Okay folks, I am looking into buying an aftermarket HU, and since there is a stupid looking little pocket in the Metra kit, an EQ as well. From the EQ, I would go out to the factory amp, correct?

How would I connect the two, are there RCA inputs on the amp, or is there a converteror adapter I can buy?

 

skip the eq, unless you buy a shitty hu it is completely unnecessary imo...


and plus you have to wire that shit all up pain in the

 

I wanted an alpine HU, but I read elsewhere on the forums that even those don't sound good unless you use the RCA out.

 

direct signal from an after market head unit = more than enough

otherwise what is the point, you would still have to run rca's back to high level input, through the factory amp, more speaker wire and to the speakers

unless you are gonna buy a nice four channel amp to mate with your new head unit connected by all rca's and new components all the way around it is pointless to worry about that

 

anyway my point was why waste getting a separate eq when most head units have more than enough equalizing power to match any in-dash eq will provide

 

Good point, thanks

 

You will not need the power output from the factory amp if you buy an aftermarket head unit with output any kind of power output. You would just send the speaker outputs from the aftermarket head unit (AFU) to the factory speakers (those wires are easiest to access at the factory amplifier output). But don't bother with buying an aftermarket head unit or eq unless you will use aftermarket amplifiers. The sound quality difference will be neglegable from an AFU since you will be running the power from the tiny ass amplifier (sadly and actually the same output, probably, as the factory amplifier) in the AFU. Plus you will lose the cool 6 disk in dash changer.
If you end up buying an AFU, eq and amps try to buy a four channel amp that is at least 2 ohm stable. I bought Diamond Audio Amps that are only 4 ohm stable, other wise the warranty will be voided because the factory speakers have only 2 ohm resistance. I know... this 2 ohm crap is pretty confusing.
I would suggest a subwoofer of course powered by a 2 channel or mono amplifier to really bring the sound to life.
The eq is good only if you are a BIG sound quality freak. Like me.
Also, get some body else to do your install if you have limited experience because this install can get intimidating and nasty if you have the level of questions that you asked to begin this thread.