Installing subs to stock stereo.

[BallOutrageous]

I'm going to install a subwoofer amp to my friends stock stereo in a few days. I've never done it to a stock stereo. I already have a line output converter. My questions are when I tap the speaker wire: 1. Do I only tap one speaker and will It lose any volume? 2. If there is no stock amp should I tap behind the stereo or near the speaker i'm using? 3. Anything else I should know? I couldn't find the answer from searching the forums. I appreciate any help. thanks.

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[stanky1219]

my experience with that is you need to disconnect both speakers. whether it be front or rear. i did this in my friends 99 taurus but left the stock speakers hooked up and every time she would be hitting hard the bass would go BRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMM!!! and when you turn it down it would keep doing it because the speakers were technically hooked to the input of the amp so they were in turn acting like microphones and when the bass would cause them to move they would feed that movement back into the amp. I.e. have you ever held a microphone up to a karaoke machine and heard that loud annoying squeal??? same concept only it was loud *** bass instead of a squeal. this was 12 years ago so it may be an issue with line out converters that has been solved but i doubt it seriously. i would dissconnect them and use the wires to run the L.O.C. only.

 

[x1le 10+ year member]

don't listen to stanky.

you only need to connect it to a single speaker, and leave it connected. Whether you should tap it at deck or at the speaker will depend if the car's factory amped or not.

 

[SpeedEuphoria 10+ year member]

Hmm pretty sure my 03 2 dr Stratus SXT has a factory amp since it has the "Infinity" system.

I currently have the LOC hooked up right off both rear speakers. Dont have any issues. Plan on changing it to just 1 rear speaker.

But now your saying I should go before the amp?? I have my gain turned up somewhat to get the VAC I need currently. Think it would be way worse the other way