Old to new HU with SUBS *Help

[YMISoInsane]

I had Subwoofers put into my 2003 Grand AM about a year ago. When they put them in they told me I needed some sort of converter in order to hook it up to my factory HU.
I will soon be putting a aftermarket HU in my car (A Kenwood KDC-MP925).
So now I have a question(s) for someone who might be able to help me.
1. What was this converter that I was told downgraded my sound abut I needed it with the factory deck
2. Now that I'm putting in a new deck... can I get ride of this converter and get the better sounding bass from my new deck? If so how?

I've decided to take the task on myself. I'll have no problems mounting the deck. But I don't know what to do about the sub converter. Any info you guy can give me would really help me out. Thanks.

[bp's97GAGT]

Get rid of it. As long as your new deck has RCA jacks, toss the converter. The aftermarket deck will definately give you better sound as long as you hook it up right.

[YMISoInsane]

Yeah but do you know where the converter is or how to get rid of it?

[bp's97GAGT]

you had subs hooked up to the stock hu right? If so, you need to trace your RCA cables from your amp to the converter. It will probably be somewhere behind the stock unit. The RCA's probably plug right into the converter so get rid of it and then plug the rca's into your new deck and your all set.

[Slanted_Mind]

Unless the stock deck had RCA outputs, I doubt his amp currently has RCA's running to it.

I assume the converter you are talking about is a high-level input converter. basically, instead of receiving a signal via RCA cables, this converter allows you to use the regular speaker wires for amplifier signal input. If the converter was installed, it is probably in the dash behind the deck, or back near the amp.

How old is your amplifier, and what brand? I have not seen any amplifiers without high-level inputs in a while (built-in high level inputs eliminate the need for the converter).

-SM

[YMISoInsane]

Yes, thank you. the converter was back near the amp. the amp is one year old. oddly enough there are not high-level inputs on it. I took the rca's out of the converter and brought them to the back of the deck in the front. I just left the converter there. I guess this must be the best way to run the subs..?
With this monsoon amp running everything will I be able to replace the speakers? or should i get a different amp to replace the monsoon amp if I do get new speakers?

[Slanted_Mind]

The high-level inputs do not provide as 'good' of a signal as RCA's directly from the HU. RCA's directly from the HU is the best way to run subs.

I would keep your amp (if you are happy with it). You do not need high-level inputs. With RCA's directly from the HU you no longer need the converter.

Now--what all are you running with this amp? How many channels x wattage (rms) is it? How many speakers do you want/need it to power?

It sounds (to me) like the amp is currently powering subs only. I would leave it that way, and if you get new door/dash/rear deck speakers and they need more power, get another amp to power them.

-SM