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Old 12-05-2018, 07:19 AM   #1
Hyperion910
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Default 2018 WRX: Adding Sub to Factory HK System

I just bought a 2018 WRX limited with the upgraded Harman Kardon system in it. I want to swap my Audiomobile 2110 sub from my 2016 WRX into my new 2018. So basically I have an AudioControl LC6i, Alpine PDR-V75 amp, and an Audiomobile GTS 2110 Sub, and am trying to figure out the best way to wire it into this factory HK system while leaving the Factory HK amp and speakers in use. I've have limited knowledge when it comes to audio itself, but have no problem following instructions and working on wiring. On my 2016 WRX all of the factory speaker outputs from the stock HU were sent into the LC6i and fed into the PDR-V75 and back out to all the speakers and Sub. I only want to power my additional sub with it now in the 2018 WRX. I wasnt able to find a specific write up on this or video, if one already exists. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 12-05-2018, 08:10 AM   #2
SirBrass
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The HK system uses pre-outs to send from the OEM head unit to the HK amp.

Basically you will tap into the headunit pre-amp outputs and put RCA pre-out connectors onto them. Then run those into the sub amp. You won't need the LC6i.

I assume you're removing the factory HK sub as well?

Anyway, you'll want two of these, plus pre-out cables to run to your amp from these: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_136XDC...LRAIC2-SW.html

Make sense?
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Old 12-05-2018, 05:01 PM   #3
Hyperion910
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I would like to leave the factory sub in use and just add my extra 10in. In this case, would I be able to T off my pre-amp wires to accomplish this? In searching for a way to hook it up, I read many posts that claimed the speaker signals coming for the HU to the HK amp were not line level, but rather speaker level, and needed to be passed through a LOC prior to being sent to my aftermarket amp. Is there a way to verify this myself? Sorry for my ignorance on the subject, I'm just trying to make sure I don't screw up my amp and sub. Also, where might I find a pin out of the harnesses going into the HK amp? Thank you for the response, by the way.

Last edited by Hyperion910; 12-05-2018 at 05:06 PM.
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Old 12-05-2018, 09:57 PM   #4
SirBrass
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Why would the lines coming out of the HU going to the Amp already be amplified? That makes zero sense.

And sure, keep your stock sub, but I imagine that the two would interfere with each other. But you can do that.

Not sure how to verify, but logic tells me that if the HU sends signals to an amp before sending to the speakers, those signals aren't speaker level.
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Old 12-05-2018, 11:21 PM   #5
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I understand how illogical it may seem, but that's what I keep reading elsewhere, which is why I decided to make my own post to try and get some clarity on the subject. Here is a post talking about it:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.iwsti.com/forums/showthread.php%3ft=274281&amp=1
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Old 12-07-2018, 02:13 AM   #6
psimitar
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Without knowing the details of what you have in the 2018 WRX and what you intend to install makes it difficult to advise what you should do.

However, stereo systems are very simple systems. For your situation you are looking for the RCA pre-outs from the current HK system. There may just be the one or there may be multiple RCA outputs. If just the one outputs makes things very simple. (and when I say one output or 1 input I'm referring to a pair of plugs/connectors, one red and one white)
Then we have the amp you wish to fit. This should have one or more RCA inputs, a positive, a negative and a remote power on input. The power and remote switch on should be fairly straight forward to hook up and then the RCA will need an RCA splitter or Y-connector to split the HK RCA to both the HK amp and to your extra amp.

Hopefully that makes sense. I've been doing car stereos for over 25 years now and with some pictures can help you figure it out.
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Old 12-07-2018, 08:05 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psimitar View Post
Without knowing the details of what you have in the 2018 WRX and what you intend to install makes it difficult to advise what you should do.
He states in the OP that he has the factory HK nav system & also states the models of the aftermarket components he'd like to install.
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Old 12-07-2018, 11:18 AM   #8
Hyperion910
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I'm assuming my OEM HU supplies speaker level outputs because it is used in vehicles that do not have the upgraded HK system and therefore do not have the HK amp. I guess Subaru didn't want to use a different head unit for their HK system? Anyways, I think I'm just going to t-tap into the 4 channels from the HU, send them through my LC6i, and on to my PDR-V75 and Sub. This should have no ill affects on the rest of the existing system in the car correct?
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Old 12-07-2018, 11:25 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyperion910 View Post
I'm assuming my OEM HU supplies speaker level outputs because it is used in vehicles that do not have the upgraded HK system and therefore do not have the HK amp. I guess Subaru didn't want to use a different head unit for their HK system? Anyways, I think I'm just going to t-tap into the 4 channels from the HU, send them through my LC6i, and on to my PDR-V75 and Sub. This should have no ill affects on the rest of the existing system in the car correct?
Wrong. Subaru uses a different HU for the HK system. The Nav HU is the HK unit, and can't get Nav without HK and vice versa.

