Another Stereo Thread!!

[JeffTheViperMan]

But I only have ONE question - I'll ask it now:

Is the Alpine head unit that comes in a 2000 Viper GTS (Stock, with CD player) preamped, or not preamped? I'm simply trying to determine if I need a high-level to low-level convertor.

I recently purchased a 2000 GTS - I introduced myself in the Newbie forum. I have a pretty sweet Jensen VM9512 head unit with support for sattelite, iPod, navigation, etc. I've already installed it into my Stratus but will be switching it over to the Viper. I'm really in no interest of gutting the Viper at this point, so I'm going to tie the Jensen into the Viper without cutting any wires. Here's what I have so far:

The headunit - Jensen VM9512
A defunct Alpine unit from Ebay - I'll gut it and remove it's male-plug from the back of the unit
A female 8-pin solder-on plug from Ebay
A source for the high-lev to low-lev convertor - just no sure if I need it or not.

I'll just need a new harness for the back of the Jensen - Circuit City has them.

I'll run the jensen harness to the converter - if needed - and then from there split the wires up to the 8-pin and harvested Alpine plug. When I'm done I might have about a solid foot of wiring, but should be able to plug it directly into the Viper harness, bundle it neatly, and install.

So if anyone can answer my question at the top of this post, I can build this puppy and install. Pics will come shortly after.

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[jasontiff]

I'm going to go with not preamped, given the 2 amps in the trunk. I took the preamp outs of my Clarion into the aftermarket amp in the trunk. If I'm off-base, someone chime in and let me know.

 

[JeffTheViperMan]

I'm thinking that you're correct, except that most aftermarket units are always preamped, and the Alpine is (of course) an aftermarket unit. I found some information on other Viper boards suggesting that the Alpine unit isn't amped, and thus the converter would be needed. I'm prepared to get one - I just want to make sure I need it.

Thanks, and if anyone else has solid info, please bop on in.

Jeff

 

[dave6666]

I put an aftermarket Alpine in my 2001 GTS using the factory amp. From the new radio the pre-outs were used. So if the factory amp is not used to seeing pre-amplified input signals and I hooked up a unit that is pre-amped, what is the factory amp doing, clipping the signal to save itself?

 

[shmoos]

I installed an aftermarket radio using the stock amp. I went to my local Alpine dealer to have them make me a custom harness for my car. They have the all round din plugs that are common to alpine radios. They made a harness to plug into the stock harness and all is perfect. So when the time comes to ether get a new radio or re-install stock radio, all i have to do is unplug custom made harness and plug stock radio back in and all is good. Here is the link to the number http://forums.viperclub.org/new-jersey/611034-radio.html
PM me if you have any questions.

 

[GTSnake]

I'm thinking that you're correct, except that most aftermarket units are always preamped, and the Alpine is (of course) an aftermarket unit.

Remember, just because Alpine makes aftermarket products it doesn't mean the stock one is the same. OE's have specific requirements and cost targets that suppliers have to achieve. Therefore the make up of the OE units are not close to the aftermarket ones. The name plate on the front may be the same but the insides are far from similar.

If you want more functionality then a simple swap of the head unit is all you need. But if you really want it to sound good you should change out the amp too.

 

[JeffTheViperMan]

I hear ya, GTSnake, and I agree.

All evidence points to a non-preamped factory unit, so it looks like I'll need a converter. No biggee - already have my source. Thanks.

 

[DarcShadow]

Ok, I'm trying to follow this and clearly I don't have all the info. You are taking out the stock radio that we believe does not have a pre-amp. There is an amp in the trunk though, so does that mean there is a pre amp some place else, or does the single amp do the pre-amp and then the actual amp?

If there is a pre-amp some place else in the car, wouldn't it just be easier to bypass that when you install the new pre-amped head unit?

Sorry if this is a bit naive, I have little dealing with stereo equipment but from an electrical perspective I understand the pre-amp and amp system.

 

[dave6666]

My Alpine CDA-9885 that I replaced my factory unit with does have a pre-amp, hence the pre-amp outputs. So if I took a unit out that does not have pre-outs, like what is being said about the factory unit, then why is the CDA-9885 not toasting the factory amp?

OK, so I did a little looking at that subject, and the consensus was that higher pre-amp voltage actually helps the main amp run more efficiently. I will accept that.

Bottom line is, you can take the factory radio out and put in an aftermarket unit using the pre-outs and everything works fine.

Am I the only one that doesn't care if the factory radio did or did not have a pre-amp? All you have to do to make your new head work with your factory amp is connect them. Maybe that's just the lucky result of sticking with Alpine. Dunno. More time for fine drinking, less time for adapter hunting and analysis.

 

[jk]

I replaced the stock head unit with the same one Dave used: the Alpine CDA-9885, but I also replaced the factory amp in the trunk, so I did not deal with those issues.

 

[dave6666]

I replaced the stock head unit with the same one Dave used: the Alpine CDA-9885, but I also replaced the factory amp in the trunk, so I did not deal with those issues.

Read my post. There are no issues.

 

[jk]

Dave, I wasn't talking about your issues ;-)
I meant I did not have any power matching issues the OP mentioned.
Sorry for the confusion.

 

[dave6666]

Dave, I wasn't talking about your issues ;-)
I meant I did not have any power matching issues the OP mentioned.
Sorry for the confusion.

I know... I was kind of hard timing this thread a bit with your name in the line above it. Sorry.

I've just never heard of even thinking a head unit/amp setup would not have the pre-amp in the head until this thread. I thought that was like the only way they came. Still think that matter of fact!