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Installing Amp & Sub, RCA Adapter & Turn-On Wire?

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Old May 13, 2008 | 01:48 AM
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Default Installing Amp & Sub, RCA Adapter & Turn-On Wire?

Whatsup guys. I'm buying a WS6 within a few days (woohoo!) and i'm getting everything together early, so I don't have to wait later on. I'm going to keep the Monsoon head-unit and wire up my Jensen 425watt amp, and then have that go to a 10" sub in a stealth box. I've read several amp install threads and i'm pretty set on that, but I have a few questions. I've heard i'm going to need an RCA adapter (coming from the amplifier to the head unit). I didn't find too much, but I did find this: http://www.installer.com/item/display_item.php?it=pxgm9
Would that do the job? It says 9-pin. Will there be a spot to hook that up? Also if you guys have any better adapter's i'm willing to take a look at them too! Alright, final few questions.. I'd buy an amp insall kit so getting it to the battery, fused, and grounded wont be a problem. My only question is, where will the Turn-On wire (sends signal to amplifier to power on) - where will it connect to on the monsoon HU? I've heard it's a blue wire, but i'm not sure if it's the same on the Monsoon or not. BTW It's a Cassette HU. If you've read all this crap I typed, I appreciate it
The WS6 is Black and a 6 Spd, i'm excited
Thanks again guys!
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Old May 13, 2008 | 01:53 AM
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My amps are mounted in the back, and I just used the signal-cable for the power antenna as my "Turn-On wire" (aka, "remote"). Works like a charm.

Regarding your RCA adapter, I have no clue. I ripped all of the stock audio stuff out within a week of getting my car
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Old May 13, 2008 | 01:59 AM
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So did you splice the remote into the power antenna wire? That's a really good idea btw, lol. Also, to you or anyone else that may know this, I have the sub connected to the factory monsoon HU, how will I control the volume/bass of the sub?
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Old May 13, 2008 | 02:05 AM
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I guess you would use the gain and eq on your amp for the sub. I.e, no controls from the Monsoon.

However, is there any reason for you keeping the Monsoon? The sound is full of interference, and any system that uses high-level signals to the amp is doomed to do the same.

I'd recommend going with an aftermarket HU..
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Old May 13, 2008 | 02:41 AM
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well I wanna throw a sub and my amp in there right away, but i'm not sure if i'll be getting an aftermarket head unit right away. I heard alot of people prefer keeping them, but I really haven't thought it out completely yet.. If anything I would like to get a motorized GPS/DVD head unit, the one's that come out of the dash and flip upwards. Plus aftermarket HU's have sub hookups right?
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Old May 13, 2008 | 03:00 AM
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Aftermarket HUs usually have sub hookups, yes.

The way I did it was:
HU - Pioneer DEH-P600UB
SubAmp - Polk Audio PA400.1
Sub - Kicker CVR10
Speakers - Alpine SPS-600C (The tweeters fit perfectly in the firebird stock locations)
Amp - Alpine MRP-F300

All in all about $1600 with cables, caps, etc, and while it's not the most ghetto-shakin' system out there, it plays loud enough for me, and the audio-quality compared to the stock system is night and day
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Old May 13, 2008 | 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by 98 WS6
I've heard i'm going to need an RCA adapter (coming from the amplifier to the head unit). I didn't find too much, but I did find this: http://www.installer.com/item/display_item.php?it=pxgm9
Would that do the job? It says 9-pin. Will there be a spot to hook that up? Also if you guys have any better adapter's i'm willing to take a look at them too!
That adapter is for auxiliary input. It's designed to allow you to connect an auxiliary device such as an MP3 player or satellite radio for input into the factory head unit using the CD changer port on the back. It's also not one of the better ones because it requires you already have the slave unit (CD changer) attached. If that's what you're looking for, consider the GM9-AUX which does the same thing but doesn't require an existing changer.

However, I suspect that you are looking for a way to get signal from the factory HU to your amp. For that all you need is a Line Output Converter (LOC), available for under $20 from any audio shop or even Wal-Mart. It converts the speaker-level output of the HU to line level RCAs for input to your amp.
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Old May 13, 2008 | 05:27 PM
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Yes I am looking for an adapter so I can run my RCA cables from my amp to the monsoon HU. Thanks for pointing out that was the wrong thing
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Old May 13, 2008 | 08:01 PM
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just pick up a line out converter and splice it in. otherwise they do make plug and play ones also
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Old May 14, 2008 | 12:32 AM
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Alright, well I found this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/PAC-Audio-SNI-35...QQcmdZViewItem

I think I would rather a plug n' play so I wouldn't need to splice anything but I can't seem to find one.. Any help? Also where would I splice those wires in if I do decide to get that kind.
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Old May 14, 2008 | 06:52 AM
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You can get a PAC AOEM-GM21C. It is a LOC that plugs into the factory head unit without splicing and provides two RCA jacks and a remote turn-on connection for an aftermarket amp. But the OEM1 costs at least $25 and you have to add the GM21C adapter cable for another $8 so you end up paying almost four times the price for the convenience of not splicing.
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Old May 14, 2008 | 02:05 PM
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Alright, i think this'll be the final question.

I found the OEM1 : http://www.installationproducts.com/...2&category=156

And the GM21C :
http://www.installationproducts.com/...2&category=156

Now, why would I need both? Does the OEM1 plug into the Monsoon HU and THEN the 21C into the OEM1? They somewhat look like the same thing. Don't mind my stupid-ness in this subject as i've never dealt with these before.
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Old May 14, 2008 | 02:20 PM
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The OEM-1 is just the box. It's basically a standard LOC that they have set up to connect to custom harnesses for specific car models. The GM21C is the custom harness that connects the box to the head unit so that you don't have to do any splicing of wires. If you had a Ford, you'd still need the OEM-1 box but you would get a different harness that was Ford specific.

(BTW, they're cheaper at sonicelectronix.com)
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Old May 14, 2008 | 04:06 PM
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Alright, I understand much better now. Thanks for all your help, glad i'm getting everything together beforehand. Definitely gonna check out that site too. Thanks!!
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Old May 14, 2008 | 07:04 PM
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Not trying to hijack just have a question that goes along with this install. what wires do you splice into for the LOC. I'm would assume the wires that go to the subs in the sail panel, but you need to splice it in before the monsoon amp for the best results, right? Which wires are those?
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Old May 15, 2008 | 07:03 AM
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You can splice into the speaker outputs at the head unit or the input side of the Monsoon amp in the right rear quarter. Pinouts for both connectors are in the Monsoon FAQ sticky at the top of the forum.
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Old May 17, 2008 | 08:34 PM
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I didn't see any wires labeled subwoofer on the input side of the amp. Do I just splice into either the front or rear speaker inputs?
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Old May 18, 2008 | 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by LS1DER
I didn't see any wires labeled subwoofer on the input side of the amp. Do I just splice into either the front or rear speaker inputs?
Yes, that's correct.
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Old May 19, 2008 | 09:21 PM
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So basically you can splice into E4 and E5 or E6 and E7 and that's it? According to the Sticky with the diagram those should work right?
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Old May 20, 2008 | 06:59 AM
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Yes, those would be the rear input connections.
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