MY08 Double DIN conversion

[SVXdc]

The 4 RCA jacks could be the 4 speaker channels. Are they not labeled? They could just as easily be a subwoofer out and an aux in. The HU could even have a menu option or physical switch to change the function of some of those jacks. I'd really need to see the installation manual to know (and I've had no luck finding that on JVC's site).

The white 8-pin plug is the same type as used for the aux input in other Subarus. It may also have pins for steering wheel audio controls. Does you car have either of those features?

Yes, the round black cable is part of the "umbilical" that connects to the Mc amp. You'll find either a round or square 13-pin DIN socket at the end of the HU's cable. The amp will have the same type socket. The long interconnect cable (running under the carpet) is male to male.

The right-angle connector sounds like your antenna connection. That portion is fixed to the rear of the HU. The plug/socket is a short distance away, similar to the amp umbilical.

The square black socket is the Clarion CeNET bus connector, used for a satellite radio tuner module, and possibly other OEM accessories.

On some Subarus, the rectangular black socket is used for the satellite radio and iPod accessories. It may be used for the steering wheel audio controls in some cars.

So yes, that all sounds like what I've seen on other Subaru radios. I'm still interested to hear whether your DIN connectors are the round or square type, and if the power/speaker socket on your Mc amp has 14 or 18 pins.

[jp928]

Dave,
Yes, the RCA connectors are labelled Line Out then L,R and Front, Rear, so they are speakers - are these outputs suitable for speakers direct, or do they need something before going to a speaker? I have separate sub woofer out cables, so cant be confused with these RCAs. Also have separately labelled line in cable, and an Aux in on the front face. This is a JVC DV6105, FWIW.

I have a remote Aux in (in the cubby between the seats), and steering wheel controls - which I had to go and look at to be sure, I have almost never used them. the unused lead has 3 pins fitted (out of maybe , IIRC red, orange, black (or maybe brown?).
The fat black lead that goes to amp looks like it has a round connector ~12" away from Mc body. Car is a Jan 08 build if that helps.
So you need a pin count on the white connector on side of the Amp to be sure what we are dealing with ?
Is your idea to take speaker outputs out of a new HU into the amp cable at the top, and then out of amp connector and bridge to the white connector to the speakers?

tks
jp

[SVXdc]

Line-level outputs are lower level than speaker outputs. Line outs must be connected to an amplifier, which in turn will drive the speakers.

As I said earlier, you have two options:

1) Remove the Mc amp and connect your HU's speaker outputs directly to your car's speakers. I can construct a harness to facilitate that -- it will connect from the harness that currently plugs into the Mc amp and extend the 8 speaker wires up to your JVC HU. There you will connect the wires to the speaker outputs coming from the JVC (wires which currently go to the 14-pin harness you already have).

2) Connect your HU's line-level outputs into the Mc amp. For this you would need to make an adapter that has four RCA plugs and a 13-pin DIN plug.

I'm not really recommending one option over the other. They both have pros and cons:

* The first method is perhaps easier -- the 13-pin DIN plug is harder to get, and more difficult to solder wires to. If the Mc amp uses a 14-pin harness, you could even source the matching connector locally if you had to (just beware that a few of the pins have different functions than for a Subaru HU).

* The first method will require that you add a mono amp to retain your OEM sub speaker. However, I'm sure that the JVC has settings to adjust its RCA subwoofer output, which will allow you to fine-tune the sub settings.

* The second method will retain the sub (powered by the Mc amp, as it was before). However, you won't be able to adjust the sub independently -- the Mc amp generates the sub channel internally, derived from the 4 main speaker signals.

* It may be more appealing to a buyer to get both the Mc HU and amp together (although some people might want the speakers too ).

Incidentally, with most recent HUs, you can retain your audio SWCs via an interface module. However, I don't know whether the JVC DV6105 does. If so, I can build an 8-pin harness to connect to your car's harness (once we're sure that's the one with the SWC wires). Similarly, I can make an adapter to retain your OEM aux jack in the center cubby.

Even if you start out with option 1, you could easily "upgrade" later by adding a new 4-channel amp.

