Installing headunit into stock 8 speaker premium system, You guys tell me one thing. The audio "expert" tells me anothe Options

[Xvani]

Hey guys!

I recently installed a new Pioneer DEH-2200UB head unit into my dash, and I used a Standard wiring harness to hook it up to the stereo. Everything works.

Looking at this guide - it seems I'm not using the amps in the car though.. He states two relevant ways of installing the head unit:

1) Use the existing amps. Purchase the amp integration harness, manufactured by Metra. Part number is 70-8112. This lets you use all 8 speakers without buying a new amp and it is easy to install. The amps expect line-level audio, so you may need to get a converter (do they make speaker-to-linelevel converters?). [snip] otherwise you may get the generic Toyota harness used in option #2 below.

As a test, I have successfully used this Metra connector and gotten a Discman hooked up to the existing 8 speakers. To perform this test, I used a headphone-to-RCA wire to connect to the harness. To turn on the amp I wired the yellow battery lead (from the harness) to a diode to a 1K ohm resistor to the Blue/White Amp TurnOn (from the harness). I accidentally let the yellow battery wire touch ground and ZAP, no sound and a funny smell. I now have 1 dead amp!

2) Bypass the existing amp but use the existing wiring. Purchase the generic 94-99 Toyota wiring harness. Connect it to the 2 blue connectors under the primary amp. This connector goes to the existing speakers, except the front 8" mids.

I realize that I might have needed a Radio wiring harness with RCA outs instead.


As I went down to a local car stereo installer to help install this, (The install kit had to be custom fitted as it didn't fit ) - they said that I had hooked it up correctly and that I now was running the signal from my headunit directly to the amp, and the amp was amplifying the signal and forwarding it to the speakers. This could be correct, as I would be using the same wires anyway? Second, the forumguy states that amps expect line-level audio, as they would get from the current setup.
Third: The guy seemed to know his ****. I asked him specifically about the wiring harness and if I was indeed using the speakers. He said he was positive. I even showed him a picture, and he said that was for the newer models with the JBL sound system. The fact that he knew the newer models had a JBL sound system... Impressive

This lead me to believe the forumguy blew the amp which was hooked up to the 8" speakers, causing this phenomenon.
Edit: Turns out the 8" speakers don't play anyway. Forumguy was right?

My question stands, however. Will I only be using the amps if I buy the Radio wiring harness with RCA outs? What exactly will change if I do so?
How can I make sure my head unit gives out line-level audio through its RCA output?

and how

Also, there is a loose connection in my dash now, which I have no idea what is for. I asked the audio guy and he said it was for remote controlling from steering wheel or something..? He didn't seem certain.

Thank you for your reply!!

Edit: After double-checking: Doesn't seem like I get audio from the 8" front speakers anyway. My bad!

This post has been edited by Xvani: Mar 9, 2010 - 6:23 PM

[D-Man]

when wiring an aftermarket, you wanna bypass that POS factory amp. it's designed to take the low powered stock headunit and blair out a whole 50-65watts of power to the speakers. 8Speaker setup or otherwise.

if you spend more than 50 bucks (brand new) then you're already putting out over 50w. therefore the factory amps are doing nothing but distorting the sound.

spend the 10 bucks at best buy or wherever for the AM harness adapter; wire it to the stereo. Then locate the factory amp; On the "out to speaker" side of the amp, unplug those harnesses and plug them into the AM harness adapter. TADA!! properly functioning stereo.

EDIT: those RCA outs are going to be useful when you purchase a subwoofer setup. however if you wanna make it sound better, then i'd recommend using the RCA out's on your new AM headunit. otherwise, you're just bridging off a speaker. (that's the ghetto mans way of doing it, (iirc my first subwoofer setup was dont that way to keep a factory headunit )

This post has been edited by D-Man: Mar 9, 2010 - 7:46 PM

[azian_advanced]

Will I only be using the amps if I buy the Radio wiring harness with RCA outs? What exactly will change if I do so?

