Component Speakers and Amplifier Question (AUDIO EXPERTS!)

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:43 am

As some of you may have seen in the post about my car, I recently installed component speakers in my car. Initally just the back, but today I installed some in the front doors. So, I'm running 4 6.5 inch speakers with 4 tweeters. Everything is hooked up with Stinger wires and is running through OZ crossovers. Sound quality is infinitely better than stock and noticeably better than just 2-way or 3-way speakers. The only problem is that the power from the Panasonic HU just isn't cutting it. So, I bought a 400 W 2-channel amp in hopes of bringing some much needed-power to the new speakers.

However, I'm a total boob when it comes to wiring audio. My head unit has a total of 3 RCA plug sets (Red/White). One set is marked "CH-IN" and according to the instructions, should be used for XM Radio and CD changers. The other two are classified as "PREAMP" and have inputs for the "FRONT" and "REAR". It also has a wire from the main loom which is marked "External Amplifier Control Lead".

Question:
Where should I connect the Amp? To the CH-IN plug, or to one of the pre-amp plugs? Or do I not have this ability with this HU and I should be looking for another?

Also, since the amp is a two channel, can I run both sets of speakers from the amp, or just one? Do I just connect the Channel -out RCAs of the amp to the PREAMP plugs on the HU?

What about the wire in the loom, is it just to turn on the amp, but not give the signal?

Thanks for all your help guys, I'm in the dark here.

ChiPPy · Post by **ChiPPy** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:01 am

You want to connect your amp to the preamp outputs, front or rear doesn't really matter, but for simplicity, since it is for the front speakers, use the front preamp pair. The other wire you would be interested in would be the external amplifier wire. This is used to turn on your amp when the head unit is powered on. Other than this, just the basic power connections need to be made, and you're on your way.

daewoomofo · Post by **daewoomofo** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:18 am

the problem your gona have is putting all four channels (front left, front right, rear left and rear right) on a 2 ch amp. if you hook all 4 channels up to it your rears will be way luoder and you wont be able ot adjust it to how you want it. my sugguestion is to return the 2 ch amp and get a 4 ch amp. but if you have to use the 2 ch amp what i would do is

1. use the REAR RCA outs.
2 on the back of the head unit ther should be a blue wire coming out of it, that one needs to be connected to the power turn on connection on the amp.
3. make sure you get a good clean connection on your ground, scral ALL the paint away from it and make sure its a spot that you can make a good connection to.
4. if you need any more help im always on aim and msn messanger, just give me a yell on there