Hey guys, I need some instruction/advice on how to do this. I have an 06 SS/SC with the pioneer system. I replaced the door speakers and rear 6x9s with aftermarket (boston acoustics) to help improve sound quality. I do not want to remove my stock head unit and amp, but I'm interested in getting some more sound out of the bostons. Is it possible to replace the stock amp with an aftermarket? If so, how is this done? Is it as simple as removing the stock amp and replacing with an aftermarket, so long as its a 4 channel aftermarket amp? I'm very happy with the bass I get now, but I wanted to get some more mids-highs out of these bostons and I thought adding a better amp would be the way to go. Please help.

 

If you want to keep your stock Head Unit, you need to get a Line Out converter, or an amplifier that accepts speaker level inputs.

This will allow you to use the speaker output from your head unit to generate a signal for the amp.

However sound quality will suffer a bit with this setup, because using the high level inputs or line converter tends to degrade sound a little bit.

 

acutally high level inputs are pretty darn realiable especially if your comparing to a loc.

Are you looking to do this yourself or have a shop do it?

 

you didnt mention an amp so ill asume your still shopping. id try to find one with high level inputs, that way all you do is connect the wires going to the speakers to the high level inputs on the amp.

there is another way to do it, albeit a bit more complecated. the factory deck runs low level inputs to the factory amp. what you can do is cut the wires before they do into the amp and convert them to rca's (cut up a set of rca's to solder onto the wires or get some solder on rca ends). you then run the rca to the amp as normal. a friend of mine works in car audio, he has done 2 installs this way in pioneer system cobalts, the only thing he cant answer for me is if the turn signal noise gets loud or not. i do know you lose the chimes when the key is off though (amps shut off wqhen the key turns off).

 

I used a RE-Q which allowed me to keep all my steering wheel control and stock headunit. It improved my sound quality then using a line level converter. Cost me $149 and it's worth it. They make a 3 channel and a 5 channel with a aux input built in for IPOD. I used the 3 chanel, FT , RR and sub out.

 

lol i wonder if your really paid by mtx to get the word out on the re-q.... oh well we got some coming to the shop soon to test em out.

 

Hey guys, thanks for all your input. It sounds like the easiest way to do this is to get an amp with high level inputs. I talked with crutchfield and they recommended the alpine MRP-F250; a 40w x 4 amp. I'm a little concerned about sacrificed sound quality tho. Does anyone have this type of setup? If so, let me know what your thoughts are on the sound quality. Is the decrease in quality pretty severe? Thanks again.

What is an RE-Q?

 

re-q is a limited processor/bass enhancer its a MTX unit.... ill let you know my thoughts when i play with it

Ive done quite a few RCA installs and a bit of high level input installs and ive yet to notice an audioable difference between the two

If it makes you feel any better my GF will be getting an amp using high level inputs in her car when ever i decide to install it

 

My G/f's car is currently running a Stock headunit into Speaker level inputs on a External EQ that converts to RCA out. I replaced her speakers with Diamond D6 components and a 5 channel Sony Amp, Have had very good responce from it. (and pulling out the Lifedrive and playing with the EQ always gets Attention) I"m running a Rockford Fosgate 360.1 unit to do my converting. (I have 75x4 and 280x1 for my amp output which is much better then stock)

If I wasn't expecting to change out the Head unit eventually I would have ran an amp with speaker level input.

 

360 ftw