can i use my amp without a HU?

[violentj420 10+ year member]

someone stole my HU the other night, and i really don't have the money to afford a new one right now. so can i use my laptop or Ipod and hook it up directly to the amp?

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[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

not sure if it would work but it seems like it could, if you have headphone jacks you can buy an adaptor that will change it into RCAs, then run that to your amp, not sure what the preout voltage will be though and it will probably sound like sht.

 

[Tonyguy 10+ year member]

some newer amps have aux inputs i.e. blaupunkt.

 

[andytb 10+ year member]

you will have to run your remote to the positive of your amp so it will turn on

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

ya forgot about the remote wire, but i think there is a way to rig it through your fuse box, not sure though.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

You can rig the remote wire throught the fuse box ....Then get one of those pin to dual RCA plugs for the Ipod and plug those into the rca inputs of the amp everything will work fine...

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

if it's only temporary....for the remote wire I would just run a small gauge wire from your positive terminal, directly to the remote terminal, with an inline switch. You'll have to flip it turn the amp on, but it's only temporary right? That way you don't have to touch your already run remote wire, you can just remove it really quickly.

As for using a laptop/ipod, yes it will work fine, there will be no loss of SQ, however most ipods/laptops don't have the SQ of a head unit playing a CD to begin with. Just guy a 3.5mm headphone jack to RCA converter cable and you're set. You will have to adjust your gains though, more than likely the preout voltage will be significantly lower than your head unit.

 

[htownplaya456 10+ year member]

Get an EQ and mount that in the dash and then get an RCA to IPOD cord with charging capabilities and your set. That way you can adjust your sound on the dash, have nice rca voltage out and it will sound nice. My $.02