2017 Chevy Sonic Premier Audio Upgrade

[SonicSouz]

I bought some components to upgrade my sound system.

I was wondering if they're was anything else I need for wiring into the MyLink head unit and whether or not the PAC AA-GM 44 harness will even work for the 2017's head unit.

I just wanna make sure I dont screw anything up once I pull out the head unit. I went to an audio shop and they got me all worried about amping my door speakers and possibly shorting out my head unit or even messing up my BCM and bricking my car, if I wire the amp incorrectly.

I also read somewhere that the Rockford Fosgate amp will allow me to run a remote line from that to a sub amp when ever I decide to add a subwoofer.

Heres a list of parts I have already

1. PAC AA-GM44 Amp Integration Interface

2.JBL Club 6500c Components front doors

3.JBL Club 6520 Coaxials for the rear doors

4.Rockford Fosgate PBR300X4 300 watt 4 channel amp.


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[ScarabEpic22]

I used the GM44 on my 13 Sonic, the PAC site still lists just the 2012 Sonic. I don't think GM changed any wiring except maybe with the new gen MyLink.

I didn't use that amp on my Sonic, but I did use it in my wife's Toyota Yaris with some Infinity coaxs. I use the high level input method to install it so it's spliced inline between the factory HU speaker outputs and the speakers, stupid simple and was a really cost effective way to make her 11 year old car sound much better without dealing with a new HU.

I used a Rockford Fosgate 10ga wiring kit to install it as the 8ga kit I had didn't fit into the amp molex power connector.

The audio shop just wanted to have you pay them to install it. It's pretty straightforward to do, especially if you're keeping the factory HU. I've only done a few installs on my own and close friends' cars, but just take your time and test everything before you stick the main fuse in.

 

[SonicSouz]

Damn. I bought an 8 gauge amp wiring kit. Guess I'll need to take that back. What about the door chimes? Didnt they get crazy loud? I'm trying to find out a way to get around that without loosing bluetooth calling and front/rear sound adjustment settings since since those use the front door speakers along with the chimes and running all 6 speakers off the rear channels would cause me to loose that

I've heard using a DSP(specifically the AX-DSP) could let me amp all 4 channels and still control the door warning chimes, but I have no idea if that's compatible with Sonics let alone the MYE 17 models.

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[ScarabEpic22]

Yea, I trimmed the 8ga I had down and was cutting a lot of the copper to make it fit into the molex connector so I said nope, and ordered a 10ga kit.

I grabbed the Rockford Fosgate 10ga kit off Amazon, it's $28 without RCAs or $33 with 2ch RCAs as of right now (you'll need a 4ch RCA to connect the GM44 -> PBR300X4). I used this kit it as its OFC not CCA, easy to get, and well priced. You'll need some speaker wire to go from the amp -> factory wiring too, Amazon sells some reasonably priced OFC 16/18ga speaker wire for like $20-25.

 

[SonicSouz]

Ahh, okay. Did you game to cut into or modify the PAC AA-GM44 harness at all or did you just simply plug it in and attach the RCA cables?

Also I'm still wondering about the chimes and warnings being too loud after amping the door speakers. Did you just turn down gain on the GM44 and amp and sacrifice a bit of loudness?

Appreciate the help, by the way.

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[SonicSouz]

Could I use a DSP instead of the GM44 and be able to control the chime as well as have equalizer and time delay settings?

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[ScarabEpic22]

Ahh, okay. Did you game to cut into or modify the PAC AA-GM44 harness at all or did you just simply plug it in and attach the RCA cables?

Also I'm still wondering about the chimes and warnings being too loud after amping the door speakers. Did you just turn down gain on the GM44 and amp and sacrifice a bit of loudness?

Appreciate the help, by the way.

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I plugged it in and ran RCAs to the amp, then speaker wire from the amp back to the front and hooked it to the factory wires. Can't remember if I tied it into the GM44 harness or factory part unfortunately.

My chimes aren't crazy loud at all, basically the same as they were before.

You could use a DSP, or just run the high level straight to your amp and see how it works. If you want to add a DSP later, can do that too.

 

[SonicSouz]

I plugged it in and ran RCAs to the amp, then speaker wire from the amp back to the front and hooked it to the factory wires. Can't remember if I tied it into the GM44 harness or factory part unfortunately.



