Installing 2 head units possible?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=3443
Printed Date: August 05, 2025 at 2:32 PM

Topic: Installing 2 head units possible?

Posted By: msmollin2001
Subject: Installing 2 head units possible?
Date Posted: September 08, 2002 at 4:33 PM

Hey everyone. I was wondering if it was possible to install 2 head units in a car. I've got a 2002 Elantra GLS (same thing as an '01 in anyone has one), and I've got a minidisc player which is great for MP3 stuff, but I wanna put in a Pyle pop-out LCD which controls a Pyle CD-Changer (got both really cheap off of ebay). Now, I've looked, and the opening for the pocket under the main player is the same size as the main player. So, here are my questions:

1. The main player is supported by a bracket behind the dash. Will supporting the secondary unit be possible (via zip-ties, etc.)?

2. I will hafta create a switch board of at least two 4-poll, double-throw relays for the speaker. Will I need an additional relay for power, antenna, etc.?

Thanks alot for ur time. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-Matt

Replies:

Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: September 09, 2002 at 8:06 AM

What I've done in the past is have both systems piggyback the speaker wires and only have one system on at a time. You can't have both playing any way so have one off and have one on. You can set up a relay that will automatically turn one on once the other is off via the remote turn on lead. As far as the antenna, designate one as your tuner and use just the one for that purpose only.

-------------
Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: September 09, 2002 at 8:32 AM

There are switching units available for both high level and low level sources that will allow you to safely run two head units in one system. Here are just a few:

https://peripheralelectronics.com/2002/signal_path.asp
https://www.pie.net/sec11sb5.htm
https://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-nyeTrLUHCpd/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=11&g=81600&I=469MPSS4

Posted By: msmollin2001
Date Posted: September 09, 2002 at 9:44 PM

Excellent. Thank you both for the speedious reply. I think I'll buy a switcher instead of making one (Think is the key word. I'm still intrigued at the challenge :) ) Just out of curiosity, could I take the RCA switchers, remove the RCA inputs, and use them for switching speakers? Thanks.

-Matt

Posted By: moshe
Date Posted: September 09, 2002 at 10:00 PM

also there is a relay with 12 lags you need two of them

very e/z to do

i have done many never had any problem

Posted By: msmollin2001
Date Posted: September 10, 2002 at 7:11 PM

moshe, whaddya mean by 12 lags? I'm not in the installer business, just an experienced amateur, and I've never heard the item "lags". Sorry. posted_image

I'm hoping to have my LCD screen by friday or monday. Then I'll see how the installation should go. Thanks.

-------------
Matt Smollinger
"Light and sound travel at different speeds. This explains the reason why some people look bright until you talk to them."

Posted By: moshe
Date Posted: September 11, 2002 at 6:21 PM

relay with12 tiny little pins.+2 pins .one is negative and one is going to the power ant wire[blue]from the radio harness.