Fried Stock HU

[20SUPERCREW05]

05 F150 screw, stock 6 disc changer HU. Hey, I was in the process of installing my amp using the high level inputs. everything was all good untill i hooked up my NEW speaker wires from the amp to the factory speaker wire. The guy at crutchfield told me that i could just hook up the wires and it will work great... WELL i did that. Hooked the battery back up and the stock HU as soon as i turned the key on the stock HU started SMOKIN What happened was the amp was directly connected to the HU and fried it. When i called crutchfield back they said to cut the factory speaker wire between the high level input and where i hooked up the new amplified speaker wire. BUT because they didn't tell me that before my stereo don't work at all... What should i do?? i'm thinking i might just go buy a new alpine. my stock HU is under warranty but i think as soon as they see the jungle of wires they will tell me NO WAY man. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

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[Justi]

Sounds like you wired the speaker OUTPUT of the amplifier to the stock speaker wires instead of wiring the stock speaker wires to the high-level INPUT of the amplifier.

You're right about the warranty work but removing what you have put in wouldn't be that hard and then perhaps you can claim it as warranty. That wouldn't be the moral thing to do however.

[Low_e_Red]

Originally Posted by Justi

Sounds like you wired the speaker OUTPUT of the amplifier to the stock speaker wires instead of wiring the stock speaker wires to the high-level INPUT of the amplifier.

You're right about the warranty work but removing what you have put in wouldn't be that hard and then perhaps you can claim it as warranty. That wouldn't be the moral thing to do however.

You shouldnt wire the stock spk wire into high level Inputs. Its nowhere near the same sound quality. Thats what RCA's and LOC's are for.

You wired the 4ch into factory wires with out removing from HU... Known many installers that have done it. Its all good. It happens the first time. Ya, I recommend getting a new HU regardless. Especially, Alpine.

[Justi]

Originally Posted by Low_e_Red

You shouldnt wire the stock spk wire into high level Inputs. Its nowhere near the same sound quality. Thats what RCA's and LOC's are for.

You wired the 4ch into factory wires with out removing from HU... Known many installers that have done it. Its all good. It happens the first time. Ya, I recommend getting a new HU regardless. Especially, Alpine.

I used to do it when only adding a sub. The high level signal can't carry the highs well without amplifying the distortion but for the low range subs I didn't really notice any/much distortion.

I've actually seen some pretty cool signal processors recently that condition the high level inputs into decent quality, a high end LOC if you will. Audio Control makes one but by the time you pay for one of the processors it's cheaper to just buy a new head unit with preamp outs.

[Low_e_Red]

Originally Posted by Justi

I used to do it when only adding a sub. The high level signal can't carry the highs well without amplifying the distortion but for the low range subs I didn't really notice any/much distortion.

I've actually seen some pretty cool signal processors recently that condition the high level inputs into decent quality, a high end LOC if you will. Audio Control makes one but by the time you pay for one of the processors it's cheaper to just buy a new head unit with preamp outs.

I have a high end LOC... RF 3Sixty.2. But it still works better with the RCA's

[20SUPERCREW05]

It was kind of a bone head thing to do. I went to buy a new alpine today but know-one in town had any harness i do have one question every search i do one here says use the metra 70-5520-1 harness but it says that harness is for shaker system? and premium system. my truck has the mp3 and 6 disc player. also the scosche fdk11b is another harness i found on here.

Is that the same harness different brand?

thanks again for all your help

also let me clear this up in my head.
when i buy a new HU,
1. hook up the new harness leaving all speaker wires free?
2. hook up new speaker wire from amp to the truck side of the harness?
3. run RCA's to amp.
4. install new HU.

Also what does that smaller harness do that was also hooked up to the stock HU? is that for the dimmer and stuff?


one more question, does the Preamp output voltage matter? pioneer puts out 4V Alpine 2V...

[Low_e_Red]

Originally Posted by 20SUPERCREW05

It was kind of a bone head thing to do. I went to buy a new alpine today but know-one in town had any harness i do have one question every search i do one here says use the metra 70-5520-1 harness but it says that harness is for shaker system? and premium system. my truck has the mp3 and 6 disc player. also the scosche fdk11b is another harness i found on here.

Is that the same harness different brand?

thanks again for all your help

also let me clear this up in my head.
when i buy a new HU,
1. hook up the new harness leaving all speaker wires free?
2. hook up new speaker wire from amp to the truck side of the harness?
3. run RCA's to amp.
4. install new HU.

Also what does that smaller harness do that was also hooked up to the stock HU? is that for the dimmer and stuff?


one more question, does the Preamp output voltage matter? pioneer puts out 4V Alpine 2V...

The higher voltage helps keep the noise out of it better... Id still prefer an Alpine because its 2v RMS. Not 4v Max like Pioneer..

That sounds about right. JUST MAKE SURE THE AMP SPK WIRE DOESNT TOUCH THE HU!!!

Smaller Harness would either be for the audiophile (8pin) or auxillary/DVD (14 pin). Not used.

MET 70-5520. The -1 is for another plug.