Line Output Converter Alternatives for 04 ECSB?

fastblackcar94 · October 20, 2004

I have the factory CD Player in my 04 Silverado. No XM, On-Star, Bose or any of those goodies. Basically, I like how the factory unit looks over all the aftermarket ones available, and I'm not ready to drop $300+ on a good deck only to have to put another $100-150 in adapters to make the darn thing work well. I was wondering, are there any better-quality alternatives to using a LOC?

I have 2 ideas that may or may not be possible:

1.) Upgrade to a 6-disc changer from a Premium BOSE system, then purchase the Peripheral Electronics GMAA box (http://peripheralelectronics.com/2002/onstar.asp) to connect my external amp(s). The reason I was thinking this is because I assume that the non-variable output on this deck would be a low-level, pre-amp source since it is giving the amp control of everything in this system. If it's just basically tapping a high-level signal and acting as a typical LOC, then I don't want to bother with it. I'll just hold out for the MP3 unit to hit eBay.

2.) Is there any way to make an internal modification to the radio so that it by-passes the on-board amp? Basically, is there somewhere I could solder on some leads and get a low-level, pre-amp signal?

If neither of these two are feasible, I'll probably just end up using a LOC. Anyone have any experience with the new 6-channel Audiocontrol unit that came out recently? I really do not want to be disappointed with the sound of the upgrades, but I really don't want to give up the stock deck for cosmetic reasons and just because it's a pain in the arse! I plan on upgrading to CDT 6.5" components in the front doors, receiving 75-100wRMS each, no rear fill, and a 12" sub under the rear seat getting between 400-500wRMS.

SlamminL5s · October 20, 2004

personally i would go though all the crap to get a 300 dollar one to work

i would say get a alpine headunit and the upgraded wiring harness with xm radio outputs... i dont know what to say about onstar... never worked with that yet...

2004GMC1500CC · October 20, 2004

I have the factory CD Player in my 04 Silverado. No XM, On-Star, Bose or any of those goodies. Basically, I like how the factory unit looks over all the aftermarket ones available, and I'm not ready to drop $300+ on a good deck only to have to put another $100-150 in adapters to make the darn thing work well. I was wondering, are there any better-quality alternatives to using a LOC?

I have 2 ideas that may or may not be possible:

1.) Upgrade to a 6-disc changer from a Premium BOSE system, then purchase the Peripheral Electronics GMAA box (http://peripheralelectronics.com/2002/onstar.asp) to connect my external amp(s). The reason I was thinking this is because I assume that the non-variable output on this deck would be a low-level, pre-amp source since it is giving the amp control of everything in this system. If it's just basically tapping a high-level signal and acting as a typical LOC, then I don't want to bother with it. I'll just hold out for the MP3 unit to hit eBay.

2.) Is there any way to make an internal modification to the radio so that it by-passes the on-board amp? Basically, is there somewhere I could solder on some leads and get a low-level, pre-amp signal?

If neither of these two are feasible, I'll probably just end up using a LOC. Anyone have any experience with the new 6-channel Audiocontrol unit that came out recently? I really do not want to be disappointed with the sound of the upgrades, but I really don't want to give up the stock deck for cosmetic reasons and just because it's a pain in the arse! I plan on upgrading to CDT 6.5" components in the front doors, receiving 75-100wRMS each, no rear fill, and a 12" sub under the rear seat getting between 400-500wRMS.

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Get an adaptor from PAC Audio. It goes between the factory harness and the radio. It will give you 2 sets of pre-amp outputs but leaves everything else alone. Its what I used and it works great. Even has adjustments for the gain on the pre-amp.

fastblackcar94 · October 20, 2004

I do not have onstar or the XM. I do not want to use an aftermarket one cause frankly they're all ugly, don't have RDS, and don't fill the opening (an all the bezel kits look cheap if you ask me). Frankly, the only thing that an aftermarket deck has as the advantage of, to me, is that it offers pre-amp outputs, which is the whole point of this thread. I want to know if it's possible to tap into the circuitry somewhere and pull an un-amplified signal from the factory deck, or if the factory luxury models do in-fact output pre-amp signals in the harness.

