Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: Phil B on 14 October 2008, 17:50:26

Title: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 14 October 2008, 17:50:26
Ok I'm fed up of my puny cd500 clipping when the volume increases with car speed, and any attempt to hear a bit of bass from my (ahem) Creedence Clearwater Revival results in horrific farting noises from the speakers.

I have a couple of amps and a Sony CDX MP40 lying around so first I tried dropping the MP40 in. Great sound and loads of headroom, but I need to buy a 50 quid adaptor to drive the dash display and steering controls. Also I don't think I can live with the lack of speed related volume, or the hideous look of the thing!

So now I am thinking of putting the CD500 back in and using an amp to beef it up. Before I start splicing ISO looms though, is the CD500 going to drive the high level inputs on the amp well? Has anyone tried using the speaker outputs on a factory fit stereo to drive such amp inputs?

Cheers
Phil
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Dave DND on 15 October 2008, 23:25:25
Should run them just fine.

 ;)
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 16 October 2008, 00:04:49
Good stuff, cheers Dave  :)

As the only place available to mount the amp is under the parcel shelf, can I splice two stereo RCA-type long interconnect leads into the ISO loom and run them back to the boot for the input?

That'll mean running four sets of twin core speaker wire back up to the dash to patch back into the speaker loom for the power side.

Does this sound alright? Any better Ideas?
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Dave DND on 16 October 2008, 08:38:39
This doesn`t sound right.

You ask about high level inputs from the head unit to the amp, this would be done using 2 core speaker cable. Where are you getting this RCA idea from? If using high level inputs, you do not use RCA, its one or the other. Power MUST always be taken directly from the battery via a fuse of course.
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 16 October 2008, 09:00:40
Quote
Ok I'm fed up of my puny cd500 clipping when the volume increases with car speed, and any attempt to hear a bit of bass from my (ahem) Creedence Clearwater Revival results in horrific farting noises from the speakers.

I have a couple of amps and a Sony CDX MP40 lying around so first I tried dropping the MP40 in. Great sound and loads of headroom, but I need to buy a 50 quid adaptor to drive the dash display and steering controls. Also I don't think I can live with the lack of speed related volume, or the hideous look of the thing!

So now I am thinking of putting the CD500 back in and using an amp to beef it up. Before I start splicing ISO looms though, is the CD500 going to drive the high level inputs on the amp well? Has anyone tried using the speaker outputs on a factory fit stereo to drive such amp inputs?

Cheers
Phil

I have a Sony display and controls adaptor that needs a new home.
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 16 October 2008, 11:39:01
Quote
Quote
Ok I'm fed up of my puny cd500 clipping when the volume increases with car speed, and any attempt to hear a bit of bass from my (ahem) Creedence Clearwater Revival results in horrific farting noises from the speakers.

I have a couple of amps and a Sony CDX MP40 lying around so first I tried dropping the MP40 in. Great sound and loads of headroom, but I need to buy a 50 quid adaptor to drive the dash display and steering controls. Also I don't think I can live with the lack of speed related volume, or the hideous look of the thing!

So now I am thinking of putting the CD500 back in and using an amp to beef it up. Before I start splicing ISO looms though, is the CD500 going to drive the high level inputs on the amp well? Has anyone tried using the speaker outputs on a factory fit stereo to drive such amp inputs?

Cheers
Phil

I have a Sony display and controls adaptor that needs a new home.

Interesting, what's the part number? Is it the connects2 unit?
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 16 October 2008, 11:42:55
Quote
This doesn`t sound right.

You ask about high level inputs from the head unit to the amp, this would be done using 2 core speaker cable. Where are you getting this RCA idea from? If using high level inputs, you do not use RCA, its one or the other. Power MUST always be taken directly from the battery via a fuse of course.

I mean are the high level inputs of a high impedance, so that there would be not much current running through the cable to them? If so could I use RCA cable in place of twin core, for ease of install?

Otherwise it's eight runs of twin core up and down the car
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Dave DND on 16 October 2008, 12:04:06
Quote
Otherwise it's eight runs of twin core up and down the car

Correct - do it properly !!

 ::)
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 16 October 2008, 12:15:35
Oh all right!!! I just thought speaker cable would be overkill if we're only talking tiny currents.

Very well, I may start pestering interior trim on the weekend.
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 16 October 2008, 15:15:45
Quote
Quote
Quote
Ok I'm fed up of my puny cd500 clipping when the volume increases with car speed, and any attempt to hear a bit of bass from my (ahem) Creedence Clearwater Revival results in horrific farting noises from the speakers.

I have a couple of amps and a Sony CDX MP40 lying around so first I tried dropping the MP40 in. Great sound and loads of headroom, but I need to buy a 50 quid adaptor to drive the dash display and steering controls. Also I don't think I can live with the lack of speed related volume, or the hideous look of the thing!

