Car audio - Amp wiring

[kessen]

To all with a sound setup, what's the go with amp wiring/speaker wiring etc. I thought wiring was wiring but talked to a few 'sales people' and its all talk about shielding and noise and blah blah buy this 105 dollar amp wiring kit...O_O

not planning on running anything massive i just got 4" MTX splits at front and a 12" 400W RMS pioneer sub in the back. Got a JBL 600W mono and might use an ancient Clarion APA4160 to run the splits....

cheers

 

[lefty]

Go to Jaycar, get

5m worth of positive ?gauge wire (gauge rating depending on amp rating)
1m worth of negative ?gauge wire
Correct size inline fuse (again, depending on amp rating)

The speaker wires are just the gold looking ones (with the clear covers?)

Try not to spend to much on a fuse, my mate spent $50 when JB had one for $20 :S
I think those kits give you everything you need though, so whichever works out cheaper. Sometimes they have 20% off sales and crap...

 

[kessen]

so all that "jazz" about 'shielding' etc is just that? one sales dude was talking up a 'kicker wiring kit' though it sounded more like marketing then anything scientific

 

[Dean]

so all that "jazz" about 'shielding' etc is just that? one sales dude was talking up a 'kicker wiring kit' though it sounded more like marketing then anything scientific

shielding refers to your RCA leads.
cheap RCA leads might give you interference noises through your speakers. Hence, yes shielding is important, and good quality RCA leads should be purchased.
Power wiring however isnt that important, and most brands are good enough, depends what you want to spend really.
Its also important to run your RCA leads, and your power leads along opposite ends of the car and as far as possible.
For that setup id recommend a 150amp fuse off the battery, running through a 2 gauge wiring setup, which will leads to a distribution block which would split it into 2X4gauge wires, one to each amp. And thats a pretty 'generous' sort of setup.
For speaker wire any 8-10 gauge wire should be sufficient.
buy it all seperate, it will allow you to accomodate for your needs rather thatn purchasing a kit.

 

[kessen]

shielding refers to your RCA leads.
cheap RCA leads might give you interference noises through your speakers. Hence, yes shielding is important, and good quality RCA leads should be purchased.
Power wiring however isnt that important, and most brands are good enough, depends what you want to spend really.
Its also important to run your RCA leads, and your power leads along opposite ends of the car and as far as possible.
For that setup id recommend a 150amp fuse off the battery, running through a 2 gauge wiring setup, which will leads to a distribution block which would split it into 2X4gauge wires, one to each amp. And thats a pretty 'generous' sort of setup.
For speaker wire any 8-10 gauge wire should be sufficient.
buy it all seperate, it will allow you to accomodate for your needs rather thatn purchasing a kit.

thanks dean that's all made the most sense with what i've been reading up on

 

[Dean]

no worries mate.
let me know if you need more info or if you need a hand when installing etc.
i've played with quite a few audio setups.

 

[kessen]

oh just a quick question then...
the clarion amp (the JBL and clarion amp i got off a mate for next to nothing) is ancient...its only a 160W 4/3/2 channel...apparently 40W x 4 at 4 ohms...1) I don't have the manual which is a pain because it's like it was made before the advent of the internet and 2) would it be fine to just run the speakers off the deck and just have a monoblock with the amp? for simplicity?

I'm gonna go out to jaycar later this arvo

 

[Dean]

oh just a quick question then...
the clarion amp (the JBL and clarion amp i got off a mate for next to nothing) is ancient...its only a 160W 4/3/2 channel...apparently 40W x 4 at 4 ohms...1) I don't have the manual which is a pain because it's like it was made before the advent of the internet and 2) would it be fine to just run the speakers off the deck and just have a monoblock with the amp? for simplicity?

I'm gonna go out to jaycar later this arvo

Decks are usually 60w, so if you run the speakers off that you will be getting 15wx4.
Running off your amp will give you 40wx4 which is better than your deck. but having said that, thats pretty poor.
Your speakers will most likely be rated at a higher load rating to that, so if you want the best out of them id recommend buying another 4 channel. Depends what your speakers are rated at...

