What types of car radio connectors are there? Features of connecting an ISO adapter for a radio Standard connection diagrams

The abundance of multi-colored panels on the stand in the store makes any buyer's eyes dazzle. What is the reason for such diversity and which car radio is best suited for you, what is the difference between devices even from the same manufacturer? This article attempts to resolve these issues.

The car radio is the central element of any audio system in a car. It is no coincidence that this component is also called the head unit of the system. Car radios have many features that often determine whether the device belongs to a particular class and, accordingly, price level.

ISO connector

Any car radio is a device in a technologically inconspicuous casing. Only the front panel looks beautiful and attractive. But to assess the level and capabilities of the device, first you should pay attention not to the bright display and, possibly, the unusual appearance of the controls, but to the back wall of the device. It contains all the main connectors and wires for connecting the device to the system and for connecting additional devices.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the method of connecting the device to the power cables and. Here, all radios are divided into two types: those with a wired connection and those equipped with an ISO connector. Today, most devices have an ISO connector and only a few are connected via a wired connection. The ISO connector is a two-part connector. One part combines all the wires going to the power supply, and the other, respectively, the speaker wires. The main advantage of the ISO connector over a wired connection is that such a connector is provided in most modern cars, and therefore installing a radio with an ISO connector is simplified as much as possible: you only need to connect the connectors on the car radio and in the installation socket of the car. This does not require soldering of wires as with a wired connection, but provides a reliable connection. In a word, much more convenient and reliable. The ISO connector can either be built into the body of the radio, or connected to the radio using wires sold with the device.

If the radio you purchased is equipped with an ISO connector, but the car is not, or vice versa, it is recommended to buy an additional ISO connector separately and route the wiring from it. This way you will equip your car with a universal connector, which will make life much easier in case of replacing the car radio. Well, if neither the purchased unit nor the car has an ISO connector, then you will still have to tinker with the wires.

Line outputs

Another extremely important element of the rear panel of the car radio is the preamplifier line outputs. Sometimes line outputs look like an ISO connector. In such a situation, you must use the appropriate connector to connect to them. But in most cases, each line output consists of two round connectors (one usually red, the other white) for the right and left channels. Linear outputs of this type are called RCA.

The linear output receives a signal after the preamplifier that has not passed through the amplifier built into the head unit. Therefore, it is the linear outputs that allow you to supplement your audio system with external power amplifiers. And connecting external amplifiers is the most reliable way to significantly improve the quality of the entire car audio system. And we are talking, of course, not only about louder and more powerful sound. Adding a suitable external amplifier to the circuit greatly benefits the overall sound quality. In addition to amplifiers, you can connect other useful external components to the line outputs, such as an equalizer, crossover, or surround processor. Line outputs will also be needed to connect a passive subwoofer, which can only be connected through an external power amplifier.

Radios of the lowest price group and some mid-level devices are often equipped with only one linear output to the front or rear channels. This design allows you to connect external power amplifiers only to the corresponding channels. If you have two line outputs at once, you can amplify both front and rear channels. As a rule, devices of medium and high categories have two linear outputs.

Next to the linear frequency outputs there is a linear input. Externally, it looks exactly the same as the linear output. The line input also allows you to connect additional equipment to expand the system. You can connect external sound sources through it.

Other rear panel elements

In addition to linear outputs and connectors for connecting power and acoustics, on the rear panel of some devices there is a connector for connecting a CD changer. It is possible to connect this device to both cassette recorders and CD receivers. You can only connect a changer to the radio from the same company as the radio itself.

There is also a connector for connecting an external antenna on the rear panel. Retrofitting the radio with an external antenna is mandatory for the tuner to work, since no car radio has a built-in antenna.

