Hi, I have just spent about 40 minutes searching through the archives, and besides the conflicting opinions on just about everything, I didn't find the answers I was looking for, and I could use some help.

First, like everyone else, I dispise the stock Concert system in my '98.5. I want to keep the stock face on the dash so a new head is not an option. I have decided ugrade, but not everything at once.

I have a line on a smokin deal for a pair of MBQuart 6.5" Reference Woofers, that I plan on using in the rear deck. My question is, at this point, do I need an amp to support or power these speakers as a replacement for the stock crap? What is the best way to wire these to prepare for future Quarts up front and potentially a small amp in the back as well?

Audio stuff isn't my bag, so ANY help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys,


doug

You've got a couple of options. First you could probably pry the amp off the rear left speaker and just use it to power the Quarts. I'm not sure if this is feasable, but should be. Problem is, it's tiny and the Quarts will be power starved (problem with the stock system is it's underpowered...put a good amp on and suddenly the stock speakers sound pretty darn good (ask me how I know :-)). If that doesn't work, you can tap into the stock head unit's power for the rear speakers, you'd just have to run the speaker wires for this, but you face the same problem with it being underpowered. Best bet is to get an amp, you can use the line level source going to the stock amp (just have to find a way to connect it to the RCA jacks) to drive the new amp, then you just have to run the power and switching (on/off) wires.

Regards,
Rodney

'99 A4 1.8tqms

Do you think that the head unit in the dash has a signal-only output to this amp?

And if this is the case, wouldn't you say that you could "catch" the neccessary signal wires from the head unit that run to this rear amp at the rear amp area, wire up a set of RCA cables, and then "run" those RCA's to an amp for amplification?

ALL opinions & experiences welcome.

But if you still want to replace all four speakers you can get either a good two channel amp or any four channel amp. I;d recommend getting a good two channel amp and running it to all four (six if you get a compoinent set up front) at two ohms.

Let me know if you'd like additional help - due to the number of requests, I've made kind of an FAQ about what I've done in my car - if you'd like, I'll email it to you.

Cheers,
Mark

It must have everything: line in, 12V, switch on/off signal... Just put in a better one. The only thing that can go wrong is that it may have a puny 12V wire, then use the cellphone stuff or run another one.

nt

<center><img src="http://131.107.68.28/a4org/MBQrear.jpg"></center><p>160 would stand for 160mm which is roughly 6.5". I used the adapters to put a set of a/d/s/ A6im coaxial's in my rear deck which are definitely 6.5". A little cutting of the rear deck (and the adapters) was required, but that was because the motor of the A6im's are a little larger than most 6.5" speakers.

Jim Meyer
'98.5 2.8QMS