running amp from standard unit! link needed

westoncraig

reviver of old threads :)
Aug 7, 2005
826
1
weston-SUPER-mare
i know this has been coverd before..i know i will get told to search..but after browsing 10 pages of threads in the ice section and having no real joy with the search...can someone link me to the page i need to see for wiring my amp upto my standard head unit?
i have all the bits (amp,sub,wires) just need more info!
thanks in advance guys..
 

caveo

Guest
has the head unit got pre outs ? if so thats the sound signal covered the power obvously goes to the battery and the ground to a good spot on the car body( under the boot carpit is the best with a self tapping screw) and the remote power is the part everyone gets wrong . Pull out the head unit and find the remote areal or if its a good new hu then its labeled sub remote so it only has power on when the hu is on and atatch this to the amp.
 

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
If you got no pre outs you can get a cable that converts speaker cable to RCA but you wont have full control over the sub and unless your amp has a sub filter on it you will get full range signals instesd of just bass coming out the sub
 

westoncraig

reviver of old threads :)
Aug 7, 2005
826
1
weston-SUPER-mare
well its the standard cupra head unit in the leon!
so il have to get it out to have a look and see what inputs/outputs that it offers..
i dont think my amp has sub filters..althoug it has switches on it to control db range..flat,lp,hp..a hi-input and cross over and gain control
 

caveo

Guest
MMMM? Its not goin to be easy , can you afford a cheap hu ( 100 quid) ?
 

westoncraig

reviver of old threads :)
Aug 7, 2005
826
1
weston-SUPER-mare
yeah can do that, but i love having the 6 cd changer...sub isnt essential..il sell the bits if i cant do it..had them in my ibiza before...just would be nice to add that little extra punch..even though the standard speakers are very capable!
 

ChrisJ

Lemon
Feb 2, 2007
314
0
APD Vag - Near Holton Heath
Generally speaking people dont bother trying to convert the standard unit to run a sub etc, i recently junked mine along with the cd changer and bought a nice genuine blanking pocket to go in place of the changer in the glove box.
 

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
Yep the standard ones wont have pre outs so you will need the cable i thinks its for converting low signals to high signals just ask for a "speaker cable to RCA converter"
Set amp to low pass
leave db on zero and adjust when system is all in dont go to loud though.
Leave the "gain" low as this will make the sub and amp work too hard.

Like caveo said save up for decent head unit you will hear the difference

Also if its a brand new sub dont be tempted to turn it up full tilt straight away they need "beding in" gentley

good luck
 
Last edited:

D.K

LCR 225
Oct 24, 2007
6,408
3
se london
:lol: it took me so long to do that last post i missed everyone eleses :lol:

Look for a head unit that has an IPOD connection then you dont need the cd changer
 

CupraCai

Guest
It is possible to connect your sub to your original head unit but you sacrifice some sound quality by doing so! You can feed the sound like the guys say above and chuck in a high level filter in to filter out the treble, then you can run the sub remote off the ignition (i think?)and i think i would chuck an inline low amp fuse to be on the safe side! The rest is straight forward, main power from the battery using an inline 20 amp fuse and then find a good grounding point! If you just want adequate punch for you money then why not buy a FLY sub (made by Vibe) with an inbuilt amp. Saves you faffing around putting the amp somewhere and saves space - puts ticks in all boxes in your situation! Hope this is of some help!
 

Matt Cupra R

Full Member
Jan 13, 2006
92
0
Berkshire
It is possible to connect your sub to your original head unit but you sacrifice some sound quality by doing so! You can feed the sound like the guys say above and chuck in a high level filter in to filter out the treble, then you can run the sub remote off the ignition (i think?)and i think i would chuck an inline low amp fuse to be on the safe side! The rest is straight forward, main power from the battery using an inline 20 amp fuse and then find a good grounding point! If you just want adequate punch for you money then why not buy a FLY sub (made by Vibe) with an inbuilt amp. Saves you faffing around putting the amp somewhere and saves space - puts ticks in all boxes in your situation! Hope this is of some help!

With the connector in my link, there is no loss in sound quality as you don't touch the standard speaker outputs. I run an Infinity bass link in mine and it's great. In my wifes car we have the same setup but she has a sub with a separate amp and her works as well as mine.

I have had systems before with multiple amps and subs etc, and although this setup will never be anywhere as good as that, it is a significant improvement over standard and well worth the money.