Case dimensions

To make it easier to install the device into the appropriate slot in the car, all radios have one of the standard sizes. The most common size of the head unit is 1 din (approximately 178x50x180 mm), it fits almost all domestic and imported cars. In American and some Japanese cars, the space for the car radio is allocated twice as much, and manufacturers produce 2 din (approximately 178x100x180 mm) devices specifically for such interiors. The latter, in addition to the tuner, as a rule, have several additional sound sources at once, for example, a cassette deck and a CD player, and sometimes even an MD player. Thus, in one building you get a whole music center at once. But in most cases, without changing the design of the dashboard, it is impossible to install such “wide” devices and you have to be content with devices of 1 din size. Here you already have to choose what to buy. Because in addition to the tuner, such radios provide only one additional signal source: a cassette deck, CD or MD player. In the last two cases, the head units are also called CD or MD receivers, respectively. Also sometimes on sale are radios of intermediate size 1.5 din (approximately 178x75x180 mm), but this is already a rarity.

To connect the head acoustic device with wiring, an ISO connector is used, which ensures quick installation. Using a standard plug eliminates cable kinks and reduces the risk of acoustic interference and power outages. When replacing a radio, the owner just needs to remove the old device from the standard socket and unfasten the wiring, which is then connected to the new equipment.

Depending on the car radio manufacturer, the connector and latch have different configurations. The design of Pioneer radios used an M16 type plug, which has a complex geometric shape to ensure installation in only one position. Prology equipment is equipped with a wide rectangular connector with a low height.

A standard Euro connector consists of 2 sections connected by a jumper or made separately. On one part there are power wires for the head unit, connected from the battery, the car body and the ignition switch. The wiring harness is responsible for additional functions of the radio - changing the volume depending on the speed of movement or muting the sound when a phone call arrives.

The power section is designated on electrical diagrams by the letter A; the pinout depends on the radio model. When using separate plugs, the power section is equipped with a brown plastic block. The patch cables have insulation of different colors, which allows you to understand the connection diagram.

The color range of insulation is standard for most cars, but exceptions are possible.

The other half is designated by the letter B and is intended for connecting the radio with loudspeakers. If the wiring is equipped with individual plugs, the speaker connector is made of black plastic. The shape of the black and brown plugs is identical, which can lead to an error when connecting, so a number of manufacturers make guide grooves on the parts that prevent incorrect installation.

There are head acoustic devices with 3 connection plugs or with a common connector that has a non-standard shape, this one combines Euro-type pads and a special plug. The additional element is used for wiring the linear output on the standard radio or for connecting additional navigation equipment.

What is ISO

The connectors of car radios used in cars are designed to be connected via an ISO plug. The equipment configuration was developed by an international committee to ensure standardization of the connection of head acoustic devices to the vehicle's electrical circuit. Previously, separate cables were used to run to the speakers and battery. The radio had an individual wiring harness that was connected to the conductors on the car by twisting or soldering.

The ISO plug consists of 16 contacts, which are divided into 2 groups. The power supply cables, which have an increased cross-section, are allocated in a separate section. There is a safety insert next to the ISO socket on the back of the radio. The standard blade design element is rated for a current of 10 A. When the fuse exits, it is necessary to check the integrity of the insulator on the power cables and speaker signal harnesses. The use of inserts with an increased rating or pieces of wire is strictly prohibited.

Connection diagrams

The cable for the radio, which complies with the ISO 10487 standard, contains cables for the following purposes in the power part:

• adjusting the sound of the car radio depending on the speed (optional, use a cable with any insulator);
• lowering the volume or completely muting the sound when a call arrives on a connected cell phone (optional);
• supplying a positive signal from the car battery to ensure that the settings are saved in the equipment memory (yellow wire insulator);
• positive power supply for the standard antenna (blue wire);
• backlight system for the screen and control keys for the head audio device (orange cable);
• supply of positive power from the ignition switch (red insulation);
• connection to the vehicle ground (cable with black protective coating).

The speaker wiring harness includes the following cables:

• positive and negative terminals of the right rear speaker (purple and violet-black, respectively);
• right front speaker harness (gray and gray-black cables);
• switching of the left front speaker (white and white-black isolator);
• left rear speaker connection (green and green-black cables).

