Thread: Stilo Abarth audio upgrade

Hi all,
I have an abarth stilo and would like to upgrade the audio. Ideally I would like to replace all the door speakers and have them powered by an amp, and also have a compact active sub something like either:

Blaupunkt: THb 200A - Car Audio & Security: Car Stereo, Speakers & Subwoofers, Car DVD Players, GPS and CD Changers
or
Boss Audio Systems: BASS600 - Car Audio & Security: Car Stereo, Speakers & Subwoofers, Car DVD Players, GPS and CD Changers

Now the problem I have is that I want to keep my Connect Nav+ unit. So what I'm asking is, is all this possible and if so what extra bits of trickery will i need? In my previous car I ran a seperate sub and amp from the factory HU using a line level converter, could this be an option here?
Cheers
Ben

Hi ben and welcome.

Yes you can just use a line-level converter with the CN+ as many have it will work fine. I have looked at those Blaupunkt active subs before they do look quite good.

Oh right ok, do you happen to have a link to a pin diagram for the CN+?

Also what's your opinion on the Boss sub, it appears to have more power in terms of RMS (200W compared to Blaupunkt's 70W) but am unsure on how the quality will compare with something like the Blaupunkt.

I do have one somewhere for the CN+(in italian) but not with me (im at work)

The speaker outputs are standard ISO wiring. See diagram below.

The stuff below is blaupunkt only, so ignore all the stuff C connector as most or all of it isnt present.

I did years ago have a 400W Boss amplifier in my seicento, Ill be honest it was crap. If they are still using the same way of diplaying figures like a lot of budget car audio, the 200w figure will be peak power output, whereas it will be something like 50-100w RMS constant.

I have a modified Bose woofer in the boot of my stilo as supplied with the factory fit. Its 50w RMS and does pack a punch, so that Blaupunkt would compliment the after market speakers you are planning rather well IMO.

I wouldnt piggyback from the speakers if I were you.

You can split the phono outputs from the line level converter and run those to your sub, which would be a better option.

How do you mean?

With something like this: PC9-451 - 4 Channel ISO Speaker LOC on eBay (end time 20-Dec-09 09:03:25 GMT)

oh ok, but am I right in thinking that this only gives 4 channels 2 for the front and 2 for the back?
Or do you run the amp off of one set of rca's (running all the door speakers from that 4 channel amp using speaker wire) and the active sub off the other set?

Sorry for all my questions!
Cheers

Originally Posted by s28ben

oh ok, but am I right in thinking that this only gives 4 channels 2 for the front and 2 for the back?
Or do you run the amp off of one set of rca's (running all the door speakers from that 4 channel amp using speaker wire) and the active sub off the other set?

Sorry for all my questions!
Cheers

Dont apologise, its what forums are for

Anyway, yeah your stock Abarth headunit has four channels. So the line level converter converts the high level amplified output from your headunit to a lower level, suitable for running into RCA inputs on amplifiers.

If you have a 4 channel amp and an active sub, it would be as follows (you get the idea.. I hope)

You could either use the passthrough(outputs) on the amplifier if it has them, or use some Y cables (double adapters) to run the line level stuff to the active subwoofer, you normally piggyback these off the rear channels.