Pioneer DEH-S6120BS Audio Receiver Wiring Diagram
Complete diagram
Every cable and connector on the unit and where each one goes.
Terminals and components · 18
- Constant 12 V
- Switched 12 V
- Ground
- System remote
- Illumination and preamp
- Speakers
- AUX input
- Connectors
- Antenna and devices
Caution
Do not let the lead wind around the steering column or shift lever; secure it with clamps.
Hubs
Connection through a USB hub is not supported.
Settings
Turn the AUX setting on in the menu to use it.
Separate screws
The power amp ground and this unit's ground go to the body with different screws. A loose screw can cause smoke, fire or malfunction.
Caution
Do not run it to the battery through the hole into the engine compartment.
Fuse
The rear of the unit has a 10 A fuse: replace it only with one of the same rating.
No ACC position
If the ignition switch has no ACC position, connect it to a terminal that detects the key; otherwise the battery will drain.
Never to a power terminal
Never connect it to the power terminal of an amp or auto antenna: it may drain the battery or cause a malfunction.
Glass antenna
If the vehicle has a glass antenna, connect it to the antenna booster power supply terminal.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Plugs
L = left, R = right; connect with RCA cables (sold separately).
Plugs
L = left, R = right; connect with RCA cables (sold separately).
Plugs
L = left, R = right; connect with RCA cables (sold separately).
Subwoofer
The subwoofer output is monaural.
Speaker leads
The eight speaker leads with their polarity, with four speakers or with a subwoofer on the rear leads.
Terminals and components · 4
- Speakers
- Unused
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Caution
Tape any unused speaker leads. With a two-speaker system, do not connect anything to the spare leads.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Network mode (NW)
In standard mode (STD) these are the front and rear speakers; in network mode (NW), the high range (F/H) and middle range (R/M) speakers. Never use a mode that does not match your speakers: it may damage them.
Setting
With a subwoofer on the rear leads, set the rear output to subwoofer (SW) in the menu.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
Setting
With a subwoofer on the rear leads, set the rear output to subwoofer (SW) in the menu.
Negative leads
Do not ground the speaker negative lead or band it together with other speakers' negatives.
2 Ω subwoofer
A 2 Ω subwoofer (or two 4 Ω subwoofers in parallel) goes only to the violet and violet/black leads and must be rated over 70 W. Connect nothing to the green and green/black leads.
Setting
With a subwoofer on the rear leads, set the rear output to subwoofer (SW) in the menu.
2 Ω subwoofer
A 2 Ω subwoofer (or two 4 Ω subwoofers in parallel) goes only to the violet and violet/black leads and must be rated over 70 W. Connect nothing to the green and green/black leads.
Setting
With a subwoofer on the rear leads, set the rear output to subwoofer (SW) in the menu.
External power amp
RCA outputs to the amplifiers and the lead that turns them on.
Terminals and components · 5
- Preamp
- System remote
- Amplifier
Amp turn-on
Connect it to the system remote terminal of each amplifier.
Plugs
L = left, R = right; connect with RCA cables (sold separately).
Plugs
L = left, R = right; connect with RCA cables (sold separately).
Plugs
L = left, R = right; connect with RCA cables (sold separately).
Subwoofer
The subwoofer output is monaural.
About This Diagram
These diagrams are redrawn from page 3 of the Pioneer DEH-S6120BS Audio Receiver manual, and we offer them completely free and in English. We have also categorized it in the Car Audio & Stereo (Automotive) section on Diagramverse, and it has been rated by 1 user with an average rating of 5.0. If you have any specific questions about the Pioneer DEH-S6120BS Audio Receiver Wiring Diagram, we suggest checking the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.
