New stereo deck

[reckless76]

Ok, I don't know much about car stereo. I plan to just go to audio express and pay them to put a new system in my spec. But I have the audio fanatics package and they are saying my disk changer won't work when I put in a new deck. That true?? They're also saying the stock speakers won't work, not that I'm going to keep them, but that really sounds like bullsh**t. Anyway, someone help please.

[GB Phoenix77]

Good questions... I will try to answer for you. Others will help out if I leave something out or have incorrect info...

First off, I have learned that anything is possible with car audio. The people you talked to took the easy way out. Technically they are correct, but the issues could possibly be overcome. Here is why:

1.) Most CD changers (like your RF *actually Clarion I think*) correspond with a same brand head unit. The head unit has to be able to communicate with the changer. For example... I have a Kenwood head unit and it has a preout for a CD changer, but only Kenwood CD changers will work with it. Both units have to have the same "Software" (for lack of a better term) to communicate with each other. If you are familiar with computers, it would be like putting a Macintosh chip onto a motherboard designed for an Intel chip... they just don't work, or communicate. So you will have to find another Head Unit that speaks the same language as your CD Changer... then you have to figure out how to adapt the wires and plugs to make it work. Most companies use different style and sized plug adaptors. It may be possible... but will be very complicated and difficult I think.

Check this link if you are really serious about it.... http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/show...ght=CD+changer
Massredspecv seems to have figured it out??? Perhaps you could ask him?

I would hold this point against the guys you talked to... for all practical reasons they are correct. It is possible, but very difficult and complicated.


2.) Speakers... This one i would be mad about... If they had an ounce of brains they could figure this one out. Or they could have at least explained it to you. Here's the deal...

Your RF system is amplified. The amp is in the trunk. Your deck is not amplified becuase of that. So the system is set up to have the head unit send a signal via 18 or 16 gauge speaker wire to the amp. At which point, the signal is amplified and sent from the amp to the speakers. If you were to install a new head unit, you would find that there are no direct wires form the dash wire harness to the speakers. You would also find that the pre-amp output of your new head unit would be in the form of RCA size cables, and your RF amp does not have RCA style inputs. So technically those guys were right, you would have no way of getting an audio signal to your speakers.

But, with a little extra energy it can be done. You would need to do one of a couple different things.
1.) run new speaker wire from the head unit to each speaker (thus eliminating your RF amp.)
2.) Get rid of your RF amp and get a new one.
3.) Buy line level converters, or line outs, or whatever people call them.. They are little units that allow an audio signal to convert from an RCA cable to a typical speaker wire..

Here is another really good link that will help out.
http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/show...ght=CD+changer

Remember anything possible. But not everything is worth the hassle to do.

Good luck... let me know if you have more questions. Hope I have helped.

GB

[muphasta]

And that my friends, is why I NEVER pay extra for the factory's premium stereo!!!

What are you gonna do w/all that stuff when you take it out? It will be hard to sell!

Good luck w/your new stereo!! What are you going to get? I used to sell the stuff. I miss that job! Thank God I still have hook ups! If I wasn't saving for a house, I'd be hooked up w/a sweet system!

[reckless76]

Thanx for the info... It makes sence now...
Guess I'll just put all the old stuff in a grinder...
Anyway, gonna get a kenwood deck, xm ready , not too sure about the component speakers in the front, or the back speakers, but I want to get a couple 12's, probably RF and run somewhere between 800 and 1000 watts total.

Then I'm gonna bump some cypress hill and bob marley and :bonghitte

[SpongeBobSpecV]

can i switch out the stock amp or sub for a beefier one that will sound better? ie a 500w amp and a 12 inch sub thatll hit much better? it seems to me that it wouldnt be much of a problem xcept for the fact that the speakers themselves would be getting more juice...

[oassaf]

as long as the new sub and amp are same brand as deck then yes, u might with other brands but this is probably the easiest

[SpongeBobSpecV]

wow, so i can just buy a bigger/better rockford amp and sub and poof! all is good??!!
this sounds too easy...
id like more opinions on the situation...

