Amp Install

[torqueischeap]

I have replaced my factory sub with a pioneer 8" freeair in the factory location and up until today was running it from the factory amp. Sounded ok but not much bass I'm assuming because the factory amp lacks the power to run the stiffer pioneer sub.

So Ive started installing a sony 222 amp that has high level input and wondering do I need to splice into both rear speakers for the input or can I just take the input off one of the rears? It is a 2 channel amp that will be bridged to just run the sub. Pic is attached to show what I'm asking.

also how come nobody uses the input that goes into the factory amp when installing aftermarket amps?

cheers

[PHANTMXR6]

You can configure your amp both ways. Personal preference really.

As for the 'input that goes into the factory amp' I'm not quite sure what you mean.

But if you mean the 'output' then it would be purely due to lack of power and quality.

[torqueischeap]

So if someone would go to the effort of hooking up the extra speaker there must be a benefit?

and there must be a cable(s) from the ICC to the factory amp that carrys the sound information, what I was asking is why people dont hook that cable straight into the input on aftermarket amp instead of hooking into rear speakers

[PHANTMXR6]

There's this champ of a bloke on here that will probably add some more value to this thread when he comes along. Nudge nudge smicky :banghead:

But, I reckon the reason people take the signal from the speakers and not the factory head unit is because they are already amplified at the speakers themselves.

Amplified signal to start with rather than non amplified signal will be a better platform to start off with quality wise.

[seduced]

^that doesn't make sense. Otherwise all aftermarket HUs would come out with amplified sub outputs rather than RCAs low levels. The reason most take it from the rears, is most don't have the premium sound package.

The whole point of having an amplifier is to feed it a low signal so it can boost it to what ever its application. Feeding it an amplified signal would more than likely cause lower quality sound rather than improving it, also, any changes you make to the speaker setup via the ICC will affect the sub I.e bass, fading etc. which is not what you want.

The signal to the stock amp would be the better option.

Edited 23/03/09 02:48 AM by seduced

[torqueischeap]

thanks guys... all installed now... ran it from the speakers as they were easier to access then the factory amp loom.

Oh and I didnt realise most wouldnt have sub and amp as all XR8s and XR6 Turbos in NZ have premium sound as standard

Edited 23/03/09 07:27 AM by torqueischeap

[sicklaser]

make sure you unplug the factory amp becuase it make the ICC high pass the front and rear speakers at about 100hz.

If you dont unplug it then sub bass wont get thru to the rear speakers for the Sony amp to pinch signal from

[torqueischeap]

hey thanks for the info....

just another question then, if I do unplug the amp then all the speakers will be getting fed the full range meaning they will be trying to play the lower frequencies they werent designed for?

[sicklaser]

yeah

not that they wernt disigned to play full range because in the utes there is no sub amp therefore they play full range in the ute with no dramas