steroe help

[ta12sec]

OK guys you tell me what i need to get. I Want to add a subwoffer and an amp to a car. car make is irevalant.
The car has a factory amp
THere are no speaker wires from the headunit to the amp.
I want to run an amp of sumsort that recives the output from the factory amp
is this possibile
are there amps out there that will take a 100 watt input?
if not what do I need to get to cut the power
thanks

[WishIHadACamaro]

Oh this is easy b-rad! I did this and it worked out perfectly in my jeep.

Ok so you want to retain the factory head unit but add power via an amplifier. Now almost all factory head units to not have pre-outs for a subwoofer, which makes it a PITA and next to impossible to get a signal from your head unit to your amp.

What i did was found some Line out converters. It was $10 for the box from gibraltar (any local radio shop will have them). What you do is splice them into your factory speakers (left and right channel, use your 6x9's or the largest speaker in the car so factory crossovers will provide you with most bass), it takes the signal and converts it into a useable RCA that you can then plug into your subwoofers.

[ta12sec]

the factory head unit has no output wires
it uses an optical cable from the factory hu to the factory amp
I want to use the output from the factory amp as an input to the aftermarket amp

[WishIHadACamaro]

Originally Posted by ta12sec

the factory head unit has no output wires
it uses an optical cable from the factory hu to the factory amp
I want to use the output from the factory amp as an input to the aftermarket amp

Ok,

so the head unit has an optical output that goes directly to the amplifier (fiber optic cable, super gay, super expensive, very interesting what car this is in)

Does the amplifier have any form of traditional outputs (RCA) outside of those that then go to the speakers? Do the wires that go to the speaker are they traditional wiring, no more fancy optical BS right???? (shouldnt be)

I dont see why you couldnt just use the line out converter on the wires that go to the speakers, its just an amplified signal that was recieved from the head unit, then from the line out go to another amplifier that would then power a subwoofer.

Distortion is a key factor here though. if its powering ONLY a subwoofer and that sub has tight responses and a short frequency range i do not see a problem in still using the line out converter.

[Ta Jay]

u will end up getting an aftermarket head-unit. they are cheap and all u need is the re-outs in the back. save u lots of time and hassle!! i use pioneer head units in every car i have had. the sound is 10x better in the TA because the speakers are getn a lil more juice.

[ta12sec]

nothing but standar speaker wires out of the amp to the speakers
im worried about damaging the amp by using amplified input to it.
Shoud I be ? It will be solely for a sub and as far as after market hu I dont think the guy wants to remove his 3500$ option nav unit radio

[WishIHadACamaro]

Originally Posted by ta12sec

nothing but standar speaker wires out of the amp to the speakers
im worried about damaging the amp by using amplified input to it.
Shoud I be ? It will be solely for a sub and as far as after market hu I dont think the guy wants to remove his 3500$ option nav unit radio

When you buy your line out converters make sure they have a gain control on them (mine do) That way because the signal is amplified you will be able to tune it back down before it goes into another amplifier. Thus saving any concerns about ruining your inputs (they are sensitive, more to amperage than anything, couple mA too many and the smoke comes out)

Since you will be using it only to power another subwoofer you should have no problem controlling the quality of the audio since there is a minimum of frequencies that will be output. Depending on the amplifier you get (from the sound of it, probably high end) you will want to make sure you have built in high pass filters so you dont have to add crossovers to the output (which will probably end up cooking with the power) (most amps have these anyways as well) this way you can keep the range of frequencies to the minimum 20hz- roughly <400hz to get good bass sound.

That way the guy doesnt have to go out and ruin his already more than adequate stock radio/nav unit.

[ta12sec]

line oiut convertor?

[WishIHadACamaro]

Originally Posted by ta12sec

line oiut convertor?

Line out Converters
yeah any local car audio place should have them, i got mine from Gibraltar but have seen them in several other shops.

They have four wires, two single stranded ones that you splice into your left and right channels from the speakers and two that have RCA L/R channels that plug into your amp, they are a little 2x4" box with screw hole in the front for you to adjust the gain.

In fact this one looks like it rocks

[ta12sec]

trick
thats what i need