Question with adding a subwoofer

[Shizuma]

I haven't really looked yet, but i'm going to be adding the subs from my old car into the BRZ and I was wonder if since there is going to be a dealer installed subwoofer accessory is there already wiring to the trunk that could be used to add an aftermarket sub?

[DyoGTS]

I was wondering the same thing, but haven't dug in there yet to find out if the wiring already exists.

[Lil Abner]

Well, the audio amplifier looks to be in the trunk. I'll confirm this in about 1.5 weeks. The stock FR-S CD player has subwoofer outputs, but I didn't see an extra harness installed for it.

If I were to guess, the car was not wired for a rear subwoofer. That seems like a lot of extra for a dealer installed item. But again, I could be wrong. The first week in July I plan to start my subwoofer install, which means the car will be stripped down for wiring and just plain curiosity.

[vividracing]

Even if the car were wired for a subwoofer, the chances of it working with your equipment from the other car is very low. OEM wiring works with OEM subs and amps, not aftermarket.

[Shizuma]

Originally Posted by vividracing

Even if the car were wired for a subwoofer, the chances of it working with your equipment from the other car is very low. OEM wiring works with OEM subs and amps, not aftermarket.

Well regardless of the connector there should be at least a i'm assuming line level audio in the factory wiring (if it exists) which means there's no reason with a little cutting and soldering that I couldn't use those wires for the audio signal to the amp, the power wiring that would exist however wouldn't be adequate and I would have to at least run a cable to the battery for power. But really i'm just trying to figure where to tap the audio signal off, I could tap it off the rear speakers, but given their small size I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have a high pass filter from the amp already and thus wouldn't be good to use for the subs.

[GremlinGSP]

The stock head unit seems to have some RCA outputs. I'd use those long before I did speaker level inputs. I've seen them in some pictures people have posted. You might be able to hook on to the remote turn on from the rear amp though. I'd still run new power for the amp though.

[Shizuma]

Ooh, the stock head unit has RCA outputs? that's even more awesome, now I wish I pulled the RCA cable out of my Magnum before I traded it in, at the time it just didn't seem worth the effort.

Yeah, new power cable is a must since I doubt the factory wiring would be 8GA (if it exists) for the dealer installed sub, though if there are RCA jacks in the head unit that means the dealer installed sub probably using those and they run the RCA cables for them, which makes me think that if they have to run those they wouldn't have put the power wires in. It's a shame the BRZ doesn't have the battery in the trunk, that makes wiring the amp a breeze, loved that in my Magnum.

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by Shizuma

Ooh, the stock head unit has RCA outputs?

The FR-S does, has it been confirmed for the BRZ?

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by Shizuma

Well regardless of the connector there should be at least a i'm assuming line level audio in the factory wiring (if it exists) which means there's no reason with a little cutting and soldering that I couldn't use those wires for the audio signal to the amp, the power wiring that would exist however wouldn't be adequate and I would have to at least run a cable to the battery for power. But really i'm just trying to figure where to tap the audio signal off, I could tap it off the rear speakers, but given their small size I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have a high pass filter from the amp already and thus wouldn't be good to use for the subs.

Agreed on all points. I was in a hurry earlier so didn't have time to post all the info, but you're on the right track. Sounds like you know more than the average person.

I'm assuming you're using aftermarket stuff? The FR-S has RCA outputs like the other guys have said. On other vehicles, you can tap the audio signal right at the head unit and put your LOC right in the dash.

[Shizuma]

Originally Posted by vividracing

Agreed on all points. I was in a hurry earlier so didn't have time to post all the info, but you're on the right track. Sounds like you know more than the average person.

I'm assuming you're using aftermarket stuff? The FR-S has RCA outputs like the other guys have said. On other vehicles, you can tap the audio signal right at the head unit and put your LOC right in the dash.

Yeah, I know quite a bit about car audio, in my last car I replaced the entire stereo system and ran all new wires for everything and even had a custom dock built into the dash to mount an Android tablet, and ultimately i'll be doing the same in the BRZ, mainly just waiting for the head unit I want to come out, but I need to at least get the subs in for now to make the stereo at least bearable.

Yup, I have the entire aftermarket system I pulled out of my last car before I traded it in. I'll have to pop open the dash this weekend to verify if the BRZ head unit also has RCA outs like the FR-S, I'm going to go with likely yes cause they are probably using it for their subwoofer accessory and I can't see them not having different connection methods for the FR-S and BRZ.

[Symbiont]

Originally Posted by GremlinGSP

The stock head unit seems to have some RCA outputs. I'd use those long before I did speaker level inputs. I've seen them in some pictures people have posted. You might be able to hook on to the remote turn on from the rear amp though. I'd still run new power for the amp though.

The BRZ unit doesn't. Only the FR-S does.

[GremlinGSP]

That sucks then. I'll sell you my FRS Headunit cheap lol. Its coming out this weekend or next.

[Shizuma]

While looking around today I noticed under the trunk liner up near the drivers side rear seat there a metal box with cables in it, I wonder if that could be the factory amp, I hadn't pulled apart the trim panels though to see if the wires went to the speakers or not, does anyone know if that is the amp?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Shizuma

While looking around today I noticed under the trunk liner up near the drivers side rear seat there a metal box with cables in it, I wonder if that could be the factory amp, I hadn't pulled apart the trim panels though to see if the wires went to the speakers or not, does anyone know if that is the amp?

That would be it.