If you use the metra wiring harness with RCA outs, you'll still be using the factory amps and all 8 speakers. Only difference is you'll be using a different headunit.

How can I make sure my head unit gives out line-level audio through its RCA output?

Headunits always output line-level audio through the rear RCA pre-outs.

[Xvani]

spend the 10 bucks at best buy or wherever for the AM harness adapter; wire it to the stereo. Then locate the factory amp; On the "out to speaker" side of the amp, unplug those harnesses and plug them into the AM harness adapter. TADA!! properly functioning stereo.

??? I already have an AM harness adapter which is hooked up to these connectors:

In addition, there is another connector which is like the ones in the picture, but with 4 slots instead. The 8" speakers are still not playing!
Are you saying I have hooked up the wrong wires to my AM harness adapter?

Do you want me to get the RCA wiring harness instead?

Or something else??

EDIT: those RCA outs are going to be useful when you purchase a subwoofer setup.

Thanks! I won't though

Will I only be using the amps if I buy the Radio wiring harness with RCA outs? What exactly will change if I do so?

If you use the metra wiring harness with RCA outs, you'll still be using the factory amps and all 8 speakers. Only difference is you'll be using a different headunit.

Uhm, what do you mean "still be using factory amps". Does this mean I'm currently using factory amps? (headunit used with generic wiring harness)

Is there a way to make this work with only one set of RCA outs? Unfortunately, they are for "rear" too... =(

How can I make sure my head unit gives out line-level audio through its RCA output?

Headunits always output line-level audio through the rear RCA pre-outs.

Did not know! Thanks!
Then I wonder what's the difference between 4v and 2v RCA pre-outs? I'm guessin amplitude of signal. Would the amps need to amplify LESS if receiving a 4v signal as opposed to a 2v signal?

[zonz540]

The 6th gen never had steering wheel controls for the stereo. That extra lead may be for your 8" speakers. Use a AAA or AA battery to test the lead w/ the same colors under the seat while the car is off. If your speaker makes noise, voila, you have your connection. Use a line level out to run your RCAs to those speakers and let the factory amp power them. Your deck only has 4 speaker outs, let it run the fronts and backs and the 8's can be powered by the factory/under-seat amp.

Premium Sound System

4v pre-outs have a higher amplitude sine wave going through them. They will give you a cleaner signal to the amp, thus, less distortion when you turn up the volume. You should get a slightly louder output with a higher voltage from your head unit, although, i wouldnt buy a deck based solely on pre-out voltage. If you want loud, buy a better/bigger amp and get speakers with higher sensitivity/lower resistance.[size="4"][/size]

This post has been edited by zonz540: Mar 10, 2010 - 12:24 AM

[azian_advanced]

the aftermarket harness that you're using only contains wires for the 6 speakers without the 8" mids. on the factory amp behind the HVAC controls, there's another harness that joins it to another amp located beneath the driver's chair for the 8" mids.

so if you wanna use that same harness from BestBuy, bypass the factory amps, and use all 8 speakers, then i suggest you use a headunit that comes with subwoofer pre-outs, then have those sub pre-outs going to an aftermarket amp and wired to a pair of afermarket 8" subs.

otherwise, get the radio wiring harness with the rca outs (aka Metra Amp Integration harness) to integrate your aftermarket headunit with your factory audio system and call it a day.

This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Mar 10, 2010 - 1:14 AM

[Xvani]

Thank you sooo much guys!!
I'm still confused whether or not I'm currently using or bypassing the factory amps (driving the 6 speakers currently running)

That extra lead may be for your 8" speakers. Use a AAA or AA battery to test the lead w/ the same colors under the seat while the car is off.

Will do tomorrow!

Your deck only has 4 speaker outs, let it run the fronts and backs and the 8's can be powered by the factory/under-seat amp.