[jp928]

Dave,
The input to Mc amp - round, 18 pins, but only 16 populated. There are two more small square holes (~1mm sq) at the key end that also have no pins - they look same size as the 2 unoccupied pin positions.

The white connector -( speaker outs ?) - couldnt wriggle it out, didnt have time to unbolt the whole thing. Looks like 2 rows of pins, with 4pins each side of centre where there is a key or tang or something like that. That would total 16 pins, as long as the centre lower position is unoccupied. How does this pin count match with your mention of 13 pins at the top?
Does the above help?

Not fussed about SWC - almost never use it.
Dont have a sub woofer, so out for that not relevant, but HU has a separate lead for one if I did want to install one later.

So options are
1. connect HU line outs to Mc amp cable, let it do its thing. Does the Mc amp need a Mc HU to get its power switched on/off?
2. Make harness from HU speaker outs to the Mc amp speaker plug. Only issue for me there is lacing a cable down to under the seat - seat removal required - thats not too difficult is it? Running a cable down the centre tunnel under the console, and then sideways down under the seat should work.
tks
jp

[SVXdc]

It sounds like you have the newer style of DIN plug, like this:

(click to see larger image)

This has 3 rows of 5 pins plus 3 more larger pins at the top. ADDED: I've learned that the two holes at the bottom are additional pins (unused on the Mc). So it's actually a 20 pin connector.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to source that type of connector. So if you want option "1" you'll have to fabricate an adapter on your own.

The DIN cable includes a pin for the amp remote on. Your JVC almost certainly has a remote-on wire which would work with the Mc amp.

(forget about where I said "round" vs. "square" -- they're both round. The round DIN plug found on older Subaru McIntosh systems has 13 pins)

The larger power/speaker harness that plugs into the Mc amp is probably this one:

(click to see larger image)

Coincidentally, this plug also has 18 pins.

Please confirm yours looks like that. It is very similar to the 14-pin harness that plugs into the HU. You need to firmly press down the thumb latch to unlock it, and then pull the body (not the wires).

I don't know if seat removal will be required, but it's not difficult. In many cases, Subaru's under-seat subwoofer accessory can be installed without doing that (at worst, just loosening one bolt), and its harness has to go along the same route as your Mc DIN cable.

I'm surprised your wagon doesn't have a sub. I thought that was standard with the McIntosh system. Are you sure there's not one hiding behind a cloth panel somewhere in the back?

I'd really like to see good pictures of the HU (front, back, and label on top or bottom) and the amp (all "interesting" sides) when you do remove them.

[jp928]

Dave,
The white plug looks correct, noting that the centre two bottom pin positions (under the latch) look vacant? I did get the latch pushed well down, but was unable to wriggle the plug out, and the latch stayed down...?

I did look at the other post you referred me to, but it doesnt seem to have sunk in.

Assuming the din plug is not readily doable, Seems I would need :-

1 harness to go from the Suby white plug visible in my rear of Mc picture to the 14 pin old suby connector to supply power and lighting/dimming control,

1 harness to take the 8 speaker wires (from the same old 14 pin connector) down to the white plug from the Mc output to feed the speakers.
Would this last take care of splitting the 8 wires to 16 ? Could/Would it include picking up the Sub leads and feeding that output to the sub?

Would these be 2 separate things, or could it all be fitted to a Suby type plug, with 2 sets of wires out , 1 short for power etc, 1 long for the speaker stuff?

Yes I do have a sub in the right rear corner, just have never taken much notice of it. The JVC HU has a pair of leads for a sub, was unused in it last installation.
The JVC HU has a connector for external amp on/off - Female bullet connector.

You said the black lead off the Mc was aerial - I didnt see the socket, but is it a motorola or a Suby special? Doesnt matter much if the facia kit has an adaptor.

tks
jp

[SVXdc]

Yes, the white 18-pin plug actually has 4 vacant pin positions -- only 14 pins used:

• 4 main speaker outs (8 wires)
• subwoofer speaker out (2)
• +12V power (2)
• earth (2)

You got the gist of how you'll need to connect things, except that you need to connect the JVC's speaker outputs (using the wires on its harness -- the ones coming out the rear of the radio -- 8 wires) to send down to the car's speaker wires (at that 18-pin connector under the seat -- 8 wires for the 4 main speakers). It may be easier if I make a picture.

