I posted this in the audio section, but I need a quick response and there just aren't enough people there currently viewing. I was hoping someone could shed some light on this for me. I am by no means an expert with this stuff.

I ordered new front door speakers for my 2k2 w/ non-bose. I bought a 4 channel amp to power the front doors and a sub. I also bought 16 gauge speaker wire for use with the front door speakers. I currently have a sub installed powered by an amp, but i replaced the amp.

Can anyone tell me exactly how I should run the wires to amp the door speakers? Does the 16 gauge wire go directly to the amp? Does anything need to be connected to the headunit? Thanks for any help.

 

I'm assuming you already have the power and remote-lead part figured out. For the audio, you'll need a set of RCAs from your HU's front output to the amp's front input. You will then run the 16-guage wires from the front speakers to the amplifier, and you will hook them up in bridged mode. (See the amp's manual for how to bridge.) You will also have to change some setting on the amp so it knows that you're bridging and using the front channels only. Again, see the user's manual.

 

You have to have the speakers wired directly to the amp. You can splice the front speakers wires from the back of the deck. Make sure you leave a long enough wire from the harness so you can hook them back up if you wanted to later. You can connect your new wires to those and run them to your amp. That's what I'm gonna do to mine.

 

Depending on where he has his amp's at and depending on if his sub amp has RCA line out, he should be able to use that for his RCA Input.

 

Yeah, first part is taken care of. So, all I need is the rca cable. I appreciate the help!

 

This is the amp that I got.. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-1d6rxr8...sp?i=037A4004T

 

That's the same amp I'm thinking about getting. I hope you didn't buy it from there. What kind of amp do you have running your sub and where do you plan on putting this amp at?

 

I did get it from crutchfield because i need all the help i can get. Their service is unmatched. Not to mention that I had $20 bucks off using my friend's referral.

I am using that amp to power the 10" mtx thunder4000 i have now and to power the new fronts.

I still don't know where to mount the amp at this point. Any suggestions?

Also, the crutchfield rep i was working with recommended this amp for my uses and because very few have been returned in comparison to other amps.

 

Ok so you're using one amp to run the sub and the fronts. You should be able to do that. If the amp is already hooked up all you need to do is run the front speaker wires to it. You can mount it to the back of the back seat. Where do you have it now?

 

OH....

I think we both misread your original post. I thought you meant you had TWO amps. Okay, then it's a different setup:

Run RCAs from the front output on your HU to the front input (not sure which one that is on this amp) on the amp. Then connect your RCAs from the sub output on the HU to the rear input on the amp. Then connect the 16-guage wire to the front speakers into the amp's front speaker outputs, as labeled. That part should be pretty self explanatory. Connect the sub to the rear speaker outputs, but connect them in bridged mode. (Refer to the manual on how to bridge.) So each front channel will be powering a front speaker, and both rear channels will be powering the sub. Make sure your impedance matches up for the sub.

 

Well right now I have a tiny Rockford Fosgate 120a amp just powering the sub. It fits in the little nook on the close left side of the trunk. I am replacing it with this amp, which is a lot larger.

I was thinking about mounting it to the rear seat, but I have my sub box right there. I would have to find a way to secure the box more forward while still having access to the spare tire. Shouldn't be that big of a deal.

 

AH.. sorry about that. OK, this makes sense. How long do you think the rca cables have to be?

 

Lol. I thought the same thing. I just re-read it again. He already has the amp hooked up so he just needs to run the speaker wire really and bridge 2 channels for the sub.

 

Whatever length RCAs you'd find in an amp install kit should work fine. Typically they are ~17 feet. And some say you should not be running the RCAs along the power cable. So if the power to the amp is running down the driver's side, you should run the RCAs down the passenger side to avoid noise in the speakers. Speaker wires don't matter.

 

Nice.. very helpful information. Thanks to the both of you.

 

If you mount it to the back of the seat you should still have room for your sub. I guess it all depends on how big your box is. You could also mount it to the box.

 

Quick question. How is your amp hooked up now? Don't you already have RCA cables hooked to that one?

 

Truthfully, a friend helped out 3 yrs ago when it was installed. I just don't remember how it was all done. I don't recall ever taking out the headunit though. I wish i was more up to speed with this stuff.

As far as the sub box goes, it's not a square or rectangle shape. It's angled on the back side, but flat on the bottom. This puts the sub (when sitting flat) aimed at an upwards angle. Currently, it's sitting right against the rear seat.

