ProtegePete

I'm gunna try to hook up my amp to the stock head unit in my mp5. So my question is ..... since I know now that the SHU doesn't have rca connectors in the back, what can I do? I don't want to rip or cut any wires in the SHU or dash (but if worse comes to worse I might have to). I want the simplest and easiest way to do this. If someone here knows what to do or has any advice I will greatly appreciate it Always thanx

JJB

the short answer: you can get line level converters that will allow you to connect the high level outputs (speakers) from the HU to the low level inputs (RCA) to the amplifier.... or you can find an amp with high level inputs.

For a little more detail take a little time to look over some of the other posts in this forum as this has been covered here before more than once.

douggie

Does your amp have hi-level inputs? If yes, then you can feed the speaker level signals to your amp. If not, you'll need to get a LOC (line out converter) to convert the speaker level signals to RCA levels and then feed that to your amp.

But either way, you'll have to cut/splice into the factory wires connecting your SHU. No other way.

The other issue is that you'll need to find a way to turn the amp on with a remote amp lead. I might be wrong, but I don't believe that's available from the factory SHU

Aydu

One approach that avoids cutting any factory wires is to use a reverse wiring harness along with a standard wire harness. The reverse harness is designed to connect to the stock radio. You connect the speaker outputs to an amp - either using speaker level inputs or a line level converter that will take the speaker level signals and convert them to RCA level signals that any amp will accept.

The amp outputs get routed back to the standard wire harness. This is designed to connect to the factory wiring and will deliver the amplified signal to the speakers using the existing factory wiring.

The other radio outputs, such as power, ground, etc., just get passed from the reverse to the standard wiring harnesses by connecting the wires from one harness to the other.

Best Kits has both harnesses available and highligted on their web site. Scosche also has both harnesses. Just have to call some of the vendors that sell these type accessories to get the right parts.

If you search the board you'll find several posts where people have successfully used this approach.

Dave Cameron

Two ways to go, either get an amp that takes high level input, or get Line Out Converters (LOCs). The LOCs will be attached to the speaker level outs of the headunit, and allow for the use of RCA lines. There are cheap LOCs, and decent LOCs. With decent LOCs you will get very good sound.
I purchased another chassis side connector for the radio, and wired it up. This way I don't have to cut any wires in the harness, and can reinstall the stock radio someday should I sell the car. If you cut cleanly and splice in the wires, you later on repair the wires to working order.
Same answer as most of the others so far.
I prefer to use a chassis side connector, and LOCs myself, you will bet good results that way!

ProtegePete

thanks alot for your help guys, and where can I get these LOC at?

Dave Cameron

The best ones are pricey, but are at www.davidnavone.com
They are on several internet sites, and many shops will carry them.