5 Channel Amp with only 1 Pre-out on HU?

[Zaniac]

Hey Everyone,

Just looking for a little advice on how to best proceed with install. Currently I have the following setup:

2004 Pontiac grand Prix GT

Pioneer SPH-DA02 Appradio HU

Alpine MRP-M500 mono amp

Kicker 10" Sub w/enclosure

Stock Speakers

I recently purchased the following:

Phoenix Gold R65CS Component Speakers (Front)

Phoenix Gold R69CX (Rear)

Kenwood eXcelon 700-5 (5 Channel) Amp

My issue is that my aftermarket HU has only 1 Pre-out (SUB/Rear).

What is the best way to wire these up without buying a new HU. Any assistance and advice is greatly appreciated. Please consider me a newbie..... Thanks.

Click to read more...

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

set your hu to rear and use two y splitters on the RCA pre outs for a total of 6 channels out.

check your amplifiers manual to see if it can operate on one set of RCAs - there's a switch sometimes that will require only one pair of RCA inputs. just checked, you cant do it with that amp, you'll need two sets of RCA splitters

be careful setting your frequencies with the HPF's on that amp. not sure why the sub channel has a HPF(?) from 50hz-200hz....

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

two Line out convertors tapped into your speaker leads from the head unit. Or the better choice of getting a digital signal processor.

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

two Line out convertors tapped into your speaker leads from the head unit. Or the better choice of getting a digital signal processor.

easier to get a better headunit at that point imo

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

easier to get a better headunit at that point imo

I'd do the DSP. No head unit can match a dedicated DSP on the market anyways even a cheapy one like the SS harmony or mini dsp.

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

I'd do the DSP. No head unit can match a dedicated DSP on the market anyways even a cheapy one like the SS harmony or mini dsp.

oh no doubt, i completely agree with you because we have more interest in the technical depth and gains available from a dsp, but in this circumstance where the end user just wants good sound with an easy set up... a nice headunit with 3 pre outs and that amp set up appropriately will be more than enough

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

oh no doubt, i completely agree with you because we have more interest in the technical depth and gains available from a dsp, but in this circumstance where the end user just wants good sound with an easy set up... a nice headunit with 3 pre outs and that amp set up appropriately will be more than enough

I keep forgetting how hard car audio might be to others yeah my bad.

 

[Zaniac]

hey Everyone, Thanks for the advice. I read about using the RCA Y-connectors but couldn't wrap my head around how to go from 1 pre-out to 3 Line-in's on the AMP (Ach, Bch, SUB). I do have an LOC from when I had my stock HU. Would i need a second LOC, and if I understand this then I would do the following:

Connect RCA cable from my 1 pre-out (Rear/SUB) directly to the SUB Line-in on the AMP. Then connect 1 LOC to the FRONT Speaker Wires at the HU, then RCA CABLE to the Ach on the AMP. Then Connect Second LOC to REAR speaker cables at the HU and run a 3rd RCA cable to the Bch on the AMP. From there connect the physical speakers to the outputs on the AMP......?

Thanks again for all your input...

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

hey Everyone, Thanks for the advice. I read about using the RCA Y-connectors but couldn't wrap my head around how to go from 1 pre-out to 3 Line-in's on the AMP (Ach, Bch, SUB). I do have an LOC from when I had my stock HU. Would i need a second LOC, and if I understand this then I would do the following:
Connect RCA cable from my 1 pre-out (Rear/SUB) directly to the SUB Line-in on the AMP. Then connect 1 LOC to the FRONT Speaker Wires at the HU, then RCA CABLE to the Ach on the AMP. Then Connect Second LOC to REAR speaker cables at the HU and run a 3rd RCA cable to the Bch on the AMP. From there connect the physical speakers to the outputs on the AMP......?

Thanks again for all your input...

that's exactly right.

regarding y-splitters, they're simple. one output becomes two.

 

[Zaniac]

that's exactly right.
regarding y-splitters, they're simple. one output becomes two.

Thanks, I really appreciate all the advice. I got more from here in 20 minutes than 2 days trying to google the answer.

The part of the Y-Connectors that had me baffled is not so much the turning 1 Preout into 2, but then wouldn't i have to add a 3rd y connector to one of the 2 to get 3 pre-outs.... see, still baffled //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

Thanks, I really appreciate all the advice. I got more from here in 20 minutes than 2 days trying to google the answer.
The part of the Y-Connectors that had me baffled is not so much the turning 1 Preout into 2, but then wouldn't i have to add a 3rd y connector to one of the 2 to get 3 pre-outs.... see, still baffled //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

indeed you do, you'd need to split the first output into 2 L and 2 R, then from there split one of the L and one of the R into another set of L and R for a total of 6 L and 6 R

 

[timhof13 10+ year member]

I'd just buy a cheap crossover that can take a single rca and turn it into 3 outputs. You'll also get 5-8volt pre outs. I think I have a clarion laying around that will do that. Should be 50 dollars ish!

 

[Zaniac]

Hey everyone, Thanks again for all your suggestions. After consideration, I decided to swap out my AppRadio DA-02 HU with a new JVC KW-V51BT HU which as 3 Pre-outs (Sub/Front/rear). This should make it easier. One question i do have however is since I had an aftermarket HU in there already, I should still be able to use the exisiting harness correct? (just cut the Appradio harness from the GM harness and attach it to the new JVC harness)? Just to clarify, I had to buy a GM harness for my 04 grand prix to make the chimes and such work. Is it really as easy as plug and play?

Also, here is my setup that I am going to be installing hopefully this weekend:

JVC KW-V51BT HU

Phoenix Gold R65CX 6.5" 75W RMS Component Speakers (R65CS) - Fronts

Phoenix Gold 6x9" Ti Series Coaxial Car Speakers (TI69CX) - Rears

Kenwood eXcelon X-Series 5ch 700W Power Amplifier (X7005)

Using Existing Sub and enclosure - Kicker 10" ES-Series Subwoofer - 4-ohm (ES104)

Any advice for an easy installation would be appreciated and thanks again for all the advice.