Printable Pioneer DEH-S6120BS Wiring Diagrams
Wiring Instructions
Before you start
The Pioneer DEH-S6120BS receiver is for 12 V, negative-ground vehicles only. It runs on 14.4 V DC (10.8 V to 15.1 V allowable), draws up to 10.0 A and is protected by a 10 A fuse. First decide which layout matches your system. The Complete tab shows every connection. The Speakers tab covers the speaker leads, with four variants: Four speakers for front and rear full-range speakers, 4 Ω subwoofers if you drive 4 Ω subwoofers from the green and violet leads, 2 Ω subwoofer for a single 2 Ω subwoofer, and Two 4 Ω in parallel for a pair of 4 Ω subwoofers wired as a 2 Ω load. The Power amp tab covers external amplifiers fed from the RCA outputs.
Tools and materials: panel removal tools, a digital multimeter, wire strippers, crimp connectors or solder with heat-shrink tubing, insulating tape, and cable clamps or ties. If your vehicle has a factory connector, a harness adapter and dash kit for your model saves you from cutting factory wiring. The power cord is supplied, and you should not shorten it. The sources give no wire gauge for speaker extensions or amplifier power runs, so use quality speaker wire suited to the length of the run, and follow the amplifier's own manual for its power and ground cables.
Pioneer warns that installing this unit without training and experience in automotive electronics can be dangerous. If you are not comfortable working around the vehicle's wiring, or the installation needs drilling or other changes to the vehicle, have a professional installer do it.
Step-by-step wiring
- Disconnect the battery negative terminal and keep it away from the post until you finish.
- Identify the vehicle wires with your multimeter, briefly reconnecting the battery only for this step. Constant 12 V is present with the key out. Switched 12 V appears only in ACC or ON. The illumination signal goes to 12 V when the headlights are on. Label each wire, then disconnect the battery again.
- Connect Black: chassis ground first, to a clean, paint-free metal part of the body. If you also install a power amp, give its ground wire its own screw. Never share one screw between the two.
- Connect Yellow: constant 12 V to the constant 12 V supply terminal. Do not run the yellow lead through the firewall straight to the battery.
- Connect Red: switched 12 V to the terminal controlled by the ignition switch. If the ignition has no ACC position, the red lead must go to a terminal that senses key operation, or the battery will drain.
- Connect Orange/white: illumination to the car's illumination signal.
- Connect Blue/white: system remote to the system remote terminal of the power amp or to the auto-antenna relay control terminal (300 mA max, 12 V DC). With a glass antenna, connect it to the antenna booster power supply terminal. Never connect it to the power terminal of an amp or an auto antenna.
- Wire the speakers for your variant: the plain color goes to + and the black-striped wire to −. Front (FL, FR) is white and gray. Rear (RL, RR) is green and violet. A single 2 Ω subwoofer goes on violet and violet/black only, and you tape off green and green/black. Never ground a speaker negative and never join the negatives of several speakers.
- For external amps, run RCA cables from FRONT OUT, REAR OUT and SUB OUT to the matching amplifier inputs.
- Plug in the antenna at ANT. Add the optional SiriusXM tuner at SiriusXM and the wired remote adapter at REMOTE if you use them. Connect the MIC and route its 3 m lead to the sun visor or the rear of the steering column. Keep it from winding around the column or shift lever.
- Cover every unused lead and connector with insulating tape. Clamp or tape the wiring, wrap it wherever it touches metal, and keep it away from seat rails, the shift lever and heater outlets.
- Plug the power cord into the unit and mount it at an angle of less than 60°. Leave about 5 cm of free space behind it so it can shed heat.
Testing and start-up
Check all connections before you close the dash, then reconnect the battery negative. Remove the front panel and press RESET with a pointed tool longer than 8 mm. Turn the ignition to ON and the setup menu appears.
In the setup menu, set SPEAKER MODE to match your wiring: STANDARD for front, rear and subwoofer systems, NETWORK for 2-way high range, middle range and subwoofer systems. You cannot change this later without a SYSTEM RESET. Then, under INITIAL, set REAR-SP to SW if a subwoofer is on the rear leads without an amp, or FUL for full-range rear speakers. Under AUDIO, set SUBWOOFER to ON if you have a subwoofer.
