I'm looking to install something like this in my 03 S. It has the stock "Boost" system, not the H/K option. I'm pretty handy and am comfortable doing most types of work to my car, but I've never actually done an audio install.

From what I've read, the basic process (while keeping a stock HU) is;

1. Source amp power from battery, ground to grounding post on drivers rear side.
2. Tap amp into the signal going into one of the rear speakers
3. Wire amp to subs

Is that really it?

Are there any step by step DIY's available? I've found some guidance in the stickies for accessing various items but not specifically what to tap for an amp and speaker.

 

You'll need a wiring kit, which you can find online, or at walmart or bestbuy. It will come with some 8 or 4 gauge wire and fuse. I can't remember if they come with remote wires.

You'll need to splice into the power wire for your head unit and run the remote wire to the amp. This will tell the amp to turn on with the head unit.

You're probably best off tapping into the rear speaker wires for the AUX. This will allow you to adjust the sub with the fade on your HU. You'll need something like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-Ad...Watts/10756155

 

So the amp connections are;

• Power
• Ground
• Remote (ran from HU)
• RCA from line converter
• Speaker out to subs

Then the line converter inputs are connected at the HU, and the RCA cables run from there to the amp?

edit: To avoid the hassle of running the wires front to rear, is there any particular reason why the converter couldn't be installed directly to the rear speaker wires rather than at the HU, and the remote wire attached to the cigarette lighter?

 

Installing the converter at the rear speaker wires will work fine. As for using the cigarette lighter wiring for the remote turn-on, a potential problem is that your amp will be on any time the car's ignition is on, whether the radio is on or off. With the amp on and radio off, you may get noise from the speakers (some amps can do unpredictable things with no signal at the input).

 

Line converter inputs should be installed at the rear speakers using the + and - wire going into each rear speaker. You'll just splice into these cables, so there's no need to unplug them from the rear speakers. The RCA cables will then plug into the line converter and plug directly into the amp from there.

ScottRiqui is correct about the remote wire and cigarette outlet.

 

With both of your help I've managed to put them almost completely in, thank you very much. My only problem now is the remote wire..

I was going to go ahead and tap the 12v outlet in the back, as my head unit is never actually off (I just turn it down if need be). However, I have an 03, which is the one model that doesn't seem to include this.

I've heard bits of pieces about potentially tapping a power antenna wire? I'm not sure whether the remote on wire should be positive or negative, either.

 

Almost always, the remote turn-on terminal on the amplifier is looking for +12V DC. Also, the turn-on terminal draws such a small amount of current that you should be able to tap into any lead in the car that's +12V when the ignition is on (or preferably, only when the head unit is on.)

 

I'd probably stay away from the power antenna wire. It may interfere with your reception.

 

A power ant wire is the same as a remote turn on lead for an amp except it will only have 12v when the radio function is on. A long time ago as a youth I used a power ant wire to turn an amp on and when I went to CD the bass went away, this si how I figured out what I had done wrong.

 

I guess that'd be another reason to stay away from it then. I didn't think anything about the amp turning on only for radio and nothing else.

 

I think I may have to just wire it up to a switch then. I don't have a multimeter that will read through insulation, and I'd prefer to not cut into harnesses until I find a live wire.

 

What if you want to use a different head unit? How different would all this be?

 

An aftermarket headunit would have the audio outputs in the back. So you wouldn't have to splice into your speaker wire to get a signal. Instead you run the RCA wires directly from the HU to the amp.