Installing headunit into stock 8 speaker premium system, You guys tell me one thing. The audio "expert" tells me anothe Options

[Xvani]

Hey guys!

I recently installed a new Pioneer DEH-2200UB head unit into my dash, and I used a Standard wiring harness to hook it up to the stereo. Everything works.

Looking at this guide - it seems I'm not using the amps in the car though.. He states two relevant ways of installing the head unit:

1) Use the existing amps. Purchase the amp integration harness, manufactured by Metra. Part number is 70-8112. This lets you use all 8 speakers without buying a new amp and it is easy to install. The amps expect line-level audio, so you may need to get a converter (do they make speaker-to-linelevel converters?). [snip] otherwise you may get the generic Toyota harness used in option #2 below.

As a test, I have successfully used this Metra connector and gotten a Discman hooked up to the existing 8 speakers. To perform this test, I used a headphone-to-RCA wire to connect to the harness. To turn on the amp I wired the yellow battery lead (from the harness) to a diode to a 1K ohm resistor to the Blue/White Amp TurnOn (from the harness). I accidentally let the yellow battery wire touch ground and ZAP, no sound and a funny smell. I now have 1 dead amp!

2) Bypass the existing amp but use the existing wiring. Purchase the generic 94-99 Toyota wiring harness. Connect it to the 2 blue connectors under the primary amp. This connector goes to the existing speakers, except the front 8" mids.

I realize that I might have needed a Radio wiring harness with RCA outs instead.


As I went down to a local car stereo installer to help install this, (The install kit had to be custom fitted as it didn't fit ) - they said that I had hooked it up correctly and that I now was running the signal from my headunit directly to the amp, and the amp was amplifying the signal and forwarding it to the speakers. This could be correct, as I would be using the same wires anyway? Second, the forumguy states that amps expect line-level audio, as they would get from the current setup.
Third: The guy seemed to know his ****. I asked him specifically about the wiring harness and if I was indeed using the speakers. He said he was positive. I even showed him a picture, and he said that was for the newer models with the JBL sound system. The fact that he knew the newer models had a JBL sound system... Impressive

This lead me to believe the forumguy blew the amp which was hooked up to the 8" speakers, causing this phenomenon.
Edit: Turns out the 8" speakers don't play anyway. Forumguy was right?

My question stands, however. Will I only be using the amps if I buy the Radio wiring harness with RCA outs? What exactly will change if I do so?
How can I make sure my head unit gives out line-level audio through its RCA output?

and how

Also, there is a loose connection in my dash now, which I have no idea what is for. I asked the audio guy and he said it was for remote controlling from steering wheel or something..? He didn't seem certain.

Thank you for your reply!!

Edit: After double-checking: Doesn't seem like I get audio from the 8" front speakers anyway. My bad!

This post has been edited by Xvani: Mar 9, 2010 - 6:23 PM

[zonz540]

The 6th gen never had steering wheel controls for the stereo. That extra lead may be for your 8" speakers. Use a AAA or AA battery to test the lead w/ the same colors under the seat while the car is off. If your speaker makes noise, voila, you have your connection. Use a line level out to run your RCAs to those speakers and let the factory amp power them. Your deck only has 4 speaker outs, let it run the fronts and backs and the 8's can be powered by the factory/under-seat amp.

Premium Sound System

4v pre-outs have a higher amplitude sine wave going through them. They will give you a cleaner signal to the amp, thus, less distortion when you turn up the volume. You should get a slightly louder output with a higher voltage from your head unit, although, i wouldnt buy a deck based solely on pre-out voltage. If you want loud, buy a better/bigger amp and get speakers with higher sensitivity/lower resistance.[size="4"][/size]

This post has been edited by zonz540: Mar 10, 2010 - 12:24 AM