QuestionQUESTION: Hi there, I read your piece on how the stock amp in the 2006 Sonata runs all speakers including the sub. Can you tell me where physically the amp is mounted in the car? I wish to replace my head unit and run it to the stock amp. Its not in the boot (trunk). I presume mounting positions will be the same in Aus as in the US models.
ANSWER: Hi Andrew,
My information shows the amplifier location behind the right rear trim panel in the trunk. I'd expect it to be in the same place in an Australian model, but I'm not certain. If you're just replacing the head unit, though, it shouldn't be necessary to get to the amplifier; you can just wire up the head unit harness like normal, and splice the factory amp activation wire (pink/black in the North American models) to the head unit's blue/white remote output to turn the amp on.
Hope this helps!
Brian
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QUESTION: Thanks for that. This does raise another question though.
From what you have explained that gets power to the amp. what about hooking up a signal? I'e most aftermarket head units have a separate RCA output for the sub. How do I connect this to the amp for signal?
Thanks
AnswerHi Andrew,
The Sonata head unit's output to the amplifier is a 4-channel design, with separate positive and negative wires for each channel. This matches up perfectly with an after-market head unit's speaker outputs. There's no separate output for the subwoofer; the stock amplifier produces the subwoofer output from the four input channels.
When you're installing an after-market head unit, you'd simply wire up the speaker outputs just like you would in a vehicle that wasn't equipped with a factory amplifier. If you use a standard Hyundai adapter harness, the output wires will line up correctly. The new deck's speaker outputs will provide the audio signal for the amplifier. The only extra work you need to do is to connect the amplifier activation wire, and this is only because that particular connection isn't found in most after-market adapter harnesses.
There is a possibility of a level mis-match. If the new head unit's speaker output level is much higher than the output level of the stock head unit, then the new system may get too loud, too fast. This is only a problem in the sense that it reduces your range of volume control: if your new head unit gives you a volume range from 0 to 50, and it's screaming when you get to 10, that can be annoying. If this happens, it can be fixed with a universal premium sound interface adapter. However, there's a pretty good chance that the new head unit's output will be similar to the factory radio, without the need for an adapter. OEM premium systems often use high-level audio signals between the factory head unit and amplifier. This is done so that the same head unit can be used in an amplified or non-amplified vehicle.
Hope this helps!
Brian
