portable mp3 player wired into monsoon amp questions

[grayman]

(WHY) car has 10 speaker cd player monsoon system, all stock. I will not replace head unit. I like my windows and dash in one piece and am also happy with basic performance of monsoon system. It is far less of a target for thieves with the oversized factory head unit than if I install an aftermarket head unit. I do very much miss having an mp3 head unit though, with 8 to 15 albums per cd. (the bastages around here steal radio units even if face is removed and not in car) (also not interested in adding cd changer to stock system)
SO, considering the above paragraph...I am interested in hooking up a portable mp3 player into the monsoon amp if possible.
I realize this is sorta tricky...here is plan so far... The stock head unit pumps the front speakers and the rear mounted tweaters.(?) The monsoon amp pumps the sail panel subs and the 4 inch rear speakers. I could upgrade the 4 inch rear speaker with better/bigger coax speakers and disconect the rear tweaters (shield the wires or pull the connector plug) (idea is to have local radio on front speakers and mp3 music in rear speakers)

I am assuming the inputs for the monsoon amp are line level...aka...not speaker level. I would be using the headphone out from portable unit with custom wirering/connectors to the l/r inputs on monsoon amp. (most headphone outputs are similar in power to line level...old audio engineering trick for routing mixing boards/monitors, etc.)

Among other issues I may not be aware of with our monsoon systems is the subs...getting them to work if possible with both/ either-or the stock head unit and also the portable mp3 player with out sending 200 or so watts INTO the mp3 player head phone jack and vice versa.

Another option is to install hidden SECOND amp (up there in tire well to keep company with the monsoon amp) and also install a seperate sub in the cubby and replace/upgrade the rear stereo speakers. turn on the mp3 player = dedicated amp pumping a sub in the cubby and two coax speakers in the rear panels. Turn on the indash monsoon for local radio and have front door speakers/sail panel subs pumped by the head unit and the stock monsoon amp. This would be the least 'tricky' wireing, but would cost more money in parts. (mainly the second amp and a sub)
regardless... the little f---k--g bastages will see this car as less of a target with the stock, oversized and ugly head unit and no flashy subs evident in passenger cab.
Not worried about intalling voltage convertor to cahrge the mp3 player. I can do that in the house.

Any thoughts or help with the stock monsoon integration vs second amp method appreciated.

[img]graemlins/dj.gif[/img]

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by grayman:
The stock head unit pumps the front speakers and the rear mounted tweaters.(?) The monsoon amp pumps the sail panel subs and the 4 inch rear speakers.

The stock head unit drives only the front door tweeters and the rear hatch mounted tweeters. The Monsoon Amp drives the front door 6-3/4" midranges, the dual voice coil subwoofers in the back where the rear passengers sit and the 4" mids located in the rear hatch.

I am assuming the inputs for the monsoon amp are line level...aka...not speaker level.

No, that's not correct. The Monsoon Amp uses speaker level inputs.

Just make things easy for yourself and buy a GM9-AUX adaptor to plug your MP3 Player into the back of your stock head unit. The adaptor plugs into the jack where the factory cd-changer would've plugged into and gives you a pair of RCA inputs. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[96firebird311]

Couldn't have said it better myself nda. [img]smile.gif[/img] And yes, they also make a headphone mini-plug to RCA adapter. Also, Pioneer makes two 1.5din sized units that look pretty low key. Just a note maybe for the future.

Now I have the picture in my head of grayman jumping up and down with joy because we just saved him a crap load of wiring and headaches. :D [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img]

[grayman]

that picture would be correct 96firebird311. THANKS!!!!!!!!!
WOW, I had no idea...obviously....very cool tip and links too. AWESOME!

Ok, the GM9-aux even splits in case you want to keep the trunk mounted cd changer (if you had one) . From the picture in the site that NDA so awesomly replied with I can't see the RCA jacks...I believe you, don't worry about that. So I did search on GM9-AUX and found an install guide for it. It shows the connection to head unit...a split off to the cd changer cable and then the gm9-aux converter terminating in two RCA jacks. At the bottom of the page it says something about "not to be used with single cd players...that connection is for a tape deck"...?
According to owners manual I have cd changer ready monsoon cd player head unit. (2001)
So this little warning at bottom of install guide is not intended for my year 2001 vehicle, I believe?
Here is the link to that particular install guide if you have not seen it before. http://www.installer.com/acc/gm9.html

there is no place to put an OEM cassete deck anyway. The deck is already double size....they must not be talking about my cool firebird.
[img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/banana.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rock.gif[/img]

[grayman]

either way...you guys should try to make this a sticky. so many ipods....so many monsoons.

[Dojo2000]

Originally posted by grayman:
either way...you guys should try to make this a sticky. so many ipods....so many monsoons.

I've got the DEH-P77DH and bought the aux RCA accessory so I could hook up my ipod.

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by grayman:
From the picture...I can't see the RCA jacks...

If you look real close at the picture, you can barely see the RCA's sticking out of the black box.

At the bottom of the page it says something about "not to be used with single cd players...that connection is for a tape deck"...?
According to owners manual I have cd changer ready monsoon cd player head unit.

Yeah I wouldn't worry about it, it will work on your headunit fine. Some GM cars/trucks did use slave units (separate tape player or separate cd player). I know some of the full sized chevy trucks years ago used to use a separate tape deck (slave unit).

[C.O.Jones]

Ok, I'm gonna hop on this one. I've seen that adapter before, but my knowledge of Russian is far better than my knowledge of stereo equipment.

I have a 98 Firebird, no Monsoon system, stocker single CD/AM/FM. Will I still have that connector? Is there hope for me?

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by C.O.Jones:

I have a 98 Firebird, no Monsoon system, stocker single CD/AM/FM. Will I still have that connector? Is there hope for me?

The Modification Encyclopedia says:
"Can I add a CD changer to my factory radio?
Yes, if you have a 98 or 99 than you must have the tape deck. You cannot add a Cd changer to a Cd Headunit in the 98-99 models. If you have a 2000-up then it doesnt matter. You can add a changer to either the tape deck or cd player headunit."

Since your car is a 98 and doesn't have the Monsoon system, you probably don't have the cd-changer jack in the back of your headunit.

For the heck of it though, pull the factory headunit out and see if the jack is even there. Here's a picture of what the jack will look like:

[grayman]

YOu can also remove the passenger side knee panel and get a look at the back of the radio with out pulling the head unit out.

[cobain]

I just got my gm-aux 9 adapter and I tried to install it. I have a 98 bird, with the monsoon system and a single cd player. It did not work and I am thinking it isn't compatible with my deck. I plugged the 9 pin end from the gm 9 into the nine pin slot where the previous factory one was, and plugged the previous factory one into the 9 pin jack on the gm 9 where it is supposed to go, and turned the car on and hit cd and nothing happened. When I insert a cd the cd player still reads it and it playes, but when I take it out and hit CD it will not switch to the aux power. Any help would be great.