This is just a quick one guys, I wanted to hook up and amp and sub on my 380 but the thought has just occured to me does the 380 audio have rca's outputs on back? I've got the integrated stereo so Im guessing if it doesn't then I have to put in a double din unit... thanks for any help:bowdown:

Run a hi/lo convertor off your rear speakers or if the amp supports it...run the rear speaker's straight to the high level input of the amp and re-power your sub and rear speakers from the amp...easy...

Mine has the Rockford system ready to go into it, was a factory fit from a VRX, it has some sort of filter thingy out of the back of the HU, in short, you are bypassing your speakers through this filter, into the amp and then back to the speakers from the amp, I am sure someone here will know what I am on about, I can dig it out and try and get some details off the unit if needed

Mine has the Rockford system ready to go into it, was a factory fit from a VRX, it has some sort of filter thingy out of the back of the HU, in short, you are bypassing your speakers through this filter, into the amp and then back to the speakers from the amp, I am sure someone here will know what I am on about, I can dig it out and try and get some details off the unit if needed

Pretty much sounds like the hi/lo converter.

That's what mine is using, sounds fantastic. The sound quality out of the factory unit is actually quite surprising, and when fed through an amp sounds magical.

Pretty much sounds like the hi/lo converter.

That's what mine is using, sounds fantastic. The sound quality out of the factory unit is actually quite surprising, and when fed through an amp sounds magical.

I thought the same too, Leigh. That was until I upgraded the system to Focal 3 ways, amped and sound deadened. Don't get me wrong, for what it is, the stock system is more than capable, but when you get a decent set of speakers in there, the difference is astounding.

Run a hi/lo convertor off your rear speakers or if the amp supports it...run the rear speaker's straight to the high level input of the amp and re-power your sub and rear speakers from the amp...easy...

mmmm ok Im a little lost about how it all works, I mean I've put in stereos and amps before but with rca's, but I'll try and source one of these hi/lo converters and see how it all goes together... thanks for the imput so far!

mmmm ok Im a little lost about how it all works, I mean I've put in stereos and amps before but with rca's, but I'll try and source one of these hi/lo converters and see how it all goes together... thanks for the imput so far!

Hi/lo pass filters are designed to take speaker wires and filter sounds below a frequency to a set of RCA's for subwoofers and a everything else to a set of RCA's to speakers/woofer. If you just wanna change out the stock speakers for a cheap set of Alpine's, etc. go for a hi/lo pass filter. If you plan to spend any more then $1000 on your sound system in total, please get a proper aftermarket head unit with true RCA outs, etc. The difference will be noticeable.

I thought the same too, Leigh. That was until I upgraded the system to Focal 3 ways, amped and sound deadened. Don't get me wrong, for what it is, the stock system is more than capable, but when you get a decent set of speakers in there, the difference is astounding.

Oh i'm using aftermarket speakers now, kicker RS (not quite up to your focals, but much better than standard). I meant more the stock headunit having good sound quality, so that the hi/lo converters work well.

Exactly im with this guy i just finished replacing my stereo in the 380 i went budget spent in total around $800 take into consideration i reused a spare 4 channel and 6x9s so in reality $1000+ is good est price. Ive now got a two amp setup along with a sub and all my speakers have been changed and the difference to the stock setup is remarkable. So if youve got the money get it done properly save you spending more money done the track :)

Actually, to all those who've replaced the front speakers. Were they difficult? Removing the door inserts seems pretty easy. But I'm not sure about the mountings. Are they bracketed nicely?

i have one question will the factory car kit kept on working????

you can get a great sound with the stock headunit...
i used a hi-lo converter in the GT before i went car PC , and it was awesome...

i did the system with some jaycar parts... the Hi-lo converter , 4x100rms class D amplifier which i mounted under the parcel shelf , and a set of 6.5in splits for the front..

run the hi-lo level converter off the speaker wiring for the FRONT speakers...
wire the front splits and a subwoofer to the amp , and the RCA's from the converter..
leave the rear speakers standard and powered off the headunit as they are..

when you turn the volume up , you'll get all the powered sound from the front and the sub which is the perfect sound staging.... and be able to fade the rear speakers as needed with the headunit, to get just a bit of "fill" sound in the back...
having amplified rear speakers and a subwoofer and leaving the front speakers running off the headunit just sounds crap , and a waste of time..

Actually, to all those who've replaced the front speakers. Were they difficult? Removing the door inserts seems pretty easy. But I'm not sure about the mountings. Are they bracketed nicely?

No idea, I just paid autobarn to do it :P. He didn't say they were difficult though.

the front speakers are built into a spacer/surround thing....
easy to remove , but a 6.5in. speaker was just a tad small in the hole..
a quick spacer made from some MDF and the jigsaw fixed that in about 10 minutes, which is a good thing anyway to mount it on timber to stop vibrations , and give extra space for large aftermarket magnets from touching the window..(not that it probably would in the 380 anyway)

The worst thing about the stock HU is there's no aux in. I've been using an FM transmitter but today booked to have something proper installed
$80 Fascia Kit and you can install any head unit, 1 or 2 DIN, in the space where the OEM HU was
I'm just having the HU power all 4 speakers (it's an Alpine so i assume it'll squeeze a little more power out than the stock HU) and running an amp and sub pre-out for a little bass/wubwub

The only thing that is stopping me replacing my head unit in the 380 is the comm error message, it would drive me nuts as I like all parts to be working properly.

I have a few of the facias, even had one painted up by Jesse James to match the rest of my dash but as I said, I do not want to always see that comm error on the display which is unfortunate as I had intended using my JVC with sat nav in the 380, now I will need to buy another car to put that one in lol

I extended the stock head unit wiring to the boot & jammed it in behind the sub out of sight. Now my display just says audio system is off ..... better than comm error!!

Does it always display Comm Error no matter what is on the Trip Computer?

Does it always display Comm Error no matter what is on the Trip Computer?

Yep all except the date screen (I think)

I always leave my screen on the climate control/radio, will this be largely affected? I think i may have seen a picture a while back and it didn't look too intrusive.
For me, the lack of aux in is just disgusting for an 07 model car

I always leave my screen on the climate control/radio, will this be largely affected? I think i may have seen a picture a while back and it didn't look too intrusive.
For me, the lack of aux in is just disgusting for an 07 model car

The "comm error" text isn't that big, I just wanted a clean screen so relocated the factory head unit to keep it on the canbus

Speaking of input in, I wonder how M4DDOG is getting on with the modulator?

Speaking of input in, I wonder how M4DDOG is getting on with the modulator?

Haven't had a chance to install it yet, looks fairly involved, but looks better than a standard transmitter.

Is that a FM modulator? If so, could you please let me know how that goes? I've been thinking about getting one.

I bought a I-Simple fm modulator. doesn't work with 380 because of the internal antenna which is amped somewhere. sound quality is worse than wireless fm transmitter. NO radio signal at all. Avoid and don't bother.

I used an i-trip ($80) transmitter, wasn't too impressed either

FYI
fm modulator wired vs fm transmitter (http://forums.ilounge.com/car-solutions/41281-fm-modulator-vs-fm-transmitter.html)

There been some research to the Antenna amp, to no avail....

I used an FM modulator for a while - it had a switch that would either let it transmit through in to the aerial socket, or let the cars antenna signal pass through. Never had any issue with standard radio reception while it was installed, as long as it was powered off of course.