Hello everyone:

I just installed a new head unit, the Alpine CDE-HD137BT. I wanted more volume and better sound. To my surprise the new unit plays lower in volume than the main unit. Also, the various treble and bass settings do not seem to register. i.e. the unit is not very responsive.

I used the preamps with the kit supplied by crutch field. I am so disappointed. Can some one tell me what is going on here. If not, I will have to send this unit back and reinstall the stock unit. As I was doing better with that unit

 

Well your first problem is you bought Alpine. Now when you say you used the preamp's, how? To what? Also, you must remember that the stock wiring only uses the front channels ( FL and FR), then goes to the amp and disperses from there.

 

thanks for the prompt reply. what dod you mean that the first mistake I made was buying an Alpine. Please explain in detail because I only had it for 2 days and can return it and get whatever you recommend.

I had 4 plugs. Green went to left rear channel; violet to right rear channel; white to left frtont channel; gray to rt front channel.

This is what crutchfields kit called for and I am getting low sound, although clear sound.

You guys help me out here. Also, Alpine isn't any good?

 

Alpine IMO is a no-no. IMO they used to have good stuff and ended up going to crap.
In detail: Your Alpine Kenwood of the same price: KDC-BT752HD
-RMS is 18W x 4 channels .... 22W x 4 channels
- Preamp 2V ............. 2.5V (which is low but acceptable for a decent amp)
- Motorized faceplate: No ............. yes
- Remote control: optional ........... yes

Everything else is the exact same and they cost the exact same on sonicelectronix.com

Do you have pictures of the wiring?

 

The reason I ask is because there is no rear channel to plug into. Unless you run from the output of the amp for the output of the deck. In a stock setup you only have wires for the front channels.

 

sk8erjosh09:

I really appreciate you trying to help me out. the wiring for the crossfire kit to the preamps of the headunit ae exactly what I sited earlier. the first thing I am going to do is send this Alpine back. Do you think I should go back to stock radio because I am beginning to see that the an after market unit is not going to give me any added volume

 

I never used the stocker so I couldnt say either way. But the adjustability alone is reason enough for me to keep mine. I am a music finatic though. Wiring an aftermarket HU is really straight forward. Its just a matter of getting a harness and looking at wiring diagrams. Because we only use 2 channels for output stock, it makes it even easier (4 wires less than any other system). Also, with an aftermarket HU you have more potential to upgrade in the future, ie running the rear seperate from the front for adjusting, adding subs, and just control over each aspect.

 

are you using an aftermarket sub. Just wondering. If so, which one

 

Just to confuse this issue even more, most folks that have installed a new HU just used the FR/FL speaker leads to the OEM amp. My Pioneer sounds great and no issues. Much louder. And clean.

And don't forget the bass blockers for the door speakers:

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-buck-mod.html

Upgrading the door speakers was next and gave a quantum improvement.

 

Can someone please tell me where are the FL and FR speker leads are to the amp. Using this method do I use the wire holster that comes with the head unit. Czn someone walk me thru this hookup method

 

If you got it through Crutchfield, it came with a vehicle-specific wiring diagram. Can you scan (.pdf) it and post it here? Or provide a link to Crutchfields' webpage with it? If you call them, I'm sure they will provide this. They did for me.

If we can see that, we'll get you rockin' and rollin' PDQ.

 

https://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutch...iver_guide.pdf

Does it look like this? Are the color codes the same?\\Gotta' go to bed-work in the AM. I'll check back, or PM me.

 

I have an Ida-x305. If you are hooking the speakers up via the pre outs maximum volume will not be very high. When I turn mine to full volume it is basically right before distortion from rattle/vibration would kick in. From a quality standpoint it's perfect for me although I do wish it would go just a tad louder for some material as digital can be a bit hit or miss. (I ran the iPod cable into my console and have my old iPhone serving my music library and Internet radio)


Hooking it up via the harness will get you a much louder result but less control. As you will only have front L/R channels like the stock setup.

Check page 50 of your manual for the harness diagram. You will be dealing with the black-white/white and gray/gray-black wires (front L/R speakers) on the alpine harness. You wire the alpine harness to the appropriate wires on the conversion harness that is plugged into the stock one that goes to the amp.

 

Had the same exact problem with my Alpine IDA-X001, replaced with a Sony CDXGT54UIW, then a Blaupunct.
I loved the clock display so much on the Alpine that I put it back in and this time used the speaker wires as described below instead of the plug-in pre amp outputs.
HUGE DIFFERENCE, now it will hurt your ears and you can also hear/feel the subs.

And Josh - it ain't junk, or at least mine is not.

 

Forum question.. I haven't played with base coupes... does that HU have built in amp or?

Just got to thinking.. I know they don't have subs.. do they still have the amp?

 

They still have an amp, I am just not sure if it is the same amp. I wired my old base coupe with a new HU, 2 new amps, and ran all my interior speakers from 1 amp (75x4) and sub from a monoblock amp. I added another set of components in the spot where the factory subs would be with custom mounted tweeters for better imaging, it sounded great and kept up with the subs nicely in such a small cabin.

 

Thats what I was thinking here.. his 2v output ain't getting it.. going speaker leads should get him back to volume.. and you won't surpass the OEM volume level since your are still using the same amp. Breaking it out to 4 channel at the amp is well worth the time investment. (Run 2 new sets of leads from HU to amp..there are thread on this already). Use that 2v RCA Sub output for a decent "all in one" sub unit to set in the trunk.. unless you have plans to go full blown shake the wheel caps off...

 

alaxfire:

You state you hooked the speaker wires as described below but there was nothing following. Please refer me to the hookup that you used as I want to hook up just as you did

 

Alright everyone I M newbie to all of this and so can someone please take me step by step what I have to do to do the hook up that alaxfire and Mrmiata are telling me to do. I am sorry I am needing such hand by hand instruction on this

 

I didnt say junk LOL, I said they are lacking on quality for price nowadays.

Kicker DC102 (10DC102) Dual 10" Comp Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure

This is the exact sub and box I'm running... The amp is way overkill with it being 1500W RMS at 2 ohm, needless to say they are wired at 4 ohm lol which is still too much.


I completely agree with breaking it out, that is the best way to go.

OP if you want subs in the future, know with a 2V preamp output it wont be what your expecting most likely. It didnt used to be like this but now for that same price range it seems hard to do better than 2.5V, which is weird because I bought mine for 120 and mine is 4V x 3.