Also what tells me that the HK amp uses RCA inputs is the iDatalink Maestro installation instructions for Subarus with the HK amp: they tell you to use the RCA connectors on the SU-2 harness to plug into an aftermarket HU's preamp outputs. These signals are then sent to the HK amp through the Maestro. For Subarus without the HK system, the Maestro installation instructions tell the user to cut off the RCA connectors and connect the lines to the aftermarket HU's speaker level outputs.

Thus, I conclude that the HK HU sends line level signals to the HK amp which then amps them to speaker-level.
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Old 12-07-2018, 12:07 PM   #10
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So I just use the cables you linked in your first post, t-tap them into my HU's Rear L and Rear R line level outputs, plug the RCA male ends into my Sub L and R inputs on my PDR-V75 and call it a day?

Out of curiosity, what would have happened if I ran the 4 line level outputs from the HU into the LC6i first, since it's meant to accept speaker level inputs?

Last edited by Hyperion910; 12-07-2018 at 12:13 PM.
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Old 12-07-2018, 12:21 PM   #11
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I'm not sure what would happen. I don't know if the LC6i would cause issues due to the levels being so low.

Perhaps try using it and see what happens. You'd simply tap your outputs and run them to the LC6i and use as normal.
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Old 01-15-2019, 01:59 PM   #12
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I have a '16 STI w/HK and an aftermarket subwoofer. The signals from the stereo to the amp are a constant level, and the HU basically has a control signal that tells the amp to turn the volume up and down. So you can't tap the line level signals. You will have to tap after they've been amplified such as I did. I used an LC2I and unplugged the factory woofer, and tapped into the factory woofer lines. It is a DVC sub so I used one pair for the Left and one pair for the Righ on the LC2I, then ran that to my aftermarket amp and sub.
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Old 01-15-2019, 02:21 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by free_refil View Post
I have a '16 STI w/HK and an aftermarket subwoofer. The signals from the stereo to the amp are a constant level, and the HU basically has a control signal that tells the amp to turn the volume up and down. So you can't tap the line level signals. You will have to tap after they've been amplified such as I did. I used an LC2I and unplugged the factory woofer, and tapped into the factory woofer lines. It is a DVC sub so I used one pair for the Left and one pair for the Righ on the LC2I, then ran that to my aftermarket amp and sub.
That's definitely a bit convoluted. No wonder it's hard to integrate an aftermarket HU into an HK system.
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Old 01-17-2019, 12:16 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by free_refil View Post
I have a '16 STI w/HK and an aftermarket subwoofer. The signals from the stereo to the amp are a constant level, and the HU basically has a control signal that tells the amp to turn the volume up and down. So you can't tap the line level signals. You will have to tap after they've been amplified such as I did. I used an LC2I and unplugged the factory woofer, and tapped into the factory woofer lines. It is a DVC sub so I used one pair for the Left and one pair for the Righ on the LC2I, then ran that to my aftermarket amp and sub.
I have done this same thing to my 17 STI with HK. My LC2I is wired the exact same way. Only wires I really had to route throughout the car was the power and bass knob to control the base levels of the aftermarket sub.
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Old 01-18-2019, 02:34 PM   #15
Hyperion910
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Awesome info guys! I'm glad I haven't wired anything up yet.
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Old 01-22-2019, 10:47 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyperion910 View Post
Awesome info guys! I'm glad I haven't wired anything up yet.
When you do (I assume you're waiting for better weather, so you aren't doing wiring in a cold garage?), let us know. It'll be more good info for modding the HK systems.
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Old 02-15-2019, 06:32 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Levinrolla View Post
I have done this same thing to my 17 STI with HK. My LC2I is wired the exact same way. Only wires I really had to route throughout the car was the power and bass knob to control the base levels of the aftermarket sub.
Do you have a wiring diagram for the which wires are positive and negative from the sub location?

Basically what the black/red white/red the brown and the green represent? Which are + or -?
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Old 02-26-2019, 03:24 PM   #18
w8lifter21
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I pulled the below from a 2018, maybe by process of elimination you can narrow down the wires you're looking for?