Would it be possible to splice my front speaker connections (tweeter and the 4" speakers) to this connection (the 8")? Wouldn't the crossovers take care of the rest?

the aftermarket harness that you're using only contains wires for the 6 speakers without the 8" mids. on the factory amp behind the HVAC controls, there's another harness that joins it to another amp located beneath the driver's chair for the 8" mids.

get the radio wiring harness with the rca outs (aka Metra Amp Integration harness) to integrate your aftermarket headunit with your factory audio system and call it a day.

Thanks man!
My amp only has one pair of RCA "rear" outs...
1. If I buy the harness with RCA outs, can I test to see if it would actually work somehow? For all I know the amp is broken anyway..
2. Is it possible to make this work with my current headunit and the harness with RCA outs?

I greatly appreciate your help!

[Xvani]

Allright. I checked the last wire, and thanks to a spare wiring harness I found in the car when installing this, I know which is front + and which is front -.

1. Would it be enough to Tap Solder/splice these wires with the corresponding front speaker connectors from the standard harness? The crossover (somewhere) should take care of the rest, right? Is this buypassing or USING the stock amps?

2. How is it possible to use all 8 speakers from the RCA outs, when the connection to the 8" speakers are on a completely different connector (which is not used in the RCA-out-wiring-harness)

3. What's the difference between (the signal?) RCA outs and "regular speaker outs(?)" anyway?


Thanks!

[Xvani]

Finally figured out the whole stereo thing. Turns out one of the previous owners took out the amps out of the car!!

Is there an easy way to play on all speakers? (Previously described as splicing two wires (from speakers) to a single amplifier wire.
Will I need a crossover? (Where is it?)

Thanks!

[pittfirefighter]

here is the absolutely easiest way to do this...

most headunits have an RCA out AND line level out... line level goes into the metra wiring harness and goes to the 6 speakers... take the RCA out and get yourself a baby small amp to play the 8" in the doors.... thats how mine is setup and works great

my exact setup:
ECLIPSE NAVI UNIT --> Linelevel: 6speakers, RCA: one 4 channel JBL amp ----> two channels power two Memphis 8" woofers in the doors, other two channels bridged to power a 12" sub in the hatch

[Xvani]

here is the absolutely easiest way to do this...

most headunits have an RCA out AND line level out... line level goes into the metra wiring harness and goes to the 6 speakers... take the RCA out and get yourself a baby small amp to play the 8" in the doors.... thats how mine is setup and works great

my exact setup:
ECLIPSE NAVI UNIT --> Linelevel: 6speakers, RCA: one 4 channel JBL amp ----> two channels power two Memphis 8" woofers in the doors, other two channels bridged to power a 12" sub in the hatch

I think you're confusing speaker-level out with line-level out? (RCA gives line-level out...)

Do you mean line-level AND speaker-level out? If you mean speaker-level where you have put linelevel, this setup makes sense.
However, I would still need a crossover somewhere, UNLESS there are passive crossovers for each speaker (hopefully there is..) If not, all speakers will attempt to play the entire frequency spectrum. Your setup COULD be utilizing an electronic crossover in your headunit to seperate the subsignal, however, there would still be need for a crossover between tweeter and the 4"? Do you know if this is the case?

Edit: Did some research on amps, and I see that most of them have Integrated low pass/high pass filters. Using the "rear" pre-out connection on my headunit should be fine for the subs afaik, as the amp will do the filtering. Agree?

This still leaves the 1", 4" and rear speakers though. Are there passive filters on these?

This post has been edited by Xvani: Mar 12, 2010 - 6:24 AM

[pittfirefighter]

yes that should say speaker level not line level - late at night and a lot going on when i typed that.... they do have passive filters as well

[Scosh]

how do you remove the dash? i got the top part unclipped(the air vent part) and idk how to get the bottom of it loose. I am trying to install my headunit.

[Scosh]

how do you remove the dash? i got the top part unclipped(the air vent part) and idk how to get the bottom of it loose. I am trying to install my headunit.

nvm I got it.