Interfacing with Dodge Ram 7 Speaker Infinity System

**IssaquahWA1979** · 10-16-2009, 02:42 PM

I have searched and found bits and pieces to my overall questions on multiple sites but none of them fit together...

So I have an 05 Ram with the infinity 7 speaker system (2 rear, 2 6x9 door, and 3 in dash) I want to run this off of amps for now using the small and less expensive motorcycle amps due to space and money.

What I cannot figure out is I know the dodge uses a separate amp but also has amps on each speaker; is this correct? In order to use external amps will I have to run new wire or is there a simplistic way of bypassing the stock amp? The other option would be has anyone successfully interfaced with the stock amp and not have the HU in place?

Like I said I know there have been tons of discussions over the boards but nobody has really answered this in a straight forward "yes do it this way" type of fashion and for someone who is not all that up on car audio I am at a loss.

Thanks for the help!

**kross** · 10-16-2009, 07:46 PM

I don't have a Dodge Ram, but a little Googling leads me to believe it shouldn't be a problem to integrate an aftermarket HU or carputer with the stock amp. It looks like you need Metra CHTO-02 Interface kit.

**IssaquahWA1979** · 10-16-2009, 09:39 PM

interesting, thank you.

I knew that you could do the after market HU and bypass the amp with some rewiring but not that it would interface so this gives me some hope.

**IssaquahWA1979** · 11-01-2009, 01:57 AM

got the above suggested interface delivered today will let everyone know how it works tomorrow :-)

**IssaquahWA1979** · 11-03-2009, 02:52 AM

So I got the unit installed yesterday and tweaked today. I would say the audio quality is better than the stock head unit however I have one major issue with this that I have not quite figured out yet.... NO CENTER CHANNEL!!!!! There is absolutely no audio going to the center channel on the system which means I am not getting any voice at all. I have tweaked the settings to no end on the sound card and nada. So not sure what to do but its annoying to say the least.... Install was really easy as I did not need any of the wires for power etc. The amp turns on with the key no further wiring necessary. The package says no fade control if you have the U-Connect but I do and tried unplugging the U-Connect just for giggles in case that was part of my problem it made no difference in audio.

**IssaquahWA1979** · 12-23-2009, 12:14 PM

I wanted to update this thread... The audio system is working just fine and the center channel does work, it turned out o be that I did not have a good ground on the sound card and was causing some funky issues... I still do not have quite the fade control I would like as the software for the audigy that I am running does not seem to have quite the mixer controls that I remember it having in the past.