So now I am thinking of putting the CD500 back in and using an amp to beef it up. Before I start splicing ISO looms though, is the CD500 going to drive the high level inputs on the amp well? Has anyone tried using the speaker outputs on a factory fit stereo to drive such amp inputs?

Cheers
Phil

I have a Sony display and controls adaptor that needs a new home.

Interesting, what's the part number? Is it the connects2 unit?


Will check tonight which one it is.....it also has the adaptor loom to.

Worked very well whenit was fitted to the old ex-plod estate and displayed CD and MD text on the display as well as RDS info etc.
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: murse on 16 October 2008, 16:06:36
So, can anyone say for sure what brands are able to be used with an adaptor to give GID information?  IIRC Sony and Kenwood have had the capacity in the past but not all head units will work...  That said, if the adaptor mentioned above is similar to this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-STEERING-DISPLAY-STALK-ADAPTOR-SONY-NEW_W0QQitemZ170267994115QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170267994115&_trkparms=72%3A1346|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 will it physically fit behind the unit anyway?

Edit: Phil B, have you thought about placing the amps under the seats?  Even with electrics quite a bit of room...
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Dave DND on 16 October 2008, 17:00:08
Quote
So, can anyone say for sure what brands are able to be used with an adaptor to give GID information?  IIRC Sony and Kenwood have had the capacity in the past but not all head units will work...  That said, if the adaptor mentioned above is similar to this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-STEERING-DISPLAY-STALK-ADAPTOR-SONY-NEW_W0QQitemZ170267994115QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170267994115&_trkparms=72%3A1346|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 will it physically fit behind the unit anyway?

Edit: Phil B, have you thought about placing the amps under the seats?  Even with electrics quite a bit of room...

There are so few display adaptors available for the Omega, that you would be better looking for an adaptor first and find a head unit to suit it, rather than the other way around

Many radios now have display out, but Omega too old to warrant making display adaptors now.

 :(
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 16 October 2008, 17:20:17
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Ok I'm fed up of my puny cd500 clipping when the volume increases with car speed, and any attempt to hear a bit of bass from my (ahem) Creedence Clearwater Revival results in horrific farting noises from the speakers.

I have a couple of amps and a Sony CDX MP40 lying around so first I tried dropping the MP40 in. Great sound and loads of headroom, but I need to buy a 50 quid adaptor to drive the dash display and steering controls. Also I don't think I can live with the lack of speed related volume, or the hideous look of the thing!

So now I am thinking of putting the CD500 back in and using an amp to beef it up. Before I start splicing ISO looms though, is the CD500 going to drive the high level inputs on the amp well? Has anyone tried using the speaker outputs on a factory fit stereo to drive such amp inputs?

Cheers
Phil

I have a Sony display and controls adaptor that needs a new home.

Interesting, what's the part number? Is it the connects2 unit?


Will check tonight which one it is.....it also has the adaptor loom to.

Worked very well whenit was fitted to the old ex-plod estate and displayed CD and MD text on the display as well as RDS info etc.


Thanks mate  :y
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 16 October 2008, 17:25:04
Murse, there is hardly any room at all behind the unit so I will have to venture out behind the cubby hole and yonder. I've had to do this anyway just to fit the sony ISO adaptor.

I had a quick look under the seats and initially decided it wouldn't be a good place for the amps. I think there are air ducts for the rear passenger feet that would stop you bolting the amp to the floor pan, and then the electric height adjust too. I'll have another look at home time though my memory has a tendency to make things up
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: murse on 16 October 2008, 19:18:54
No, you're right - I forgot about the vents.  Not the best cars for easy ICE installs!  Worth it in the end though - I'm about to attach my old Pioneer active sub tube to the standard head unit initially with a speaker wire to RCA adaptor I have lying about, just to see what difference it makes.  Guess the head unit will be going in the bin eventually though :'(

Mind you, compared to my old Mondy Ghia X (finally sold today) the standard sound system is amazing!
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 October 2008, 07:44:01
Its a Connects 2 DOPS002 display and controls adaptor for VX upto 2005
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 17 October 2008, 12:41:32
Quote
Its a Connects 2 DOPS002 display and controls adaptor for VX upto 2005

Did you use it with an MP3 head unit? I've just read the DOPS002 might have issues with displaying MP3 info and was replaced with DOPS004
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Martin_1962 on 17 October 2008, 14:35:26
2/4 has a top plug like

- - - - -
- - - - -

3/5 like

- - - - -
 - - - -
- - - - -

AFAIR
Title: Re: Upgrading my CD500
Post by: Phil B on 18 October 2008, 00:59:08
Quote
2/4 has a top plug like

- - - - -
- - - - -

3/5 like

- - - - -
 - - - -
- - - - -

AFAIR

Yeh 3/5 for the double DIN HUs. 4 replaced 2 for the singles I've read some reports that 2 does MP3 units alright, some say it freezes and 4 is the latest version that specifically supports them. I came across many posts from you whilst researching the matter!!!