[busboy4]

Fantastic threads. Thanks.

I am looking at adding a head unit using the "double Y" as shown in the diagram. Can anyone comment on how happy they have been using this set up? My intended HU only has the two sets of RCA's, one set which is SUB switchable. Thanks.

 

[t-bird]

Sub Harness Question

I just installed a new deck via the Metra harness with the rca jacks. I used the above diagram. Everything works great, except I couldn't get the factory sub to work.

As a trial run, I took the subwoofer out of the enclosure and hooked up a spliced rca cable directly to it. The sub came alive, but no sound. I did this trial run before hacking into the sub harness. Thoughts?

Also, in the above diagram, there are only three wires coming from the sub harness. I'm going to assume the diagram is specific to an older sub because my sub has four wires. Two positive and two negative. Any thoughts or sugguestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you!

 

[Yoda E SC]

I just installed a new deck via the Metra harness with the rca jacks. I used the above diagram. Everything works great, except I couldn't get the factory sub to work.

As a trial run, I took the subwoofer out of the enclosure and hooked up a spliced rca cable directly to it. The sub came alive, but no sound. I did this trial run before hacking into the sub harness. Thoughts?

Also, in the above diagram, there are only three wires coming from the sub harness. I'm going to assume the diagram is specific to an older sub because my sub has four wires. Two positive and two negative. Any thoughts or sugguestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you!

the subwoofer itself is not amplified. it shares the amplifier with the other 4 speakers in the truck that resides in the passenger kickpanel. the rca splicing detailed should be taking place behind the radio.

 

[t-bird]

Oh....

the subwoofer itself is not amplified. it shares the amplifier with the other 4 speakers in the truck that resides in the passenger kickpanel. the rca splicing detailed should be taking place behind the radio.

That makes sense. OK, back to the drawing board. Thank you very much.

 

[busboy4]

That makes sense. OK, back to the drawing board. Thank you very much.

Based on your response I guess you spliced in post amplifier? Please let us know how it works out. I'd like to do mine in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks!

 

[shortbusjonnie]

Howdy. I've been searching the web the last couple of days to find out about how to swap out my Factory Head Unit for a new one, and this is a best thread I've seen. Between BigAl, Nismo, Yoda, and busboy I figure this is a good chance for me to learn something.

Here's the short of it: I have an '04 EX model with the factory head unit, speakers, and sub. I want to replace the HU with something like the Sony CDX-GT700HD or Kenwood MP345U, mainly because I want to have a Front USB port for music on a flash drive. I'm not looking to redo my whole care audio setup; I just want a new head unit, but I don't want to lose the functionality of the factory sub, and I don't have the budget or interest to replace it.

I'm considering ordering the HU from Crutchfield, so they'd provide the install kit and a harness, but seems like they won't provide the Metra 70-1725 I've seen mentioned here. They methods discussed on this thread seem somewhat straightforward, but it seems like it doesn't quite work out for everyone to get the factory sub working.

I'm not particularly car savvy, but I want to do this project myself. I replaced the factory head unit in my wife's '02 Focus a few years ago, but I didn't have to contend with a sub in that little POS. And I don't want to buy the new unit only to find out it won't work with my setup for some reason. BigAl's diagrams are awesome reference points, but I don't want to screw things up. :|

Sorry for being such a novice, but any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks fellas.

 

[BigAl205]

I think that for $10, it's worth the money for less hassle. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12492_Metra+70-1725.html

...especially since they have the same radios for $10-30 less http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_23318_Sony+CDX-GT700HD.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_22094_Kenwood+KDC-MP345U.html

 

[shortbusjonnie]

I think that for $10, it's worth the money for less hassle. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12492_Metra+70-1725.html

...especially since they have the same radios for $10-30 less http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_23318_Sony+CDX-GT700HD.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_22094_Kenwood+KDC-MP345U.html

Wow. Yup. Done. Thanks, BigAl! I didn't know about SonicElectronix.com, but I'll check them out now. And for $30 less than Crutchfield, I'll probably get the GT700HD. Also seems like they give the free wiring harness and mounting kit deal like Crutchfield, so that's a win.

So if I understand correctly (and that could be asking a lot), here's what I'm going to do:

1-Order the HU (probably the Sony) and the Metra 70-1725
2-Follow BigAl's original wiring diagram from back at the beginning of the thread and connect the Metra to the HU
3-Curse a little bit
4-Splice in an RCA plug onto the factory sub harness and connect that to the sub-out on the HU


Am I missing anything? Anything else I'll need to order or do? I'm expecting to use t-taps to connect the male RCA to the factory sub harness (I know other people aren't fans of them, but I've used them in other applications and am comfortable with them). What gauge should they be?

And roughly how long should I expect this install debacle to take?

Thanks again!

 

[BigAl205]

Wow. Yup. Done. Thanks, BigAl! I didn't know about SonicElectronix.com, but I'll check them out now. And for $30 less than Crutchfield, I'll probably get the GT700HD. Also seems like they give the free wiring harness and mounting kit deal like Crutchfield, so that's a win.

So if I understand correctly (and that could be asking a lot), here's what I'm going to do:

1-Order the HU (probably the Sony) and the Metra 70-1725
2-Follow BigAl's original wiring diagram from back at the beginning of the thread and connect the Metra to the HU
3-Curse a little bit
4-Splice in an RCA plug onto the factory sub harness and connect that to the sub-out on the HU


Am I missing anything? Anything else I'll need to order or do? I'm expecting to use t-taps to connect the male RCA to the factory sub harness (I know other people aren't fans of them, but I've used them in other applications and am comfortable with them). What gauge should they be?

