new head unit

Topic: new head unit (Read 2190 times) previous topic - next topic

new head unit

October 08, 2006, 01:53:26 AM

I bought a Pioneer CD player for my Cougar, but, how do i wire it up to my 6 speaker system? i had asked something like this before, but i am just wanting to make sure i have it right before i do it. would i wire the dash speakers to the front channels and the door speakers to the rear, and run the rca outputs to the rear? i have the factory amp. also, what is the wattage on the factory amp that came with the premium sound system? i want to replace my speakers and i want to make sure that i get the right ones. i hope this doesn't sound stupid, i have never seen a setup like this one before.

new head unit

Reply #1 – October 08, 2006, 10:40:17 AM

ive always run new wires to all the speakers in every car that i have installed new head units into. ford uses a common ground in the foxes wich is no good for the new head unit. i enjoy doing it.

their is a harness behind the dash that ~should~ be taped up. i dont have pics but a search may bring them up. it bypasses the stock amps (wich are good for paperweights, but are unsuitable for any up to date system). most new, and deffinetly all new pioneers have much more power and clarity. anyway, you could search for that haness and get an adaptor harness for that. they also make an adaptor harness to keep the amps in line. i remember when crutchfeild sent me one of those.

im pretty sure the dash and door speakers are wired in parralell to each other. they fade together. a nice component setup would realy be the ticket. i had doubts about the alpine type rs i bought, but they are nice.

new head unit

Reply #2 – October 10, 2006, 04:23:58 PM

thanks, i will probably run new wires, it sounds like that would be less work anyways!
i didn't think the Premium Sound system used a common ground.

new head unit

Reply #3 – October 10, 2006, 05:33:20 PM

meh, im pretty sure they all do. at least from the head unit. i never bothered with the factory stuff so i never realy took notice.

new head unit

Reply #4 – October 10, 2006, 06:35:02 PM

I just re-wired mine. I just ran all new and didn't even use an amp yet. I used the factory sprakers for now. If ya need pics just let me know

new head unit

Reply #5 – October 12, 2006, 06:57:22 AM

if you run all new wires and new speakers all the way around you will be quite happy with the output after all the work

my stereo system was a freakin dog, it took more power to run my new head through the factory spaghetti wires

it will sound worlds better if you run new wire and speakers

new head unit

Reply #6 – November 10, 2006, 04:04:36 AM

The grounds are discrete for the speakers in our cars. This means that they come back to the head unit instead of terminating at a screw somewhere on the body. If you do use the factory wires, and you have premium sound, you have to bypass the factory amp. If you want to preserve the wiring, Crutchfield sells the adaptors for the head unit as well as the factory amp bypass adaptor.

While you are at it, get a pair of 2400 Hz Bass Blockers and put then inline on the positive side of your dash speakers. Be they factory or aftermarket, these will save them from an early demise. They just cannot handle too much bass, esp. the factory ones. Additionally, esp. if you go aftermarket speakers, keep in mind that the fronts are wired in parallel, which halves the resistance and doubles the watts. ( see: http://www.usspeaker.com/speaker%20wiring-1.htm ). Make your selections very carefully or you will have your head unit shutting down on you due to overloading the built in amp.