[sno]

i've never heard of an amp receiving audio signals through speaker wire before... but then again i have never seen the type of stereo that comes in the new sentras. usually the amp will get the audio signal from the deck via rca wires. depending on the deck you may have 1, 2, or 3 pairs of pre-amp outputs (rca outputs on the back of the deck). if you have two, which most decks will have, then you have a front rca and a rear rca output. depending on the amp, if it's a 2, 4, or 6 channel amp, is what will decide how many of your pre-amp outputs you will use. now if the speaker wire doesn't run from the deck in your car but runs from an amp in the trunk doesn't really matter, it might even be easier for you when installing your system because you won't have to run wire from your amp all through the car to the front. if you get a 4 or 6 channel amp, simply run the factory speaker wire from those channels to your front left/right (2 channels), rear left/right (2 channels), and the sub (2 channels). for those that don't know, a channel is the [+] [-] terminals on the amp. two terminals = 1 channel. like GB Phoenix77 said above, ANYTHING is possible with car audio. if you're cleaver enough, you'd just re-wire the whole car audio system. but that takes A LOT of time and some electrical know-how.

[GB Phoenix77]

It depends....

Like I said in past posts on this thread... anything is possible, especially if you are creative, but not everything is worth doing.

You asked if you could swap in a bigger amp and sub, to get better sound... It depends...
First off... what setup do you currently have? I am going to make the assumption that you have a Spec V with the Audio Fanatic Rockford Fosgate package. If not, let me know and we can start over.

The deciding factor in whether or not you can swap in new equipment is usually the type of wire and connections they have.

In the Rockford Fosgate Audio Package that comes with the Spec V, the sound signal travels from the head unit to the amp via small speaker wire. The amp is not set up to receive RCA cable inputs. If you have the stock head unit, and want to switch in a new... more powerful amp, you will have to make sure that it has line level inputs... (in other words, input posts that will let you screw speaker wire into them. they look the same as the output posts that you run the wires from to the speakers).

If you have an aftermarket head unit, it will have RCA outputs to carry your sound signal to the amp. All aftermarket amps should be designed to accept RCA cables.

SO... you can add a new bigger amp, but you have to make sure it will connect properly. AND... there are a couple other hurdles to jump. First off, a more powerful amp will require more power from a larger power cable. So, you will have to get an amp wiring kit to run from the battery to your new amp, and then ground it, and also a fuse. Also, you will need to mount it properly, etc...


Next... the sub. If you have the Audio Fan. package, you will be constriained by the size of the opening in the Sub enclosure in your trunk. It won't fit a larger speaker, but you could upgrade to a better one. Or, you could buy, or build a new enclosure and place it elsewhere in your trunk.

Might I suggest the Infinity Basslink. It is a self-amplified self-enclosed 10" sub. Sounds really good. Costs about $400 at Circuit City, or about $275 on the internet (ikesound.com). I've even seen $200 or so on Ebay.

If you have any more Questions, feel free to ask.

GB Phoenix77

[oassaf]

that is probably a better way to go

[SER Speedalot]

there's something else you can do as well. i did this and it worked perfectly with my fanatic package. take the wire on the harness coming from the stereo that is marked power antenna and crimp it to the wire on the other harness that is marked amp. this will be your remote wire for the rf amp and thus turning it on. giving you sound. that seemed to work for me. i'm going to recheck it today if i get a chance to make sure i gave you accurate information.

but i know i didn't run all new wires to anything. i just switched a wire on the harness. so give that a try.

[SpongeBobSpecV]

so you are saying u swapped in a new, bigger amp and just crimped that wire??

[SER Speedalot]

nope, i'm talking about when i put in my new headunit. the speakers didn't work when i put the harnesses together the normal way. i had to put the power antenna wire to the amp wire. which you normally wouldn't do. but since the fanatic package adds an amp you need to supply that amp with power so that it'll turn on and give the speakers signal.