Convertible owners.. don't lose the stock headrest controls!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 49
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From: Littleton, CO
Convertible owners.. don't lose the stock headrest controls!
Howdy,
I'm currently in the process of installing a new stereo system in my '91 convertible, I've ripped out pretty much all of the old stuff, and am using an in-dash equalizer and external amplifiers for both my sub and mids/hi's. Anyway, depending on how you replace the headunit in the convertible, you may give up the headrest speakers and the headrest speaker controls.
It seemed a shame to me to have all those cool buttons in the center console not do anything. As I was ripping out the headrest amplifier to make room for my subwoofer enclosure, I got the bright idea to integrate the factory headrest speaker amplifier into my system. It turns out that the headrest speaker amplifier and the console controls operate independent of the stock head unit. Its actually pretty simple to integrate them into your aftermarket system, and still have all those cool buttons work, including independent passenger/driver volume controls.
If anyone is interested I can post the wiring diagram for the headrest amplifier and a more detailed description of how I set up my system.
I'm currently in the process of installing a new stereo system in my '91 convertible, I've ripped out pretty much all of the old stuff, and am using an in-dash equalizer and external amplifiers for both my sub and mids/hi's. Anyway, depending on how you replace the headunit in the convertible, you may give up the headrest speakers and the headrest speaker controls.
It seemed a shame to me to have all those cool buttons in the center console not do anything. As I was ripping out the headrest amplifier to make room for my subwoofer enclosure, I got the bright idea to integrate the factory headrest speaker amplifier into my system. It turns out that the headrest speaker amplifier and the console controls operate independent of the stock head unit. Its actually pretty simple to integrate them into your aftermarket system, and still have all those cool buttons work, including independent passenger/driver volume controls.
If anyone is interested I can post the wiring diagram for the headrest amplifier and a more detailed description of how I set up my system.
Yes please post info. I too have a 91 vert. The sound system has just about had it. Ive pretty much ignored my vert ever since I got the FD. Its about time to show here some more attention.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, CO
There are two wiring harnesses that plug into the headrest amplifier, one with 20 wires and one with 4 wires. I have attached a wiring diagram for each (if you can't see them try http://www.geocities.com/crackavelli/wiring_diagram.jpg ). Hold the harness so that the wires poke out toward you to match orientation to the diagram.
The only wires that may need to be messed with are the left and right channel inputs and the remote turn-on.
I believe that left and right channel inputs run directly from rear speaker wires behind the dash. So if you are just installing an aftermarket deck, hook up the rear channel as you normally would. There is also a remote turn-on wire behind the dash too. Hook this wire up to the remote wire of your deck and everything should work. Buy a schosche wiring harness when you replace your deck and it points everything I just mentioned.
However, my system wasn't that simple. I am using an in-dash EQ that has multiple inputs, so I can switch between my CD player and my hand-held mp3 player. If I ran the headrest speakers from my deck, they wouldn't work when I was using the mp3 player. I had previously run RCA cables from the EQ back to the spare tire compartment where I had one of my amps running my door speakers. That particular amplifier had an additional RCA output. I bought a couple RCA plugs at radio shack (the kind you have to solder wires to), and connected them to the inputs of the headrest amplifier. Basically, the additional RCA output of my door speaker amp was connected to the headrest amplifier left and right channel inputs. Both my door speaker amp and the headrest amplifier were run off the same remote turn-on.
The only problem I have with my setup is that the gain of the headrest amplifier must be pretty small, because I can barely hear the headrest speakers, even with my ear pressed to the speaker. I think I will get an RCA pre-amplifier to help the situation. Here is a link to info on the pre-amplifier if you're interested.
http://peripheralelectronics.com/2002/signal_path.asp
If you run the left and right channel inputs directly from the speaker wires of your deck I don't think there will be a problem.
I found the wiring diagram from the factory service manual to be very helpful. You can download this from
http://www.iluvmyrx7.com
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
The only wires that may need to be messed with are the left and right channel inputs and the remote turn-on.
I believe that left and right channel inputs run directly from rear speaker wires behind the dash. So if you are just installing an aftermarket deck, hook up the rear channel as you normally would. There is also a remote turn-on wire behind the dash too. Hook this wire up to the remote wire of your deck and everything should work. Buy a schosche wiring harness when you replace your deck and it points everything I just mentioned.
However, my system wasn't that simple. I am using an in-dash EQ that has multiple inputs, so I can switch between my CD player and my hand-held mp3 player. If I ran the headrest speakers from my deck, they wouldn't work when I was using the mp3 player. I had previously run RCA cables from the EQ back to the spare tire compartment where I had one of my amps running my door speakers. That particular amplifier had an additional RCA output. I bought a couple RCA plugs at radio shack (the kind you have to solder wires to), and connected them to the inputs of the headrest amplifier. Basically, the additional RCA output of my door speaker amp was connected to the headrest amplifier left and right channel inputs. Both my door speaker amp and the headrest amplifier were run off the same remote turn-on.
The only problem I have with my setup is that the gain of the headrest amplifier must be pretty small, because I can barely hear the headrest speakers, even with my ear pressed to the speaker. I think I will get an RCA pre-amplifier to help the situation. Here is a link to info on the pre-amplifier if you're interested.
http://peripheralelectronics.com/2002/signal_path.asp
If you run the left and right channel inputs directly from the speaker wires of your deck I don't think there will be a problem.
I found the wiring diagram from the factory service manual to be very helpful. You can download this from
http://www.iluvmyrx7.com
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, CO
OK.. so apparently geocities doesn't allow hosting of files on message boards...
you can still see the wiring diagram at
http://www.geocities.com/crackavelli...g_diagram.html
you can still see the wiring diagram at
http://www.geocities.com/crackavelli...g_diagram.html
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