Couple quick questions about Pioneer install in B7 w/Connects2 adapters & what not

[davis449]

Should be simple for you because your speakers are already running off of deck power. You're just replacing the deck that's powering them so when you connect the speaker wires all together you'll be set. The issue comes when you have factory external amps powering the speakers becuase you can't just wire a deck to the amps because that's high power (since they're already amplified by the deck) and the amps need low level inputs that they then amplify. These harnesses supply the amps with the low level outputs (RCAs) from the deck that would normally power an external amp. They supply clean low power that the amp then amplifies (see where they get the name... creative, right?) that signal to a power level that will drive speakers.

That's probably more complex than it needs to be but just remember that aftermarket decks are amplified (unless you buy a high end deck that is made specifically for external amplifiers to supply cleaner power) so if you have external amps in your vehicle you make the install substantially more difficult than just connecting colored wires to colored wires.

I won't dispute a lot of what you say here, but there are some things to be aware of when it comes to our cars and Pioneer head units. First off, the amp in the trunk runs the rear speakers, passive radiator in the rear deck, and the center channel speaker. The front speakers are run from the head unit, even stock. Also, all of the Pioneer double DIN's are NOT high power. The AVIC series across the board only do like 19 watts per channel RMS. If I'm to understand 8520 correctly, the problem with the low sound in the rear is more due to the fact that the pre-outs on all the AVIC series head units (except the Z series) are for shit (like 2V, as opposed to 4V on most aftermarket head units). Finally, I have low volume in the rear in my car, but the sound quality hasn't suffered on those speakers with or without my Connects2.

[bmc333]

Ok, so I would still need to connect the rear RCA lines since there IS an amp feeding those other speakers...

EDIT: ....using the connects2 harness...

[davis449]

Ok, so I would still need to connect the rear RCA lines since there IS an amp feeding those other speakers...

EDIT: ....using the connects2 harness...

Yes.

[bmc333]

Ok, so then I'll be wiring up the front speakers directly (splicing color coded front speaker wires on both harnesses) and JUST do the RCA connections for the rear - do I have that right? Hooking up the rear speakers using the speaker wires sounds like a fail since they are amped...

[davis449]

Ok, so then I'll be wiring up the front speakers directly (splicing color coded front speaker wires on both harnesses) and JUST do the RCA connections for the rear - do I have that right? Hooking up the rear speakers using the speaker wires sounds like a fail since they are amped...

Yes. You'll connect them color for color for the front ones and the backs are via the RCA connectors on the Connects2 into the preout RCA's from the AVIC harness for the rears\center channel. Be sure to connect that blue remote wire on the Connects2 to a switched 12V somewhere so the amp knows to turn on with the car.

[bmc333]

Thanks Davis - I'll be all set whenever my harnesses and dash kit show up...

[bmc333]

Be sure to connect that blue remote wire on the Connects2 to a switched 12V somewhere so the amp knows to turn on with the car.

Where's a good spot to hook up that blue remote wire? Is there a corresponding wire on the factory harness I should use? Can I connect the blue connects 2 wire and the blue antenna wire both together to the blue wire on the factory and AVIC harnesses?

[Jer]

Can I connect the blue connects 2 wire and the blue antenna wire both together to the blue wire on the factory and AVIC harnesses?

Yes.

[Jer]

I won't dispute a lot of what you say here, but there are some things to be aware of when it comes to our cars and Pioneer head units. First off, the amp in the trunk runs the rear speakers, passive radiator in the rear deck, and the center channel speaker. The front speakers are run from the head unit, even stock. Also, all of the Pioneer double DIN's are NOT high power. The AVIC series across the board only do like 19 watts per channel RMS. If I'm to understand 8520 correctly, the problem with the low sound in the rear is more due to the fact that the pre-outs on all the AVIC series head units (except the Z series) are for shit (like 2V, as opposed to 4V on most aftermarket head units). Finally, I have low volume in the rear in my car, but the sound quality hasn't suffered on those speakers with or without my Connects2.

To clear a few things up in this post: Believe it or not 19 watts RMS is indeed 'high power' when compared to RCA pre-outs (or preamp) which are low power. It's more of an industry standard description of the two versus the marketing that is happening these days where a 50x4 is HIGH POWER! Rest assured that I know for a fact the amp section on most all in deck units is garbage so I'm not trying to tout one over the other... high power is just that... enough power to run speakers at an audible level. You can't power speakers with low power RCAs. That's what that phrase meant as it was used.

As to the power level on the RCAs it's not just the AVIC units. Most Kenwoods also are 2v unless you get into the more expensive stuff then it jumps to 5v. The fact that my rears sounded decent before I connected the front speakers to the deck leads me to believe that the 2v RCAs would be fine if that were the case. I'm guessing Pioneer sends a lowered power over the RCAs once it switches on the amp section of the deck to run speakers. It probably can't create enough power to send a full 2v through the RCAs AND run the amp section in the unit for the speakers. I'm also going to go out on a bit of a limb here and say that most units will behave in a similar manner and i do recall some decks of years past that wouldn't run the amp AND RCAs... it was one or the other. I'm pretty sure I'm seeing some of this in my install and I ran strictly external amps or powered four speakers off of the deck's power it would be just fine.