Wiring subs to stock radio - possible?

Lethalweapon100 · Jan 3, 2016

Hi all, im jusy wondering if its possible to wire my subs into my stock radio. Just one wire, I don't really know where i need to put it though. Doable?

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AustinB · Jan 3, 2016

The question you're asking could have so many answers.... What are you wiring into the radio? Subs? Amp? Or are you talking about the remote wire (usually blue)?

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01rammer1500 · Jan 3, 2016

Few questions.

Does the truck have the infinity sound?

Are you trying to get your audio feed from the stock stereo? Or are you trying to get your amp trigger wire from the stock stereo?

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 3, 2016

01rammer1500 said:
Few questions.

Does the truck have the infinity sound?

Are you trying to get your audio feed from the stock stereo? Or are you trying to get your amp trigger wire from the stock stereo?

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I don't believe it does. I believe the audio system is bone stock / base equipment.

Im trying to send audio to my amp. I read the easiest way to do this was to tap into the feed from one of the rear speakers, is this correct?

If so, anybody have a wiring diagram of which color wire is which +/- for which speaker?

Also, 97 Ram 2500. Sorry i forgot to mention.

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 3, 2016

AustinB said:
The question you're asking could have so many answers.... What are you wiring into the radio? Subs? Amp? Or are you talking about the remote wire (usually blue)?

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Yeah yeah, the blue remote wire from the amp. Sorry, im a real n00b when it comes to audio.

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AustinB · Jan 3, 2016

Two different options in my experience. You will first need an rca adapter - it has 2 or 4 wires coming out that you will splice into your speaker wires. Ideal place for this is behind the radio (all speaker wires start there). That converts to rca plug, so you can connect to that from the amp for your sound. Then speaker wire from the amp to your speakers. In my experience there is no +/- wires for speakers.

For the remote wire (blue...tells the amp to turn on/off with the radio) there may be a blue wire in the factory radio, or there may be ones thats labeled remote... If not you will just need to test the wires (that aren't speaker) for power that cuts on/off with the radio.

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 3, 2016

AustinB said:
Two different options in my experience. You will first need an rca adapter - it has 2 or 4 wires coming out that you will splice into your speaker wires. Ideal place for this is behind the radio (all speaker wires start there). That converts to rca plug, so you can connect to that from the amp for your sound. Then speaker wire from the amp to your speakers. In my experience there is no +/- wires for speakers.

For the remote wire (blue...tells the amp to turn on/off with the radio) there may be a blue wire in the factory radio, or there may be ones thats labeled remote... If not you will just need to test the wires (that aren't speaker) for power that cuts on/off with the radio.

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Alright, I see.

What do you think of this wiring kit? Seems fairly basic, looks to have what I need. http://www.walmart.com/ip/SoundStorm-AKS8-8-Gauge-Amplifier-Install-Kit/27941313

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AustinB · Jan 3, 2016

If you have a fairly cheap setup, low watt amp, 10" subs... Just a basic starter kit... Sure, go with the walmart wiring kit. If you have something nice then I think you best bet would be to go into an electronics store (sometimes bestbuy has decent techs) and ask questions. You should do the install yourself though, its easy and you'll learn a lot about your truck.

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 3, 2016

AustinB said:
Two different options in my experience. You will first need an rca adapter - it has 2 or 4 wires coming out that you will splice into your speaker wires. Ideal place for this is behind the radio (all speaker wires start there). That converts to rca plug, so you can connect to that from the amp for your sound. Then speaker wire from the amp to your speakers. In my experience there is no +/- wires for speakers.

For the remote wire (blue...tells the amp to turn on/off with the radio) there may be a blue wire in the factory radio, or there may be ones thats labeled remote... If not you will just need to test the wires (that aren't speaker) for power that cuts on/off with the radio.

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I just looked, my sub has the RCA connection and 3 others.

"P.conn" - blue 16ish gauge wire
Ground - 10ish gauge wire
Battery Power - 14ish gauge wire (very thin for a battery wire...)

All these seem very small compared to what im seeing online, 4 gauge wire for battery cables it says.

So if im understanding correctly - blue goes to the speaker control wire to tell the amp on/off, ground obviously goes to ground, power goes to the positive battery post, and i need the RCA Adapter spliced into my stock harness for sound. Correct?

Right now im looking at a wiring kit on amazon similar to the walmart one i posted, and im looking at a Kicker RCA adapter. Should i buy them?

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 3, 2016

AustinB said:
If you have a fairly cheap setup, low watt amp, 10" subs... Just a basic starter kit... Sure, go with the walmart wiring kit. If you have something nice then I think you best bet would be to go into an electronics store (sometimes bestbuy has decent techs) and ask questions. You should do the install yourself though, its easy and you'll learn a lot about your truck.

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Its a 400w kenwood amp and 2 12" kenwood subs. Picked up the set, professionally built in a box, for $50 tonight. Worked great when he showed me.

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AustinB · Jan 3, 2016

Sounds like you got it. Just pick you out a nice kit... Some will be twice what you paid for your setup, it's your call... I think an average price for a decent kit would be around $70. Goto an install shop and ask, they usually sell what they use.

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AustinB · Jan 3, 2016

I would also recommend buying everything separately. May be some things in one kit that you'd rather have in another.

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 4, 2016

Thanks everybody. Ill do the install when all of it comes in and post results.

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Merc225hp · Jan 5, 2016

Most of today amps have a high impedance input and thats what your deck puts out to the speakers,. Need a model number from the amp or a link to it please.

Lethalweapon100 · Jan 6, 2016

AustinB said:
Sounds like you got it. Just pick you out a nice kit... Some will be twice what you paid for your setup, it's your call... I think an average price for a decent kit would be around $70. Goto an install shop and ask, they usually sell what they use.

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Merc, Ill get back to you.

Austin, i got my RCA converter today. It has 5 wires coming out of it. What are all these wires for?

It didn't come w instructions.

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AustinB · Jan 7, 2016

I can't remember exactly about 5 wires... It's been many years since I've grown out of upgrading sound systems. I can tell you that 2 goto left speaker, two goto a right speaker... Black maybe a ground?! Anybody have an idea?

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 7, 2016

AustinB said:
I can't remember exactly about 5 wires... It's been many years since I've grown out of upgrading sound systems. I can tell you that 2 goto left speaker, two goto a right speaker... Black maybe a ground?! Anybody have an idea?

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Damn I feel dumb. After half an hour of internet research, i took a good hard look at the converter. I looked at the bottom of it...and theres a very clear list of all the wires and where they go.

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 7, 2016

Onward with the install!

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AustinB · Jan 7, 2016

Haha .. So where do they all go?

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Lethalweapon100 · Jan 7, 2016

AustinB said:
Haha .. So where do they all go?

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I forgot to post a pic of that, my bad. White is Right +, white w black stripe is Right -. Grey is left +, grey with black stripe is left -. Brown is some sort of amp ground wire, which the LOC box even said was very rare to need to use.

I hooked them up tonight. They work awesome. I can't believe it worked. A buddy of mine is going to help me fine tune them tomorrow.

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Wiring subs to stock radio - possible?

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