I'd like to install an amp and subs but haven't looked at the back of the stock head unit yet. Does it have the RCA plugs that I will need? I read in a previous post that someone got a couple RCA adapters for the stck head unit. How does that work?

 

Sorry the answer is no ,atleast on the 2001LX .I am going to use line level converters .I know the're not the best but i have to wait to buy a new head unit Macklum

 

in the 10+ years i've been installing 12volt products, i have never seen a factory head unit with RCAs...

 

Can we say MP3?!?!?! LOL!

 

i can, but they are not installed at the factory!

 

The HELL you say!!! Then why is it considered the FIRST car to have a FACTORY INSTALLED MP3 PLAYER???? HUH??? HUH???
hehe I'm just messin with ya, but it's true...am I wrong?

 

So if the stock deck doesn't have any RCA's, what are the options for adding a sub? I currently have an Infinity Basslink that I wanted to put into a P5, but I really don't want to change the deck out at all - I like the looks of the stock one.

Help???

 

There are none! I mean if you dont have anyway to feed the signal back to the sub then you can't do it. Now the signal is feeding to the rear speakers so I wonder if you can splice into those wires and maybe run them into your amp or powered sub by wiring some rca's to them?Of course it would not be the best way to do it but it may work. I am NOT an expert, I am merly thinking out loud. Get a second opinion

 

I had a small JBL amp and 10" JBL tube in my Mirage for years. It only needed power from battery, ground and took signal input from the rear speakers. It turned on automatically when it 'sensed' the speaker output from radio. Worked great. I didn't want to spend $2000 on audio and add 500lbs to the car. I've seen a lot more small powered subs lately that have the same features. Infinity has one called the Basslink which I've seen on Ebay for $200. I don't know how it sounds but as a supplement it has to do a better job than what comes with out car.

 

i'll give you that, it is the first, but it's not factory installed, it's dealer or alternatively installed after the car has already reached our shores....

 

second opinion.....

all you need is a high to low converter. This converts the high level speaker outputs into low level RCA outputs. And even depending on the amp, you can feed the high level; speaker input directly to the amp, simply solder on RCA connectors. Also, some amps have built in high to low converters too.

next you'll need some type of remote turn on lead, either from the vehicle power antenna or with another converter module.

and thats it, wire it up just like normal and your done. You can use any amp and sub combo.

I can get you both converters if needed. Made by DEI (of course )

 

Thanks for your input! I actually have the Infinity Basslink, which I bought on ebay as you said for about 200 bucks! Funny stuff! Trust me, it isreally more bass for the buck. Which is why I was so bummed that I thought I couldn't put it into my PR5.

A goodf riend of mine is going to help me with the converter, so I guess my car will eventually have a sound other than stock.

 

why dont you just get a crossover and hook it up to the rear speakers so you can use the stock speakers for highs and mids and then the lows can be wired to your sub. Thats what a crossover can help you do im sure

I might be wrong but im under the impression that a crossover takes the signal from one set of wires and splits up the high's mids and lows so you have 3 different types of outputs. Some crossovers only have a low and mid/high output, i think.

 

in primitive terms, yes. thats how a crossover works. there are basically 2 types, active and passive and then variations on those. Crossovers take the full frequency range and divides it into specific "bands" to send to each specifc output. the name, Crossover is actually the point at which the frequency "bands" crossover each other. That is your "crossover point". Some are variable and that point is adjustable, while some have a fixed point. It is desirable to have this point have a transition that is as smooth as possible

Active Xovers are electroinic and divide the frequencies with RCA inputs and outputs. They have power, ground and remote wires like an amp. Usually found in 2way and 3way versions. RCAs go from the head unit to the Xover, then on to the amps. This way they only sees those freqencies, it goes before the amp, as opposed to passive Xovers divide after the amp. Some have variable crossover pints, while some are fixed.

Passive Xovers are just that, passive, no power, no RCAs, just speaker level inputs/outputs. The signal goes through a set up of capacitors, coils, ETC and spits out the proper frequencies to each output, usually labled as, (2way) "input" "woofer" "tweeter" (3way) "input" "woofer" "mid" "tweeter". Passive Xovers are generally non-adjustable and have fixed points and when packaged with a set of speakers, usually those points are matched to those speakers. Some have tighter tolerances than others, so some are better mathed than others.

Also, i'm pretty sure the Basslink has high level inputs built-in.....