3p141592654;886911 said:
The signal connections on a stock Toyota head units (< model year 2004) with external amp are all single-ended and should be compatible with most 3rd party amps using RCA inputs.
Since the head unit gets its power from this connector as well, you also need to hook up the power connectors as well (+B, ILL+, ILL-, ACC, GND) and also the ANT+ if you have a power antenna.
I've attached the pinout of the headunit to external amp for 2000-2003 model year Toyota HUs that use the 20 pin connector. To connect to an RCA amp, you would use pins 8, 9, 18, 19 for the center pins and pin 10 for the ground outer shield. I believe you can get these harnesses pre-made, but I always make my own.
Thanks. actually you gave me a pinout before on the headunit i have. the one you just gave me is different and newer, but either way...I dont think I have the time to custom wire that. right now all ineed to do are run wires from the external amp to my kenwood amp, run power, attach a ground (easy) and put my seat back in
Yep...my seat is already out and after vacuuming i'll pop up the carpet and start routing things.
I really appriciate your help, but if the setup i had before will work, i'm going to have to try it first. At least I will have the amp mounted.
Anth505 said:
Is there any particular reason for keeping the stock HU? I can understand wanting to retain the factory look but other than that?
A new HU won't cost that much and will probably sound better on it's own compared to hooking up your factory deck to an external amp.
3.5 speakers aren't meant to handle bass. I would toss em and replace with 5.25's from a good manufacturer.
I would also suggest that you not try to do the installation yourself. I don't mean to be rude in any way, but you seem new to car audio installation and although it's nice to do things on your own, in this situation it's probably best to let a knowledgeable shop or friend do the work.
If you are determined to do it yourself, do some research before you start.
Learn different wiring techniques, installation techniques and read up on car audio in general. ie speaker sensitivity ratings, the difference between line level and speaker level inputs, etc.
It's alot to take in and I wouldn't play around with your cars wiring until you have a sound understanding of what you are doing.
Just my .02
Stock headunit - Reasons:
- I payed a whopping ONE dollar for it.
- another member said he liked to see people working with OEM looking systems, and I was determined to make it look factory again. I've been living with a hole in my dash for 2 years.
- I like the stock look, and have less to worry about with no aftermarket things peeking out ready for a thief to see.
- I do not want to spend 40-50-80 dollars on a nice headunit when I have a decent one that I discovered I like to use is currently in my hands. You have to understand that this is a low budget project that i intend to look clean and give me sound that is decent. I have been driving my supra for over 2 years without a stereo because I have had other priorities...this is good enough.
- I have underlying plans of selling the car that might come into effect. If i get a stereo that sounds good in the car I have it that much eaiser selling the car without a gaping hole in the dash. Should I have to sell the car it will be that much eaiser and I won't be hitting myself for dropping lots of extra money in only to see it taken away. I dont know if i will sell her though, i hope not.
I'm in school and can't blow lots of money on my car for pleasure. I just spent money on my drumset too so...lots of extra cash is not what I have. (i know...so why did i buy stuff for the drumset? its higher on my priority list and I have reached my feasible spending limit for a while. plus I had no plans on upgrading a stereo i didn't actually HAVE in the car. it felt illogical in my current position.)
I appriciate your comments, and yes you are right. If this was my SURE daily driver for years to come, with no lingering worries about mechanical failure, I would drop at least 100 dollars in a good head unit, high end fronts, a good mid-power amp and a small sub to round it out, but those alternatives are too expensive for me at this time..
I
am new to this and to be clear I'm not offended by telling me to research first. its a good idea and good advice. However it doesn't seem that complicated to me and I feel like I know enough to get this done with a little help. I already have my seat out and I understand the basic concepts of sound amplification so i'm not really over my head. I have a manual with this amp and overall this stuff doesn't seem complicated enough to screw up.
For me it's about experimentation and first hand experiance I guess. I've been messing with audio stuff in my home and in music for years and this isn't too much different. Also I don't think I need to worry about the speaker sensitivities at this level, seeing as how you and I both think the OEM head unit won't be that great anyhow.. Don't worry too much, I will take all the help I can get but I'm not worried so you shouldn't be

I'll try not to do anything stupid
i know the difference between line level and speaker level ins as well

haha
In heed to your reccomendations I will research a bit before actually going out and getting wire and routing things. For now I am going to go shop vac and remove my passenger seat carpet to see what's what. I will take pictures too ...if anyone cares to see my progress.
to clarify my money situation, i am in college and have no job.

(but i'm looking for one and applying, dont think i'm a slacker!)