 

You shouldn't have to run any RCA cables if you already have an amp hooked up that you're going to replace with another amp. You should already have RCA cables hooked up to that amp. All you have to do is disconnect that amp and hook up new amp to same power, ground, remote wire, and RCA cables. Only thing with the name amp you have 4 channels which means you have to bridge 2 of them for your sub and the other 2 channels will be for your front door speaker wires.

 

OK, so, it's just bridging I should have to worry about. Just out of curiosity, is it possible to not remove the headunit to install an amp? I just don't remember taking out the radio. What I do remember is tapping into the speaker wires in the door pillar.

 

I don't think it works that way. You have to have a separate input for each output. You can't just use your sub input for the front speaker signal. You do need two sets of RCAs to run back there.

 

Yes it is possible. Like you just said you can hook up a line level converter to speaker wire from any speaker in the car. There is a way you can hook an amp up without using RCA cables. Each amp comes with a hook up that you can used to tap directly into the speaker wire and connect it straight to the amp. I hope he used RCA cables. You should check your amp to see if it has RCA cables hooked up to it.

 

Yeah, that works, too.

 

I have a feeling rca's weren't used. I have to wait until I take it apart this weekend to take another look. Chances are i'm going to have to follow your directions. So, it's two sets of rca's that I need. I'm going to radio shack after work, is there a better type of rca I should get?

 

You know what, I think your right. His amp has 2 sets of RCA inputs. I need to see the manual that came with the amp. You might be able to used one RCA input signal and split it between the 4 channels then filter it for low and high. I can't seem to find a clear pic online of both side of the amp. I have the Audiobahn A8002T amp in my car. I think my manual has some info on your model also. I'll check it when I get off work.

 

Take a look at these pics.. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-gmBd4Se...120#morephotos

If you want, i can send you the pdf manual...

 

Will he need 2 sets of line level converters or is there something that can that will split one set of RCA's to 2?

 

Thanks for the pics. According to that you will need 2 sets of RCA cables. 1 set for channels 1 and 2 and 1 set for channels 3 and 4.

 

With the speaker-level inputs, I'm not positive, but I believe you should only need to tap into the wires for a single channel. (Right rear, for example.)

You'd have to check RadioShack for the Y-splitter for the RCA. But I don't think you'd be advised to do that, anyway. You should really have a separate RCA input for front and for sub. Depending on your HU, it probably sends out lower frequencies through the sub output. Therefore, using those lower frequencies for your front speakers would not be smart.

 

Actually if you friend hooked you current system up not using RCA cables that might be easier. You amp should came with a connecter that will go into the spot in this pic called high input.



If you connect that to where the one for your fosgate amp is connected then you won't need any RCA cables and the amp will use that one signal for all the channels. If your going to run your sub bridge on channels 1 and 2 you can switch those to the low pass filter and switch channels 3 and 4 to high pass or full for the fronts.

 

Holy S***, I couldn't be more confused now.. lol

So, let's say my current setup is not using rca's. Would I have to untap what's already connected in the door pillar and rerun the rca's? OR do I just leave it the way it is and connect the rca's to the headunit and run it to the amp. Man, I give it up to you guys.

I want to do this right, so whatever is better..

I have an idea..who wants to come over to install it??

 

What kind of HU do you have?

 

If you were closer.

You don't have to run RCA cables. You can tap the high input connector from this amp to where the one from your old amp is in the door pillar. When you use the high input connector you don't need RCA cables. Good question, what headunit do you have?

 

The headunit is stock, non-bose

 

Alright, then obviously your HU doesn't have RCA outputs. So you'll have to stick with the high-level input that you already had hooked up. You may have to use the jack that came with the Audiobahn and just splice into the wires from the existing jack. (Because different brands use different jack designs.)

 

Yup and make sure when you hook your speakers up you bridge the sub to either channels 1 and 2 or channels 3 and 4. And make sure you use the LP filter for the sub and either HP or full for the front speakers.

 

OK, I can't thank you enough for your input.

 

What would be better for the fronts, FP or HP? Does it make a difference if the speakers are 2way or 3way? I got 3way.

 

No prob. Just let us know how it turns out.

 

It all depends on what you want to hear out of your front speakers. If you want just the highs to come thru then you would use HP. If you want them to play highs an lows then you use full. Once you get it hooked up you can switch it back and forth between HP and FP and see which one you like best.