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Old 06-12-2009, 12:36 AM
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Audio help

hey guys, so I have the metra kit and a panasonic double din deck, I decided to install a Amp 2 10's and a capacitor, and am looking for installation help, i have never done a amp install before so if you could maybe shoot me some step by step instructions for that and a capacitor, also maybe some links to wiring kits that i will need.

Tomorrow i am going to start pulling out interior pieces for laying out the wire to make it clean and hidden, i want the amp and capacitor in the trunk in the square hole area and am going to use a custom fitted box for the subs, i was going to go with 10in subs, it should be ok for our car right? or should i go 2 12's or 1 12? I do have the bose with the stock amp, I was also thinking of using another amp for the speakers and using an EQ, should i do that? Or not bother and just stick with the one amp and 2 subs?

The reason I was thinking that is because that is how it was setup in a recent car I bought and thought about running that setup, but wanted to get other input on it, I am not to familar with this kind of stuff so sorry if any of this comes off as noob, well any help or info would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Old 06-12-2009, 12:44 AM
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first of all, read this: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/speaker-sizes-harnesses-kits-etc-audio-install-reference-74664/

second, i'd say two 10s, plus a sub amp, plus a 4 channel amp if you're upgrading the bose. o/w stick with the amp and subs.

good luck!
Old 06-12-2009, 12:52 AM
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thanks alot, also what do you mean upgrading the bose?
Old 06-12-2009, 01:10 AM
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ok so after watching a video i think i just about got it, up until it mentions hooking up a turn on lead, how would i go about that? also it says run speaker wire from speakers to the amp. if i just go with the 4 channel amp and 2 subs and cap do i still run speaker wires from the speakers to the amp? how do you run speaker wire from the front speakers to the amp? and do cap's come with the wiring i need or will i need to get the wires? i was going to get a rockford fostgate cap, and how do i got about installing that? oh and most important what do i do with the bose amp? do i have to do anything with that or no?
Old 06-12-2009, 01:22 AM
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never mind the turn on lead i got it, but what do i do with bose amp and speaker wires?
Old 06-12-2009, 01:25 AM
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whoa there. you need to slow down and plan this all out first.

it sounds to me like you're wanting to *add* an amp, subs, and cap to your existing system. that means leave the bose speakers and amps in place. you'll only have to run speaker wire from your sub amp to the subs themselves. the remote wire will tell your amp when to turn on so you wire to something that's only on when your car is on. read through the sticky more and you'll begin to understand better.

you'll have to buy all your own cables too. the cap should have install instructions on it but it's really easy. you don't want a 4 channel amp for your subs. get a class d (monoblock).

edit: gotta run but someone else should be able to help you along. best thing to do it figure out what you want, buy the gear to make sure you have what you need, then attempt the install. there may also be some people in your area willing to help. gl.

Last edited by dondo; 06-12-2009 at 01:32 AM.
Old 06-12-2009, 01:41 AM
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YES you got it lol sorry if i confused you. Oh duh, thats probably what the video meant by running wires to the amp from the speakers, probably meant subs not speakers lol. I have most cables, basically I bought a car, it had a system in it and i want to transfer it to the mazda. will the cap come with wire? or do i need to buy it? thats the only wire i will need if i need to buy wire. how come not a 4 channel amp? I have 2 amps i can use. One is a

Alpine 2/1 channel amp MRP-T406 Flex 2 and the other is a
Pyramid America PB1860 4 channel 2ohm

the subs i planned on getting were Kicker CVR104 dual voice 4 ohm. Would either of those amps be ok for those subs? or should i change what subs i use? i already got the amps and cap. didnt really want to buy a new amp just yet. not until i have had the system for a bit. if i had the money though i would go get a diff amp lol. thanks for all the help
Old 06-12-2009, 09:35 AM
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Your HU should have a turn-on connection for amps...at least, my Alpine did. Use that if you have it.

Its not clear to me what is powering what in your setup. Right now you have the aftermarket HU running through the Bose I assume? And you want to continue that and add a sub? Or you want to replace the Bose with aftermarket amplification AND add a sub? Assuming the former, the 4-channel amp doesn't make much sense unless you can bridge it because its set up to power...four channels, i.e. left and right fronts and rears. You have one or two (if stereo) sub channels coming off your HU.

The key, as someone else has already stated, is to plan this stuff out. Draw a big picture of your car from the top down, and draw in which devices you're putting where, and then draw in the connections you will need. Double check that you have all that stuff before you do anything to your car. Some of these installations can get pretty complicated.

jds

Originally Posted by J_Owens
YES you got it lol sorry if i confused you. Oh duh, thats probably what the video meant by running wires to the amp from the speakers, probably meant subs not speakers lol. I have most cables, basically I bought a car, it had a system in it and i want to transfer it to the mazda. will the cap come with wire? or do i need to buy it? thats the only wire i will need if i need to buy wire. how come not a 4 channel amp? I have 2 amps i can use. One is a

