How to Wire a 4 Channel Amp to 6 Speakers

This article will go over the process of wiring a 4 channel amp to 6 speakers. The speaker system will be powered by a 12V DC power supply.

Wiring four channels into one speaker are very different from wiring six speakers into one amp. This article will show how to wire four channels of power into six speakers for maximum efficiency and effect. The objective is to provide the most powerful sound output possible with no distortion or interference caused by multiple speaker connections.

Learning to wire a 4 channel amp to 6 speakers is not as complicated as it may seem. All you need to do is know the right wire size and length for each channel and then carefully read through the instructions below. This will make your wiring job much easier, and ultimately make it sound better.

Table of Contents

How many speakers are you running?

This is probably the first question that jumps into your mind, but it is also one of the most important. Most stereos have at least 2 speakers connected to each channel, which means that if you are running 6 speakers, then it means that 4 speakers will be connected to the left side and 4 to the right side. So before you begin wiring your amplifier, make sure you have all of your gear set up so you can connect them correctly.

Wiring a 4 channel Amp to 6 Speakers

1. Getting Started

As with any project, make sure you are grounded and have the room open if it is messy. The last thing you want is for anyone in your family to trip over cables when they are running around. Go ahead and take the metal plates off of the back of your amplifier when you are ready to start wiring, then use some electrical tape or hot glue to secure them in place temporarily.

2. Connecting the Speakers to the Amplifier

Connecting your speakers to your amplifier is pretty straightforward. Just take your speaker wire and cut them between 6-8 inches in length, which will provide you with enough wire to get to the amplifier. Once you have done this, use some electrical tape or hot glue to secure one end of each speaker wire to the metal plate on the back of your stereo.

Next, take your RCA cables and attach one of each pair to the white and red wires on your speaker wire. Finally, use a small length of wire and connect the other end of the wire to the tip on one of your speakers.

3. Connecting the Speakers to Each Channel

To connect a speaker to a channel, you will only need one from each speaker. If you are looking at your amplifier, you will see that there are four channels. You will need to connect one speaker wire to the positive terminals on Channel 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Then, using an additional length of wire (the same length as the original length), connect the speaker wires to the white and black wires on Channel 1, 2 3, and 4. Finally, if there is not another pair of RCA plugs on your connection cord, then use two male-to-male plugs to connect each set of wires. Ensure that both male plugs are tightly connected to each end.

The next step is to connect the other pair of speaker wires to the input terminals on your amplifier. Your amplifier will have a tab or hole on one side of the input connectors that allow you to connect and disconnect an RCA cable (like the ones we used above). Just make sure no wires are touching and bend them away from each other before you connect them.

4. Making Some Connections

The final step is connecting your external power source to your amplifier. Your amplifier will have a set of power terminals that will allow you to connect an external power supply. For this project we will use a 12V power supply, so be sure to select the right type when you go shopping.

The output terminals will be labeled with either + or -. It is also important to note that when you attach the + and – plates to your power supply, it is always best to use the – terminal when making connections. This will ensure that your amplifier gets the power that it needs to run properly.

5. Finishing Up

The last step is securing the metal plates on the back of your stereo with some adhesive for protection. This will prevent them from making contact with your amplifier, which will cause a short in your power source and could ultimately damage your stereo.

Once you have completed this step, you should be able to turn on your stereo and play some music. However, there is one more step that you can take to improve the quality even further. And that is by adding a capacitor to the end of each channel. You can purchase them at any auto parts or electronic store.

You can now enjoy your new four-channel amplifier to six-speaker setup. It is important to remember that speaker wire is not for static electricity (such as moving through a large group of people) because it can cause shorts in your amp and could damage your speakers. Always use care when moving around with your wiring! Now go out there and rock out! Happy Wiring!

Final Thoughts

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Conclusion

If you are looking into upgrading the sound quality in your living room, wiring a 4 channel amp to 6 speakers can be done easily. Remember that each speaker has two sides of the speaker, so you need two wires per speaker. Take a look at our how-to video below to see our final projects in action!

FAQ:

Q: Can I Connect 6 speakers to a 4 channel amp?

A: An increase in load makes your amp hot that is not good for your amplifier. You can connect 6 speakers to 4 channel amp either in series or parallel. Both have their advantages as well as disadvantages. The choice will be yours. Suppose you have 4-ohm speakers that people purchase mostly.

Q: How many speakers can be connected in a 4-ohm AMP?

A: If you wire 2 speakers of 4-ohm in parallel, it results in a 2-ohm load on your head unit. As you are going to connect 2 speakers on 1 channel, you will have to connect 4 speakers on 2 channels. Your 4 speakers are connected on 2 channels and the remaining 2 can be connected on the remaining 2 channels. Now 6 speakers are connected on 4 channels.

Q: Which two speakers to wire in a single channel?

A: Now the question arises which two speakers to wire in a single channel. Suppose that 6 speakers are installed in your car in such a way that 2 are on the dashboard, 2 on the rear, and two on the sides. In this case, you can wire 2 rear speakers with 1 channel and 2 side speakers with other 1 channel.