2005 Easiest Aftermarket Speaker upgrade?

[samuelodog]

https://citroenc3owners.com/resources/deh-x5500bt/1420

this one. If I use direct sub connections do I lose both rear speakers?

Easiest Aftermarket Speaker upgrade for C3 HDI 1.4 2005

[C3CAR]

https://citroenc3owners.com/resources/deh-x5500bt/1420
this one. If I use direct sub connections do I lose both rear speakers?

The DEH-X5500BT's built-in amplifiers produce pristine sound delivered at 4 x 50W of pure, proven MOSFET power. If that isn't enough, you can always use the 2 RCA pre-outs to hook up another stereo component, like an extra amplifier for the front and rear speakers or a subwoofer, for example.

If you use the RCA/line-level/pre-out to drive the sub you can still have 4 speakers connected (usually 2 front and 2 rear). Your 2 fronts can include tweeters.

There are only 4 amplifiers (4x50w) in that stereo so it can drive only drive 4 speakers.

The 'direct sub' or 'RCA' supply is not amplified and will require an 'Active Sub' - one that has an integrated amp, or an additional amp to drive only the the sub.



Which is how I understand the spec.

[C3CAR]

Which is how I understand the spec.

SP P/O Mode for the DEH X5500BT Pioneer for rear out speaker / sub selection for amplifier mode

You can change the configuration in the menu to select which installation you have.

[Missing Lincs]

Your chosen radio has 8 outputs.

4 high level outputs, designed to drive speakers directly, so L & R front and L & R rear.

And

4 low level outputs, these can't drive anything that doesn't have an additional amplifier.

These outputs are L & R front and also L & R rear or L & R sub - you get to program this using the radio's setup menu. When the sub feature is selected, you can also set a crossover point, that is the frequency of sound which goes to the main speakers and which goes to the sub. This can be changed to suit the sub you get.

When you fit your sub, don't be put off by some of the enormous power cables that people on Youtube fit. For a 100W RMS sub the current needed will be about 8 amps, so if you allow a 15 amp cable you will be fine. 15 amp cable is only about 2mm diameter, if you go for 'thin wall' cable specifically for automotive use, it is designed to be threaded. Its good practice to run cables in a protective sleeve, to make life easy, the sleeve doesn't have to be in one piece, you can thread the cables in section. The sleeve is a physical protection, the cable itself is electrically insulated.

Many of the videos on Youtube show massive amps and subs. If you fit a 50 watt RMS (the true power - the only specification you can rely on) sub, it will have a power greater than the 4 outputs of the factory fit radio combined (4 x 10 watts). Even the radio you're getting is only 4 x 50 watts which will be around 4 x 17 watts RMS.The C3, lovely as it is, isn't that big. To slightly modify a famous saying "you don't want to blow the bl**dy doors off!" Unless you want to listen at levels that make your ears bleed I thing the maximum sub power you'll need is 100 watts. I have a sub in my Volvo V70, its 70 watts RMS, if you turn things up too much with music that has a decent bass it starts to make some of the car's panels rattle!

[C3CAR]

I have a sub in my Volvo V70, its 70 watts RMS, if you turn things up too much with music that has a decent bass it starts to make some of the car's panels rattle!

The same level of sound would probably shake the C3 apart if it makes the volvo panel rattle


I also saw an aerial adaptor that was mentioned.

OK, so I got this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170979371306

and this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151144122753

and this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250519020792?_t

so that I can install this:

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product ... -27700.htm

This all correct?!

THANKS!!

I think you will need this 'PC5-28 Aerial Adaptor on eBay' to connect an early C3 aerial to a modern head unit rather than the one from previous posts.

PC5 28 connect C3 to Radio Aerial

What you need to connect an old C3 to a new Head Unit (if its not supplied with the stereo) - above


Rather than the other way round (new car to old head unit) - below

PC5 27 old stereo to new car adaptor

[samuelodog]

Many thanks for this. Please can you point to what I should use to protect the cable? Also, can't see any 70 watt rms underwear subs anywhere?

[samuelodog]

Aww shucks. Bought the wrong aerial adapter. And the subs I showed on eBay. Will these tear my car apart? The in phase one is 100 Rms. But can't these be 'turned down'?

[C3CAR]

Yes, if you don't turn the volume up to the max, you won't be running the sub at its maximum power. The bit about shaking the C3 is a bit of humour because the C3 is not know for its strong construction compared with a volvo.

[C3CAR]

You may be ok with the aerial connector. I am not going to take mine out to double check what they look like but it's better to have an unused connector left over than not have one you need.

[samuelodog]

IN PHASE USW10 appears to have dials for frequency and gain, would these keep the level down a bit- I don't want too much bass in my little car! And anyone know what cables I need? Is it just the power cable and rca as discussed? And is the remote necessary? The ones I'm looking at are without remote or cable.