input problem

[rickcd 10+ year member]

id been told that my stock head-unit (VW Gamma) had an RCA output on the back of it. My amp arrived today (Alpine MRV-F345) so i took the HU out to get it wired up, to find out there is no RCA output.

The amp only has an RCA input, theres no speaker cable input.

Any one got any suggestions?

Ive considered taking apart an RCA lead, and connecting that to a set of speaker cables to get the signal, but im abit worried that thats going to give shocking sound quality.

Im definatly going to upgrade the headunit at some point, but cant really afford to do it at the moment so that options out of the window for a while.

Is there a suitable adaptor thats going to give decent SQ?

Rick

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[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

try speaker-level connection. i've read it in some amp manuals. you can use your speaker leads to wire to the amp. maybe someone has more on this. i think it's called line-level input or something. idk.

 

[rickcd 10+ year member]

yeh i was going to but the amp doesnt have the inputs for it, its only got an RCA input

 

[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

on some amps they have both rca inputs and rca outputs (to strap to other amps). does your HU have rca output? cuz your amp is supposed to have inputs to recieve the sound from the hu. what amp is it btw?

*edit* just re-read the post. your hu doesn't have rca outs. nvm. i thought i could help ya but my suggestion is out of the question.

 

[rickcd 10+ year member]

its an alpine MRV-F345 and it does have an RCA output

 

[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

you have a link to the hu you have by any chance?

 

[rickcd 10+ year member]

no its just a stock Volkswagen one

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

You need a LOC (line output converter). It takes the speaker level and transforms it into a lower signal used by RCA inputs. They're only a few bucks.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

*reading the responses posted by dkguitarist would lead one to believe that he never read a single word that rickcd ever posted as every question he has asked was answered in the OP and the suggestions he has made are flatly impossible*

Thanks, JohnEcon2001 for actually trying to help our British buddy out....

rickcd~ take johnecon's suggestion and go get yourself an LOC. I do not know how readily available this type of item would be on your side of the pond but on our side you can get them anywhere that sells audio gear. Hopefully it will be as simple to acquire in the UK.

The LOC (Line Output Converter) will convert the high-impedence speaker-wire input from your stock head unit (seeing as there are no RCA preamp outputs) and break down the signal to a low-impedence RCA-type connection.

Then you can keep your factory Gamma (what is that the equivilent to here, by the way? Never heard of a Gamma) stereo and still use your new Alpine amp.

Good luck with it!

 

[rickcd 10+ year member]

Hahaaa cheers for your help guys, looks like im going to have to get me a LOC

The cars actaully called a VW Polo, its like a smaller version of the golf. I think someone said you dont have them in the US? Theyre popular over here. VW have different stock HU's when you buy the car and theyre all called beta gamma delta etc so i was just pointing out which one it was.

Thanks again for your help. ill keep you informed with how its going