Upgrades with factory head unit?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: WHITE LAKE, MI
Upgrades with factory head unit?
Has anyone had good luck adding amps and crossovers to the factory head units? I have the in-dash 6 disc and have just replaced my speakers with some new Pioneer 3-ways, but I need more poweer for good sound at higher levels plus I was thinking of adding a Bazooka or similar style sub. Any input? Ideas? I have kids and don't want to lose the rear controls, plus the factory unit with the in-dash changer is very convenient.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
Upgrades with factory head unit?
There are two ways to use the factory radio:
1) Buy an inline converter that converts your speaker wires to RCA jack connectors. Only problem with that is you normally get alot of noise and static through those converters.
2) Buy an amp that has speaker wires inputs, not just RCA's.
If I were going to keep the factory radio, then I would go with #2. Easier to do, and sound is alot crisper and cleaner.
1) Buy an inline converter that converts your speaker wires to RCA jack connectors. Only problem with that is you normally get alot of noise and static through those converters.
2) Buy an amp that has speaker wires inputs, not just RCA's.
If I were going to keep the factory radio, then I would go with #2. Easier to do, and sound is alot crisper and cleaner.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: WHITE LAKE, MI
Upgrades with factory head unit?
Thanks, cobraxp, that is the route I was planning on taking. I normally replace factory units with a good aftermarket system, but it is so practical a setup in my Excursion that I don't want to change that. What I really need is help with the wiring. Does someone make a connector that can plug into the original wiring harness and the back of the radio that allows you to add amps and crossovers, or do things still work the old way-cut and splice. Plus I don't know which wires power what. I don't want to cut the wrong wires and make things a mess.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
Upgrades with factory head unit?
Metro makes the plug adapters. They make them for both the radio, and the wiring harness. To wire it, the only problem you will run into with using the factory wires will be the factory amp. If you buy the adapters that plug INTO the radio, use the factory plug for power into the radio, and the adpater for the speaker wires and run the speaker wire to the amp you are installing. From that amp, run the speaker wires to the factory amp. Disconnect the factory amp. You can use the output wires on it to go to the speakers.
Best way to tell which wires go to which speaker is take a AA battery and attach one wire to the positive side of it and another wire to the negative side. Touch the positive to a speaker output wire, and a negative to an output wire. Keep going until you hear a speaker crackle. Keep going until you label all the speakers.
This sounds like alot, but once you get going, it is really not that hard. The hardest part is getting to the factory amp. It is usually found behind the rear passengers panel in the back of the truck.
If this doesn't make sense, email me and I can try to explain it better...
Hope this helps...
Best way to tell which wires go to which speaker is take a AA battery and attach one wire to the positive side of it and another wire to the negative side. Touch the positive to a speaker output wire, and a negative to an output wire. Keep going until you hear a speaker crackle. Keep going until you label all the speakers.
This sounds like alot, but once you get going, it is really not that hard. The hardest part is getting to the factory amp. It is usually found behind the rear passengers panel in the back of the truck.
If this doesn't make sense, email me and I can try to explain it better...
Hope this helps...
