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Jan 22, 2012 20:02:51 GMT
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Let me start by saying that I've never had a bassbox, 6x9's or any of that sort of tat in any car that I've ever owned. Now, the previous owner has obviously removed his head unit, amp and basstube/box from the GTI before I bought it and all wiring has been left in place. This is where the headunit used to be.  This is under the passenger seat, amp wiring I assume?  This is in the boot.  There are speakers in the doors and parcel shelf supports, I suspect they have been upgraded as they don't look like standard VAG units. As the wiring is there, I wouldn't mind fitting a modest set-up, I'm thinking Ebay headunit, Ebay amp and Ebay basstube. I'm a complete moron when it comes to ICE, I have NO CLUE what any of these wires do. Can anyone shed any light on this GUBBINS?  |
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1993 Mercedes-Benz 190e LE in Azzuro Blue.
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hkr91
South East
Posts: 562
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Jan 22, 2012 21:08:58 GMT
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From the little that I know. Coming from the dash...The big blue wires with the gold pins/connectors (you have four either side, two red and two white) are RCA outputs... On the radio side they would fit into the back of the head unit (the previous owner would have had 4 outputs on the back of the HU...) An example:  . As to why there is four I'm not sure, unless he was for example running two AMPs (one for a sub and one maybe for the parcel shelf speakers?). They give the signal to the AMP (music wise) You should have a permanent live, a switched live (sends power once you switch the ignition switch to either 1/2 position), an earth, an aerial and then the speaker cables. I can't see the speaker cables (he might have been feeding them via an AMP) and i'm not sure what wiring he's changed. Going over to the foot well.... - The thin blue wire is the remote lead. This lead connects to the back of the HU and gives a signal to the AMP when the HU is turned on (within the wiring of the HU will be a separate blue lead). When the HU is turned off, the AMP turns off. - The thick red wires are the power from the battery (again there is two leading me to believe there were two AMPs running) but I can only see one earth.... - Between the AMP and the sub/speakers, you'd need cables. I think thats what the others are (purple etc) It might be easier to trace the wiring and see where it all leads (e.g. going to a speaker should be a +ve and a -ve... The colours hes used can be identified and traced to the footwell/dash) or starting fresh but hes got most of it there. If I've made a mistake on any of this please correct me (I'll learn something new too) |
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Last Edit: Jan 22, 2012 21:10:05 GMT by hkr91
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Obviously you'll need four rca's for a 4 channel amp, what is what you want to run if you've got front and rear speakers.
Do the thick cables have even thicker cables connecting them to the battery? If not, I wouldn't use them to power a sub, but they'll be fine for a 4 channel amp. I wouldn't have a sub amp under the dash if the box was in the trunk either.
If I were you i'd get a used brand stereo and a used brand 4 channel amp and give it a go at wiring it up, it isn't hard at all.
I don't think he has had a sub at all, and if the speakers are half decent I doubt you'll miss one.
edit - also, forget basstubes, those were a 90's gimmick and rather worthless ;D
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Last Edit: Jan 23, 2012 8:12:26 GMT by dude
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The 4 RCA leads are NSF OSF NSR OSR (1 for each corner of a 4 channel stereo output)
One 4 channel amp can drive 4 speakers (1 in each corner) or 2 speakers and a Subwoofer
I'd certainly trace the red power wires under the passenger seat to see if they are still connected at the battery.
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I forgot to mention, I have no parcel shelf, which probably did have 6x9's in it. It's still connected to the battery (I have removed the inline fuse, which is in the engine bay)
So basically, I need two 4 channel amps, one for the 4 speakers and one for the sub and/or 6x9's?
SO, the headunit is connected the the amp via the RCA leads and the 4 speaker wires go to the amp, not the headunit and the thick red wire from the baterry goes to the amp?
When it comes to ICE, the most I've ever done is fit Headunits and upgrade standard speakers for better, aftermarket ones.
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1993 Mercedes-Benz 190e LE in Azzuro Blue.
