Audio Help

[Mat]

I've had my Ibiza close to three years now. And in that time I've never really been bothered about not havin my Sub & Amp from my old Escort put in. Occasionally I think about how much I miss the bass, but other times I just think "what's the point".

Anyway, recently I installed a Sub & Amp in my girlfriends Seicento, and must admit, now I hear that a lot, I kinda miss the bass in my car.

Anyway, my problem is, behind my head unit there are no Phono Outputs, or a Remote wire. This makes life difficult for wiring in an amp (also another reason why I've never bothered tryin to install ICE).

I've asked people/mates for their advice and a lot seem to say, instead of the remote, wire to the ignition, and as for the phono output problem, use something to convert speaker wire into phono outputs???

Anyway, went to an audio place and the advised me not to do that as I could be riskin blowin up the amp and/or head unit.

Anyway, long story short, is there a way around this? Can I get an adapter or something to convert the wire I have at the back of the unit?

Here's a picture of my center console if it helps

Cheers peeps,

Mat

 

[Adam R]

well im sure most poeple will be horrified by what i have done but i have not had a problem as of yet.

i have wired a REM from the ignition, and for the input for the sub, well i basicall cut up a phono cable, and took the inner to red and outer to the black (on the rear left speaker input) and put that in to the amp.

never had it blow on me and i do turn the HU up a fair bit. must admit though this is deffinatly not the best way of doing it!

 

[Mat]

Well that sounds pretty much like what a lot of my mates have advised me to do. But it was an apparent "pro" from a local car shop (dunno if you have em near you, called RRD - Road & Rally Distribution - like Halfords), who told me not to do that.

So that is ok then? Anyone else got anyother methods I can give a try?

 

[Mat]

well im sure most poeple will be horrified by what i have done but i have not had a problem as of yet.

i have wired a REM from the ignition, and for the input for the sub, well i basicall cut up a phono cable, and took the inner to red and outer to the black (on the rear left speaker input) and put that in to the amp.

never had it blow on me and i do turn the HU up a fair bit. must admit though this is deffinatly not the best way of doing it!

lol

I would I locate the ignition wire? Where is is? What colour is it etc?

 

[Adam R]

the guy i brought my sub off had wired it up the same way and he had it running like that for 2 years with no prob. i think it is all about how 'perfect' you want that sound to be in your car

 

[Mat]

LOL, Indeed

Anyway, where would I be able to locate the ignition wire? And what colour is it?

 

[Adam R]

to be honest with you i just found a batter side of the loom behind the dash, went in their with a multi meter put it on earth and a colour and if i got 0v with ignition off and 12v with ignition on i used that .

REM pulls bugger all ampage and 12v so as long as your on the battery side of the loom its all good

 

[Mat]

oh lol. very technical lol. so just a case of trial and error. now next question (just so i have all the info at the ready for when i get round to doin this), where is the gromit? (actually i think i have one in the passenger footwell, thats how i got undercar power into the carto put on a switch

 

[Adam R]

if you follow the loom behind the battery there is a grommet more or less right behind the battery but a bit lower down .

 

[Mat]

Yeah. Come to think of it, thats where my neons do wire in through!

 

[AaronGS]

good guide on how to wire amp into the ibiza: http://www.icecavern.com/howtos/ampinstall/main.php

hope it helps.

 

[AaronM]

Give the local shop a slap! You can wire the remote off the ignition and use a adapter to convert the speaker output to phono leads quite easily. Sure its not the best thing in the world but its probabily easier than custom fitting an aftermarket HU!

 

[Mat]

where can i get an adapter from to convert the speaker wires? I tried lookin on eBay but have no idea what the technical name is for them, so me search results was useless

one more question. Where's best place to earth to? Want to be as inconspicuous as possible (big word there )

 

[AaronM]

One of these http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?partno=PX043



Also depending on where you amp is will alter the grounding point, but how about the cd changer bolts for starters

 

[Mat]

cheers dude. think i'll be orderin me those

 

[merlin051]

guys, there is a wire from the back of the head unit you can splice into for a REM signal, its a small black wire on the black ISO connector, i will check this when i get home if i have time.


Also another method you could try, Buy a decent amp that will turn on using high level input

i use a DLS CA30 it has this function and works great, atm its wired up to some new 6x4 speakers (in the stock posistion) and a RE 8" sub works great, and i didnt have to wire it into the ignition. as i understand it, using a signal frmo your ignition means your amp is ALWAYS on, but using the REM signal from the HU means its only powered when you turn the HU on.

 

[Mat]

cheers dude, if you could confirm that, then that would be great!

 

[Adam R]

where can i get an adapter from to convert the speaker wires? I tried lookin on eBay but have no idea what the technical name is for them, so me search results was useless

one more question. Where's best place to earth to? Want to be as inconspicuous as possible (big word there )

for earthing i used the spare wheel holding stud. just get 2 washers put 1 on top and 1 below a 'O' connector and screw it down using the plastic nut. never had a problem

 

[Mat]

cool, cheers for the tips fellas

 

[M87NER]

I used the 12v cigarette socket in my boot for the remote wire-connected a switch in it so i can turn my sub on or off when i want to, works for me