Thread: FAQ: Connecting your soundcard to a Volkswagen Monsoon Amp

No, as in the m2-atx-hv. I have a VW b5 passat.

Originally Posted by sux89

Oh and also couldn't you just use this up in the front of the vehicle too? Then you could just use the existing factory wiring...no electrical noise from running audio lines all the way back. Correct me if I'm wrong...

I believe this topic needs to be touched on some more, sorry if this thread is 10 yrs old but its still something people do. for test reasons im going to use a cheapo mp3 player and i guess what i want to do is put it where the factory head unit goes. I have the aftermarket harness to install a new head unit and im wondering if i could just tap into that. now where im confused is the 5v that turns on the amp. Does the amp not turn on with an aftermarket stereo?
So im guessing things i will need would be, male headphone2rca left&right, Ground loop isolator and a 5volt regulator. out of the ground loop with rca left&right to the aftermarket harness and 5v to the aftermarket harness.

Where im lost. Where the 5v goes into the harness( i would have to research more)
Since its a mp3 player im loosing my front/back (surround sound) capabilities as to where i could have a dolby 5.1 sound card with front and rear outputs.

this is already starting out as a headache and im most certain a aftermarket amplifier would be easier BUT then again i would be splicing into the wiring .
I just feel this could be cheaper
I guess subwoofer output would be on the sound card to



seems like a headache but i thought i would put my 2 cents in.
final opinion Delete monsoon, replace with aftermarket amplifier.

you would have to replace the speakers too

I replaced myVW OEM HU with a Sony Xplode aftermarket HU without knowing that you need the +5v to make it work. It still has the Monsoon amp in the back and works just fine without modification.

That may be atypical, but that's my experience.

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

I replaced myVW OEM HU with a Sony Xplode aftermarket HU without knowing that you need the +5v to make it work. It still has the Monsoon amp in the back and works just fine without modification.

That may be atypical, but that's my experience.

I have also done the same but from what i get the amp can get overridden if its not turned on so therefore the HU wattage is bypassing the amp? maybe im wrong but thats what im getting from the whole experience.


Now why would i have to replace my speakers?

If i left the factory stereo in but bypassed the speaker wiring, with the stereo on the mp3 player idea should work?

http://www.vwpartsvortex.com has the parts for the Grey connector and the Wires.

Originally Posted by leperkuan

I have also done the same but from what i get the amp can get overridden if its not turned on so therefore the HU wattage is bypassing the amp? maybe im wrong but thats what im getting from the whole experience.


Now why would i have to replace my speakers?

If i left the factory stereo in but bypassed the speaker wiring, with the stereo on the mp3 player idea should work?

you would have to replace your speakers because they are meant to work on the factory monsoon amp only

Is it possible to hook up subs to the stock monsoon amp?

I've had this setup for about a year... and it works great, but does anyone get alternator whine still? I only get it when the audio input jack is not plugged into a device that is turned on (ipod, or computer). For instance, I get in my car every morning - and i have the whine, then plug in my ipod and turn it on... the whine goes away (even without playing music). Oddly enough, if I put the stereo jack in my mouth (no jokes) it also stops. any ideas? is the isolator bad?