How to wire headunit?

[RoachForLife 10+ year member]

Sorry if this is dumb but Im using a component set with external amp for the first time and Im wondering how this is done. In the past I would buy the plug and play adapter for my car and headunit (just got an Alpine X100 to install). Anyhow so I wire EVERYTHING manually, like the illumination, ground, etc? Seems it might be easier to get one of those harnesses and cut the 4 speaker wires and splice into them with my 4 wires.

THoughts? Thanks

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[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

The add on harnesses are nice so you don't have to cut the factory wires.

First you run the speaker wires from the components, install the amp and speakers. Then you run RCA cables, with a remote wire, from the amp to the head unit. Then you install the HU. Run heavy guage power wire to the amp with a fuse at the battery.

 

[x2o 10+ year member]

I get the feeling he may noot have an aftermarket HU with RCA preouts.

If that's the case, you'll need a LOC, unless your amplifier came with something that will convert the speaker wires to RCAs (I know my kicker did, but didn't need them)

 

[RoachForLife 10+ year member]

Its the Alpine X100 and it has RCA preouts. Looks like 3 sets of left/right rcas

Does the component set go from speaker wire to RCA cable? Do I still use one of the adapter harnesses? Im familiar with running the majority of the wiring for the amp and sub and whatnot, but have never hooked up components to a headunit before.

Thanks

 

[RoachForLife 10+ year member]

btw im only using the components for the front. So Im thinking this is what I need to do...

-Get the harness from Alpine HU to my car (Dodge Neon SRT)

-Hopefully the component crossover unit converts it to RCA, run from crossover to HU (this will override the harness wiring)

-Run RCAs for the sub into the back of HU as well

Since the harness is there, everything else will operate as normal but I assume the RCAs take priority over the harness. So even though my front speakers are in the harness and hooked up, it will revert to the RCAs. Correct?

Or do I need to cut the harness for the front speaker portion to make sure it doesntr play from there? Thanks

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

Sorry if this is dumb but Im using a component set with external amp for the first time and Im wondering how this is done. In the past I would buy the plug and play adapter for my car and headunit (just got an Alpine X100 to install).

First you said you where using the components with an external amp. You didn't mention a sub before.

So I wasted my time in answering your question, because your question was BS.

Comps run off the HU = ****!

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

So Im thinking this is what I need to do...
-Hopefully the component crossover unit converts it to RCA, run from crossover to HU (this will override the harness wiring)

No! List all your gear and model numbers.

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

it's more trouble, but I run a return harness.

By doing that you wire up your stereo harness to the return harness for an 'insert' harness. NO WIRES need to be cut from your stock system. The two harnesses become an interface that lets you run speaker wires from your amps back to stock locations through the harness. If you need to inset bass-blockers for stock speakers, LOC, all that can be done without modification to stock wiring.

 

[RoachForLife 10+ year member]

ok guys im sorry but Im lost. I dont think Im that much of a newbie but terminology is messing me up.

Heres what i have

Alpine X100 headunit

PDX 600w amp with 12" JL W6

PDX 400w amp (4 channel to be set to 2chan) with PG RSD 6.5 component set

Kicker 4g dual amp wiring kit

running 16g wire for speakers

Using the stock rear speakers

I went to BestBuy and they have a harness that adapts to my car. One end plugs into car, other end are just wires

On my current headunit I went to CC and got 2 adapters. One from the car and another to the headunit. no splicing needed at all. 100% plug and play.

Obviously now its a little different with the component set

What is the recommendation? Thanks

 

[Fiercetimbo17 10+ year member]

At cc they sold you a speed harness, i dont like them just another unneccesarry connection.

However, wire everything up color for color except the front speaker wires,

those are white white/black and grey grey/black, coming from the headunit tape those wire up staggered as to not touch eachother, then get the speaker wires running from the alpine 4 channel amp and connect to the aftermarket harness (not the alpine)

 

[RoachForLife 10+ year member]

i see, makes sense. the 'speed' harness is great for a stock speaker setup though.

so 2 more Qs

1. What are the RCAs for on the headunit? At some point are the speakers on a RCA connection ever?

2. Why should I wire the speakers to the bestbuy harness and not the alpine harness? It would seem the alpine would be connected to the headunit whereas the BestBuy would be connected to nothing?

Thanks!

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

u dont wire the speakers into the harness.

U connect the rcas and that gives the signal to the amp. U wire the speakers into the amp not the harness/