit in the dash opening work with the Pioneer?

AFAIK, the wire harness is specific to your car not your headunit.

One end of the harness is for sure. I am not sure about the end that hooks up to the head unit.

You have a rare wire harness.. most wire harness are one headed with the other end just bare wires. So, yours is a dual headed wire harness?

 

[olds]

Yes, one end plugs into the head unit the other end into the factory wiring. Got it from Crutchfield but I don't remember how much. I bought speakers too.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Yes, one end plugs into the head unit the other end into the factory wiring. Got it from Crutchfield but I don't remember how much. I bought speakers too.

Well, if don't want to spend money on a new set of wire harness. Cut your old one and mark each wire as you cut them. Are the wires color coded?

 

[olds]

I'd rather spend the money. It seems like it was around $20 and is a lot easier to handle. I emailed Crutchfield to see what they have to say. Wiring adapters come with their head units but they sold me that last one because I bought speakers. But no more Polk speakers for me. The 4X6's in the rear doors sound great but the 6x components for the front sound like doggy doo.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: Doodoo
I think they're a called a line level convertor...PAC is one of the brands i think. Yeah they don't sound as good as RCA's coming from a deck...but i guess they're better than nothing. You can pick one up for about 10 or 20 dollars at Walmart or CC.

Holy shiznit.. they cost that much? You can make your own with a couple of resistors.

not if you want to keep you head running for long. speakers are variable loads, they are not the same as resistors. you can damage your amp if you do that. that's why guitarists spend so much money on things like the Marshall Power Break. you need something that your amp will just see as speakers.

oldmoboat's gonna be better off just getting a new head or ditching the amp.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I'd rather spend the money. It seems like it was around $20 and is a lot easier to handle. I emailed Crutchfield to see what they have to say. Wiring adapters come with their head units but they sold me that last one because I bought speakers. But no more Polk speakers for me. The 4X6's in the rear doors sound great but the 6x components for the front sound like doggy doo.

That's why you should spend more on some quality speakers for the front and skim on the rear. How much time do you spend sitting in the back of YOUR car?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
oldmoboat's gonna be better off just getting a new head....

Truer words were never spoken.

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I'd rather spend the money. It seems like it was around $20 and is a lot easier to handle. I emailed Crutchfield to see what they have to say. Wiring adapters come with their head units but they sold me that last one because I bought speakers. But no more Polk speakers for me. The 4X6's in the rear doors sound great but the 6x components for the front sound like doggy doo.

That's why you should spend more on some quality speakers for the front and skim on the rear. How much time do you spend sitting in the back of YOUR car?

I bought the best of each that Polk offered at the time. At least on the Crutchfield site. Oh well, since I am putting in a new head unit maybe I'll ask for speakers for my birthday.

 

[olds]

Why do people always try to pee in your Wheaties? They guy brought over the head unit but couldn't "find" the remote. I know he had in on Thanksgiving because I saw it. :disgust: