Simple (Stupid?) car Radio/Audio Question

**ukchris** · 02-05-2007, 10:48 AM

Okay, for reasons not worth going in to assume the following:
1) I like to listen to AM radio
2) AM reception in my car sucks
3) I cannot replace the head unit in my car

So, if we procees on that basis I am considering installing a cheap head unit under a seat connected via an active amplifier to an antenna. The part I'm not too certain of is feeding the audio from this head unit in to an Auxiliary input on my head unit. The aux input consists of standard RCA jacks, would it be simple, basic wire from here to there or do I need to concern myself with other details such as if the signal is amplified already and all that stuff?

As you may guess I don't know a whole lot about car audio

I'm looking for a cheap head unit too if anyone has one!

Chris.

**durwood** · 02-05-2007, 11:03 AM

It's pretty simple. Just adjust the volume to a desired level so it doesn't clip. Set it and forget it since its goingto be hidden right? PM me, I have few cassette deck HUs.

**ukchris** · 02-05-2007, 11:06 AM

Thanks! PM Sent.

**2k1Toaster** · 02-05-2007, 11:06 AM

Well if the AUX input is standard RCA's then I would assume it want unamplified source. And if the HU you will get has what I think are called "pre-outs" (I don't know what they are called but I know what I mean!

) which I take to mean an unamplified sound out in addition to the amplified sound out then you should be ok.

Take the RCA connection from the new HU to the AUX in of the old HU. That should work. And if you get one with a detachable faceplate, then you can remote mount it and that would be pretty nifty.

**ukchris** · 02-05-2007, 11:10 AM

I think it should be able to live under the seat or in the trunk, it will live its life tuned to a single AM station and shouldn't need to be changed. To listen I should then select the Aux Input on my current stereo, all being well.

Thanks for the response, it's this pre-out and amplification that I was wondering about.

Chris.

**2k1Toaster** · 02-05-2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by ukchris

I think it should be able to live under the seat or in the trunk, it will live its life tuned to a single AM station and shouldn't need to be changed. To listen I should then select the Aux Input on my current stereo, all being well.

Thanks for the response, it's this pre-out and amplification that I was wondering about.

Chris.

And yup, just hit AUX in on your HU and all should work.

Good luck!

**durwood** · 02-05-2007, 11:13 AM

It's definitely not a problem. I used to have a dual HU setup years ago and ran one HU's pre-out into the aux-in on the other purely for the fact of playing MP3 cds.