Sub wires...

[MMarauder03]

Going to be installing a sub in the trunk of my MM. How is everyone running power through the car? trying to keep it as clean as possible. Just can't find a spot in the firewall to get power through. Any suggestions would be cool!

[Marauder Rick]

I have a zero gauge power wire ranthrough my car. There is a grommet on the firewall on the pass. side. u gotta pull back the carpet to see it IIRC. Then just run it under you front and rear door panels and inside the panel next to the back seat. You may have to remove the bottom cushion for easier access. You will also have to lift up the bottom of the panel where your seatbelt contracts (just the part by the floor). Remember, do not run your RCA's with your power wire unless you want to hear your RPMs through your speakers. I would suggest doing the same routing, but on the drivers side.

[slickster]

Could not find a spot in front but I did find a spot for the rear. On the upper part of the back seat on the side if you push back the cushion with the trunk open you will see light that's where you push your wire

[justbob]

I drilled a new hole on passenger side right under the duct work and installed a new grommet. All else same as mentioned above.

[MMarauder03]

So now that all the wiring is run is it possible to use the factory head unit?

[IwantmyMMnow!]

So now that all the wiring is run is it possible to use the factory head unit?

I've only done a couple of installs, so don't quote me. I don't think the factory head unit has RCA outputs; this is the best setup if you are using an amp to power the sub. Run RCA cables from HU to amp, then speaker wires from amp to sub. I'm sure there's a way to configure all of this using the factory HU, but usually at the cost of buying adapters, add-ons, and spending more time to install/wire all of those correctly.

I used to have an 89 prelude that I had a slammin' system running off the FHU...had a couple friends help me with all the extras. When I finally upgraded to an aftermarket CD player, running everything was much easier without all the extras/add-ons needed, which got thrown in the trash after spending a couple hundred on the year before.

Good luck! I'm in the process of putting a sub in mine...building my own box since I can't find one pre-made that will fit where I'm gonna put it. Got an Alpine CDE103-BT head unit, Alpine MRP-M500 amp, and one Kicker CVR-12. 300 watts is all I want now...not 1000 watts on 2 12's like I used to have...what? Did you say something? :shake:

[Marauder Rick]

go to a sound shop and ask them for an RCA converter. What that does is turns any channel into RCA outs. If you are not going to use the factory sub anymore, cut the posi and neg going to it and connect it to the converter. Now you have an RCA out. Best thing is, your sub control will continue to only work on you subs.

[2,4shofast]

It will work with a hi/lo RCA converter but the sound quality wont be the best

[Marauder Rick]

It will work with a hi/lo RCA converter but the sound quality wont be the best

unless he's trying to do some dB dragging, it should get the job done. I was running a 2200watt rms planet audio amp with two 12oow rms audiobahns and it damn near brok my trunk. Im just sayin...it works.

[MMarauder03]

Sweet! I'll get one tomorrow. I had purchased a new deck just in case but I'd rather still having steering controls cuz I didnt want to drop a lot into my stereo right now

[CBT]

What is a RCA converter? I, too, will be hooking up a bass in the near future. Maybe. I really don't feel like running wires from one end of the car to the other, tho. I may just sell the bass.

[Pops]

What is a RCA converter? I, too, will be hooking up a bass in the near future. Maybe. I really don't feel like running wires from one end of the car to the other, tho. I may just sell the bass.

You do not need one Casey. It is built into the unit.

[CBT]

You do not need one Casey. It is built into the unit.
Eh? Shows how much I know, lol. You need to visit again and point to stuff and tell me what wire to hook to what wire. :beer:

[Pops]

I don't know when we are coming back but I know a trip is in order before to long. Robert was home this weekend but never saw his Mom! Both going opposite ways I guess.

[Marauder Rick]

You do not need one Casey. It is built into the unit.
Does our head unit have RCA outs? If so, he could go straight from the head unit to the amp. However, if he doesnt want to go through the hassle of dealing with the head unit at all (not that there's much hassle anyway) then he will need it.

[Pops]

No on the RCAs. You can cheat off of the rear speakers with the line output adapter. Some of them are two channel.

[Marauder Rick]

What is a RCA converter? I, too, will be hooking up a bass in the near future. Maybe. I really don't feel like running wires from one end of the car to the other, tho. I may just sell the bass.

It is a small rectangular box. On one end it has a single set of RCA outs. On the other, it has 4 wires. 2 wires per channel. this is your signal input. You connect a left pos and neg, and a right pos and neg. The box then transfers the input signal to the RCA outs. This is the recommended method if you are going to use a head unit with no RCA outs. But if you have them on your head unit, i would agree with POPS and recommend that you just take the extra time out and run them from there.

[Marauder Rick]

No on the RCAs. You can cheat off of the rear speakers with the line output adapter. Some of them are two channel.

Isnt a line output adapter the same thing as an RCA converter. Also, it would be better to cheat off of the sub if anything. doesnt the factory unit have a sub setting? if u cheat off of the rear speakers you will cancel this feature.

[MMarauder03]

It is a small rectangular box. On one end it has a single set of RCA outs. On the other, it has 4 wires. 2 wires per channel. this is your signal input. You connect a left pos and neg, and a right pos and neg. The box then transfers the input signal to the RCA outs. This is the recommended method if you are going to use a head unit with no RCA outs. But if you have them on your head unit, i would agree with POPS and recommend that you just take the extra time out and run them from there.

So the stock head unit doesn't have any RCA outs. I pulled it yesterday while i was running power through the car. I bought a cheap deck for now if I have to run RCA outs through the car until I get the double din I want. What wires am I splicing to get signal to the subs? I still have everything factory hooked up and haven't connected power to the subs in the trunk. :help:

[Pops]

Same thing! You can try off of the sub. The ones we have done here we took from the main speakers on the Marauder.