Standards 1Din and 2Din

The Din standard received its designation from the abbreviation of the name of the German institute Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., which developed the standard in 1984. The purpose of introducing a single housing size for the audio head unit was to ensure interchangeability of equipment. Car radios of 1Din (178*50 mm) and 2Din (178*100 mm) sizes are used. There is also an intermediate version 1.5Din (178*75 mm), which is used to a limited extent by some manufacturers. All radios comply with a mounting depth of 160 mm.

Using the 2Din size allows for improved cooling of the radio amplifier and placement of additional devices (for example, a hard drive) inside the case. The increase in the front part allows the installation of a touch screen with a diagonal of 5″ and higher. Standard equipment has an original housing configuration; adapter frames are used to install head units from third-party manufacturers.

Japanese-made cars use original acoustic equipment with increased socket sizes.

For the Honda concern, the standard head unit size is 190*100 mm. Toyota uses radios of size 200*100 mm. Adapter frames and baskets are available to accommodate equipment that meets Din requirements in Asian vehicles.

The car radio power connection diagrams do not depend on the configuration and size of the case. To cross-connect 1Din and 2Din head units, ISO connectors with combined or separate plugs are used.

Dual ISO connector

Standard head units used on some cars can be connected using a double plug. Cable routing is no different from separate blocks.

The halves of the plug are connected to each other by a durable plastic jumper and secured with a common clamp. To ensure correct installation, a guide groove is used, eliminating the possibility of installing the plug in the wrong position.

Adapters and accessories

Vehicles manufactured for the American or Japanese markets are equipped with an original radio connector. The equipment has a tuner, the frequency range of which differs from European standards, so many car owners are forced to use different adapters or change the head unit. Chinese manufacturers produce cables for car radios that provide switching for such equipment.

There are special ISO connectors for connecting standard antennas of French-made cars. There are modifications that provide power supply to an additional amplifier and filter. There are also various chips for the radio that ensure the interaction of acoustic components manufactured according to different standards. The list of necessary adapters is determined by the car owner during preparation for installation.

How to make your own exit

The vehicle owner can independently install or replace the plug:

1. Purchase an ISO connector from a radio store that matches the plug on the head unit housing. If a bundle of wires is installed on the radio, then purchase a block suitable for switching with the mating part on the car wiring.
2. Using a test device, determine the cables responsible for supplying voltage to the radio power supply. The wires have an increased cross-section and are protected with red and black insulation. When installing the plug on the radio, you should briefly apply 12 V voltage to the found cables, which will make sure that the device is working.
3. Separate the speaker wires, determining the direction of wiring from the electrical diagram of the machine. When connecting speakers, it is prohibited to connect the negative wire to a common line or connect it to the car body. Devices connected in this way operate with overload and do not provide high-quality sound transmission.
4. Among the remaining wires, find the cable responsible for the operation of the antenna.
5. Distribute the cables among the plug contacts according to their intended purpose. The new connector has special rods to which the bare ends of the wires are attached. A special crimping tool is used for connection, ensuring reliable contact.
6. Connect the wiring harnesses and check the functionality of the head unit and acoustics in various playback modes.

It is possible to purchase a plug with already installed wires, removed from a wrecked car or a faulty radio. After determining the purpose, the cables are connected using crimp tubes. The joint is protected with insulating tape or heat shrink tubing. Excess cable length is collected into coils, which are then secured with plastic clamps. The installed harness must not have contact with the rear cover of the radio, which is used as a radiator for the amplifier.

Performing the work requires a minimum of tools and skills. If the car owner is not confident in his own abilities, it is recommended to contact a service center that installs acoustic equipment.

A little theory: the pinout of the ISO connector of the radio is determined by the functionality of the contacts in the plugs, in accordance with their numbering. ISO radio connector is a connector for connecting a car's standard radio, certified according to international standards.

Each of these connectors is designed as an eight-pin rectangular plug, but sometimes they are combined into one housing.

