How to wire 2 head units??

[skillz105]

I'm wondering how would I go about wiring up 2 head units I have a sony cd player now I want to also put in a dvd head unit how can I use them on the same speakers I was thinking about splicing all the wires and just putting a switch on the power wires on both the HU's so I can turn one off while the other is running will that work?

 

[rhauf]

why the hell would you want two head units?
wont the dvd unit play cds? who wants to watch dvds in the car anyway?

anyway if you want to create a cluster@#%& of head units, you would need to switch both positive and negative speaker wires for each speaker. the amps are bridged so lugging all the grounds together and just switching the hots won't work.

 

[skillz105]

the sony would be for my sound system 3 memphis pr I've seen it done I was just thinking I can use both but yea I think Im just going to use the dvd/cd..

 

[briwayjones]

I have two head units hooked up. Check the link to my Explorer in my signature. I used an auxiliary input converter which on one end plugs into the CD changer port on your main head unit and on the other end gives you RCA jacks. That way you can just hook it up to the RCA outs on your DVD player or whatever you want to install. And for the power wires you just tap into the power wires to the main head unit. That's the easiest thing to do.

A place to start is:
http://www.pie.net/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=92&Itemid=40

 

[skillz105]

I have two head units hooked up. Check the link to my Explorer in my signature. I used an auxiliary input converter which on one end plugs into the CD changer port on your main head unit and on the other end gives you RCA jacks. That way you can just hook it up to the RCA outs on your DVD player or whatever you want to install. And for the power wires you just tap into the power wires to the main head unit. That's the easiest thing to do.

would you happen to have any photos on your install Im trying to visualize how you did that like.. i dont get what you mean by the cd changer port and being that you tapped into the main head unit's power are both head units on at the same time?

 

[jad2411]

I installed a DVD player and a HU on my buddy's suburban, I ran new wiring for power and wired so both could be on at the same time.

The DVD did not have speaker outs, only RCA outs, I ran an RCA wire to the HU's input, so you'd turn DVD on, and change the HU to Aux-input to hear sound.

He sold it before he got the screens so that's as far as we went with that install

 

[briwayjones]

would you happen to have any photos on your install Im trying to visualize how you did that like.. i dont get what you mean by the cd changer port and being that you tapped into the main head unit's power are both head units on at the same time?

I don't have any pictures of the actual install process with the wiring. Both HU are on at the same time. You switch the main HU to the aux input or the button to change it to CD Changer. The auxiliary input convertor plugs into the plug that the CD Changer plugs into if your HU has one. Do you have a factory or aftermarket HU? If your HU has a auxiliary input then you shouldn't need an auxiliary input converter. For the power with the main power and accessory power wires I tapped into those wires that run to the main HU using wire taps.

 

[skillz105]

I don't have any pictures of the actual install process with the wiring. Both HU are on at the same time. You switch the main HU to the aux input or the button to change it to CD Changer. The auxiliary input convertor plugs into the plug that the CD Changer plugs into if your HU has one. Do you have a factory or aftermarket HU? If your HU has a auxiliary input then you shouldn't need an auxiliary input converter. For the power with the main power and accessory power wires I tapped into those wires that run to the main HU using wire taps.

ok I think got it.. its an aftermarket HU I dont have a aux port but I use the audio in rca's on the back of my main HU to run my ipod on in aux mode so all I would is run that to the dvd HU in stead of my ipod and then I can hook my ipod up to the dvd and play it through the ipod mode on the dvd HU does that sound correct? its basically what JAD2411 said

 

[briwayjones]

That sounds right.

 

[jad2411]

Yeah, or sell both HU's and the ipod and get a new HU taht will do all of that :