Verify the power leads: with the key out, the yellow lead should read about 12 V to chassis and the red lead 0 V. The unit should keep its clock and presets after the key is cycled. With the unit on, blue/white should read about 12 V and any amp or power antenna should switch on. Start at low volume and use BALANCE and FADER to confirm each speaker plays from the right position. Turn on the headlights to test the illumination input.
Safety notes
- Use speakers rated over 50 W and 4 to 8 Ω on the four channels, and never 1 to 3 Ω. A 2 Ω subwoofer must be rated over 70 W.
- Running the wrong speaker mode for your speaker system can damage the speakers.
- Replace the fuse only with one of the prescribed 10 A rating. Never cut into this unit's power cord to supply other devices, because its current capacity is limited.
- A loose or missing ground screw can cause fire, smoke or malfunction. Keep the unit away from moisture.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Probable Cause | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| The radio is completely dead and won't turn on | Blown 10 A fuse, no power on yellow or red, or a poor black ground | Check the fuse and replace it only with a 10 A fuse. With the key in ACC, measure about 12 V from yellow and from red to chassis. Check that the black lead is bolted tight to bare, paint-free metal. |
| The clock and presets are lost every time I turn off the car | Yellow and red are swapped, or yellow is on a switched circuit | With the key out, yellow must still read about 12 V and red 0 V. Swap the leads or move yellow to a true constant 12 V supply. |
| The battery goes flat after the car sits overnight | Red is on a constant 12 V source (common in cars with no ACC position), or blue/white is on an amp or antenna power terminal | Measure red with the key out: it must read 0 V. Make sure blue/white goes only to a remote or relay control terminal. Also check that Bluetooth isn't left on standby with the engine off. |
| The display shows AMP ERROR and there is no sound | A speaker lead is shorted, a speaker negative is grounded, negatives are joined together, or the load is too low | Disconnect the speakers and check each lead for continuity to chassis: there should be none. Confirm 4 to 8 Ω per channel, with 2 Ω allowed only on violet. Then turn the ignition off and back on. |
| The sound is thin and the bass seems to cancel out | One speaker is wired with reversed polarity | Check that every plain-color lead goes to + and every black-striped lead to − at each speaker. Correct the reversed pair. |
| The left and right or front and rear sound swapped | Speaker pairs are connected to the wrong leads | Use BALANCE and FADER at low volume to find which speaker plays. Move the pairs so white is left front, gray right front, green left rear and violet right rear. |
| Tweeters crackle or full bass goes to the small speakers | The speaker mode doesn't match the wiring, for example STANDARD on a network system | Turn the volume down immediately. Run SYSTEM RESET and choose the correct SPEAKER MODE in the setup menu. |
| The subwoofer on the rear leads plays vocals, or there is no subwoofer phase or crossover option | REAR-SP is set to FUL, or SUBWOOFER is set to OFF | In INITIAL settings, set REAR-SP to SW. Then set SUBWOOFER to ON in the AUDIO settings. |
| The external amp or power antenna never turns on | Blue/white is not connected, or it is connected to the wrong terminal | With the head unit on, measure about 12 V on blue/white. Confirm it goes to the amp's system remote terminal or the antenna relay control terminal, and that the amp has its own power and separate ground. |
| The display doesn't dim when I turn on the headlights | Orange/white is not connected to the illumination signal, or the dimmer is not set to follow it | Measure about 12 V on the vehicle wire with the headlights on. Check that DIM SETTING is set to SYNC ILLUMI. |
| SiriusXM shows CHECK TUNER or CHECK ANTENNA | The tuner cable is loose at the SiriusXM input, or the antenna cable is damaged | Reseat the tuner cable at the back of the unit and inspect the antenna lead. Make sure the magnetic antenna sits on an outside metal surface. |