Alpine 2/1 channel amp MRP-T406 Flex 2 and the other is a
Pyramid America PB1860 4 channel 2ohm

the subs i planned on getting were Kicker CVR104 dual voice 4 ohm. Would either of those amps be ok for those subs? or should i change what subs i use? i already got the amps and cap. didnt really want to buy a new amp just yet. not until i have had the system for a bit. if i had the money though i would go get a diff amp lol. thanks for all the help
Old 06-12-2009, 11:20 AM
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yeah i want to keep bose and just add 2 sub's. i will need an amp and cap yeah? if so can i use that 4 channel amp to do so? the mai reason i want to use the 4 channel amp for now is because it was free and i dont have to guy buy one, if you recomend something else i ca always switch it out later. the lead to my hu is blue/white, i think i used that for the bose amp because if you dont then you wont get sound correct? if that is the case how would i hook up the lead? just tap into it if it is already hooked to bose amp and run another from that same connection to the sub amp? amp
Old 06-12-2009, 12:58 PM
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if you just want to add 2 subs, wire up that 4 channel amp with a line output converter. Tap the line output converter to the rear deck speakers (after the bose amp) and wire your subs to the amp. If your amp supports "bridged mode" wire the subs in a bridged configuration. If not, you'll want to upgrade the amp at some point because it probably wont be able to supply as much power to the subs as you want. It will work just fine though for the time being.

Since you're using the bose amp and don't plan to get rid of it, what head unit you had is irrelevant in the upgrade equation, all that matters is that it drives the bose amp.
Old 06-12-2009, 02:17 PM
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what is a line out converter? and what is its purpose? thanks, o and yes the amp has bridged mode, well on the side where you connect the wires it says bridged or w/e so i think it does lol

Last edited by J_Owens; 06-12-2009 at 02:24 PM.
Old 06-12-2009, 02:51 PM
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A line output converter is what you need to finish the install.

Google wiring subs in bridged mode to figure out how to wire them correctly, and make sure your subs have the proper impedance or you will have a very sad amp without any blue smoke inside it.

All of this stuff has been covered before in the forums here.

Since it seems you don't quite know what you're doing I'm going to refer you to http://www.bcae1.com/

Read the whole thing. memorize all that you can. it will take a lot of mystery out of what you're trying to accomplish. It explains in excruciating detail impedance, bridged mode, line output converters, power, grounds, why people use capacitors, remote relays, fuses and anything else you might need to know before doing a stereo install or upgrade.

Last edited by Socket7; 06-12-2009 at 02:53 PM.
Old 06-12-2009, 03:24 PM
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He's got a Panasonic HU, I'm sure (98.7% sure) that it has sub pre-outs. Why would you want him to wire up with a LOC? Run the sub pre-outs, assuming it has them, the amp inputs. Find out if your 4-channel amp can be configured into a more powerful 2-channel amp. Many can. Use that to power your subs. That's the way I'd do it.

Actually I'd buy a car without the Bose so eventually when I got around to doing an install I could use a proper amp for the mains, but its too late for that I guess :D

jds
Old 06-12-2009, 08:46 PM
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lol ok cool, thanks for the help, and yes it has sub pre outs, so run rca's from the sub preout to the amp imput correct? so what all should i have running from the deck to the trunk? the lead, the sub pre outs, any other rca's? i already have all the trim pieces out, i think im just going to run all the wires nice and clean to the trunk, then take it some where and have someone wire it up lol, and i dont know how to configure amp to be a strong 2 channel. anyone in bayarea cali wanna come help? lol

would i be better off using the 2 channel amp? the alpine mrp-t406? or stick with the 4 channel?
Old 06-13-2009, 05:32 PM
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confused, i took HU apart and in the back of it, it has a single wire for subwoofer out, its just a single not 2 of them like red white for the rca's, is that what i use? or do i plug the rca's into the pre out rears? or do i plug them into the av1 in? the rest of it i got
Old 06-13-2009, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by J_Owens
confused, i took HU apart and in the back of it, it has a single wire for subwoofer out, its just a single not 2 of them like red white for the rca's, is that what i use? or do i plug the rca's into the pre out rears? or do i plug them into the av1 in? the rest of it i got
I really think you need someone who's done this before to help you with the install. You (don't get me wrong) have exhibited the skills necessary to fry your amp, HU, and anything within 50 feet of them.

Any pre-out will work, there is a Y adapter you can get from HD or walmart that will allow you to use the RCAs (red and white) and plug into the single sub out on the HU. What is your time frame for getting this install completed? I am not available this weekend, but I can possibly help out next weekend. If you must proceed, also check out crutchfield.com; they have some information that should help take some of the mysteries out of your wiring dilemmas.
Old 06-13-2009, 06:25 PM
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it would help if you could post the exact model of your radio so that we can tell you exactly how to wire it.

DDIN Pioneer is a pretty broad range. If we knew what you were working with then we can tell you exactly how to wire everything and you can just go out and do it.
Old 06-13-2009, 07:38 PM
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wired the rca's to the preout rear, no time frame, dont have subs, waiting until bday in aug, just want to wire everything so when i get subs its all ready. the HU is a panasonic cq-vw100u. thanks for the help guys
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