Connecting Amp to Stock Stereo (2006 access cab)

Hey so i am about to install a 10in sub into my access cab. I built a custom box and ordered a wiring kit for my amp. I am do not have the money now to upgrade the receiver and will be using the stock stereo.

My question is...how do I connect into the back of the stereo? what do i need? what do i do?

Thanks!

 

you can if you get a amp with "high level" or "speaker level" inputs. I did works great. Just tap the signal from the rear speakers.

 

so i run my amp into the speakers?

Shouldnt i run my amp into the factory receiver?

 

Here's what ae111black was talking about:

Some amps have inputs that will accept speaker wires in addition to the normal RCA type of cables. These speaker wire inputs are known as "high-level" or "speaker-level" inputs. If you have one of these amps, you can run some speaker wire from one of the speakers to the input side of the amp. And then connect the sub to the amp with speaker wire like you normally would. Does that make sense?

Another option you have is to buy a line out converter. This is a small thing that changes a speaker wire signal to an RCA cable signal.

Either of these options will work. I'm not sure if one is better than the other. They seems about the same to me. If you have an amp with "high-level" inputs, then just use those. If your amp doesn't have "high-level" inputs, then just buy a line out converter. If you decide to go with a line out converter, don't be deterred by the expensive ones. The expensive ones do sound processing as well as converting the signal. If you plan on replacing the head unit eventually, don't get an expensive one because you won't use it with an aftermarket head unit. Just get one of the $20 converters and you'll do just fine until you replace the head unit.

 

so i dont even have to open up the radio to hook up into the back if I run speaker wire from my speakers into the new amp?

 

Correct. You don't have to.

If it were my system, I'd do one of two things.

1. Pull the head unit and hook it up back there. If the connection is made in the dash, you'll easily be able to get the left and right signals and run them to the amp.
   
2. Pull the door panels of both sides of the truck and run speaker wires from the doors to your amp (or line out converter). Again, doing it this way will get you the left and right signals to your sub.

If you only connect your amp (or line out converter) to one speaker, you'll only be able to get one side of the sound; left or right depending on which side you tap into. You might not care about that though. If you don't, go ahead and tap into one of the doors and it'll still work. You may just be missing out on some bass sometimes, depending on the recording.