Good job! Nice write up too.[thumb]

 

Using that alpine amp was a great idea. I think I may pick one up.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4

 

Wow - fantastic write-up and nice work on the install. You just made it a ton easier for anyone else to do the same upgrade. Thanks.

 

Hello, I'm new to this forum and I was wondering how hard it would be to add subs with this set up?

Could you run another 2ch amp for the subs without another high low converter?

 

Just getting around to check on this thread. Thanks for the pics and writeup!

I hope to get mine in next weekend. I'll be splitting the rear channels before the amp to make use of the HPF. I've got an amp and 10" sub from my last car and I ordered an LC2i about the same time I ordered the Parrot harness.

 

Great write up!
I hope to do this in the future.

 

Where did you get the Parrot harness from?

 

Search for "FOR-11CK" on Ebay.

 

It is sold by Safewireless.com

Works great!

 

So if I wanted to I could use that harness to run to a line out converter instead of having to cut into my factory wiring correct?

Want to add a line out converter with equalizer and then a 5 channel amp to run the fronts and a sub

 

Yes you can

 

Nice write up! Thanks! How exactly do you add a powered sub to this setup? This looks like a nice route vs. LOC or processor.

 

I'm going to run speaker level leads from the rear output of the head unit to an LC2i, amp, and sub in the trunk. My head unit rear channels will go to both the LC2i and the Alpine KTP445U amp via a splice between the head unit and the KTP445U input.

 

Nice!!
Got the Alpine amp in my cart at Amazon but going with the PAC AOEM-FRD24 for the wiring interface.
One question. Would it matter (sound wise) if the sub is tied to the front or rear?
I plan on using the front just because it's the primary soundstage and will NOT be faded.
Will most likely get the LC2i asap

 

I'm no expert, but I don't think the sub cares what channel the signal comes from.

I don't think the PAC harness will work in a 2012+ Focus unless you're going to do some cutting and splicing.

 

Although I have read of people using it on other 11+ fords, I just want it for the plugs.

 

I was under the impression that the Focus plug changed in 2012. My pics of the parrot harness that fits the 2012+ Focus are in the link in the first post of this thread. If the PAC harness has the same plug you should be fine but I don't think it does.

 

I stand corrected, although I see listings of 12+ mustangs & F150's working with the PAC, the plug looks different. I will stick with the Parrot.
Thanx for the heads up!

 

Ok. LC2i, alpine amp, Parrot harness on the way from Amazon
Can't wait to get it all hooked up, haven't had my alpine plt-5 sub in service for a couple yrs.
Got a set of Kicker components to use in the front, gonna have to upgrade the rears too.

 

Gonna get my harness all fixed up this weekend. Just gonna add in a couple bullet taps for the input to the LC2i till I can get the sub power ran. LC2i will go under the rear mat for "tweaking" access. Hope to get this project done before winter sets in ....

 

I read somewhere that there were 3 different "depths" of the foam spacer below the rear carpet mat. Mine of course is the thinest. What are the thickness of the others?
The next up the chain is the cars with the Sony, then the titanium w/ handling package(full spare tire).
I ask because the LC2i is just a bit taller than the foam I have and would rather not have any weight on the top knobs.

 

The base foam which you have is 1.5" the next one is 3" and the big one is 6"

 

Would you by any chance have the part#s or link to the cheapest source for the 3"?
Thanx

 

I have a question about the Parrot harness. Does it provide power to the alpine amp, or did you have to run a separate wire to the fuse box? Thanks a lot.

 

Yes, power is tapped off the stock feed to the HU.

 

So I have a question / concern about this upgrade. In particular, the placement of the amp. I stopped into an audio shop in my city, and talked to someone who seemed to be a self proclaimed car stereo expert.

I explained what I was looking to do (very similar to your setup, just different speakers), and he almost had an aneurism when I told him where I was planning on putting the amp, saying it was a major fire hazard.

So I ask, do you think this could be a concern, how is the heat from the amp, etc. Please let me know, and also, if this is something that you overlooked, it would be good to avoid your dash catching fire for everyone's sake.

Thanks [cheers]

 

Anything to do with electronics can be considered a potential hazard, but there isn't any increased danger from an amp. Most people put the amp in the trunk, if you want some extra protection, double fuse it, one in the rear and and one in the front.

 

I think it's better ventilated in the dash than under the back carpet as the Sony system is.

 

The amp runs cooler than the HU directly above it. The amp has it's own internal fuse and is also fused with the HU through the wiring harness. Ask your "pro" why he thinks this is a problem.

 

Good, that's what I wanted to hear. I didn't think it would be a problem, and I walked out after he told me he had been installing car stereo's for 20 years, and the ford system was A) completely UN-upgradable and B) already sounds GREAT

Needless to say I won't be seeing my "pro" anytime soon [slap]

 

Step one done (Alpine amp installed), Freaking awesome! [cheers]
Parrot harness, no turn on wire, stock HU power source, Hi pass set @80Hz.
Hope the stock speakers last till I can put in my replacements []
In original stock form the bass seemed to cut out at about 18 so I set the gains just a few degrees above min and it's plenty loud, I may notch it up a bit after I replace the stock speakers but for now it's a HUGE upgrade.
Next chance I will wire up my powered alpine sub, then swop out stock door speakers.
VERY happy with the added power right now though!

 

I've been powering the KTP-445U through the HU harness since the end of August without a problem. You can clearly see the wiring in the one picture.

Pin 2 in the big plug of the harness is "Power antenna" and what you want to use for a remote (blue) wire. It's marked if you look inside the socket and in the Parrot harness it's the orange/black wire.

Just finished the sub install this weekend and I had to tap that wire and send it through the KTP-445U so the sub amp would trigger on and off.

 

Thanks. I tapped that wire in the parrot harness and it works great for remote turn on.