When trying to independently replace, for example, a car player from Pioneer with a JVC, car owners are faced with a situation where the wires in the plug are mixed up or do not even fit the shape of the connectors. In order to solve this issue, you need to buy an ISO plug, which is sold at any auto parts store. After that, pinout the head unit connector according to the diagram.

Standard connection diagrams

Standards 1DIN and 2DIN

All car radios can be divided into two types, which are installed by car manufacturers.

• 1DIN standard (single block);
• 2DIN standard (two-block).

Cars of European brands prefer 1DIN.

And Japanese, American and a number of Chinese car brands use the 2DIN standard.

Dual ISO connector

If you see 2 plugs, then one of the connectors connects the “power” circuits to the radio, that is, current consumption sources are connected to it (in the diagrams with the letter “A” and colored black). The second connector is needed to connect acoustics (in the diagrams with the letter “B” and colored brown).

Adapters for ISO connectors

Now on sale there are many types of different adapters for ISO connectors from one model to another, so you don’t have to solder the plug when connecting it to the radio, but after writing down the model, buy the required adapter.

Pinout diagrams for ISO connectors for Pioneer radios

The model name of the Pioneer car radio, the connection diagrams of which are shown above, can be found out from the file name of each diagram.

Remember: when you connect the device for the first time, you first need to supply power to the radio, and if it lights up and switches as expected, connect the speakers. Otherwise, you can burn not only your audio player, but also your expensive car speakers.

We don’t really think about the design of a car player until it properly performs its functional duties, that is, it reproduces music with high quality, receives radio broadcasts, and the like. But when for some reason, when the device breaks down or is replaced with a newer model, you have to take it out of the standard socket, or rather install the device in its place, the number of multi-colored wires, plugs and connectors leads the driver into a state of stupor.

What is an ISO connector and adapter for a car radio?

It is precisely in order to avoid the intervention of a person completely ignorant of car wiring and serious damage to sound-reproducing equipment, there is an ISO connector or a Euro connector, which is located on the back of the radio. Well, the ISO adapter, as is clear from its name, is a device that allows you to independently connect any modern car radio with a Euro connector to it without gross interference with the standard electrical system, while completely preserving the previous functionality and the ability to connect other car equipment through standard connections.

Features of ISO adapters and connectors

The discrepancy between the shape and size of both the ISO output jack on the car player and the adapter plug from the standard car electrical system can hardly be called technical features. Rather, it is a problem and an extra headache for the motorist. The fact is that many manufacturers of audio equipment, as well as car manufacturers, supply their equipment with individually shaped Euro connectors.

Moreover, on different models of the same company, these sockets may differ from each other. But this can be called a global practice. A prime example of this is the discrepancy between chargers between brands and models of cell phones. Moreover, the cost of an ISO adapter for a radio is by no means small. The average price of a good quality device is about 500-600 rubles. Manufacturers are pleased, but what about car owners? There is only one thing that calms me down. Buying an ISO adapter for a Pioneer radio (Sony, JVC, etc.) is not difficult. We will tell you in more detail about some of the features of connecting the ISO adapter for the radio to Ford Focus 2 cars (Cadillac, Chevrolet Aveo T250, Toyota, Renault).

ISO standard adapter device for radio tape recorders

A standard adapter consists of the following components:

• The block is an eight-pin rectangular plug that is inserted into the ISO output hole on the radio;
• Train;
• A block divided into two parts or a single block at the other end of a cable.

One of the parts (halves) of the connector is responsible for power supply from the car’s electrical system. In the diagrams it is indicated by the letter A and is made in brown.

The other, B, is painted black and connects car audio.

Sometimes you can find adapter devices with a third connector (of any color). They are intended for connecting additional equipment to a car player;

• Satellite navigation system;
• Amplifiers;
• Side and rear view cameras and the like.

