STi Speaker Wiring Setup?

**i_drank_what** · 08-31-2005, 06:38 PM

To startoff this will be my first time installing an amplifier and everything about my stereo is stock.

I have a question about running the speaker wires. Since they already are routed to a harness behind the head unit I was wondering if I would be able to just connect a harness (which has longer speaker wires attached) to the factory harness, then run the speaker wires from the newly plugged in harness to the amplifier that will sit either in the trunk or under the front seat. I do not want to remove the factory harness. Should I be concerned about the additional length of wire that will be added between the speaker/amp connection? Should I run a thicker gauge wire from the "New" harness or should it be the same gauge as the stock wire gauge running to the existing harness? Also, if this is a workable solution - whats a good place to buy the required harness?

**kiltjim** · 08-31-2005, 10:12 PM

Don't worry about it. Its alright to use the adapter. In fact, in most situations, the preferred method. As for the place to get it, go to the local audio shop. They WILL have them.

But as for the car, you should really get rid of that one quick. I'll take it off of your hands. I won't even charge you for it.

**John M** · 09-01-2005, 12:06 AM

Yep - Subaru has used the same radio harness pinout for a number of years. I'd recommend 16 gauge speaker wire.

If you're keeping the stock stereo you'll want to buy two harnesses; one that plugs into the stock radio and one that plugs into the wiring harness. Then you wire them together, substituting the wires from your amp and capping off the speaker outputs of the stock radio. It'll make sense when you're looking at it. The bad part is most places don't stock the harness for the OEM radio so you'll have to order it.

**C4M** · 09-01-2005, 06:23 AM

Are you keeping the stock speakers too?

Where's the computer in your diagram?

**i_drank_what** · 09-01-2005, 12:10 PM

Thanks for the info. I will be keeping the stock speakers for now. Im putting in an amp just so that Ill have the ability to output the music from an in-dash car pc. I will actually be ditching the head unit and replacing it with the car pc shortly after the amp is wired in. I just want to take things slow and a step at a time to make sure I do them right.