follow ft86club on our blog, twitter or facebook.
FT86CLUB
Ft86Club
Speed By Design
Register Garage Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB > Technical Topics > Electronics | Audio | NAV | Infotainment

Electronics | Audio | NAV | Infotainment Anything related to in-car electronics, navigation, and infotainment.


User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 06-06-2013, 09:20 AM   #1
Shizuma
Senior Member
 
Shizuma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Drives: 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 190
Thanks: 7
Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Wiring a sub in a BRZ

So I'm getting ready to build my sub enclosure now and finally get one of my subs into the car, the question I have is on connecting it to the stereo. Since the BRZ doesn't have line outs I'm obviously stuck with speaker level inputs till I replace the headunit. Now from what I've read the rear speakers don't have full range going to them and thus aren't good to get the signal for the subs, that little box in the trunk under the floor panel on the driver's side I've read is the amp for the door speakers which do have a full range signal, so I'm guessing that would likely be the best spot to wire the sub into, my question is which wire are which on that amp?
Shizuma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 01:00 PM   #2
2point0
Senior Member
 
2point0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Drives: '13 BRZ Ltd WRB
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,351
Thanks: 508
Thanked 570 Times in 412 Posts
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
I just did this and used a line-output converter from www.davidnavone.com. N-HRL4 I think it's called. It's a 4-ch but I'm only using two for now. If you have the inputs on your amp, you can skip this.

I also purchased a pair of forward/reverse harnesses (10-pin) from SVXdc (he's a member). This harness is the same on both the HU and the factory amp, but some of the wires are labeled differently. There's also a 6-pin plug (same size as HU, but less wires) that is just for power/ground but I skipped this. The LOC has power/ground/remote but I skipped all these as it's only used to turn on the amp (I tapped the factory remote lead instead).

Since SVXdc has the 10-pin already wired for the HU, the wires labeled for the rear L/R are actually the front speaker L/R output from the factory amp. Really the only ones you need to break away are the ones labeled front L/R and remote on his harness.

He gave me a breakdown of the harness pins, too:

BRZ OEM Amp 10-pin harness and socket:

1 VFL+ (output to left door speaker +)
2 WFR+ (output to right door speaker +)
3 FL+ (input from HU's front left + channel)
4 FR+ (input from HU's front right + channel)

5 VFL- (output to left door speaker -)
6 WFR- (output to right door speaker -)
7 (NC)
8 AMP (+12V remote turn-on from HU)
9 FL- (input from HU's front left - channel)
10 FR- (input from HU's front right - channel)
__________________
2013 BRZ Limited - SOLD
2008 Forester XT Sports
1967 Mustang Coupe - 289 V8
2point0 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to 2point0 For This Useful Post:
kevaughan (04-11-2022)
Old 06-06-2013, 01:37 PM   #3
Shizuma
Senior Member
 
Shizuma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Drives: 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 190
Thanks: 7
Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Ok, nice, that's exactly what I was hoping I could do since the amp will be mounted on the driver's side wall of the trunk, and I already have a line-output converter from a previous build so I can just put that under the floor panel and have a short RCA cable to the amp, too bad my amp is a behemoth so I can't actually fit it under the floor, at least not without removing the spare tire.
Shizuma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 01:44 PM   #4
Shizuma
Senior Member
 
Shizuma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Drives: 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 190
Thanks: 7
Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Actually I wonder, is the input from the HU actually a powered signal, or is it a line level signal? It would make sense that it was just line level, but with factory stereo systems you can never tell.
Shizuma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 01:48 PM   #5
BlueSTaR
Senior Member
 
BlueSTaR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Drives: 13 BRZ Limited & 16 Hyperblue
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
Posts: 451
Thanks: 14
Thanked 235 Times in 126 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shizuma View Post
Ok, nice, that's exactly what I was hoping I could do since the amp will be mounted on the driver's side wall of the trunk, and I already have a line-output converter from a previous build so I can just put that under the floor panel and have a short RCA cable to the amp, too bad my amp is a behemoth so I can't actually fit it under the floor, at least not without removing the spare tire.
Do people keep spare tires still?

I always drop the weight. I pay for roadside anyway.
BlueSTaR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 01:52 PM   #6
2point0
Senior Member
 
2point0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Drives: '13 BRZ Ltd WRB
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,351
Thanks: 508
Thanked 570 Times in 412 Posts
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
If you don't have them already, Monoprice sells 1.5' RCA cables for under $3, IIRC. I bought a 1.5' and a 3' just in case, and ended up needing the 3' to cross the trunk cleanly.

Luckily, my JL 250/1 was the perfect height for going under the trunk floor, but man is it close. I trimmed the foam and made little channels under it for wires to run.

For my amp ground, I used one of the studs that the factory amp is mounted to.
__________________
2013 BRZ Limited - SOLD
2008 Forester XT Sports
1967 Mustang Coupe - 289 V8
2point0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 01:54 PM   #7
2point0
Senior Member
 
2point0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Drives: '13 BRZ Ltd WRB
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,351
Thanks: 508
Thanked 570 Times in 412 Posts
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shizuma View Post
Actually I wonder, is the input from the HU actually a powered signal, or is it a line level signal? It would make sense that it was just line level, but with factory stereo systems you can never tell.
Only the front door speakers run through the trunk amp (at least in USDM cars). As far as I know, they are not amplified until after that box.
__________________
2013 BRZ Limited - SOLD
2008 Forester XT Sports
1967 Mustang Coupe - 289 V8
2point0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 02:08 PM   #8
Shizuma
Senior Member
 
Shizuma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Drives: 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 190
Thanks: 7
Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
I think I still have a short RCA cable laying around since from that build where I had the line-output convertor I had it right next to the amp so it had a short run.