The PAC adapter would work, but it is a Line Out Converter which I'd like to avoid if at all possible without getting an aftermarket deck. It would be converting a high-level signal to a low-level signal which would eventually become a high-level again. I'd like to just get a low-level signal off of the factory deck somewhere and avoid all this conversion if possible. If not, I'll just give in and get a LOC because I do not feel like spending the money on a deck for. I've heard of high-end custom stereo shops grabbing low-level signals off of the factory decks in cars such as BMW's and Benz's where the users are more anal than I am about loosing the factory look/feel. I'm curious if this is an option with this stereo as well.

My goal is not to have a competition-grade high-budget stereo in all of this. I'm simply looking to get external amplification without any noise or static in the audio. I'm upgrading for clearer sound and better bass, so anything that sounds clearer and fuller than factory will be enough for me. I just don't want any hissing or other annoyances.

moregrip · October 20, 2004

I do not have onstar or the XM. I do not want to use an aftermarket one cause frankly they're all ugly, don't have RDS, and don't fill the opening (an all the bezel kits look cheap if you ask me). Frankly, the only thing that an aftermarket deck has as the advantage of, to me, is that it offers pre-amp outputs, which is the whole point of this thread. I want to know if it's possible to tap into the circuitry somewhere and pull an un-amplified signal from the factory deck, or if the factory luxury models do in-fact output pre-amp signals in the harness.

The PAC adapter would work, but it is a Line Out Converter which I'd like to avoid if at all possible without getting an aftermarket deck. It would be converting a high-level signal to a low-level signal which would eventually become a high-level again. I'd like to just get a low-level signal off of the factory deck somewhere and avoid all this conversion if possible. If not, I'll just give in and get a LOC because I do not feel like spending the money on a deck for. I've heard of high-end custom stereo shops grabbing low-level signals off of the factory decks in cars such as BMW's and Benz's where the users are more anal than I am about loosing the factory look/feel. I'm curious if this is an option with this stereo as well.

My goal is not to have a competition-grade high-budget stereo in all of this. I'm simply looking to get external amplification without any noise or static in the audio. I'm upgrading for clearer sound and better bass, so anything that sounds clearer and fuller than factory will be enough for me. I just don't want any hissing or other annoyances.

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this is what I would use

http://www.davidnavone.com/adaptor_products.htm

2004GMC1500CC · October 21, 2004

I do not have onstar or the XM. I do not want to use an aftermarket one cause frankly they're all ugly, don't have RDS, and don't fill the opening (an all the bezel kits look cheap if you ask me). Frankly, the only thing that an aftermarket deck has as the advantage of, to me, is that it offers pre-amp outputs, which is the whole point of this thread. I want to know if it's possible to tap into the circuitry somewhere and pull an un-amplified signal from the factory deck, or if the factory luxury models do in-fact output pre-amp signals in the harness.

The PAC adapter would work, but it is a Line Out Converter which I'd like to avoid if at all possible without getting an aftermarket deck. It would be converting a high-level signal to a low-level signal which would eventually become a high-level again. I'd like to just get a low-level signal off of the factory deck somewhere and avoid all this conversion if possible. If not, I'll just give in and get a LOC because I do not feel like spending the money on a deck for. I've heard of high-end custom stereo shops grabbing low-level signals off of the factory decks in cars such as BMW's and Benz's where the users are more anal than I am about loosing the factory look/feel. I'm curious if this is an option with this stereo as well.

My goal is not to have a competition-grade high-budget stereo in all of this. I'm simply looking to get external amplification without any noise or static in the audio. I'm upgrading for clearer sound and better bass, so anything that sounds clearer and fuller than factory will be enough for me. I just don't want any hissing or other annoyances.

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The PAC is NOT a line level converter. It does exactly what you want. It gives you a pre-amp BEFORE it ever gets to the radio.

fastblackcar94 · October 21, 2004

How is the PAC harness not converting a high-level signal to a low-level? The signal leaves the radio as a high-level signal unless the radio in Silverados is somehow different than 98% of the others out there. How can a modification external of the radio change what's goin on internally? There is no external amplifier in my system that I am aware of since mine is just a basic 4-speaker system and not the BOSE.

