Data cable to aftermarket amplifier adapter

[93rev2sev]

I want to replace my factory amp/s.

My current setup is:
Cheap kenwood head unit running speaker wire from the H/U directly to the speakers and an RCA preout running to a decent kenwood amp and then to a JL 8" in the factory sub enclosure - the sub sounds great.

I have a perfectly good factory JBL premium sound receiver and CD player (separate) sitting in the parts car.

I want to install the factory receiver and CD player from the parts car and drive some new speakers with new amps.

I am having trouble finding a harness adapter that will connect to the gray data cable in the trunk and convert the signal and connectors to RCA connectors so that I can install decent amps to drive the speakers while retaining the factory look and data cable. Plug and play connector to the data cable is key.

Some of you might ask "why not replace the head unit and run RCAs from that to the trunk?" I have done this before and have not been happy with the level of RFI.

So in the end, I want to have a factory reciever, a factory CD player, factory data cable, aftermarket amps, aftermarket speaker wire and aftermarket speakers. Yes, a "sleeper" audio system is my goal.

Does anyone have a source for an adapter from the data cable to aftermarket amp - model number would be great? Crutchfield does not appear to have the adapter.

 

[SuperHO]

....why not just run Line Out Convertors and get rid of the grey data cable altogether?

They turn speaker wire in to RCA signal and send it to the amp. I've used em, and I was tickled with the results.

That help?

 

[93rev2sev]

I'm 32 Years old...I used LOCs 15 years ago and got nothing but RFI. I had to turn my amps down so that I didn't hear the DIS through the speakers.

The whole theory of LOCs is that they manipulate the signal electronically(ask any audiophile...they will say noise is introduced whenever an "active" in-line device is used to manipulate a signal), then send the signal to an amp to be re-amplified along with the noise created by the LOC.

Also, the gray data cable is not speaker wire. Nor does it carry a speaker level signal. It carries the same signal as RCA preouts only WEAKER.

So no, LOC is something I thought about for around 3 seconds.

I bought a Kenwood head unit yesterday...Imma scrap the whole factory system. I didn't wanna do that but I learned that the signal on the data cable is equal to .5v preouts. The head unit I just purchased has 4v preouts.

It turns out that the factory system uses some bastardized standards. 6 ohm speakers, .5v data cable, integrated crossovers and 1 ground wire for all speakers; all of which makes replacing only one component a bad idea.

For a factory system, It sounded really good, but as soon as you decide to replace one or 2 components, your sound quality is hit. If you replace your speakers, they wont be 6ohm speakers. Replace your amps and you wont have the built in crossovers - or a 6ohm compatible signal. Replace your head unit and you either have to replace everything or use some crap line out converter...no offence superho
I'm replaceing the whole dang system now. Screw it.

So heres my system as I'm building it.
Kenwood 22w RMS, 200W MAX Head Unit +3 preouts(only 1 preout will be used initially(for the subs).
JL Audio 8" in custom box
Mach (ford jbl) 8" in factory box bolted to package tray
Both subs run off of a kenwood 250W amp With shielded RCA's to a Kenwood head unit. (I'll probably ditch the Mach sub when my mirror falls off).
Kenwood $100 or less deck speakers driven by head unit. (need to buy still)
Kenwood $100 or less door speakers driven by head unit. (need to buy still)

Now, I'll just have to fish speaker wire through the doors and take out my seats and carpet to run wiring - which I was planning on replacing anyway...so it's all good.
(why all the Kenwood? Kenwood is chaper than Alpine and they don't just make up their power ratings like pioneer, sony, blau, etc...)
Wish me luck....

 

[SlowHeavyObject]

Scosche sells a harness for exactly what you want to do. I think the number is FDK3B. You plug it into your factory amp harnesses in the trunk and it converts it to RCA plugs to goto an aftermarket amp.

I've had no problems interfacing components one-by-one into my system. Head units, amps, speakers, they all work fine as long as it's wired correctly and you don't abuse anything. First thing I did on my 94 was replace the front and rear speakers with Infinitys and they still work fine on the factory electronics. Their sound quality hasn't been compromised at all. My system in the other car runs completely off of the factory wiring harnesses with no problems whatsoever - even at sound off events. Preamp output voltage is one of the very miniscule factors on a system's sound quality. You can still have good sound even from a .5V preout.

 

[SuperHO]

I'm 32 Years old...I used LOCs 15 years ago and got nothing but RFI. I had to turn my amps down so that I didn't hear the DIS through the speakers.

Not to make you sound old, even though I'm only 8 years younger than you, but in 15 years, there's been a helluva lot of advancements in car audio...when I had to put my stock deck back in my car for a week or so because of aftermarket head unit failure, I dumped $30 on a pair of adjustable LOCs...and to be perfectly honest, the sub sounded BETTER than it did with the $300 Eclipse CD player I had in at the time. Yeah, 15 years ago they may have sounded like shit, but 15 years ago, compared to now, EVERYthing sounded like shit.....

Give em one more shot...get some adjustable ones from your local car audio specialty dealer and give it a whirl...you shan't be disappointed.

 

[93rev2sev]

Head unit is already on it's way.