Item Wire Color Polarity Wire Location Photo Note
Radio 12V Blue/Red + Radio, white 10 pin plug, pin 4
Radio Ground Black - Radio, white 10 pin plug, pin 7
Radio Ignition Yellow + Radio, white 10 pin plug, pin 3
Factory Amp Turn-on (Amp CAN)
Power Antenna Yellow + Radio, white 10 pin plug, pin 8
Left Front Speaker (+/-) Violet - White --or-- White - Black +,- Radio, white 10 pin plug, pins 2 - 6
Right Front Speaker (+/-) Blue - Pink --or-- Red - Green +,- Radio, white 10 pin plug, pins 1 - 5
Left Rear Speaker (+/-) Gray - Red --or-- Yellow - Orange +,- Radio, white 6 pin plug, pins 2 - 6
Right Rear Speaker (+/-) Green - White +,- Radio, white 6 pin plug, pins 1 - 3
Left Front Speaker - With Amp Lt. Green - Blue +,- Amplifier under passenger seat, black 30 pin plug, pins 11 - 26
Right Front Speaker - With Amp Brown - Lt. Blue +,- Amplifier under passenger seat, black 30 pin plug, pins 12 - 27
Left Front Tweeter - With Amp Red - Pink +,- Amplifier under passenger seat, black 30 pin plug, pins 13 - 28
Right Front Tweeter - With Amp Pink - Violet +,- Amplifier under passenger seat, black 30 pin plug, pins 9 - 24
Left Rear Speaker - With Amp Lt. Green - Blue +,- Amplifier under passenger seat, black 30 pin plug, pins 14 - 29
Right Rear Speaker - With Amp White - Red +,- Amplifier under passenger seat, black 30 pin plug, pins 15 - 30
Aux. Audio Input Left (+/-) Yellow - (Shield) +,- Radio, white 28 pin plug, pins 28 - 27
Aux. Audio Input Right (+/-) Gray - (Shield) +,- Radio, white 28 pin plug, pins 26 - 27
Rearview Camera Video White - (Shield) +,- Radio, white 5 pin plug, pins 3 - 4
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Old 03-24-2019, 11:40 AM   #19
Hyperion910
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So I decided to start working on wiring in my sub today. Just had a question that maybe someone on here can answer. Anyone know what this little brown, two pin device is mounted behind my factory HK amp under the deck lid is? I also found one like it under the shift surround up front. Does anyone know what it is and it's purpose? Sorry if it's a dumb question, I'm just curious:



Last edited by Hyperion910; 03-25-2019 at 06:12 AM.
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Old 03-25-2019, 12:42 PM   #20
SirBrass
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Could be yaw sensors.
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Old 03-25-2019, 04:46 PM   #21
Hyperion910
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I thought they might be, but the picture on google doesn't match the description. I think I figured it out though. I think it's an antenna for the keyless system. Apparently it has 4 of them on my car.
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Old 03-25-2019, 05:50 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kunit915 View Post
Do you have a wiring diagram for the which wires are positive and negative from the sub location?

Basically what the black/red white/red the brown and the green represent? Which are + or -?
I think I can help you here. The Sub has the symbols stamped next to each terminal. I'm assuming left/right is irrelevant since it's a DVC sub? Someone correct me if I'm wrong please. The Sub wires out of the amp are:

Pair #1
Green +
Brown -

And

Pair #2
White/Red +
Black/Red -
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Old 03-25-2019, 06:03 PM   #23
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So I plan on leaving the factory 8" deck lid sub in place and connected. What are yalls thoughts on this? It's an infinite baffle speaker. Do you think my 10" sub in the trunk will affect it too much, since the trunk is technically the 8" sub's enclosure? Pardon my ignorance.
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Old 03-25-2019, 06:35 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyperion910 View Post
So I plan on leaving the factory 8" deck lid sub in place and connected. What are yalls thoughts on this? It's an infinite baffle speaker. Do you think my 10" sub in the trunk will affect it too much, since the trunk is technically the 8" sub's enclosure? Pardon my ignorance.
I'd disconnect it. You could have sound waves canceling each other out or multiplying and really screw up your sound curve.
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Old 03-25-2019, 07:35 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SirBrass View Post
I'd disconnect it. You could have sound waves canceling each other out or multiplying and really screw up your sound curve.
That's kind of what I am thinking. I'm going to try connected and disconnected and see. I was thinking perhaps I could have the 10" set to play the lower frequencies the 8" can't reproduce? If I end up disconnecting the 8", I was considering removing the speaker entirely and leaving just the open speaker grill to allow more sound from the 10" to pass into the cabin area. I'm pretty new to all this audio stuff so I'm kind of just taking it slow and learning as I go.

Anyone know where I might find the technical specs on the factory 8" sub?

Last edited by Hyperion910; 03-25-2019 at 07:55 PM.
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