noob installation question

[Mdean16]

Hello,
I will be installing an approximately 500 watt amplifier to power two subwoofers in my friend’s 2003 Mustang GT, with the oem Mach 460 stereo. I have installed a few amplifiers in the past but never to an oem cd player. My question is what is the best way to get the rca wires to connect to the stock head unit. I have heard of it done with some type of adapter but am not sure of the name or where to find it. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[G3n3R@1]

ur probably thinking of an RCA adapter which i've seen doing decent jobs in a few of my friends' rides.

[Mdean16]

I think I found it, is a "Line-out converter" what I need? If so, is one company better than another or is one like in my link below fine?

Hitron HLC-3F Hi-Lo Adaptor - Converts Audio - and + Signal into RCA Composite Output - , Car Installation & Accessories, Amplifier Installation, Line-Out Converters - Sonic Electronix

[electrolytic]

Welcome! You can try here:

Wiring harnesses, car wiring harness, car stereo wires, metra, best harness, into car, into radio, harness, car stereo, factory radio, pioneer, kenwood, clarion, eclipse

or here

*FORD/LINCOLN/MAZDA 1998+ CAR STEREO WIRE HARNESS 1771*::*FORD HARNESS (REGULAR)*::*WIRE HARNESS (FORD)*::**WIRE HARNESSES*::*Dash Kits Harnesses*::*AUTOTOYS

[Mdean16]

Thanks for the reply, but those seem to be for wiring an aftermarket head unit. My friend wants to keep his oem 6-disk cd player so I am trying to find out if the line out converter is what I need to do this, and if so what brand or type is best. Thanks

[Ranger SVO]

Here is what I would do, get a good quality line out converter

2-Channel High Performance Line Output Converter - SoundGate.com

this one is designed to handle alot of power, so tie it to the factory subwoofer wires. Might as well take advantage of the factory crossover and equalization.

[Mdean16]

Ok, so I started to install his setup and the amplifier is getting power and turning on but no sound is coming out of the subwoofers. I am assuming it is the line out converter since this is my first time working with one. Here is the one we are using:

Scosche SLC4 Four-channel line output converter at Crutchfield.com

Does anyone know if I need to splice into the speaker wires before or after the oem speaker amplifier? I have a feeling that might be our problem, or I messed up and spliced into the completely wrong wires. Anyone work with this part before have any info? Thanks guys.

[Mdean16]

So I called the Scoche tech support and I found out I need to tap into the speaker wires after the stock amplifier. I did this and got sound out of the subwoofers, but extremely little sound. A little while later the fuse for the stock cd player blew. I’m assuming the amplifier is not amplifying the signal, and the fuse blew because the cd player was trying to power the extra speakers? Could it be a bad spot for the amp’s ground? Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?


edit: this is the line out converter we are using:
Scosche SLC4 Four-channel line output converter at Crutchfield.com

[aznboi3644]

how did you set the gain for the converter??

[Mdean16]

I began with the gain all the way down on both the amplifier and converter. I then increased both of them slowly to about half way and saw no result. I increased them both almost all the way up and still saw no improvement.