As you may know from my other thread I took my HU out today to try to fix that problem (I still need help with that one and it is much more urgent than this one, so feel free to take a look at that one too ). I found that I only have one set of RCA jacks back there. I am planning on getting two amps in the near future however (one to run some comps in the front and one for a sub). Can I still do this? Is there either some type of splitter or do some amps have an output as well as an input? I think the hifonics amp I was looking at said it did, but it could very well have been talking about something completely different. Thanks!!!

Edit: Also if anybody can direct me to a source to find all the answers to these stupid little audio install questions that would be great since I realize I have been asking alot of them and will probably continue to over the next month or so.

 

Looks like a couple of these might do the trick http://www.thezeb.com/c-RCA-Patch-Ca...apters-115.htm. Anybody know if these would reduce sound quality at all?

 

I guess you could go that route, but I'm not to sure about the quality you would get out of it though. The other way to do it is to get what's called a 'line output converter' or a 'speaker level to rca converter'. This basically just takes the speaker wires coming out the back of your HU and converts them to RCA L&R connectors for your patch cable.

I had to use one for my dads silverado when he still had is OEM radio because he bought an amp and a sub. I think it was less than $20 and we just got it at a local audio shop.

Good luck!
drew

 

Ok. Thanks.

Another possibility. This is one of the amps I'm looking http://www.thezeb.com/p-Hifonics-Fal...ier-106501.htm. Looking at the picture there is one set of RCA jacks that says "input" and one that says "line out" so it looks like I should be alright.

 

The splitters that Terran has listed is the route I went in my old car and in my current setup as well. Don't have any issues with quality.

 

Yeah it would just patch it through. Just make sure you set any High pass/Low pass filters on the HU to off (if you even have any) and let the amps to the work.

drew

 

That seems like a good amp. I will follow you and buy this amp also.

 

You don't have to worry about getting y-splitters if you get that hifonics amp. I have the same exact amp running my cdt components. It has a rca input and output and will will also work as a low pass filter if you want it to connect to a sub amp.

However if you don't get this amp you will need y-splitters which are very cheap and can be found at best buy or circuit city.

 

VG Ill ridah, I think I'll be following you because it will probably be a little while before I get it.

Baxtel, thanks alot for confirming. That's what I thought. I am either going to get another of these or a hifonics mono to run the sub off of (http://www.thezeb.com/p-Hifonics-Mer...ier-106503.htm). I can decide if the extra $50 is worth it for another 20 amps and a "Remote Bass Level Control."

 

Using a "Y" adaptor will in fact affect sound, as you are splitting the already low signal voltage you have. Most likely you have 2V now, thus ending with 1V to each amp. Same theory applies to having the extra "output" on the amp, it is just using a 'Y' internally.

Best bet would be a better HU, second best bet would be to get a multi channel Line driver. Both of these options will benefit you the most.

--Don

 

Is this the same thing that GodsmackMAX is talking about? If not, could you describe how it works so I know what I'm talking about when I go looking for one? Basically if I use the output on that amp the sound quality on the sub might not be as good right? It won't hurt anything? I may just try it that way then upgrade if I'm not satisfied. Thanks.

Baxtel, are you using the outputs on that amp? If so, is it working alright for you?

 

i have one rca jack on my hu but i am powering 3 amps. one from the hu one from the hi low and one from the first amp.

 

No, what he is referring to is a LOC or Line output convertor. Typically used for factory radios. This will also yield you to about a 1V output.

All of the options listed will work, per say, just not in the best possible ways.

--Don

 

I am considering doing that but my HU gives out a 5 volt signal. So I'll be cutting that in half to 2.5v. Is this a horrible voltage to be sending?

 

What Pearl96Max is saying is false. The voltage is not divided in half. If that were the case you would need 8000 volt battery for your car. The RCA outputs of your hu are the signal that goes into your amps not the power source for the amps. If you loose any sound quality it will be because of the resistance of the y splitter being there. If you loose anything it will barely be heard if heard at all. I have y slitters for my computer speakers.

I have tried this with my hifonics amp and it worked fine at first but I wanted to be able to control my bass and hi's on the fly by my hu which has two rca outputs so I eventually ran another rca cable through the car. It yielded the same results with the rca connected directly to the hu or to the amp. By having rca outputs on a amp is simply a convience so if you plan on setting up another amp you don't have rip up your carpets again and also can save you money by getting 2 ft long rca cable instead of a 15ft rca cable.

 

A 5Volt signal is plenty no matter how many amps you hook up you still get a 5 volt signal going to each. A Y-splitter is NOT a voltage divider. Remember this is a signal not a power source. It like saying if you have four people in your car than you'll need a stereo that's four times as loud so everyone will hear it.

 

uhm.. when i have 4ppl in my car the bass dies and doesnt hit that hard.. then again thats just me. Btw bttxel good pt

 

One more thing, Terran try getting at least a 4 gauge power wire if not bigger to run through your car for the amp if your thinking about getting another amp as well.

There will 2 benefits, lost of time, and some money. Get a distribution block while your at it (once again this this is same thing y-splitter and no it does not divide the voltage in half either).

For refrence this is what I have

same amp as the one in the link you provided, and I have 4 guage power wire coming from the engine bay to the trunk. It goes through a Monster distribution block and is split into two 8 gauge wires. Both of the 8 guage wires are about a foot in length. One is for the hifionics and the other is for a JBL 600.1. I have 4 guage ground wire for the JBL and it has the same ground point as my hifonics amp which has an 8 guage ground wire.

go to bcae1.com its a great site it has everything a dyi 'er would need to know everything from building a subwoofer box to making your own custom crossover. I even use it for my homework (ECE lab reports)

 

werd. bcae1 is my bible

 

Ok, cool. Even if pearl96max is correct it likely won't bother me. As I've said many times before I really don't need impeccable sound. Thanks alot everybody.

While we're on the subject...What RCA should I get? I'll be ordering the amps from the zeb (unless you can do better on the hifonics amps I'm getting pearl...don't know if you sell them) so if you could recomend one from there that would be great. Here's the RCA's http://www.thezeb.com/c-RCA-Patch-Cables-114.htm.

 

the cheapest ones that are at least 10 ft long. Mine are 15 ft I have upgraded mine from 30ft rca's that I found in a supermarket ($5) to monster xln (not sure of model) rca's that were $20 and heard no differnce. So just get the cheapest you can find.

 

Don the splitters split the signal in a parallel configuration. the Voltage will be almost exactly the same on both sides. The only thing that would drop the 2V signal would be resistance in solder contacts and resistance in the wiring of the splitter. You might see 1.95 or 1.9 Volts at each connection if the original signal before splitting was 2V