what does that back of the stock radio look like for a 98 ga?

[superkork]

I was just wondering what it looked like. i currently have a 10 disc changer hooked through the stock ga radio and am unsure of how it's wired, since it was like that when i bought it.

i was wondering what the back looked like so i could hook my amp up to it. i know my old sony xplode has all the outputs for an amp, but i'm unsure if the stock 98 ga se radio has all the necessary outputs as well.

since my multi disc cd changer face is coneected through the ga stock radio, and the radio outputs to the cd changer, is it possible for my to hook my amp to the stock radio? does it even have outputs for it?

i would just put my sony xplod in there, but i don't wanna lose the theftlock capabilities (plus that light there is great safety-wise).

Thanks a bunch you guys.

~nick

[nineteen88ga]

On the back of your factory radio, you don't have any pre-outs (hook ups for amps). The Changer you have is probably RF modulated, meaning you have to tune your radio to a certain station, these are a pretty popular way of adding changers to factory headunits.

You can add amps to a factory headunit easily with a line level converter. You can pick one up for about $20.00 at Circuit City. They tie on to your speaker leads and allow you to plug RCA's into the module. The only thing you would have to do is pick up a remote turn on wire. Some amps already have something like the line converter built into them. Look for an amp that has High level inputs along with conventional RCA's. Some newer amps with high level inputs don't even need a Remote wire which make it cake to install an amp to a factory ststem. The only drawback to using a factory headunit, you have a greater tendency of picing up noise in your system, but for the most part, you can still expect decent sound quality.

[superkork]

i'm am still somewhat confused. btw, thank's for helping me out. first off, here is a pic of my stock unit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3043945273&category=32815

now, first off what the heck are all the inputs on the back of the radio used for? please help me out here.

also, i don't understand any of the terminology you're using. please try and better elaborate on all those terms like line level converter, speaker leads, high level inputs.

i just don't see how i could plug my amp into the back of the unit. i currently have an amp that has a left and right rca to rca cable coming out of it and also, that blue head unit lead (i think that's how you would describe it). for my old system, i'd just plug those up to the xplode, but what do i do with the cables now? how do i connect them to the factory unit?

so you're saying that the amp's with high level inputs only need the ground wire, juice wire, and rca's to connect to the amp or what (without the blue signal lead?)? i don't see how that's possible. i'm so confused. please help me.

oh wait a minute, are you saying that i could buy a line-level convertor for $20 which plugs into the back of the unit, allowing me to plug rca's into the back of it (from my amp)?

and yes, my changer hooks up to the unit via radio frequency.

thanks again

[nineteen88ga]

Ok.....The plugs on the back of your factory radio...one will be for your antenna connection, and the others are going to be for power, illumination, and your speaker leads. They are all part of a harness that is in your car already from the factory. There are no provisions on the back of your factory radio for RCA's.

The line level converter,like I explained before, is a small modual that connects up to you speaker wires. You just strip a little of the insulation back on the wires for your rear speakers, and add the converter onto them. Your not eliminating your rear speakers, just adding the Line level converter between them and your headunit.

Installing an amp to a factory headunit can be done 2 ways. Some amps already have a line level converter built into them. If they do, the amp will have another set of sepaker wire connections and these will be called High level connections(it will be labeled on the amp) With amps like this, you will not need RCA's, and the wires coming off the high level connections will basically be your RCA's. They will run from the amps high level connections, to your vehivles speaker wires, and wire in between the speaker and your radio. With amps like this you will just need those high level connections, your speakerwires running to your sub box, 12V from your battery, ground, (sometimes remote Turn on depending on the amp, because some newer amps actually sense the turn on signal from the rear speaker wires that you wired into with the high level connections).

If your amp does not have high level connections on it, you can still add the amp by way of the line level converter. It wires in between your speakers and the headunit. Since it is not actually built into the amp, you will need a run of RCA's going from your amp to the Converter box. Then you just make all the conections on the amp, 12V, Ground, Remote turn on (needs to be connected to switched 12v, and of course your speaker wires to your sub box.

[superkork]

ok, i think i get what you're saying now.

so if i have an amp with "high level connections" how many are there? i'm guessing that there is two or something like that so that two seperate channels can be heard off the subs.

ok, so i have an amp with high level outputs. does that mean i don't even have to mess with the back of the factory unit? Are you saying that each high level connection connects to each rear speakers wire?

so, i could just trim a bit of the insulation off the wires of both my rear speakers, and attach each high level connection to each appropriate rear speaker cable? Dang, does that mean i wouldn't even have to screw with the rear of the factory unit? that would be sweet.

and if the amp also has remote turn on, does that mean it would come on and off whenever juice is detected through my battery (since it connects through the 12v batt output)? Sounds very simple.

So I would connect the two high level output cables to each rear speakers wire (i'm guessing close to the speaker), and then connect things like the ground, hot, and sub cables, and i'm set, right? And if I have a remote turn on capability then i connect that to the pos batt cable also, correct?



NOW, let me see if i have it correct concerining the method without having high-level outputs. All i would have to do is buy the line-level converter, which i am guessing, connects to the rca coming off the amp, and converts the cable somehow to a cable which can connect, once again, to the rear speaker wires.

WITH HIGH LEVEL OUTPUTS:
amp(highleveloutput)---------------rearspeakercable01 & rearspeakercable02

WITHOUT HIGH LEVEL OUTPUTS:
amp{hlo(s)}------linelevelconverter--------rearspeakercable01 & rearspeakercable02


that was my guess as to how it somewhat looks. please correct me if i'm wrong.

DANG man, thanks a bunch for helping me out with this!

[nineteen88ga]

Good on everything up to here....

Originally posted by superkork

And if I have a remote turn on capability then i connect that to the pos batt cable also, correct?


IF your amp has the capability to sense turn on without a switched power source (remote turn on wire), You just simply DON'T HOOK ANY wire up to the Remote turn on connection on the amp. If you were to tie the remote turn on circuit with the Constant power from your battery, the amp wouldn't shut off...it would stay on even when your car is turned off. If you have everything hooked up and the amp still dosen't turn on, then your going to have to run a remote turn on wire.



And yes your not really going to have to remove the headunit from the car at all, not like its a big deal anyway.... Also keep in mind if you ever do remove your headunit and unplug it, your going to need your theft loc code to enable the headunit again.