Euroadapter cable pinout

Pinout - designation of the functions of wires and contacts in the device by color:

• Brown block, letter - A. Power circuits.
• Yellow wire - connection to the car battery.
• Red color - contact with the ignition key.
• The black wire is the ground of the vehicle.
• White (blue) - antenna wire.
• The black block is responsible for distributing contacts across the rear and front (left, right) speakers of the car's sound system.

Features of connecting an ISO adapter for a Cadillac radio

There are no fundamental technical differences between the ISO adapter for a Toyota radio or the ISO adapter for a Renault radio. Yes, and it cannot be. For the reason that ISO is a generally accepted global standard for goods, services and technologies, designed to unite and thereby increase the level of effective interaction between various industries in different countries and consumers. That is, in our case, for example, an ISO adapter for a Sony radio from the same one, but for a Pioneer player, will differ only in the company that produced it, the division of the adapter into one or two heads and the price. And, of course, what we mentioned at the beginning of our article, the external form.

The connection of the car radio itself is made by a simple connection through an adapter from the player to the car systems.

Toyota

Adapter from the manufacturer Intro. Responsible for connecting the power supply and acoustic (sound) signal from the ISO connector to the standard radio socket for Japanese-made cars:

• Toyota;
• Lexus;
• Daihatsu.

Renault

ISO adapter from the manufacturer Intro for quickly connecting a modern multimedia system (MMS) or other non-standard device (radio tape recorder) to the place of the factory device. An adapter device of high quality at an affordable price, recommended for installation on cars of the following brands:

• Peugeot;
• Citroen;
• Renaults produced after 2005.

This technical adapter device is a plug for connecting to the standard connector of the player and the connector for the electrical wiring of the car. Without any special tools in a short period of time.

Pinout of ISO connectors for car radios

Not so often, but it still happens that almost every car owner is faced with the problem of do-it-yourself installation and subsequent independent connection of the head unit (car radio) to the standard acoustic circuit of his car.
It would seem that this could be confusing, because everything is simple there! Yes, this statement is true.
But, as experience shows, this confidence lasts until manipulations with the wires begin, during which the “handy” car owner begins to understand that he urgently needs pinout of Euro connectors for car radios, or even better, complete instructions for connecting the car radio.

Markings and types of connectors

To answer your silent question about what types of connectors there are in car radios, I must answer that most modern car radios are equipped with two standard connectors, designated by the abbreviation “ISO”. Each of these connectors is designed as an eight-pin rectangular plug, sometimes they are combined into one housing (see photo).

One of the connectors carries “power” circuits, that is, current consumption sources are connected to it, and is designated in the diagrams as a connector under the letter “A” and is colored brown.
The second connector is intended for connecting the car, in other words, speakers. Unlike the previous one, it is made in black and is designated on electrical circuit diagrams as connector “B”.

Sometimes there are car radios with three connectors, but this is the exception rather than the rule. The same exception as non-standard connectors, which still have wiring with standard markings and in any case allow you to connect the wires of a standard speaker system with non-standard “connectors” in at least two ways.
So:

• “Skolkhoz”, namely, cut off the non-standard plug and overlap the wires, which “is not very good”, since over time the twist will become loose due to oxidation/shaking and, in the best case, you will have to do all the work again while simultaneously replacing the fuses.

• Buy an adapter (the price of which is in no way close to the amount of work that the method described above includes) and, without any problems, decorously/nobly, connect the car radio with other elements of the acoustic circuit of your car.

The choice of adapters at the moment is huge, and it is simply physically impossible for any troubles to arise in the use of this variety.

Pinout of a standard Euro connector

Let's look at the pinout of a Euro connector on a standard ISO plug - 10478

Upper power connector “A”

As already mentioned, this plug connects the sources and consumers of electrical current from the vehicle’s on-board network.

Despite the fact that it has eight contacts, not all of them can be used in.
Let's figure out what the purpose is and what task each of these contacts performs:

• Connectors No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 6 are rarely used by default in the circuit of a budget car radio. Most often they are used to connect additional functions in more professional versions of the head unit, which significantly increase the comfort of a modern car, while the colors of the wires can be made in various color variations.