Your JVC's subwoofer output is line level. It can't run your car's subwoofer speaker directly. You'll need to add a small, mono amplifier. Then you would string an RCA patch cable from the JVC radio to the input of that new amp. Connect the amp's speaker output terminals (2) to the subwoofer wires on the 18-pin harness. Or you can opt to abandon your car's factory sub.

[jp928]

Dave...
So I only need to run the 8 speaker outs from the ne HU to the correct 8 in the white socket at the Mc amp? Are the matching sockets for those 18 pin plugs available to make up this properly? Is this what you can offer ?

Also, is the white plug in the back of the Mc HU compatible with the Suby harness adapter I have on the JVC HU ? if so I can just plug that in, cant I , to get power and illumination/dimming to work. Just have to remove the 8 speaker feeds from the socket.

I can live without the Sub mostly, but i could always add the amp etc later , as long as I have a map of which pins go there at the speaker connector.

tks
jp

[SVXdc]

Yes, yes, yes,

yes, yes, and yes

(I think that covered all of your questions )

[jp928]

Dave,
Now you have it very tough for me to continue providing questions whose answer is yes or no.
Lets go for a couple more winners.
Apart from getting the correct facia panel (2 zone AC), and dismantling Mc Hu out of dash, hard part will be separating speaker leads out of existing 14 pin Suby plug , and into new harness plug - answer Y/N - ?

Cant thing of any more, d@mmit.

Now - time for you to learn some Strine - Emma Chisit? Including estimated postage please.

thanks heaps
jp

[SVXdc]

Yes.

I wouldn't call that particularly hard to do -- just uncrimp, unsolder, or cut the wires back apart (the opposite of whatever way you joined the JVC's speaker wires to that 14-pin harness I sent you before). Then connect those wires to the loose ends of the custom harness I'm about to send you.

Ememy Jiwant

Switching to PMs to work out the details...

[tangcla]

FWIW I decided it's more worthwhile to take the Mcintosh amp out and to buy an Alpine PDX-5 5-channel amp for the price. The Mcintosh doesn't deliver that much power, and for the cost of labour butchering a DIN plug and making the interface between the headunit and the amp, it was just as effective to get an aftermarket amp in.

[jp928]

Sometimes I have wondered about how I justify doing this change - If I bought a new HU it will cost at least $1000 like last time. I listen to the Mc and think its not bad, why am I doing this?
At the weekend I took out the garage queen (83 Porsche 928), which has a similar JVC HU reading a dvd of mp3 (but somewhat lower spec than 6105), and despite having only 4 speakers (2 x 4", 2 x 6"x8"), the sound to me is much richer than the Mc, more presence , more vibrant. Similar to the difference I found when I upgraded the old std HU in the 05 Outback, even without changing the std speakers.

So now I feel much better about it.

jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon, doing my best to kill the market for a used Mc...

[jp928]

Got my JDM ...912 facia kit today - dual zone ac, 07+ version. Its matt black, not glass-shiny like the Mc, and the ac control knobs are different from the AUDM std versions - coarser bumps. Now where do I get the separate cubby ,since I am going with a 1din HU initially at least. Last time got it from a Toyota dealer in the city...referred there by a guy at Suby spares Docklands...
Any body know the part no ?
jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon.

[jp928]

nEXT QUESTION - I have a cubby with lid on it - 66130aa080 - but it doesnt fit the ...912 double din kit! The bits that pivot the lid wont go through the opening , and there is a place for the locating peg at the bottom rear, but nowhere to fit a screw to the holes provided. Anybody know the correct part no for a cubby here please? Dont care if it has a lid or not, really.
Anybody know where the black Mc cable runs from the amp to HU please? ie, forward and up behind the console, or sideways up to the tunnel cover, and then forward?

tks
jp 08 gtb 6mt wagon.