4 channel amp wiring help?

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

so i was going to run speaker wire from amp to speakers directly instead of to the head unit this is ok right? also i have an option to turn off the internal amp of the radio so i dont have to disconect the wires from the radio harness do i?

Click to read more...

 

[97chameleonbird 10+ year member]

You wouldn't run wires from an amp to the head unit. RCA cables and a remote wire to the amp from the h.u. and then speaker wires from the amp to speakers.

 

[Davie06tC 10+ year member]

you need to run your RCAs from your head unit to your amp, then run your speaker wires from the amp to the speakers.

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

you need to run your RCAs from your head unit to your amp, then run your speaker wires from the amp to the speakers.

While this is correct, you just said the same ish as the poster before you. And OP, you don't have to disconnect the other wires from the HU harness, you wouldn't have to regardless of whether you could turn the internal amp off or not. Turning it off is just supposed to result in a cleaner signal

 

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

thanks guys and daboy thats what i was looking for i wasnt sure if it would still mess with the sound if i kept them connected at the harness wanted to be sure before i put it back together. i know your not suppose to run speaker wire or rcas near power wire but i have to run the driver side speaker wire on the side of power wire in order to get it to the speaker i have very good speaker wire its double shielded and twisted i also wrapped it in wire loom idk how else to try and keep noise out of the line. also im running 80wrms to each speaker. i am using monster cable 12 guage wire i read somewhere that when you go to big u can actually lose power will i be ok with 12 guage running 80rms?

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

You'll need a little extra wire but you can run the driver's side speaker wire down the passenger side and then across the front of the cabin. Tuck the wires under the carpet at the passenger footwell and you can come up to the underside of the dash and zip tie it out of the way as you route the wires over to the driver's side.

It's absolutely not true you would ever lose power going to a bigger wire. 12 gauge is overkill for 80W RMS and it will make it more difficult to route it into your doors, but if you're up for the challenge go for it. People are very opinionated about cables so do some searching and read up.

 

[Wingsfreak9 10+ year member]

all you have to do is take the stock wires off the speakers and cut them so they dont touch anything and short out your electrical system.

 

[Djltoronto 10+ year member]

12 gauge is overkill for 80W RMS

That may be, but the OP confusingly said he's got 320w RMS (80w RMS to each speaker)... so 12 gauge wouldn't be nearly enough if that was the case!

Not really clear at this point. OP - specifically what amp do you have?

Recommended Power and Ground Cable Sizes

 

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

onx4.80 its mb quart im running it at 4ohms.

MB Quart Car Audio -- Onyx Amplifiers

 

[Djltoronto 10+ year member]

onx4.80 its mb quart im running it at 4ohms.
MB Quart Car Audio -- Onyx Amplifiers

Looks like your 12 AWG ain't gonna cut it.

Page 2 of your owners manual tells you that you will need 4 AWG

http://www.maxxsonics.net/manuals/mbquart/pdfs/MBQuartOnyxAmplifierManual2010.pdf

Power and ground connectionsSee table below)Use a sufficient gauge power cable and ground cable using the chart below as reference to what size wire you require. Onyx series amplifiers require

at least 4 gauge power wire. I

 

[Djltoronto 10+ year member]

i am using monster cable 12 guage wire i read somewhere that when you go to big u can actually lose power

This is true, numerically.. If you go too big, like 18, 22, or 28 AWG, you will most definately not be able to deliver the current the amplifier needs.

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

This is true, numerically.. If you go too big, like 18, 22, or 28 AWG, you will most definately not be able to deliver the current the amplifier needs.

I'm pretty sure he's been talking about speaker wire, in which case he'll be fine. I don't believe he is trying to run a 12awg power wire to his amp.

 

[Djltoronto 10+ year member]

I'm pretty sure he's been talking about speaker wire, in which case he'll be fine. I don't believe he is trying to run a 12awg power wire to his amp.

LOL If that's the case.... then ya... disregard everything I said!

12awg to the speakers does make more sense, and yes that's plenty overkill.

 

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

yeah im talking about speaker wire lol i really appretiate all of your responses //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif thanks cant wait to get this finished yea i ran a 4 guage 0 was to big to fit in my car plus stinger claims their 4 guage is enough to handle 1600 watts i doubt it but 4 should be good.

 

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

so got it all setup. curious howcome it sounds better when i turn gain on amp down and volume on radio up rather than volume on radio down and gain on amp up? shouldnt it be reverse or is it because my preout are really high?