I have a 07 SS/SC with the 7 speaker pioneer audio system, and was wondering if i can add a sub and amp that i have in my closet from my old car, without changing the head unit? since this factory stereo still has a sub, can i join them somehow?

 

Yes, somehow...

 

that's what i'm doing. spliced into the power wire from the stock sub.

 

red ecotec, sounds like you want to do a write up for me? i have no electrical skills, but want to have a nicer sub to work with this stock one

 

Yeah you need a signal converter to switch from regular wires to rca cables. I've actually added subs and amped all the other speakers as well.

 

i had the same question, i'm trying to put in the subs from my old car, and i really like the stock deck.
any more details on the signal converter? where to get it? specific type? any help would be great, thanks!

 

yes you can add an amp and sub, you will need a line level converter or high level converter.
it takes the singal for you stock speakers and splits into rca's for your amp.
go to your local stereo shop and ask for one, they should be $15-$30 .

 

I'll try to take some pics this weekend and post them up, need to clean and update my pictures anyways.

 

yeah do exactly what he said

 

to install subs with a stock headunit. yo have to buy a splinter n tap it in threw your back speakers and run the rca's threw that. then run your remote wire threw your windshield wipers fuse. i did that until i got my headunit and my new system

 

Yes, I have a JL 12" sub in my car with a separate amp from the stock one. I have a switch up front to where I can either run both the stock 10" and the 12" sub or just the stock 10". This way if you listen to rock or something it doesnt sound like ****.

 

If you want clean sound rather than line level converter, there's always the Rockford Fosgate 360, the JL Audio Cleansweep (which I am installing now) and a few other companies make them. They're less needed for a Cobalt though unless you're an audiophile.

 

anyone want to do a "how to" on this? id rep the **** outta ya and it would help me greatly

 

^^^ x2 I have an amp and 2x 12" subs not being used in my garage...

 

i installed another MA 10" sub on my stock amp. kinda rigged, but looks good and sounds good. just cut into stock sub wires and ran to the other 10"

 

bump, and how to yet?

 

how to... greatly appreciated

 

Working on it now, won't be a whole how too but some pics and stuff.

 

My MTX thunder amp has an automatically adjusting input so you can hook the RCAs to a true low level or just splice into the speaker inputs and it automatically figures it out. It also can detect when sound is being outputted to it and turns itself on, so I didn't need to hook up a remote wire either.

 

Ok for starters your gonna need something like this it's a high and low signal wire to rca converter.



I tapped into my orginal wiring here, pretty much I just cut the wires and used butt connectors to connect the wires back up except that on the output side one set of wires went back to the original amp for it to function just like it ever did and another set went to the convertor and then the rca cables just go to the amp signal input.



some more pics





this is another type it's smaller but works just as well, I used this one to convert the signal of my rear speakers cause I amped those as well. Same to the front.











I hide most of the wires and the convertors behind the original amp and paneling I just pulled it all out for you guys to check out.

 

man u got more wires than circuit city. just playing good pics. thanks

 

Yeah I do, I could pretty it up so more but I'm always messing with it, this is like my 4th set up in the past 6 months, I have another amp I can add, and I want to do some video stuff over the winter, so there is no point of wasting my time making it look perfect right away. But it's loud as hell makes my ears feel like they are bleeding and I'm only using half gain to keep the quality and not just noise, I'll repalce the stock speakers when they decide to blow out they are holding up pretty well though.

 

thanks man, rep to you!! now just gotta get another box for my 12 and ill get to this, thanks alot!

 

There is a module that u can use and keep your factory headunit. I did on mines. You keep all features with steering whell controls, onstar if equiped. It's called the Re-Q. It's a piece you can order online and it's pretty simple on how to install. It retails for $149. This is the website you can get info on.

http://www.reqsound.com/