It's not so much the height that's the issue but the width/length, it's about 17" x 10" I believe, with the attached mounting tabs it barely even fits standing up on it's side in the trunk, i'm almost thinking it would be nice if I could get it up on the bottom of trunk deck, but not sure if that would be worth the hassle.

If they aren't amplified then a line-output convertor shouldn't even be necessary, just splicing an RCA cable into them should in theory work.
Shizuma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 02:29 PM   #9
2point0
Senior Member
 
2point0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Drives: '13 BRZ Ltd WRB
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,351
Thanks: 508
Thanked 570 Times in 412 Posts
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
Damn that's a beast!

I was tempted to mount up above the trunk as I've seen some others do. There's one guy who made a cool hinged base. I don't know if I'll keep my current amps, so I didn't want to go that far just yet.
__________________
2013 BRZ Limited - SOLD
2008 Forester XT Sports
1967 Mustang Coupe - 289 V8
2point0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 02:32 PM   #10
2point0
Senior Member
 
2point0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Drives: '13 BRZ Ltd WRB
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,351
Thanks: 508
Thanked 570 Times in 412 Posts
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shizuma View Post
If they aren't amplified then a line-output convertor shouldn't even be necessary, just splicing an RCA cable into them should in theory work.
I bet SVXdc could answer this properly. Not sure how active he is on here, but he's also on NASIOC.
__________________
2013 BRZ Limited - SOLD
2008 Forester XT Sports
1967 Mustang Coupe - 289 V8
2point0 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 02:46 PM   #11
Shizuma
Senior Member
 
Shizuma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Drives: 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 190
Thanks: 7
Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueSTaR View Post
Do people keep spare tires still?

I always drop the weight. I pay for roadside anyway.
I do, even if I never really use it it's nice knowing it's there, especially for long road trips, like in the summer I'll be driving to Baltimore MD from NH, so I would want the spare for that trip, so I prefer to just figure out a way to make everything fit without losing it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2point0 View Post
Damn that's a beast!

I was tempted to mount up above the trunk as I've seen some others do. There's one guy who made a cool hinged base. I don't know if I'll keep my current amps, so I didn't want to go that far just yet.
That it is, and it'll be overpowered for how I'll be setting things up in the BRZ too since in my last car it was powering a pair of 12" 4ohm subs in parallel, now it will only be powering a single one of those subs, but at a higher impedance, still at 4ohm it's rated at 456 watts RMS and the sub is rated for 350 watts RMS (1400 watts peak), though the sub is a beast and I've always heard people say that that sub was very underrated so it should be fine.
Shizuma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 03:07 PM   #12
michaelahess
Senior Member
 
michaelahess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Drives: '13 GBS BRZ Lim, 2006 Dodge RAM MC
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 663
Thanks: 72
Thanked 148 Times in 98 Posts
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
The HU pushes a few watts to all channels and the amp just amps the fronts a bit more. At least my volt meter measured the same output on all four HU outputs before the amp. Use a speaker level converter. I did at first, got a DSP that handles it now. Don't overthink it.

Also, just use scotch locks to tap the wires, no need to pay for a harness, not that that isn't super easy in the connector aspect, just unnecessary expense in my view.
__________________
michaelahess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 03:12 PM   #13
Shizuma
Senior Member
 
Shizuma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Drives: 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT
Location: Salem, MA
Posts: 190
Thanks: 7
Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelahess View Post
The HU pushes a few watts to all channels and the amp just amps the fronts a bit more. At least my volt meter measured the same output on all four HU outputs before the amp. Use a speaker level converter. I did at first, got a DSP that handles it now. Don't overthink it.

Also, just use scotch locks to tap the wires, no need to pay for a harness, not that that isn't super easy in the connector aspect, just unnecessary expense in my view.
Ok, line-output converter it is then, and yeah, I planned on just using scotch locks, I have a bunch of them in one of my tool boxes.
Shizuma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2013, 05:20 PM   #14
2point0
Senior Member
 
2point0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Drives: '13 BRZ Ltd WRB
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,351
Thanks: 508
Thanked 570 Times in 412 Posts
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Garage


I almost went that route, but couldn't bring myself to splice into the factory wiring. If it wasn't such a new car, I probably wouldn't have cared.
__________________
2013 BRZ Limited - SOLD
2008 Forester XT Sports
1967 Mustang Coupe - 289 V8
2point0 is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
wiring harness so26 Electronics | Audio | NAV | Infotainment 5 10-30-2013 03:19 AM
HID wiring management - What to do? FastLap Cosmetic Modification (Interior/Exterior/Lighting) 5 05-17-2013 03:02 PM
Wiring a sub to the factory HU cfusionpm Electronics | Audio | NAV | Infotainment 8 05-04-2013 09:54 PM
x940bt wiring help encity5 Electronics | Audio | NAV | Infotainment 10 08-31-2012 04:08 PM
wiring diagrams? xpicer Engine, Exhaust, Transmission 4 08-13-2012 07:16 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.