Wingnut · October 21, 2004

I've been trying to figure out the benifits of using a PAC adapter over LOC for a while now, and nobody has been able to explain it to me.

There was a guy masterp2 (or something like that) that was talking about them a while back, but he never really explained it, and I havn't' been able to find anything that really made me want to pull my LOC's out.

Mine sounds pretty darn nice with the LOC's by the way.

moregrip · October 21, 2004

I've been trying to figure out the benifits of using a PAC adapter over LOC for a while now, and nobody has been able to explain it to me.

There was a guy masterp2 (or something like that) that was talking about them a while back, but he never really explained it, and I havn't' been able to find anything that really made me want to pull my LOC's out.

Mine sounds pretty darn nice with the LOC's by the way.

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I was told that the PAC unit is not as clean as a high quality LOC. The Pac unit will raise the "noise floor".

When adding the LOC you want to put it where the speaker wire meets the speaker, if possible.

I learned all this from Dave Navone, just go to his web site and email him if you don't want to take my word for it, I wouldn't.

Hope this helps in some way

Wingnut · October 21, 2004

See? And I've heard just the opposite...That PAC adapters are better.

I give up. Mine sounds bada$$, so it stays how it is.

fastblackcar94 · October 21, 2004

I've used a PAC OEM adapter in the past for a Firebird with a 10-speaker Delco system. I was not impressed at all. In fact, it was in the car for about 4 days and now it is sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

I'm glad to hear the LOC is working well for you! Sure would be a lot easier.

I looked at Dave's site yesterday, that may be the option I go with. The other option is the $150 Audiocontrol LOC, but frankly I'd rather lose my ass on a nice-looking $20-30 LOC (Dave's) than just get ripped off right from the start, lol. $20-30 won't kill me if it doesn't work out.

Why do you want it right where it meets the speaker? I was planning on tying it in right at the reciever, then running well-insulated RCA's back to my amp(s) for the longer distance. Also, it would be kinda hard to put the LOC in the door and run the RCA's through the door grommet.

Wingnut · October 21, 2004

I put mine in the dash, right behind the head unit.

Click here for my post from last March when I installed all my junk.

fastblackcar94 · October 21, 2004

I put mine in the dash, right behind the head unit.

Click here for my post from last March when I installed all my junk.

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Very nice! Do you have any problems as far as heat's concerned or rattles with them being tucked behind the seats and using Dynamat? Is there enough depth to make a rack of some kind, or possibly put Dynamat underneath the amps as well as surrounding them? I was just gonna mount my amps under the front seats, but this would be better if I can pull it off!

moregrip · October 21, 2004

Why do you want it right where it meets the speaker? I was planning on tying it in right at the reciever, then running well-insulated RCA's back to my amp(s) for the longer distance. Also, it would be kinda hard to put the LOC in the door and run the RCA's through the door grommet.

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Thats how Dave told me to do it.

Regarding the PAC units. I just took out my PAC Audio Bose adapter to run an aftermarket deck and retain chimes/RAP etc. The chimes sounded so different they were annoying, like a ding(static) ding(static) instead of a clean ding.

These are just my personal experiences, so take them for what they are worth. I always like to get multiple inputs.

2004GMC1500CC · October 22, 2004

I've used a PAC OEM adapter in the past for a Firebird with a 10-speaker Delco system. I was not impressed at all. In fact, it was in the car for about 4 days and now it is sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

I'm glad to hear the LOC is working well for you! Sure would be a lot easier.

I looked at Dave's site yesterday, that may be the option I go with. The other option is the $150 Audiocontrol LOC, but frankly I'd rather lose my ass on a nice-looking $20-30 LOC (Dave's) than just get ripped off right from the start, lol. $20-30 won't kill me if it doesn't work out.

Why do you want it right where it meets the speaker? I was planning on tying it in right at the reciever, then running well-insulated RCA's back to my amp(s) for the longer distance. Also, it would be kinda hard to put the LOC in the door and run the RCA's through the door grommet.

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