Can a stock HU be wired to an amp? or do I need an aftermarket w/RCA outputs?

 

use a line out converter. buy the best one you can find. $40 or $50

 

you can if you want. but if you are gonna spend money on an amp, you might as well invest in a nice head unit also. just my two cents.

 

also called an "in-line converter"....and you don't need a good one...they are all the same really...jus find one with2 gains for R (right) and L (left) $15-$20 range will be great.

 

well I have to be nice to my g/f so that she will buy me a new head unit! I have 2 10"JL speakers w/ clarion amp (400w)

 

youll probably get a better/stronger signal with an aftermarket headunit...My car is a year old (TODAY!!!) and my HU has about had it....guess i gots to get to bestbuy this weekend

 

get the in line and does it you first then if you dont like it go get a new hu but just make sure its 50x4

 

you don't need an in line convertor actually, if your amp has high level inputs. you can just feed the speaker level signal to the amp directly. in line convertor probably works a little better since RCAs have better RF blocking qualities than speaker wire.

and as for headunit, if you decide to get one it doesn't matter if it's 50x4 or whatever, all that matters is the preamp output voltage. 2 volts is pretty much minimum if you want decent quality, 4 volts is better, 5 volts is best (well there's higher but too much $$$$)

 

I did that for now (added an amp to my STOCK deck to my subs) my car bumps the same if not louder then any other car. But my real deck is in the way right now..

Sony CDX-M800
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...DXM800&o=m&a=0

 

I would wait and buy an aftermarket head-unit, they will make it sound alot better. All the stereos i have heard with the converters sound like..well a$$

 

than they weren't wired well.

obviously it's not gonna sound like a $10,000 system. but if you don't have $10gs, it's the way to go. it'll sound pretty damn good if done right.

stereos that sound bad are usually underpowered, clipping the amps, or not using proper crossovers. stay within the bounds of the system and it'll sound fine

 

thanks guys! I think I am goin to look today for a new unit, see if I can find anything I like!!
I'll let ya know what I get, I think Im gettin my **** hooked up today to!

 

can you buy a head unit that fits flush in the dash.... the hole sticking out thing that after market units do looks like crap......?

 

probably not. aftermarket head units are made to be universal. i doubt you are going to find one that fits in perfectly without the little trim piece that goes around it to cover up the hole.

 

Went out today and bought a new unit..clarion. Its not flush..they said that no head unit will. But when I take off the face..its flush!

Sounds good!