Can I use my factory EQ with aftermarket amplifiers? I have a sony cd player running rca's to two amplifiers in the trunk and then to the subs and speakers. I noticed on thunderchicken's site there were diagrams to use the factory amp w/ an aftermarket head unit, but that only solved half my problem. Input is understandable enough, but what is the color code for the output?
*edit*
With a little bit of research, I was able to crack ford's wiring code. Here is a wiring diagram.
(http://images1.pictiger.com/images/a2/1c59bbc08ba940221d9f7d1059b55aa2.1.gif) (http://www.pictiger.com/)
I'd love to somehow make the EQ receive input from my Kenwood HU and spit out sound to the amp. Putting an aftermarket EQ in the factory position is pretty much impossible.
Only problems with the Ford one is that it isn't a passive EQ (and aftermarket amps don't need pre amp from inferior 1980s technology) and that whole converting RCA jacks thingie.
You may want to call Crutchfield.
They have (or used to have) special wiring harnesses that allowed you to use the factory Premium Sound amp & EQ along with an aftermarket head unit...They may have what you need for your application. Wouldn't hurt to call and see. Good luck.
I may just experiment and see what I can come up with. I'll post my findings.
I know how to use the factory amp and EQ w/ an aftermarket CD player, there's a diagram on Thunderchicken's site just for that. I need to figure out how to output from the EQ into an aftermarket amp. Thanks for the recommendation, though.
If you can bypass the amp in the Ford EQ and just make it passive, that would be awesome.
Please note that this is using line level ins and outs, so you'll splice in your own RCA ends. Male on the inputs and female on the outs. Okay, here's the color code that I used:
Pink/Lt Blue ------- Right Positive IN
Pink/Lt. Green ----- Left Positive IN
Black/White-------- Common Negative (IN and OUT)
Lt. Blue/Red-------- Lights (+12V w/ lights on)
Orange/Lt. Blue ---- Power (+12V ignition power on)
Output to amplifier(s)
Lt Blue/Black-------- Left Rear +
Green -------------- Left Front +
Purple/White-------- Right Rear +
White/Red---------- Right Front +
Black/White--------- Common Negative
You will use the Black/White wire for a junction of all the Negative inputs and outputs (I'm not sure if you even need to hook this wire up in this application, but I did anyway). Be sure to ground the chassis and you're good to go! It works quite well. Here's a py cell phone picture of the EQ in action.
(http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/3374/image0365mz.jpg)
Dude, this is fricken bada_s! :bowdown:
I've been wanting to use my stock EQ as well but I also want to use my stock radio with aftermarket amps. The only difference with what you have and what I want is the head unit.
Those colors clash so much. I'd try at least smoothing the transition with some blue LED's in the sliders. Blue and green aren't that bad, red and green... :yuck:
Actually the red isn't as bright as it may seem in the picture, my camera phone sux. Besides, this CD player is from my last car, which had red Dash lights. I wasn't about to spend another 200 bucks just to make it look more complimentary.
It sounds just as good as it did before I hooked up the EQ (except now I have an EQ :D). I noticed no quality downgrades whatsoever and the only problem I noticed was a preexisting one - engine noise. This is most likely due to my mess of wires in the trunk that I haven't gotten around to fixing/organizing.
oh, I just meant pulling the EQ sliders out and swapping the green LED's with blue ones. Takes no more than a minute to swap all 7, and it'll help bring your headunit into the rest of the car.
Now where to find the things, I haven't a clue but I'm sure they're available. I'd find a green one (available everywhere), look at the bulb type/size on the package, and look online for the same type, but in blue.
Just my opinion ;)
Is there any soldering involved? I'd really consider it if they just pull out. It's not quite worth it if I have to pull everything apart and solder just to change a color.
Wait...the EQ only takes in 2 channels, and splits out to 4? Basically rendering the front/rear faders useless in the head unit.
Oh, didn't see your question about the LED's. They pull out. Just pull on one and the black cover will come off, then the LED pulls out easily. With new LED's, you may have to clip the leads to the same length as the stock ones, but its an easy swap (seconds)
edit:
I believe they're 5x2mm LED's
Yes, the fader in the head unit will not function as normal, but that's why there is a f/r fader on the EQ. If you have front and rear outputs, but no sub, you can use the front inputs for the primary channels, then the rear outputs for a sub channel, then the fader in the head unit could be used as a sub level. That's what I plan on doing in the near future.
