DIY - Aftermarket Amp, Speakers, + Subs w/ Stock Head Unit (Make Sticky?)

I´ve installed a sub moved with an amplifier, for this installation I´ve tapped rear speakers wires. Signal is converted directly from the speaker wires to rca´s by a Caliber hi/low conversor. Is Sven 4 similar to this?
I don´t understand when you say that business has "balanced signal". Signal is not taken directly from the speaker outputs of the HU?

This is what I´ve installed for sub

Originally Posted by alicuencana

I´ve installed a sub moved with an amplifier, for this installation I´ve tapped rear speakers wires. Signal is converted directly from the speaker wires to rca´s by a Caliber hi/low conversor. Is Sven 4 similar to this?
I don´t understand when you say that business has "balanced signal". Signal is not taken directly from the speaker outputs of the HU?

Because you're in Spain, I believe things are a bit different. In North America, most (it used to be all) cars come with a factory amplifier in the trunk, so their are no speaker outputs behind the head unit, basically just an RCA signal that is sent back to that amplifier. The amplifier then sends out the signals to the speakers. In Europe, I believe the cars have no amp and all of the speakers are driven off of the head unit. In your case, tapping into that speaker line with a Hi/Lo convertor was really your only the option. The SVEN4 would have done pretty much the same thing in that case.

In the US, though, the RCA outputs from the Head Unit are called "balanced." This is where the SVEN4 shines above the similar Line Output Convertors from Radio Shack or any other store as it "corrects" the balanced signal to an industry standard RCA.

Basically, unless you're having issues with alternator whine or poor sound quality, I'd leave things the way they are. (It's a subwoofer so I'm not even sure you can hear any difference in quality.) If you are having issues, the SVEN4 might be an option if only for the reason that so many guys on this board are using it and could help you out. Good luck. (Buena Fortuna?) I haven't taken Spanish in a long time!

Thanks for your answers Seth.
"Buena suerte" is better. In Spain speakers came from stock HU directly. Amplifiers are in the soundmodul or HK systems.
Where does balanced outputs came from. Soundsystem output?



I know that in sub it doesnt matter cuality of input but I want to amplify all the speakers, that´s why I don´t know what to do.
Amplifier with speaker level inputs? ampli and HI/LO conversor? or remove HU(best cuality, no oem look)
Thanks for all and excuse me for my english

Is the SVEN4 still recommended or the Audio Control LC6?

Originally Posted by xmltok

Is the SVEN4 still recommended or the Audio Control LC6?

I think it depends on who you ask. Many have had success with both.

I guess they have slightly different applications, SVEN4 accepts balanced inputs where the LC6 does not, so the LC6 has to be fed from after the stock amp, therefor an extra box in the trunk. I'm going to go with the 2XS and run my fronts/sub off that.

Thanks a lot seth, thats a great post. Some of the technical stuff is a little over my head, but for someone with little idea about how it all works that was a great thing to read before making decisions for myself.

Originally Posted by m3ericc

Thanks a lot seth, thats a great post. Some of the technical stuff is a little over my head, but for someone with little idea about how it all works that was a great thing to read before making decisions for myself.

I can't take credit for it, but I felt like it was a "must read" for anyone even pondering an audio upgrade in an E46. At least you can figure out how things are now, so you can use existing wires and the like for any upgrades.

Excellent post! This is exactly what I was looking for!

Now I have to go see if the pictures match my car

FYI on the SVEN4 or SVEN2

I went to walmart for something else even though i hate that place and noticed in their car audio section they have a standard line-level converter.

The thing is, it has the same or very very similar circuitry (audio transformer, some caps, etc) as the SVEN. If someone is in a pinch, they should try this $18 part - its a 4 channel unit.

This DIY is awesome! I think I'm going to go for a sub and amp soon, but I have a non-HK and Nav system in my MY2004 M3 Coupe. How different is the install? I know the nav DVD drive and HU are in the area where this DIY shows the amp being installed. Is there a similar DIY for non-HK and Nav cars?

Thanks!

Thanks so much for the information. I used this last weekend and it was extremely valuable.

can someone please tell me where to tap in for the LOC (hi-low converter)??? i know the rear speakers, but I heard you are supposed to tap in before the amp, and if this is true, what is the wiring diagram for the non-HK amp?? and just to make sure is the amp on the driver side or the passenger side?? my car is an '02 325ci (and this is just for simple a mono-subs install

nice DIY but just wanna know, will this work with 05 ZHP, that came w/ HK + NAV ? i not to sure cause i try to install an amp for my mid and high (since i already got the bass) they say that if i add just the amp i will lost the NAV's voice? so if you can give me an wiring diagram, or a link how to. thank you

has anyone noticed distortion at high volumes with the stock head unit?

Everyone, thanks for posting. This will help me out with some things I want to do with my 03 330i. At the very least let me know what I am in for.

I replaced my stock head unit with the alpine cda-9855. So I might just go directly from the head unit and rewire. However, I may just use a similar approach. Oh and finally, thanks for sourcing the links!

Originally Posted by xmltok

has anyone noticed distortion at high volumes with the stock head unit?

Yes, I don't even have to turn it up that high to get noticeable distortion, I can't wait to get all my aftermarket stuff in.

Everyone, thanks for posting. This will help me out with some things I want to do with my 03 330i. At the very least let me know what I am in for.

I replaced my stock head unit with the alpine cda-9855. So I might just go directly from the head unit and rewire. However, I may just use a similar approach. Oh and finally, thanks for sourcing the links!

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