 

[kessen]

yeah I thought the amp was pretty poor (but then again almost free)
but i'm only planning on having a pair of splits up front and leaving the two speaker holes in the parcel shelf open (covered only with the grill) to let the air from the boot (hence sub) come through it?
also the clarion amp...is massive...and yet has pretty poor output so I was wondering if it was even worth trying to put in....speaking of which where are good mounting spots? i thought under the seat but even if i put it under a lil bit sticks out so people are going to kick it in the back seat...then i thought of behind the rear seat but then i've only got space for 1 amp really....

 

[kessen]

oh yeah the front splits have a 75W RMS and 150W peak...4" splits with 1" tweeter made by MTX, 2-way 18dB/6dB crossover

 

[Dean]

yeah I thought the amp was pretty poor (but then again almost free)
but i'm only planning on having a pair of splits up front and leaving the two speaker holes in the parcel shelf open (covered only with the grill) to let the air from the boot (hence sub) come through it?
also the clarion amp...is massive...and yet has pretty poor output so I was wondering if it was even worth trying to put in....speaking of which where are good mounting spots? i thought under the seat but even if i put it under a lil bit sticks out so people are going to kick it in the back seat...then i thought of behind the rear seat but then i've only got space for 1 amp really....

you sort of have to plan it out from now.
If you're going to run 6x9's later id ditch the current amp.
because its not going to provide enough power for the speakers to run off thier potential.
If you arent going to worry about them, then you can bridge the current amp you have to 2 channel, which will give you 80w per channel which is perfect for your speakers. Just make sure its bridgeable and that the ohm ratings once bridged will match up to the ohm ratings on your speakers.
And nah forget about the back seat. Put em in your boot like this :thumbsup:

 

[kessen]

hahahha that yours? that's mint as...where's your spar tyre go? ideally...id like to have boot space though got sports bags to fit in there -_-

 

[Dean]

what spare tyre? lol
mobile phone mate
how bout vertically on the back of the rear seat? could you fit em both there?

 

[kessen]

yeah i tried... but there's only room for one amp unless i put a board over the hole between seat and boot and attach it to the board....means i can't put stuff in my car anymore but then again like i ever do....

the clarion one is a gigantic piece of metal...it looks like a heatsink not a amp its that big...i think i'll ditch the clarion keep with the JBL (its a class D apparently...supposedly more efficient)

I'll try and get an amp outta the quokka, smaller ish and mount it under the seat...saw this in ebay http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...Track=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:au
http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/stock01/kac6403.asp


do you have any other recomendation?

 

[kessen]

actually that amp is pretty shit too having just read the specs

 

[CLuTZ]

I have wired up a few of my own car stereo setups. Its really not as hard as you think.

I highly recommend those fuse blocks with the switch, and digital voltage readouts!

Depending on the size, amps can fit nicely under the front seats of lancers.

 

[TMAK]

i got a 4 channel amp kit for $30 at the discount stash at repco..
i dunno much bout audio but that's all i can contribute..

 

[kessen]

I have wired up a few of my own car stereo setups. Its really not as hard as you think.

I highly recommend those fuse blocks with the switch, and digital voltage readouts!

Depending on the size, amps can fit nicely under the front seats of lancers.

okay. I'm thinking of looking for a smaller 4 chnnel somehow =\ so i can try to fit it under the seat umm fuse blocks with a switch and digital voltage readout okay...btw any guidelines for battery/alternator?

 

[marinetowing]

okay. I'm thinking of looking for a smaller 4 chnnel somehow =\ so i can try to fit it under the seat umm fuse blocks with a switch and digital voltage readout okay...btw any guidelines for battery/alternator?

Here you go..... http://4gtuner.com/site/showthread.php?t=12505

I have a similar item in my car and it works a treat:thumbsup:

Your battery and alternator should be fine with your setup, I have power issues with my stereo in my GSR and really need a second battery to run it to it's full potential...but it's running a lot of high powered alpine gear

 

[kessen]

Here you go..... http://4gtuner.com/site/showthread.php?t=12505

I have a similar item in my car and it works a treat:thumbsup:

Your battery and alternator should be fine with your setup, I have power issues with my stereo in my GSR and really need a second battery to run it to it's full potential...but it's running a lot of high powered alpine gear

sweeeet thanks for that