*shrugs*
I have 3 sets of RCA's on my deck. Didn't realize the EQ only took 2 channels in and split them internally
Yep, good ol' ford engineering hard at work. I only wish I had 3 sets...
You are so totally my hero.
Now I got more reason to take apart my dash, this looks awesome! Thanks for your hard work. Now I can get that EQ up and running so it'll finally have a reason to be in my dash!
One question? How do you splice in the RCA jacks? They all need a ground but there is only that one ground on the EQ, right?
Can you splice the input wires and just run a separate ground to the chassis of the dash, or am I making this too complicated?
First off there is no "ground", just a negative connection. There is only one negative wire for all connections in the EQ. Basically, the circuits only filter the positive lead. You should be able to connect all the negative connections, both input and output, in the RCA leads at one point and it will work just fine. I will get a wiring diagram finished as soon as I get some time.
*EDIT*
Diagram is up, enjoy!
Thank you! You have totally made my day. Having a functional EQ after over a decade of nothingness above my CD player will make me a happy man for years to come. :)
If only getting the boost gauge on my tach to work would be this easy!
No problem! Just give me some props! :giggle: Rep power YEAH!!
Done!
Work well for you?
LOL! I meant that I completed giving you a rep point for your hard work. I'm probably gonna need a coupla weeks to do the mod, gotta go to some electronics store and get cheap RCAs. :)
Thanks again, I'll give ya more rep whenever I finish. :)
Ok I finally made some free time for this project:
QUESTION: My Kenwood HU has two RCA outs (front and rear) but the EQ only has one set of RCAs in. The EQ spits out two sets of RCAs, so that will work fine with the amp in the trunk. Can I just use one set of RCAs from the HU or do I need to get a 2 to 1 adapter for the HU's RCAs?
(http://www.shoppingcentre.net/shop/images/RCA-2-1-ADAPTOR-2XF-1XM-GOLD.jpg)
Is something like this necessary or can I just use one of the RCAs from the HU?
Oh the reason I'm asking is because the EQ has a built in fader but not a built in balance control. I have no clue what kind of signal the individual RCAs give, if they need to be connected with a "Y" or not.
Woohoo! I got it to work!
Only problem is I need a 12v ignition source for the EQ (why doesn't the original power wire work anymore? :mad: ) and then I can put it all back together.
Now I gotta reduce the gain on my amp, too much static I never heard before!
The fader has static...I guess this is where that anti static spray comes in handy????
The diagram disappeared. Found it while dusting off my hard drive, so here it is again:
Radio/Cassette player works and I get lamp power to equalizer on lt blue/red wire but equalizer does not power on. Radio will play very weak through other connector that bypasses the equalizer but no sound with equalizer connected. Is there an in-line fuse or something in the radio that provides power to the graphic equalizer on the orange/lt blue wire?
(amooset, Thank You for still having the wiring diagram with color code matching my car, sure was a bear to find one that matched!)
I know I'm resurrecting an old thread.
Theoretically, could the rewired outputs feed the factory amp? Trying to swap the sony head unit I already have, without spending any money at the current time :D I can always upgrade amps later
Thinking this could work?
That's what I did, wire the outputs of a JVC head unit to feed the factory amp. See here: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?32798-Aftermarket-head-unit-with-stock-premium-sound-amp-and-eq&daysprune=365
Good to hear!
I do have 1 question. The orange/light blue amp power wire. Is that the main power feed to the amp, or a remote turn on?
When splicing the RCA cable, does it matter which is the + and which is - ?
I believe it is a remote turn. I connected the blue with white stripe wire on my JVC head unit to it, which was the remote turn on, and it works fine.
The center pin of the RCA cable is positive, the outer part is negative. It does mater. The center wire of the right RCA goes to the pink/light blue wire, the center of the left RCA goes to the pink/light green wire, and the negative connection from both RCA cables is tied together and connected to the black/white wire. Fortunately these are the only 3 wires on the sound feed connector to the EQ. Here's the wiring diagram I used: http://www.foxthundercats.net/tech/aftermarketpremweq.pdf