icebird_1981

hey guy need some help i got a 2 channel amp running 2 subs in my trunk. the rest of my speakers i am guessing are runnin off my deck, i have another amp its a pioneer GM-X552 2 channel 50Wx2 @4ohm 75Wx2 @2ohm, 150Wx1 @4ohm. want to hook it up to my 6x9 kenwood speakers but i dont no how to hook up a second amp. can someone tell me how this is done???
also should i do this, my 6x9s start to sound nasty when i put the volume really high i assume with the amp hooked up it will stop this right? but what about the front ones will they sound fine if i get really good one? or should i go for a 4 channel amp and run all 4 speaker off an amp?
and one more question will that amp even make a diffrence? i dont no to much about this amp if its good or bad. my deck is a clarion 50x4

StevenK

iTrader: (1)

you can hook that amp up to the rear speakers if you want. More power will give the speakers more mid-bass and might add some clarity if its a good amp, pioneer is typically pretty good. What you have to do is run some RCA cables from the preout on the deck for the rear speakers, then take that rca cable to the amp. Then you have to run new speaker wire from the amp to the speakers, one channel per speaker.

Polecat

the reason at higher volumes your speakers sound bad is because you are probably running out of power...add the amp and it should sound better.

brobert

I added another amp but now my cheap *** head unit does not have a good enough pre amp signal so now it sounds worse with 2 amps then it did with one. I guess ill run one amp off the speaker wire inputs.

TomP

What's the model # of the clarion? Did it only have one set of preamp outputs? If so, you could try to buy an amp that has a pass-through on it. This means the amp has a set of preamp inputs, and a full-range set (not limited to a certain frequency set) of preamp outputs. Sort of like this amp: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pe..._35288,00.html So you'd wire your RCA cord first to the pass-thru amp. Then you'd buy a short RCA patch cord, and connect the pass-thru amp's "outputs" to the original amp's inputs.

The problem with this is that you lose any fader controls. The ideal thing would be if your Clarion head unit has two sets of preamp outputs, but you're just using one set for your subs. Then you'd run the rear speaker amp and sub amp off the "rear" preamp outputs, and the front speaker amp off the "front" preamp outputs. And the best scenario is 3 outputs off of the head unit, like mine

You could also just use an RCA splitter, but you might have some signal loss like Brobert found out.

You'll need a new set of power cords for that new amp. Or you can upgrade your original power wire to a thicker gauge, and buy a "distribution block" that splits the thick power wire into two smaller power wires, one for each amp. You can daisy-chain the remote turn-on lead, run it from one amp to the other. (And if you want to be ultra-safe, put a fuse on the turn-on wire.)

If you've blasted the volume a lot with your current setup, the distortion might've thrashed those Kenwood 6x9's. You might have to buy a new set...

icebird_1981

my model # is DX425>i dont no how many RCA line it has but its not a old cd player so i would think it does. noth my amps only have one set of RCA jacks. i want to avoid getting a new amp right now just got 2 12" new sub and kenwood 6x9 and i still need to get 2 more for the front so no more money on y system need to save for a stall converter. oh and i just bought a wire kit so i am all set to get it installed. there is something i am still confused on how do i run the power line and the small wire that runs from the deck to the amp? can i just run the small wire and power wire from my old amp to my new amp?
what is a distribution block?? i only know the basics sry.

TomP

Don't just loop a power wire from your original amp to your new amp! That's a good way to start a fire. Click this link for an example of a distribution block: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...asp?I=21144094

You'd upgrade your main power wire to a thick enough gauge to support both amps, then split the wire in your hatch with the dist block.

Good news, according to http://www.clarion.com , in the manuals section under source units, you've got two sets of preamp outputs on that radio.

StevenK

iTrader: (1)

Agreed 100%, DO NOT try to get power from the other amp's wire. Run the correct size wire for both amps, then do a distro block. The small wire is for the amps to turn on, you should already have one of those run if you have an amp currently, it is okay to splice that wire.

amerpsycho

i'm trying to do the same thing...ive got two subs running on one amp and im trying to add another amp...ive got the whole pass-thru thing down and i have the distribution box but how do you connect the ground wire...i heard that you just hook the ground wire up to the first amp but it doesnt work when i do it that way.

amerpsycho

oh yea and the remote wire...how do you hook up the remote wire?

StevenK

iTrader: (1)

no no no......take that ground wire to the METAL body of the car.

I bolted mine down to the body near the spare tire, you have to be touching metal, and scrape any paint off if there is some where you pick.

Positive Wire (Red)
Battery -> Fuse (no father than 2 feet from the battery) ->Wire through car to amp -> Capacitor (if you have one) -> distro block -> one wire per amp
Ground Wire (Black)
Body of vehicle (metal) -> Amp x2 (or another distro block)

The remote wire comes from the back of the radio, typically you can use the power antenna wire or the Accessory wire, typically blue.

amerpsycho

yea i knew all that...i got two hooked up now but my subs arent working...its time for new ones...thanks for the help though.

lykan

the remote wire from the deck is usually blue. It connect to the amp's remote wire connection.

To keep your aamp from running continuosly, and draining your battery when its not in use, the remote wire triggers a relay when your radio is turned on. It turns on the amp for you when your deck turns on.

To hook that up you can use a small wire it goes straight from teh decks remote wire o the remote connection on the amp