If you installed your own amp…

[Krabby]

Hello all - I purchased a 200.4 Kicker amp to boost the audio output. I upgraded my speakers a while back but never got around to the amp.

That said, for those who installed their own amps, did you find a pre-made harness to connect to the head unit? If not, what was your plan of attack?

Thanks.

 

[Paddy]

I haven't done it myself yet Krabby but my understanding is that you need to connect through the high level input (speaker wires) to get the signal that needs amplifying. I am 99% sure theres no rca outputs like we used to have, back when a head unit wasn't integrated and could be swapped with two hacksaw blades in under a minute.

These speaker wires are in the control module which in a right hand drive is under the steering wheel behind the cowling. I'm not going to lie, is a bugger to get to and probably needs to be loosened off to reach the speaker wires.

The easiest way is to insert a line output controller (LOC) between the speaker wires and the amp, this essentially converts the speaker wires to rca cables (with some benefits).

I'm not there yet myself but planned to use the Audio control LC1 or 2 For this purpose. One of them (not sure which, maybe both!) also uses the speaker wires to allow remote turn on of the amp. Essentially, if the speaker wires have current, it will switch on the amp. Whilst you'll still need a permanent live and solid earth for your amp, it saves buggering about finding an ignition live.

I see the LOC as a solution instead of the expensive amp option others with more disposable income go for. Also, I hanker after an old Rockford Fosgate amp from back in the day...

I hope that helps, here's a link to the LOC https://audiocontrol.com/car-audio/factory-system-upgrade/lc2i/

I hope not to have steered you wrong here, I am sure someone else can add more detail or correct where needed.

 

[SiMsound]

Not having a "harness only" solution but for all who would like to have a real plug and play soundsystem we have the perfect solution.

https://shop.car-u-audio.de/plug-and-play-soundsystem-v4m-fuer-ineos-grenadier-und-quartermaster.html

 

[Krabby]

I haven't done it myself yet Krabby but my understanding is that you need to connect through the high level input (speaker wires) to get the signal that needs amplifying. I am 99% sure theres no rca outputs like we used to have, back when a head unit wasn't integrated and could be swapped with two hacksaw blades in under a minute.

These speaker wires are in the control module which in a right hand drive is under the steering wheel behind the cowling. I'm not going to lie, is a bugger to get to and probably needs to be loosened off to reach the speaker wires.

The easiest way is to insert a line output controller (LOC) between the speaker wires and the amp, this essentially converts the speaker wires to rca cables (with some benefits).

I'm not there yet myself but planned to use the Audio control LC1 or 2 For this purpose. One of them (not sure which, maybe both!) also uses the speaker wires to allow remote turn on of the amp. Essentially, if the speaker wires have current, it will switch on the amp. Whilst you'll still need a permanent live and solid earth for your amp, it saves buggering about finding an ignition live.

I see the LOC as a solution instead of the expensive amp option others with more disposable income go for. Also, I hanker after an old Rockford Fosgate amp from back in the day...

I hope that helps, here's a link to the LOC https://audiocontrol.com/car-audio/factory-system-upgrade/lc2i/

I hope not to have steered you wrong here, I am sure someone else can add more detail or correct where needed.

LC2 seems like a winner but there’s no adapter to easily connect into the IG.

Any idea what fits this?

 

[Paddy]

I think I know what you're getting at, like theres a conversion plug/harness like we used to have on the old DIN replacement units? So you could put an Alpine/Kenwood/Nakamichi unit where the old Ford unit would be?

Again, I dont want to steer you wrong but I would assume alternatively, you tap into the existing speaker wires that run through that plug (?), rather than requiring a connector/harness.

Thinking differently for these new fangled integrated units, you just need to isolate and tap into the speaker outputs, those old harnesses did power, ignition live, earth etc. And theres no need to touch those bits. You'll need to find and install a permanent/ignition live and a different ground for your amp anyway.

This guy explains it better in relation to the LOC2, albeit with a voice that screams adenoid removal required:
.https://youtu.be/1A0t7djU-u8?si=byBfLzOla9VpmVVh

I wish I was at the point where I was doing this too, to give better advice through actually doing!

 

[Karearea]

Paddy…
Should I be trying to give this another life then? (Came out of one of the first Discos I had in around 1990)
If so would it be an easy install?

 

[Skydance]

I have the same amplifier on another vehicle. This amp has high level speaker input so the audio control LOC2 isn’t really necessary.

The only issue is making or finding a T harness which most likely involve a lot of repining. The harness then can be connected to either an amp or LOC2.

I did a quick cross reference for a BMW audio harness and the connectors look different.

Someone will sell them soon. Personally I don’t like splicing into original wires.