Question for the Audio Gurus
 

My 911 came with a butchered audio system. It was clear that one of the PO's had a fancy-pants system and removed it prior to selling. Some of the speakers were missing and/or not hooked up? The current Pioneer tape-deck only played (poorly) out of one rear speaker.

I didn't mind too much because my exhaust provides all my top 40s. But after some prodding from my better half, I got around to ordering a new headunit for the car. I am no audiophile and just wanted something mid-grade for long road trips. I ordered the Continental TR7412UB-OR and began to extract the ancient pioneer headunit yesterday evening.

Upon prying out the Pioneer, I noticed that a rat's nest of wires waited for me behind the unit. Most of the wires weren't even plugged into the Pioneer unit. Confused, I followed the wires to the frunk and found some foreign audio equipment under the carpet.

Apparently the car is equipped with a Zapco pre-amp, amp, and power supply. Zapco amps are apparently bad ass high-quality amps from the 80s! Sweet?

Anyway, to my question: Now that I have a fancy amp (that hopefully is functional), I'd like it to play nice with the Continental headunit I purchased. The problem is that the headunit has speaker-level outputs (no pre-amp outputs). However, the amp does not accept speaker-level inputs, only line-out. The internet tells me that I need a "speaker to line level converter" Does anyone have experience with implementing a speaker to line level converter to allow for a headunit to work with an amp? Is this something that's pretty typical? Any recommendations on which converter to buy? Prices range from $7 to $200...


Follow up question for those still reading: PO installed some ADS tweeters in footwells of the car. This means the car has six speakers (tweeters, door panels, and rears). It looks like the amp only has 4 outputs (see picture). I assume PO got this amp to power all six speakers. Any idea how?

Last question for now: Assuming I can get this amp to work, I figure it'd be a waste to get bargain brand speakers. Any recommendations for speakers considering the set-up described above? I prefer speakers that do not require further modification. I also hope that those ADS tweeters are still functional.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497461688.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497461688.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497461688.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497461688.jpg

not a car audio expert but I do dabble with audio, mainly pro audio now.

I would return the head unit and get one with pre outs.
or you have to get the converter.

you don't get the full benefit of tweeters aimed at your feet, but since they are there.
connect the rt tweeter to the rt door panel. same on the lft side.
connect them in parallel. that is + to + and - to -.
you should be ok but you can see if the ohms of the speakers is printed on them. if they are both 8 ohm speakers then in parallel that would be 4 ohms for the amp.
if you have any info on the amp make sure the speaker ohms is not less than what the amp can handle. I would image it can handle down to 2 ohms unless bridged.

Not an Audiophile but I have had some decent systems over the years.

First Zapco and ADS are top of the line 80's stuff and you could probably get enough money by selling them to buy some good speakers. There are forums with collectors for that stuff. If you are going to keep the amps I would get a better head unit with high volt preouts. An old Alpine would be period correct if you could find a good one.

I would ditch the extra tweeters either way. Just get a set of door speakers with built in tweeters and a separate crossover. Infinity or something of that grade is fine for the average listener. Especially if you have the windows down most of the time and the flat 6 screaming behind you. You won't hear the subtleties the high end speakers produce without a lot of sound deadening.

CLIFFORD alarm. Yep, it's the 80's...

Mid grade for long haul trips: head unit with pre outs, a 2-ch amp under the seat, and separates on the doors should be fine. You didn't indicate the year of your car. Is it the one with separates already installed (87+ I think)? If not, co-axials are fine if you don't want to punch new holes.

Alpines aren't bad.

Zapco gear is GREAT! I agree that you should really reconsider the head unit and get something with a 4V pre amp output.

ADS is also great and is some of the best of the 80s. They are the amps I primarily use in my cars, although I do have some old Linear Power amps I am itching to use.

Back to your question about one amp/multiple speakers. There should be a passive crossover somewhere in the car for each channel. Usually looks like a little black box. Follow the leads from the amp and you'll find them (hopefully). If they're not there, your looking at either powering an active system (complicated and expensive) or sourcing old stock passives (good luck).

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If your amp is 2 or 4 channels and there are 6 speakers, it is likely that the speakers in the doors are are components, and have their own dedicated crossover network. That would be consistent with the old Zapco and ADS stuff, too. Since only one speaker kind of plays...well. Who knows, really. Gotta open some stuff up and take a look.

I would definitely get a head unit with pre-outs to tie into that Zapco. You have 80% of a solid system already installed.

The Continental may not be the best sounding or most feature laden radio, but it looks period correct and is available with Bluetooth. I don't care about CDs anymore, so it's an inexpensive choice as well. If you do install it, please report on how it sounds.

Alternatively, you could install a MP3 player feeding into the amp.

Or...go with a factory radio and use the plug interface in the back to run your phone to it. I'm using my factory CR in my 930 as the head for my upcoming 3-way active front stage, 2 channel rear fill, stereo subwoofer install. They are remarkably good and add some vintage timbre to digital music.

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^^^ Which 5 channel Amp are you going to go with.
I picked up a restored factory Blaupunkt from Chromelondon about a year ago and the long term plan is just like yours. I wasn't totally sure about the common ground line level inputs with a modern Amplifier. Should I be concerned? I was looking at Diamond Audio for the ability to fit under the drivers seat and have Bluetooth connectivity.

a|d|s ph15.

Don't worry about balanced and common ground. It's nice to have only.

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Check under the floor board on the passenger side for crossovers and other components. Maybe more goodies hidden there?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497496171.jpg

Thanks for all the advice and wisdom! I'm being stubborn and want to keep my Continental.

I did some research and ordered a high-end line-out converter which (hopefully) will send clean signals to the amp. Will report back once complete.

https://www.amazon.com/AudioControl-Channel-Converter-AccuBASS-Subwoofer/dp/B00IIL0LW0
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-lJAum1KrL1l/p_161LC2I/AudioControl-LC2i.html

You could put this sticker on your Continental too.

https://www.bergvillfx.com/index.php/products/spare-parts/porsche-sticker-label.html

What it looks like

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497553317.jpg

Does this look like German engineering to you? Look at what I found behind the door trim...


I bought some 6.5 component speakers to install in the door. Brainstorming on how I want to mount them considering the hack job that was performed...http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497855868.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497855868.JPG

Speaker mount
 

Here's what I used to mount my speakers. Bought them from a member her that is(was?) producing them.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1497879921.jpg