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On the speaker wires, you can use a 1.5v AA battery to determine which one is which. It won't tell you what polarity though  |
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Jan 23, 2012 10:14:47 GMT
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On the speaker wires, you can use a 1.5v AA battery to determine which one is which. It won't tell you what polarity though It does. If the cone moves out, then you have the polarity correct. If it moves in, swap the battery round. This works better with a 9v job as the cone moves a bit further. |
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Jan 23, 2012 15:30:00 GMT
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that also involves removing doorcards/grilles  TBH, connect the rear door speakers back upto the HU output, find a replacement parcel shelf (makes hiding the odd tool/etc in the boot from prying eyes easier!) and if you really want to, connect the front speakers upto a small amp for 99% of people, this is more than enough |
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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Jan 23, 2012 21:52:00 GMT
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I'm not planning on having any 6x9's or anything like that, not a fan of chopping into parcel shelves. The parcel shelf is on hold while I do engine work.
I've gained a basic understanding of what these wires do now so I'll more than likely go down the 4 speaker, small bass box with 2 4 channel amps (all Ebay/second-hand jobbies of course)
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1993 Mercedes-Benz 190e LE in Azzuro Blue.
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Jan 23, 2012 22:03:57 GMT
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The connector in the boot looks like a 'Speakon' type. Used for high power speaker cabs, never seen one in a car though.  If you were to get a sub, it would probably need re-wiring (easy job). As I say, I've never seen that connector used in a car, so you probably don't get them on subs very often. Since there is a cable for a sub, and there appears to only be wiring in place for a 4-channel amp, it's possible that there were no rear speakers wired up. The two rears would have been bridged and used for the sub. Hard to tell from photos  |
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I've got Rovers.
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hkr91
South East
Posts: 562
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Jan 23, 2012 22:38:33 GMT
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No wonder there is four - i've only ever wired up a two channel amp (so have only had two RCA cables)
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Jan 23, 2012 23:22:27 GMT
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Just 1x4 channel amp run the fronts of 1 pair of RCA/Phono's, the the other pair for the sub in a bridge set up (this is using 1+ and 1- from each right and left channel.
Simple 10" sub in a box would be more than you would need tbf and not expensive.
If you happen to be round Lincolnshire way I will happily go through/help install the equipment as I used to install audio and compete in DB Drag Audio events, fun but crazy expensive.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Since there is a cable for a sub, and there appears to only be wiring in place for a 4-channel amp, it's possible that there were no rear speakers wired up. The two rears would have been bridged and used for the sub. Hard to tell from photos Most 4 channel amps will have an 'aux-out' RCA connection, so they may have been running a 4 channel amp for the 4 speakers, then a 2nd amp for the sub, taking its input from the 4 channels amps aux-out. By the way, you don't need two four channel amps, you'll only need the 1 for the 4 door speakers, and then the 2nd amp being used to drive the sub can be a single or two channel one. Or as others have suggested, you could use a single amp and only amp the front speaker, leaving the rears either disconnected, or driven off the head-unit. (But you'd have to add the wires from the headunit to the rear speakers if you wanted to use them like that.) |
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My ICE knowledge is weaker than I thought.
I'm now thinking Ebay Headunit, 4 channel Ebay amp powering 4 speakers with single channel Ebay amp powering Ebay bass box. There is wiring in place for two amps to sit under the passenger seat so will go down this route.
10" sounds about right as I need boot space for tools/shopping etc. A nice, modest set-up is what I'm after, nothing flashy (and it's got to be cheap)
Thanks for all the replies and offers of help, really appreciated and my ICE knowledge has gone from 0 to around 5-6 within a few days!
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1993 Mercedes-Benz 190e LE in Azzuro Blue.
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Or you could even get a 4 channel amp that can run tri-mode.
They can run the 4 speakers and also the amp.
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Jan 25, 2012 12:53:16 GMT
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... I'm now thinking Ebay Headunit, 4 channel Ebay amp powering 4 speakers with single channel Ebay amp powering Ebay bass box. There is wiring in place for two amps to sit under the passenger seat so will go down this route. ... A nice, modest set-up is what I'm after, nothing flashy (and it's got to be cheap) Did you get my PM? I found the amp, bit dusty but you're welcome to it :-D let me know :-D |
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