HELP ? about amps and channels.

[kizza50]

So i have a kenwood head unit, with 1 RCA ouput, and thats going to my 2 channel audioline 600watt amp which is powering my sub. Ihave 400 watt pioneers in the parcel shelf runing off the head unit with 300 watt front door speakers also off the headunit,, i bough a 5600watt 4 channel off ebay, and want twin subs, What would be the best set up? iv head of "piggy backing" which is meaning basically running 2 things off one chanel, so splicing one speaker wire into to like a (Y) so you could run twin subs off one channel for instance. has someone tried this? or could give me any advice?

[HCVP]

Ok, first up, it's not going to happen.
The fact that you mentioned 5600watt 4 channel, can only mean you bought something buy the likes of powerwok, or what ever they call themselves.

It is not as simple as connecting speakers/subs, to amps, and away you go.
One pre-out means one amp. If you want to run more than one amp, then you will need to split your rca leads using splitters, in accordance with the amount of channels you wish to run. However as a result of doing this, you will not have any fader control.

Also, you need to look at the impedance levels of the sub/s, when choosing amplifiers. The 4 channel amp you bought, could possibly power 2 subs's, but honestly it isn't worth your while, unless they were very cheap subs. The 4 chanel amp you have bought is most likely not stable at the required impedance levels that your subs would produce.

Other's may tell you that it can be done, and to go ahead and do it, but i personally would not bother.

[kizza50]

so what would you suggest? maybe gettin splitters for the rca leads and runnig to amps? or using the 4 channel for running both subs and then the rear speakers and running the fronts of my head unit?

[HCVP]

Need to know model number of everything you are using, so we can tell you in the subs impedance levels are suitable for the amp, and how it would need to be wired up.

You could in theory use a 4 channel amp to run 2 subs, but it really would not be worth your while.

[kizza50]

Kenwood-B204 or something. and the parecel shelf speakers are pioneer 6x9 420 watt 4 way, and streamline 350 watt 4 way 6 inch in front door, with a audioline 600watt amp and a us audio 600 watt amp. I want to get rid of the amp and sub, and get the 4 channel in there with the twins, this amp is 140Wx4 RMS and the twins are 300RMS x 2.

[kizza50]

also wat is the difference between a 2 chanel and a 4 channel wiring kit?

[kizza50]

???????????????????????????????

[HCVP]

It relates to the amount of rca cable's included in the wiring kit, and in some cases the amount of speaker wire you get in the kit also.

Each channel represents a single output. 2 channels, 2 outputs, 4 channels, 4 outputs ect.
In other words, a 2 channel amp can drive 2 speakers, a 4 channel,4 speakers.

Example of when a 4 channel wiring kit would be used-
If your head unit had both front and rear pre-out, and you had a 4 channel amp, you would use a 4 channel wiring kit., to maintain your fader control



In your case of one pre-out, and a 4 channel amp, you would only want a 2 channel wiring kit. Each pre-out consist's of a left and right output. That makes 2 channels.

You will however need some rca splitters to make up the additional inputs on the amp end.
I forget which ones they are, 1 male into 2 female, or the other way around, or something. Any car audio place should have them in stock.

Make sense?

[kizza50]

Yes I understand that now and I appreciate the thorough response, so with the splitters , they go from the end of the RCA. To the splitters then into the amp so u fill out two inputs with 1 RCA cord, so il need 1 female to 2 male, and I think I'm gonna 2 channels or each sub, piggy back the rear speakers of it n then run the fronts on the head unit, tell ne wat u think or if anything should be changed, thanks alot!

[HCVP]

You can use the splitters at which ever end you prefer. Either at the head unit, or the amp. I've alway's chosen to split at the amp end, as it makes the head unit easier to re-install with less wiring at the back, and also makes things more accsesible in the future should you want to change anything around.

I think the splitter you need is 1 female, into 2 male. The male plag has the point, the female plug has the hole. Much like the same as human bodies, well as far as i know. Someone correct me if 'm wrong.

You will need a splitter for both the left and right channels.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "piggybacking"...? The only time i've heard that term is in when talking about car ecu's ect. If your talking about connecting one amp to another, then there are 2 ways this can be done.

1- Some amps have an output, aswell as an input. Meaning you can connect your head unit to the input side, as you would with any amp, and the output act's in the same way as the pre-out on your head unit. So you can send the same signal from one amp, to another.

2- In the case that your dosen't, you will need to split your rca's once again, from the splitters, themselves, to make up the extra amount of inputs.

One thing though, i'm not sure on how many times you can split a pre-out signal. Something to do with the voltage levels. You may need to wait for one of the more experienced member's to comment before you go ahead with it. Unfortunately i'm not experienced enough to give you a definate answer.

[kizza50]

I have jus gone to jb and purchased two RCA y style adapters, mate gave me two stinger level 3 pro ones for 10 bucks also can I ask y all the RCA ports must be filled on the amp, and by piggy backing I mean bridge 2 channels for each sub and then splice them into the rear parcel self speakers, but I think I will jus run one channel for each sub and then 1 channel for each parcel shelf speakers .any other tips or anything

[HCVP]

Mate you can't go connecting a sub/s and then splicing wire off into other speakers and things like that.

Give me some time, and i'll draw you up a wiring diagram, and you can look at that and get bit of an idea and we can go from there.

[kizza50]

Alrite how about a channel to each sub and then a channel to each parcel shelf speaker piggy backing the fronts off the parcel shelf or jus running them off the deck. Thanks again

[kizza50]

The amp im trying is an ebay powervox 5600 watt amp. As i know this is measured at a second and the RMS rating is 150W per channel which is measured on average. The subs have a maximum output of 300 RMS, so bridging 2 channels for the amp would make sense to run the twin subs, But im curious to know how much of a diference amping the speakers will make it as compared to running it off the head unit, So i can either,
1.run a channel to each sub and the rear parcel shelf speakers.
2. Bridge 2 channels for each sub and keep the speakers on the deck.
3. run a channel to each sub and parcel shelf speakers, piggy backing the fronts of the rear parcel shelf.
What would be the best outcome??????? im in a little bit of a rush thats all. Thanks.
Also im running a kenwood MP203 HU, and a 2 channel wiring kit, But iv already got the splitters.