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Stock Head Unit - Aftermarket Amp connectivity (RCA)

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
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PhilUK
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Stock Head Unit - Aftermarket Amp connectivity (RCA)

Post by PhilUK » Mon Dec 17, 2012 3:07 pm

Can anyone advise on how to connect an aftermarket amp to a stock Business head unit?

I have an amp lying around but it only has RCA inputs.  :blink:
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Raj
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Re: Stock Head Unit - Aftermarket Amp connectivity (RCA)

Post by Raj » Mon Dec 17, 2012 4:42 pm

Something like this:

high to low converter
Image

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Steamyrotter
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Re: Stock Head Unit - Aftermarket Amp connectivity (RCA)

Post by Steamyrotter » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:15 pm

Done this on mine.

Used a similar convertor to that posted
Run RCA to boot.
Note you may pick up noise from the IBus & other equipment up front depending on position and connection...

There are a few little things to note...
The Amp On/Off signal wire stays on If you turn the ignition on.... So amps stay powered up :(
My way round this was i made an IBus module to detect the Radio On/Off button press then trigger a relay to operate the Amps.

The other thing to note is that if you have Phone prep etc they usually send this to the Front Outputs.  Wonder how i know that!!!??
You could also have a problem with this not turning the amp on if you use it....
Way round that - fit a bypass relay to the Speaker outputs so that when the amp is off the speakers are re-connected to the head unit, amp on then speakers connected to amp.  Simples..
If things were meant to be easy, then I will soon complicate them....
Please note...
Anything I say is only from my personal experience and knowledge..
I don't assume to know everything, and know there is a lot I don't know..
But then I could be talking bollox.. O:-)

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