Cascade Crew

Xophertony

i just purchased a late model Pontiac CD player on Ebay, and am going to be putting it in the GTA once it arrives. but i would like to hook up my sub and amp if possible. the factory deck is not going to have pre-amp RCA outs on it, so how do i accomplish this? i think Al and i were talking about some kind of adapter you can buy, but i don't remember. anyone know what i am talking about?

this is the deck i got by the way:

photo borrowed from 82FirebirdTA on TGO. (borrowed=stolen)

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

Get a line level converter similar to one of these. This one is selectable RCA in or out to speaker level in or out. My favorite car audio store sells these, I can pick one up for you if you like, I'll find out the price Wink

http://peripheralelectronics.com/prodDetail.asp?strProductID=572&strSearch=

Here's their home page, they have some pretty interesting and unique products for all types of audio/video interfacing.

Xophertony · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject:

so could i use this in conjunction with the factory speakers? i have four speakers in the car (fronts factory, the rears a set of pioneers i have been real impressed with) all running off the head units amp. could i simply "tee" into the left rear speaker wiring with this line converter and then run that to my amp for the sub?

EDIT* after READING THE INSTRUCTIOINS i learned that i can interupt the factory signal with no problems. Smile

Xophertony · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject:

also, the SVEN2 would be a better solution for me.

i am also going to want a Low Pass Filter or something since i will no longer be using the one built into the deck, right?

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

If the rear/sub is all you want to amplify and run the fronts off the deck, then the SVEN2 would work. I'll try to find a price for it tomorrow...

Xophertony · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject:

there is a vendor for them just up the street, i'll probably jet up there and see whats what. i would appreciate your price as well so i can compare.

yeah sub is all i want to amplify.

Al Hasse · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

I'm probably going the same route when I put an amplified system in the 89.

Xophertony · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject:

i am going to have so much equipment bolted to the bottom of my baffle-board that it is going to eliminate all my airspace. i already have my amp under there.

blue89 · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:16 pm Post subject:

I just hooked my amp up directly to the speaker out and used a ground loop isolator to decouple it. Its just for subs so I can control the volume by the bass knob.

Using an adapter is the easiest way to do it.

Al Hasse · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject:

Tony, that Peripheral line level converter is a bit pricey compared to a generic one which will do what you want rather nicely. Generic costs $10 - $15, the one I was shown this morning had level adjustments for the RCA pre-amp outputs.

blue89 · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

Why is the Peripheral brand so expensive? They must think their all fancy cause they make the Bose line-level converters and other stuff.

Most shops carry a "shop" brand that they won't advertise at the front desk. Just have to ask for it. Some shops might still carry the TRC stuff but a lot of them seem to be going to other suppliers.

LB985IROC

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject:

Heh. Knight Rider ftw. Laughing

Tony, what's up with the lighted shift pattern? That isn't stock is it?

Schultzy89GTA · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject:

That isn't Tony's car but a lighted shift pattern on a manual transmission firebird is stock Very Happy

-Schultzy

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject:

Hmm.. odd. On my Camaro the auto pattern was lit, but not the five-speed.

Xophertony · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:22 pm Post subject:

yeah, that is a picture of what my interior looked like stock (with exception of colours). that is 82FirebirdTAs car. i just ussed it because it had the deck i am getting.

my interior has a 4th gen console, 4th gen camaro seats, a non-radio_control wheel, and a roof console. Very Happy

and is not in as nice shape. Sad

Xophertony · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject:

Epic Failure.

here is how it went down today. i found the line converter, $20. when i asked about a Low Pass Filter they said i am going to need a crossover, and that it's 10 year old technology and they do not carry it, they recommended i hit a pawn shop. while there i picked up a grill to protect my sub, and a new fuse for my power wire. i passed on the line converter, figuring i would pick one up if i found a crossover.

i hit the pawn shop, they have a crossover, a NICE one, it has a built in line converter as well, and it's only $15. so i save the $20 i would have spent on the line converter. i am ready to slap down the cash, but asked if they have a return policy in case it does not work. "I'll do you one better, we can test it right now"... and it does not work. they had no other crossovers. i stopped at another pawn shop and they had no crossovers.

so i am going to run it with no filter and see how it sounds, if it sounds like ass I'll just have to buy an amp with built in crossover and LPF. but i really don't want to do that.

Al Hasse · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject:

You're probably going to want a crossover or low pass filter. Radio Shack should have the components you need to make a low-pass filter - assuming the clerk knows what you're talking about. Here is a nice reference about passive filters. All you need is a coil on the positive lead of your woofer, be sure to get one large enough for the power your amp will put out.

http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/cross.asp#lp

Found this calculator on the same site, and assuming you have a 4 ohm woofer, you need a coil value af about 5.3 mHy (milihenries) Just use your impedance (I used 4 ohm) and desired frequency (I used 120Hz - 120 and below will be played). All you need to be concerned with is on the top line for first oder filtering.

http://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/crosscalc.asp

Xophertony · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject:

got the crossover in the mail today. got it all wired up. if the rain ever stops i'll put it in the car and wire it up.

i realized something as i was running the wires from the speakers to the rear for the crossover.... my car already has one. built in. it's the UQ7 factory subs option. the speaker leads go to the amp in the dash, where the are boosted and filtered, from there they go to the sail panels. it's high level, but i could have gotten one of those line converters for 15$ whats better still, is my "gain" dash switch would have been functional.

Shrug

. this crossover allows for much more control anyway.