And roughly how long should I expect this install debacle to take?

Thanks again!

I think red t-taps would work fine.

 

[shortbusjonnie]

Thanks. I'll get the red t-taps.

One more question: The I checked out the original post and wiring diagram again, and I noticed you mentioned needing an antenna adapter. Is that something like the Metra 40-HD10?

Then I assume I'd just connect the blue wire from the 40-HD10 to the blue off the back of the Head Unit, since the Metra Harness doesn't appear to have an antenna connection.

If that antenna adapter is correct, I'll put my order in before the end of the week.

Thanks.

 

[BigAl205]

Thanks. I'll get the red t-taps.

One more question: The I checked out the original post and wiring diagram again, and I noticed you mentioned needing an antenna adapter. Is that something like the Metra 40-HD10?

Then I assume I'd just connect the blue wire from the 40-HD10 to the blue off the back of the Head Unit, since the Metra Harness doesn't appear to have an antenna connection.

If that antenna adapter is correct, I'll put my order in before the end of the week.

Thanks.

The antenna adapter is only needed if you have the OEM satellite receiver. IIRC they didn't come out until 2006.

 

[jgerman]

Hi,

I have a 2007 EX, I'm installing an AVIC-z120bt.

It looks like everything is working but the factory sub. I get speaker output etc, just no sub.

I spliced an RCA cable in according to the diagram and plugged it into the sub out of the AVIC.

I did get the 1721 when I ordered. Am I correct in assuming I need the 1725? I'm not sure where the blue wire some have talked about goes. I have a blue wire spliced in already that provides power to the amp. Is there a separate power circuit to the amp for the sub?

The only other difference I have is the blue wire from the antenna adapter is not hooked to anything currently. I'd assume that's a separate issue.

Edit: Nevermind, I can see now that I need the 1725, I'm not sure why I can't use the speaker wires and the sub but I ordered a 1725 to fix things.

Any thoughts?

 

[Yoda E SC]

The sub was probably working fine for you when you had it hooked up the way you did but you couldnt hear it. the 4 speaker inputs were being driven at a high level by the radio's internal amp, while you were feeding the level for the sub at a low/RCA level, when they both should be getting the same level of input. there is like a 6-10x difference in the level of output between the two.

this is all assuming that you correctly hooked up the rca as you said you did. ;-)

Hi,

I have a 2007 EX, I'm installing an AVIC-z120bt.

It looks like everything is working but the factory sub. I get speaker output etc, just no sub.

I spliced an RCA cable in according to the diagram and plugged it into the sub out of the AVIC.

I did get the 1721 when I ordered. Am I correct in assuming I need the 1725? I'm not sure where the blue wire some have talked about goes. I have a blue wire spliced in already that provides power to the amp. Is there a separate power circuit to the amp for the sub?

The only other difference I have is the blue wire from the antenna adapter is not hooked to anything currently. I'd assume that's a separate issue.

Edit: Nevermind, I can see now that I need the 1725, I'm not sure why I can't use the speaker wires and the sub but I ordered a 1725 to fix things.

Any thoughts?

 

[jgerman]

The sub was probably working fine for you when you had it hooked up the way you did but you couldnt hear it. the 4 speaker inputs were being driven at a high level by the radio's internal amp, while you were feeding the level for the sub at a low/RCA level, when they both should be getting the same level of input. there is like a 6-10x difference in the level of output between the two.

this is all assuming that you correctly hooked up the rca as you said you did. ;-)

So I probably don't need the 1725 then. I just need to re-balance the 4 speaker inputs.

Is there another reason to use the 1725 other than convenience?

 

[Yoda E SC]

So I probably don't need the 1725 then. I just need to re-balance the 4 speaker inputs.

Is there another reason to use the 1725 other than convenience?

not sure what you are refering to by saying "re-balance" but you would need to use cut off male rca's attached to the 1721 instead of using the speaker outputs from the radio. that is what a 1725 is.

 

[jgerman]

not sure what you are refering to by saying "re-balance" but you would need to use cut off male rca's attached to the 1721 instead of using the speaker outputs from the radio. that is what a 1725 is.

I was hoping maybe I could turn down the speakers in settings to bring them in line with the sub

The sound isn't bad with the setup I have now, but I'm pretty sure it could be better.

As cheap as the 1725 is I'll just order one and re-do everything and see if that helps. That sounds like the path of least resistance right now.

Thanks

 

[Yoda E SC]

I was hoping maybe I could turn down the speakers in settings to bring them in line with the sub

you can...

by using the RCA outputs for front and rear also ;-)

 

[Hillstones]

Posted this tonight in the other audio thread. Got the official Honda Service Manual for the 2007-2009 Element and scanned the full audio schematics for the EX and SC stereos, Non-Navigation and Navigation Systems, with the external amplifier.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=863445&postcount=49

 

[shortbusjonnie]

Just an update: I finally was able to order a new head unit and the Metra 70-1725 harness this past weekend. Hoping to have it all by the end of the week. Thanks again for the heads up to SonicElectronix, BigAl. And for all the instructions. I'll post again one I finish hooking my new gear up.

 

[shortbusjonnie]

Done!

Howdy! I got my new headunit on Friday, and hooked it up. Works perfectly, including my factory sub! Took about 15 minutes to solder up the Metra harness, and another 20 odd minutes actually installing the unit. I'm pleased with the result. I wound up ordering and installing a Sony CDX-GT740ui headunit, mainly because I liked the clear 4-line of text display, good price, and a nice tone.

Thanks for everyone's help!