Do you have a speaker system in your house?
If so, you may want to consider wiring them into an amp using the low-voltage wiring that comes with most speakers.
With this setup, you will be able to produce much more powerful sounds which will satisfy even the critics who say that home theater is too expensive.
Below, you’ll find a few tips and tricks that will help you wire up your speakers to an amp so you can enjoy a better stereo experience without spending a lot of money.
- First, always make sure that the speaker wires are in good condition. If they are worn, you will need to replace them. You may also want to consider buying an inexpensive plug kit if you have multi-speaker setups for your TV and/or home theater setup.
- When wiring your speakers to an amp, you’ll need to know the ohm rating of the speakers. The ohm rating can be found on the back of the speaker on a sticker or on a metal plate on the bottom of the speaker.
- When installing new speakers, you’ll also want to ensure that they are connected correctly or else your sound will be out of balance. This is important because some amps are wired so that even-numbered channels are connected together while odd-numbered channels are connected together.
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Benefits
The basic stereo system your car comes with is not that great when it comes to delivering quality, power, and volume. Upgrading your car’s amplifier will supply your new speakers with that much-needed power boost with less distortion than a preinstalled amp inside a factory stereo ever could.
You almost certainly won’t be pushing an upgraded amp to or beyond its capabilities, meaning your sound will come through clearer. And, on top of that, you’ll be able to get a lot more volume with minimal distortion. With a better, higher-quality amplifier in your system, you’ll notice the difference between factory-installed speakers and any upgrades you choose.
How Many Speakers Can I Hook Up To A 4 Channel Amp?
Having four channels instead of two means that you can use those two extra channels for two more speakers or, if you “bridge” them, using their combined power for a subwoofer. Whereas a 2 channel amp can only support either two speakers or one subwoofer with the amp in “bridge” mode, a 4 channel amp supports either four speakers or two speakers and a subwoofer.
Do You Need Two RCA Cables For A 4 Channel Amp?
Most amp wiring kits only come with one RCA cable. This is because the most common amplifiers used in-car audio systems have been 2 channel amps. Because you have two more channels, you’ll need a second RCA cable instead of just the one that most amp wiring kits come with.
Steps to Wire Door Speaker to an Amp
1. Make A Plan
Before you start hooking things up, make sure you’ve planned out how you’re going to install your amp. It’s best to figure out the route you’ll take before diving in so you can keep it all straight and make the installation easy and efficient.
You should also make a list of what equipment, materials, and tools you’ll need for your project. Just jotting this down on a list somewhere can save you a major headache later in case you misplace something. That way, you’ll be able to find what you need quickly without wondering whether or not you picked it up in the first place.
2. Wire And Tools Required
As I mentioned before, most amp wiring kits are designed for 2 channel amps. Because we’re working with a 4 channel amp, you’ll need to make sure you really have everything you need before getting started.
If you’re looking into an amp wiring kit, or if you want to put one together yourself, you’ll want to make sure you get the right tools for your installation. This will vary slightly from a typical amp wiring kit because it’s a 4 channel amp.
Here is what you should look for in a good 4 channel amp wiring kit:
- Two high-quality 18’ RCA cables
- One high-quality remote wire
- Ground wire
- A positive wire with good, stranded conductors of about 18’ length
- Crimp ring terminals
- A fuse holder and fuse
- Zip ties
Installation
There are two ways to install a 4 channel amp and it depends on whether or not you’re working with a factory-installed stereo. Factory radios do not have RCA inputs, which makes things differ ever so slightly from if you were working with RCA connections. I’ll go over both installation types here.
Installation Type A: Factory Radio With No RCA Inputs
If you’re working with a factory stereo that has no RCA inputs, you’ll need to purchase either a line-level converter or make sure your amp has speaker-level inputs.
Personally, I’d recommend getting a line-level converter regardless, if it’s reasonable to do so. This is because it makes the process of upgrading your stereo in the future quite a bit simpler. You’ll already have the RCA cables hooked up to your amplifier and can just plug them into your newer, better stereo.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has shown you that wiring your door speakers to your amplifier is not nearly as daunting of a task as it may have seemed at first. You’ll be able to do it yourself in no time!
We’ve covered what you need for the job, the process of connecting the components together, and some alternative ways to accomplish this task depending on your vehicle’s setup.
FAQ:
Q: How do you hook up amp to door speakers?
A: – Connecting to your amp’s speaker level inputs – Using a line-level converter – Connecting your amp to the radio’s RCA jacks
Q: What is the best wire for speakers?
A: PREMIUM SPEAKER WIRE: 20 feet of 18-gauge color-coded speaker wire. … ULTRA-FLEX OUTER JACKET: Allows for an easy installation and resistance to wear and tear. … COLOR-CODED: Each of the nine wires is color-coded to match the aftermarket standard for wiring.
Q: How to wire aftermarket radio to factory AMP?
A: Add an amplifier to OEM system- Prevents cutting factory wires- Plugs to back of radio Use this adapter to make your installation of an amplifier to the factory system faster with a cleaner install. … Adjustable left and right gain output. …
Q: How to wire an amp without a remote wire?
A: Screwdrivers Socket wrench Plastic pry tool Soldering iron Heat shrink Butt connectors Remote wire Wire cutters Wire strippers