Any car audio experts in the house??!!

chris308 · 02-27-2007, 08:10 PM

I just put in my SIRIUS Kenwood HU in and with the loss of the factory amp powered subs, the sounds even worse than before!!

I need to get some after market stuff in here ASAP!!

I, not being to familiar with hooking up multi-channel amps. I was wondering if someone could assist. I will be using BOSTON Pro components for the doors. These will have a crossover for each side. I will also be using a single 12" sub, all speakers will be powered by my trusty Alpine V12 expert 4/3/2 ch amp.

Question is, for the component speakers, i wire those (mid-driver & tweeter) to the crossover and then a the wires from the CO goes to the amp correct? So in essence each CO set will equal 1 channel on the amp??

Mekanic · 02-28-2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris308

Question is, for the component speakers, i wire those (mid-driver & tweeter) to the crossover and then a the wires from the CO goes to the amp correct? So in essence each CO set will equal 1 channel on the amp??

yes.

chris308 · 02-28-2007, 06:48 PM

easy enough,

ok, on to the next one. The HU has 1 set of RCA jacks (red/wht) now i know those go to the amp but, my alpine has 3 sets labled with the channels it reps, and 1 set that is marked "pre-out" now.... do I connect the amp to the preout or to the rca set that the subwoofer is wired to?

Mekanic · 02-28-2007, 08:17 PM

the pre out on the amp is for chaining multiple amps together. You're going to run into a small fidelity problem with only one set of outputs on the head.

Check on the amp, there may be a switch to adjust the operation of the amp itself, otherwise you may end up wanting to use a pre-amp or a good EQ. I run a Directed 5 band parametric in mine.

This sounds like a problem where I would need to see an owners manual for the amp.

You may also need to go with a couple line level converters, they use the speaker wire off the head and convert the signal to RCA. Since youre not using the on hand power in the head, you could use 2 line lvl converters, 1 for front, 1 for rear, then use the RCA on the head to the sub channel, that fixes the fidelity problem, but adds a bit of work.

chris308 · 02-28-2007, 08:28 PM

that makes a lot of sense now! I think i'll go with the line lvl converters since i don't want to mess with multiple amps. Thanks for the schooling

Mekanic · 02-28-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris308

that makes a lot of sense now! I think i'll go with the line lvl converters since i don't want to mess with multiple amps. Thanks for the schooling

no problem at all! Try to get a converter of decent quality, you're running a decent component set there, I don't want to see the quality drop from a cheap-o

I used to run the Stinger SALOC converter, theyre good, but hard to find.

chris308 · 02-28-2007, 10:08 PM

Will do, theres a crap load of them on ebay.

chris308 · 03-01-2007, 07:52 PM

i was wondering, instead of going the LOC route since i have a set of RCA jacks on the back of my HU could i just run my cables to the back and use (2)
female - 2male Y connectors, basically splitting the single set into 2 sets??

Mekanic · 03-01-2007, 08:36 PM

yes, but there in is the fidelity issue, if you do that you will loose control of your balance and fade from the head unit.

It is a much easier route tho, and you can still semi control it from the gain on the amp, but you won't have the minute control.

Either is a very good option, depends on the amount of work you want to do. If you don't plan on entering any comps with it, go with the Ys for now and see if you like it, if not you're only out a couple bucks and next to no time.

chris308 · 03-01-2007, 09:05 PM

Thanks, i'll try the y-con way first.