My chimes aren't crazy loud at all, basically the same as they were before.



You could use a DSP, or just run the high level straight to your amp and see how it works. If you want to add a DSP later, can do that too.

So you to make sure I'm understanding this correctly, you did

Head Unit > GM44 Harness > RCA cables > amplifier > Factory speaker wire > Door speakers? Or am I missing something?

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[ScarabEpic22]

So you to make sure I'm understanding this correctly, you did

Head Unit > GM44 Harness > RCA cables > amplifier > Factory speaker wire > Door speakers? Or am I missing something?

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Pretty close, I mounted the amp in the trunk so had to run speaker wire back from the amp -> Factory speaker wire under the dash. Basically made a big loop from behind the HU (GM44 -> RCA) -> trunk (amp) -> HU (tie back into factory wiring).

 

[SonicSouz]

Pretty close, I mounted the amp in the trunk so had to run speaker wire back from the amp -> Factory speaker wire under the dash. Basically made a big loop from behind the HU (GM44 -> RCA) -> trunk (amp) -> HU (tie back into factory wiring).

You arent plugging the amped wires back into the HU, you're just routing them back to that area right?

P.S. sorry if I sound a ln idiot.

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[ScarabEpic22]

You arent plugging the amped wires back into the HU, you're just routing them back to that area right?

P.S. sorry if I sound a ln idiot.

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Correct, amped speaker wire from the amp runs back up front as that's where the factory wiring is to the doors. Easier than running new wires to each door. Think of the amp being spliced in-line of the HU and door speakers.

Factory:
HU -> Door speakers

Amp added:
HU -> amp -> Door speakers

 

[SonicSouz]

I was able to get my power wire through the wire wall but I cant get the start/stop button out of the HU trim. It's a royal pain in the ass because I cant set it out of the way without removing it

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[SonicSouz]

I was able to separate the Start/Stop button from the HU trim, remove the bolts securing the HU, and pull it out to reach the connectors. It appears the 2017 MyLink has an extra connector that the 2013-2016 MyLink does not have.

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[ScarabEpic22]

Wish I had the Start/Stop button and wireless fob.

Glad you got it separated and the power wire run (seems to fight me all the time). What other connectors does your MyLink have?

 

[SonicSouz]

Upon further inspection It seems that there is a GM44 Pin connection, but there also seems to be another one as well. It might just be an added one for the 2017-19 MyLink HU and might not be relevant for the audio upgrade. I'll post pictures once I'm off work.

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[SonicSouz]

Hold on. I was wrong. Very wrong, lol. The GM44 harness definately won't work for the 2017 MyLink.

The 2017+ MyLink has two 20-pin connectors instead of the one 44-pin that the 2013-16 HU has. I've basically taken apart my dash for nothing. I can't seem to find any harness which further supports the fact that no one, including GM themselves, gives a rat's ass about the 2017+ models.

Heres some pictures comparing my HU to a 2013-16 HU.

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[SonicSouz]

I guess I'll have to just cut into the factory harness, deal with the amplified chimes, and then get a DSP in-line of the HU and the amp.

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[SonicSouz]

Found out something else too. The 2016+ Cruze, 2017+ Trax, and 2017+ Sonic all have the same black and brown connectors and radio antenna connectors.

Also I saw a post on a different forum that stated that all the speaker connections are in the brown 20 pin connector for the Cruze, so it might be the same for the Sonic.

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[ScarabEpic22]

Ah dang man, sorry to hear it's not compatible!

I'd just mount the amp where you want it and splice it in. Run speaker wire from the front to amp and then amp back to other side of the harness. If you want to do a DSP (optional, I don't have one, chimes are fine), unhook the wires from the input side of the amp and then make short wires from the DSP -> amp.

 

[SonicSouz]

Ah dang man, sorry to hear it's not compatible!

I'd just mount the amp where you want it and splice it in. Run speaker wire from the front to amp and then amp back to other side of the harness. If you want to do a DSP (optional, I don't have one, chimes are fine), unhook the wires from the input side of the amp and then make short wires from the DSP -> amp.

Yeah that's what I'm gonna do. I like my little car, but the lack of support by even GM themselves is just wrong. Like they refreshed it knowing full well they dont care about the Sonic like they should, especially being that 2019 might be the last model year.

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