Thread: how do you hook up subs with stock head unit?

yeah just got some subs to put in but i dont wanna break anything cause im used to normal head units please help.......

yeah i have the equalizer set up on my stock head unit its a hulking thing i just want a nice after market headunit is there like a plastic brace i can but or something if so where

If all you are looking to do is add aftermarket subs to your factory system you need to do one of two things. If the bass amp you are using has high level inputs, then all you need to do is run wires from one or both speakers (ones that actually have low level sound coming out of them, don't tap off of a tweet or any highs) into the usually supplied connector of the amp. If the amplifier doesn't have high level input capabilities you are going to need to goto your local stereo shop and get a small little device called a line level adapter.

What a line level adapter is, is a little device that filters the high level output put out the speaker lines from your head unit and converts them into low level input the amplifier can use, they generally have 4-5 wires on the input side and two rca outputs on the output side, the better ones come with trimpots that can be used to set the proper gain to prevent distortion. The 4 input wires on the input side are for your speaker inputs, right +, right -, left +, and left -. If your just putting in subs, you can tie the right and left + together and the right and left - together as subs are mono. The optional 5th wire is a ground to prevent ground loops, which is noise picked up due to different ground resistances. Generally with subwoofer systems you don't need this as the frequency they run at isn't high enough to pick up this noise (which is generally caused by alternators and ignition systems.)

Once you have the line level adapter, all you need to do is tap off of the speaker you plan on taking the sound from (I generally use front speakers as most customers have their systems tuned slightly forward and most front speakers are unfiltered or mids), you just need to run rca interconnects to your amp, then hook up the rest of your connections to the amp, which will be a remote line which you will run a wire to a switched spot on in your fuseblock, your main proper gauge power wire which you will run out to the battery (with a proper size fuse as close to the battery as possible), and your ground which will be a good chassis ground using a proper gauge wire as short as possible. (Good connectors help alot in avoiding future issues and I use gold plated connectors for all my installs.)

Once you have all these connections made, you can mount your amp down, hook it up to the sub box, tweak the settings to your personal tastes, and enjoy having aftermarket subs!