Topic: UUI code USB radio - Volume Weak!

[brown eyed girl]

Hello all,
I'm a new member and just had a new 20768368 (USB) radio installed at my authorized Saturn dealer (chose a GMC, Buick x-Pontiac dealer because familiar to Solstice), after installation everything works as should Except the volume, it show 3/4 but sound like 1/4 and there stumped.

My car is a 09 Sky w/US8 radio (some say Monsoon) and UW5 (6 speaker syst.) so not UQ3 (Hi-Perf Monsoon w/ 7 speakers / sub). After some research the UUI code and US9 code (6 disc) radio's both say "requires UQ3".

So my question; is the harness in the car to commonize for cost reasons? can I buy the amp & sub and it will work? or is it just programming?

Any help would be appreciated. Brown Eyed Girl

[TomatoSoup]

Nope.  Sorry.

I had the same setup and put in a USB radio.  Result... low volume.  I had to install an aftermarket amp (and subwoofer - though that's optional) myself.  There's no harness there, you have to supply your own wiring.

[ophidia31]

You could give the Alpine small add on amplifier a shot. Its ment to be used with their headunits, but the plugs can be cut off and used with any radio, factory or not. Only thing youd have to do is source your own turn on wire and constant power for it (which can be found at the bcm) but should do the trick for you without getting into taking the car apart to put in larger amplifiers.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ktp-445

[brown eyed girl]

T-Soup,
Did you us a factory harness or cut/splice something together from amp supplier?
what amp and sub? where did you mount the amp /how did the sub fit? Who's parts and how does it sound ? I'm very interested but like to be OEM as possible!
Thanks for your input!!

[TomatoSoup]

As I said above, there's no existing amp harness.  I had to wire my own power, speaker wires etc.  I used an Eclipse 4 channel amp in the stock amp position (behind the driver seat) and an OEM speaker box off eBay, but with a Kicker 8" sub mounted in place of the OEM sub.  I ran two amp channels to the front speakers and then ran the other two to the sub.  I don't use the rear 3/4 panel speakers, and don't miss them.

At the radio end, I had an aftermarket harness I originally used for a Bluetooth retrofit...  basically a pair of plugs that go into the radio which are wire-for-wired into a pair of sockets that the old (OEM) radio plugs connect to.  I spliced into these harness wires for the amp connections and didn't mess with the original factor harness. However, this is not necessary and you could just splice into the factory wiring instead.

[BigSal]

This is where I differ with TS. I just replaced my complete stereo with an Alpine head, Alpine 4 channel amp, Alpine 6.5" Component speakers for the front and Polk 3.5" speakers for the back. I keep the back speakers way down just to add depth to the sound stage. Two channels of the amp power the front speakers and the other two channels drive the dual voice coil sub (oem). The amp is mounted in the default location behing the drive s seat behind the black plastic cover. I had to cut off the 4 bolts to mount the amp with metal screws. I power the two 3.5" back speakers from the head unit (remember I said they are way low in volume so the 16watts rms is way more than enought to power them.  all wiring was replaced with new (speaker and RCA low level to the amp) I also included the small box that gives me back my warning beeps and turn signal sounds.
I have not had any heat issues with the amp and I like to listen at realistic sound levels wether I', listening to a solo piano or Led Zepplin.

All I can say is awesome...... Thanks everyone for you help with this at the Mod Meet.

BigSal and Bryan