For example, among the additional functionality we can highlight the following:

1. “ANT” output, which is used in cases where a retractable automatic antenna is installed in the car;
2. “REMOTE”, which allows you to connect external amplifiers to the car radio, which means increasing the number of connected speakers (relevant for cars with a large interior, since in a small interior a large number of speakers creates a large load on the hearing organs, which is fraught with negative consequences);
3. the “ILLUMINATION” option, which automatically, depending on the speed of the vehicle, controls the light signaling of the car radio - at higher speeds, the brightness of the display decreases and does not distract the driver from the process of driving the vehicle; when the vehicle stops, it returns to its initial parameters, which significantly the extent to which it affects road safety;
4. as well as the currently very common “MUTE” option, which is turned on when using a mobile device connected to the car’s speaker system - when a receive/call signal passes through, the car radio automatically activates this output, which leads to a decrease in the volume of the music being played or to a complete shutdown car radio sound;

• Contact number four (indicated on electrical diagrams as “A4”) is responsible for turning on the entire acoustic system of the car. Through a separate fuse, this yellow wire is connected to the ignition switch terminal and is already powered from the battery.

Organization according to this scheme is guaranteed to protect the battery from unauthorized discharge, since turning on the car radio is possible only when the key is turned in the ignition switch.

Reference. The need for this kind of connection arose due to the fact that the cascades of the car audio system continue to consume electrical energy even when turned off, which very often led to battery discharge.

Domestic car enthusiasts have improved the wiring diagrams for car radios as best they can, resorting to both manual toggle switches and installing an automatic relay to turn off the radio when setting the car alarm. But, as we see, it is this connection scheme that has received universal recognition.
So:

• The fifth wire (A5), blue, is responsible for connecting the car antenna. It is designed for a maximum output current of 300 microamps, and if this value is exceeded, a large current can damage not only the output amplifier stages, but also the car radio itself as a whole;
• The contact with the positional designation “A7” in red is responsible for supplying voltage to the volatile memory of the car radio. This means that if you accidentally turn it off, all device parameters will be reset/reset to factory settings. The voltage on this wire is 12 volts;
• Well, the last wire of this connector, running in black insulation (A8), as you probably already guessed, is responsible for connecting the device to the ground of the car.

Advice! In order to protect the acoustic circuit, each of the supply wires must be equipped with a fuse-link. If periodic interruptions still occur during the operation of the head unit, then it is recommended to install a capacitor between contacts “A7” and “A8”, the capacity of which is selected experimentally.
Essentially, it (the capacitor) will serve as a filter that will smooth out fluctuations in the electrical power circuit of the car's speaker system.

Bottom acoustic connector “B”

As already mentioned, all other peripherals of the car audio system, that is, speakers, are connected through connector “B”. The pinout of the car radio Euro connector under the letter “B” looks like this (see previous photo):

The main part of car radios is initially designed to connect four channels, for which eight wires are used (two for each speaker).

Attention! The correct channel polarization plays an important role in the sound quality of your speaker system. Of course, if you mix up the wires and connect the speaker incorrectly, nothing bad will happen to it, but the entire speaker system will begin to work in abnormal mode - an incorrectly connected speaker will work in antiphase and the entire sound “collage” will be ruined.

DIY car radio ISO connector pinout

Advice! Elements of the car's acoustic system must be connected with wires having a minimum cross-section of 1.5-2 millimeters. In this case, wires with the largest cross-section must be used on power lines; wires with a smaller cross-section are not allowed, as this can not only spoil the sound, but can also lead to a complete failure of the entire system as a whole.

This information allows you to understand the very basis of the pinout of Euro connectors in modern car radios, which allows you to install almost any acoustic device in almost any car, without having any special knowledge.
But you should also not forget about caution, especially when you are dealing with non-standard connectors and equipment/vehicles that have long been discontinued, and even more so, used ones. For “complex” connections, I strongly recommend that you use testers and a multimeter for “testing” electrical circuits and subsequent “switching”.