[MMarauder03]

Same thing! You can try off of the sub. The ones we have done here we took from the main speakers on the Marauder.

On the right or left? How to tell positive and negative?

[cougar9150]

It will work with a hi/lo RCA converter but the sound quality wont be the best


unless he's trying to do some dB dragging, it should get the job done. I was running a 2200watt rms planet audio amp with two 12oow rms audiobahns and it damn near brok my trunk. Im just sayin...it works.


He's not saying it won't work just that it will not be as clean sounding. If you just looking for more power it will be fine, if your an audiophile and want the cleanest sound possible it will add some noise.

It's not a bad way to go just not as efficient or clean. Hi/lo converters will make it sound a bit flatter and introduce some noise that will be audible at higher sound levels. Most people are not really overly discerning about sound quality and would never notice the difference.

I listen to lots of old Jazz and like to hear all of the various chords and melodies w/minimal distortion, so I am overly anal on sound quality.

Musicians like Thelonious Monk, Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis need their music played on a high end system. You cannot fully appreciate the change in chords and unique harmonies they composed if your getting even a small amount of distortion.

[Marauder Rick]

So the stock head unit doesn't have any RCA outs. I pulled it yesterday while i was running power through the car. I bought a cheap deck for now if I have to run RCA outs through the car until I get the double din I want. What wires am I splicing to get signal to the subs? I still have everything factory hooked up and haven't connected power to the subs in the trunk. :help:

I did my speaker yeeeeears ago and i will have to take a look at it again to tell you colors. BTW, the "cheap deck" that you bought did not come with an RCA out? If so... why dont you want to just use that? I mean, since you already have it apart and you are already running wires and everything. Just curious. But i will get pix to you later on today after i get off work.

[Marauder Rick]

On the right or left? How to tell positive and negative?
neg will have a stripe, pos will be solid

[Marauder Rick]

He's not saying it won't work just that it will not be as clean sounding. If you just looking for more power it will be fine, if your an audiophile and want the cleanest sound possible it will add some noise.

It's not a bad way to go just not as efficient or clean. Hi/lo converters will make it sound a bit flatter and introduce some noise that will be audible at higher sound levels. Most people are not really overly discerning about sound quality and would never notice the difference.

I listen to lots of old Jazz and like to hear all of the various chords and melodies w/minimal distortion, so I am overly anal on sound quality.

Musicians like Thelonious Monk, Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis need their music played on a high end system. You cannot fully appreciate the change in chords and unique harmonies they composed if your getting even a small amount of distortion.
This is true in lots of aplications. However, with our cars having a complete separate channel for the sub, it comes out a lot cleaner than most applications. There is little to no hissing, distortion, or rpm wheezing in the line.

[MMarauder03]

I did my speaker yeeeeears ago and i will have to take a look at it again to tell you colors. BTW, the "cheap deck" that you bought did not come with an RCA out? If so... why dont you want to just use that? I mean, since you already have it apart and you are already running wires and everything. Just curious. But i will get pix to you later on today after i get off work.

It did come with RCA outs but I'd rather keep it factory until I get my double din 7" touchscreen instead of throw away 200 dollars for a temporary "fix" I'll be finishing the install in a little bit. I may just wire in the new head unit and run RCA cables like the original plan

[slickster]

What kind of set you guys have. I'm worried i won't here anything in this big ass car. I have two 12s that will be getting 300 rms eatch. With the same rca hook up

[Marauder Rick]

It did come with RCA outs but I'd rather keep it factory until I get my double din 7" touchscreen instead of throw away 200 dollars for a temporary "fix" I'll be finishing the install in a little bit. I may just wire in the new head unit and run RCA cables like the original plan

My recommendation... If you have RCAs...use'em. Whenever you install the double din you're gonna run it anyway, right? Might as well go ahead and get the routing out of the way. That way, when u do hook up the screen...it will be plug-n-play and you wont have to run any more wires.

[MMarauder03]

What kind of set you guys have. I'm worried i won't here anything in this big ass car. I have two 12s that will be getting 300 rms eatch. With the same rca hook up

You'll hear them

[2,4shofast]

This is true in lots of aplications. However, with our cars having a complete separate channel for the sub, it comes out a lot cleaner than most applications. There is little to no hissing, distortion, or rpm wheezing in the line.


The sound quality is always effected by converters, it doesnt matter how much you spend on them they never sound clear as a HU would. That was all I was getting at, it doesnt bother a lot of people...but if clarity something that you look for I wouldnt recommend them. My .02 mind you.:beer:

[Marauder Rick]

The sound quality is always effected by converters, it doesnt matter how much you spend on them they never sound clear as a HU would. That was all I was getting at, it doesnt bother a lot of people...but if clarity something that you look for I wouldnt recommend them. My .02 mind you.:beer:
I agree homie. That's y I recommended that if you have the outs on the hu to use them. I'm supply saying that with our cars distortion isn't as bad as most applications. Not to mention, distortion is a lot less noticeable in subwoofers....especially subwoofers in the trunk. We're on the same page, we just have two separate preferences. I still love you though.:lol:

[2,4shofast]

I agree homie. That's y I recommended that if you have the outs on the hu to use them. I'm supply saying that with our cars distortion isn't as bad as most applications. Not to mention, distortion is a lot less noticeable in subwoofers....especially subwoofers in the trunk. We're on the same page, we just have two separate preferences. I still love you though.:lol:

I feel ya, same page bro.:beer: