Amp wiring question
 

so basically i got a used amp for a good price and i wanted to add it to my setup.

basically (according to the internet) its a textbook setup where there are rca cables coming from deck pre-outs, power cable, remote wire, and ground wire. when i bought this car there was two amps, one for the rear speakers and one for the sub.as part of the deal i let the seller keep the rear speakers and the amp powering them. so when i bought it i wired my own rear speakers to the 4 channel sub amp. so now that i have this new amp i want to integrate it back into the setup.

from what i've read on the internet i would take the existing power cable and split it into two (one for each amp) using a distribution block. it says to run two separate ground wires to each of the amps (is this extremely necessary, i want to cut down cost.lol). then it says run existing remote wire from head unit to first amp then another wire from the first amp to the second. then it goes on and says to run my rca wires to the amps. i have two sets running to my current 4 channel amp. two to the left/right front speaker plug and two to the left/right rear speaker plugs. which one is the one that controls the sub and which is the rear speakers? btw my front speakers are running just off the deck, no amps or anything. lastly the article says to simply connect rca cables to second amp and wire the speakers to the amp. plug in battery terminals and i should be done.

i know that was a crap load to read but i figure the more details the better someone can help me:) basically i just want someone to confirm that this is indeed the way to wire up two amps, one to power the sub and one to power the rear speakers. any help is much appreciated.

You need a distro block to split and yes both amps need to be grounded. What gauge power wire do you have, if it's only 8 you might hve to upgrade to 4 depending on what kind of power you will be running. Rcas should be labelle behind the deck.
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I had to read it a couple of times but I think I get it from what you wrote.

This is your current set-up:
Deck powers the front speakers - thats fine.
The rear pre-outputs of the deck go to channels A&B on the amp
The subwoofer pre-outs (if there are any) go to channels C&D on the amp

A&B speaker outputs go to the rear speakers
C&D outputs are most likely bridged and go to the subwoofer(s)

What amp are you adding in? Is it a 2-channel amp or a mono amp? If its a mono amp then you should run that to the sub and use the 4-channel for the fronts and rears. A distro block will help, an extra RCA will be needed and you'll need a new ground on that new amp which is no biggie. Remote can run from one amp to the other as you said. The only pain in the ass is running a new wire from your front stage portion of the 4-channel amp to the front speakers. This can be done by interupting the front speaker wires are the deck, at the kick panel or by running new speaker wires right through the door boot (the best option but most labour intensive.

I hope this helps.

Since the amp is second hand, you should test the amp on a bench before putting it into your car or even integrating it with the rest of your system.

A ground wire is cheap, it is just any wire to a bare surface. If you can't afford a ground wire, you shouldn't be buying that amp.

why would i need to run new wires to incorporate the front speakers? i am ok with the front speakers running off the deck or do i have to use the amp to power them now? i think you pretty much nailed down how my cars setup. so do i have to just unplug the rca labelled rear speakers from the 4 channel and plug them into the new amp in order for the rear speakers to run off of it?

Your rear seat passengers will love it.

If you are running 4 channels (front and rear right and left) and 2 channels for the subwoofer, then you need a total of 3 pairs of RCAs if you want the kind of control and power that everybody wants. Powering the front speakers off of the amp is much better than deck power. As a matter of fact, I would rather run the fronts off of the amp than the rears if given the choice. Who wants overpowering rears matched with underpowered and distorted fronts? I know I don't. :)

Yes definitely want sound up front. Like the old saying goes, you don't listen to a concert facing backwards, so why have sound coming from back? You want a strong forward soundstage. Musicians on the dash and hood kind of idea but a little higher (ear level). Good imaging where vocals are smack in the middle and the rest of the music/instruments placed in the exact location in which they were originally recorded. Rear speakers should be very subtle. It is there to give a bit of ambience. Natural ambience is the best, so no rear speaker is really needed, but the interior of a vehicle is not always ideal for natural ambience. In some cases, rear speakers improve the imaging up front, while adding ambience. Strong centre image up front, for example. Again, it depends on the vehicle - its dimensions, materials used, and speaker placement.

As installerz pointed out, the passengers in the rear may want to hear some of the music. It's funny - I rarely sit in the back of anyone's car to know how music may sound back there, LOL. I imagine there would be little to no focus in the music.

Here's a question I have for some of you folks (so I don't have to create a new thread in here)............. What was the last Focal demo disc? I have up to number 6. Did they produce any more?

Also, does anyone have the original disc of CAN II (Car Audio Nationals) test tracks? I have a cassette version of it, but not a CD. I know they had them, but only judges and dealers were given copies.

CAN was berfore IASCA, so some of you older car audio freaks may have this. I do have, however, an MFSL gold CD of the original IASCA test CD. :drool

Nothing beats analog, but good source is impossible to get. I have a Nakamichi TD 1200 that I fire up once in a while on the workbench to get my fix, but one day it is going to bite the bullet.

How's that for hijacking a thread, Mike?

Great job dude!
Focal demo disc 7 is the latest disc. Not sure about the CAN II disc.
We have the latest IASCA discs (SQ and IDBL) for sale at our shop as we are an official IASCA dealer and we also have a couple of copies of the latest EMMA discs as well. :)

thanks everyone for the advice. i finally got the time to start to install the amp :) stoked bout a better system. last question though. i cant seem to find out where to hook up the remote wire... the amp is an Audison srx 1D. also realized its a mono amp. iuno if that changes set up at all?

That amp is a mono amp. Best used for subwoofer(s) only.
Remote wire is already run to the other amp. Use that and chain it over to the Audison's remote wire input.

ya i ended up taking your previous advice and wired the audison amp to the sub and used the 4 channel for the front and rears. only thing though is that i do not know where to hook up the remote wire on the audison amp :(