adding subs to monsoon system...?

[blackfbird98]

ok guys heres my question i have a 2002 firebird with the monsoon system i like the speakers but i want to change out the head unit cause the factory one wont play mp3 files on my cds and i want to add a sub. i recently went to best buy and one of the salesman was telling me it wouldnt work cause other things are connected through the radio and i could potentially harm them, also he was saying that the factory monsoon head unit runs 2 ohms and that the new unit i have runs 4 so the bass will either suck or i run the risk of blowing them or that i would have to rewire the amp. another thing he told me was that i could run subs off a special adapter that could work with the stock head unit?? idk the guy seemed pretty stupid so i decided to ask you guys what you think i should do?

[Bonemaro]

Re: adding subs to monsoon system...?

This is coming from the Camaro Monsoon system. I read somewhere it's wired differently that the Firebird, but I don't know how true that is or if it's to an extent that would matter. The factory monsoon amp runs off a speaker level output. Any aftermarket radio will work with it just fine. All you need is the standard adapter plug to go into the factory harness.

Also, I know in the case of the Impala and such, a lot of the cars functions go though the head unit. This is not the case in the Camaro. Firebird may be the same. I have an after market HU, feeding the Monsoon system with an amp and subwoofer coming off the HU's sub outputs. Works great with no problems what-so-ever.

[blackfbird98]

Re: adding subs to monsoon system...?

any effects to ur bass that u noticed when u switched to an aftermarket hu?

[Bonemaro]

Re: adding subs to monsoon system...?

Yeah... It got lower, louder and cleaner. :) By using an aftermarket HU and adding a sub, I was able to use the HU's high pass crossover to take the low bass out of the factory speakers, which allows them to play extremely loud with the added sub, cleanly (well, as clean as factory speakers go) and without blowing them.

Originally, I got one of those line adapter to run my amp and sub off the factory HU and it sounded terrible. I was driving the adapter off the rear 6.5" subs, which I assumed was a low pass from the factory amp. I got fed up with crappy bass, so I pulled the factory HU and install my Pioneer. Been great ever since.

[96firebird311]

Re: adding subs to monsoon system...?

the salesman was telling me it wouldnt work cause other things are connected through the radio and i could potentially harm them, also he was saying that the factory monsoon head unit runs 2 ohms and that the new unit i have runs 4 so the bass will either suck or i run the risk of blowing them or that i would have to rewire the amp. another thing he told me was that i could run subs off a special adapter that could work with the stock head unit??

This is a typical canned response most ANY big box store will give you when you say you have a stock "upgraded" sound system in your car. Almost word for word. And most of the time, there is a little truth to it. Rather then them tearing into your car just to find out they can't finish the job at all, or it will sound like poo if they do.... they tell everyone this response right up front. I should know. lol:naughty:

The problem is, 99% of the time, they don't know each car individually. They don't know the exact differences between the Monsoon system in a camaro and the Infinity system in a caravan. Once in a while you stumble across a guy that does car audio for a hobby, and actually DOES know a heck of a lot. Hi! Nice to meet you.:wavey:

You can swap out the stock headunit with no special adapters of anything like that. Wiring harness(es), dash kit and antenna adapter. Buy a headunit with 3 sets of RCA pre-outs. One will be a non-fading subwoofer out. Plug in regular ol RCA cables and connect an amp/sub the same way you would in any car. Then set the high pass filter on the headunit to filter out bass from the other speakers. (just as bonemaro recommended) Done and done. If you need recommendations on equipment, say the word and include a budget including parts and labor.

[Bonemaro]

Re: adding subs to monsoon system...?

I was originally told an aftermarket HU would stick out of the dash a tad. Even Crutchfield says the same. This is because the Camaro has a plastic piece that supports the factory HU. It got in the way of my aftermarket HU. A couple quick snips (with tin snips actually, but I bet some heavy duty wire cutters would work too) and that puppy was out of there, giving me more room than I would even need to flush mount the radio. I'm not sure if this piece can be unbolted and removed or not... I was impatient and ripped it out with manly force.

[96firebird311]

Re: adding subs to monsoon system...?

I was impatient and ripped it out with manly force.

Most anyone does the same thing. And as for how the unit will sit in the dash cavity, it depends on which dash kit you buy. Metra will be different from Best Kits and different from Scosche.