I happen to like my 4th gen stock head unit (non-bose.) Call me crazy, in all my others care I've always got new decks and such but options to replace a double din are somewhat limiting without spending $400-600 on the deck, which I don't want to do. I don't want to put in one or two single din's to replace, but my question is this.

How do you go about putting in subs with this factory stereo with no "pre-outs" for the subs (or does this stock stereo actually have some?) And what options would I have for controlling the volume level, I'm thinking the only way possible would be like with a RF (or any other brand) amp that has a little control **** that you can run from the amp to the front somewhere (my friend's 80' vette has one, looks kinda like a phone jack, but larger like an rj45... dunno.)

options?

 

They make whats call a line converter. You splice into the + and - wires for your speakers. It then converters it over to RCA. Some models even have a adjustment, so you can change how much signal is sent ot he amp.

I had to use the same thing on my 02 Nissan Frontier. And when you setup your amp, put the bass on your stereo all the way down. And then setup your amp so it sounds decent. You can then move your bass setting up and increase the signal to the amp, which increases the power to the subs.

My Memphis 500D amp also came with a remote power lvl adj. I use both that and my bass on the deck to get the sound I want. Use the remote for small minor adjustments. Use the bass setting to increase over all power.

 

Yep, easiest way is to get a good LOC, go here to find a good one: http://www.davidnavone.com/adaptor_products.htm

 

Do you really need a line converter or can you just splice into the speaker wires and connect to a cut rca cable?

 

two completely different types of cables. Use a good quality L/O converter for the easiest install

 

It's easiest and the BEST with a converter.

It's a pain in the *** hooking up RCA straight to speaker wire. You have strip the RCA down and seperate the 2 little wires, inside just one side of the cable. There's 4 wires total inside a RCA cable. Then you have to make sure you get the wire for the positive, and negative. Then hook it up to the speaker cable. Btw, the wires inside the RCA are about 32-34 gauge. So small that you can't use a normal 3rd wire splice in. So that means wrapping it around and tapping it. Which can be a pain to do working inside the dash. And won't guarantee that you won't loose connection.

So hopefully this will help steer you away from that path. Plus on top of being a pain in the ***, you lose the ability to adjust your signal. Like you would be able to do with the converter.