Head unit has 1 preout (to sub), what do i do to power my front and rear channels?

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

I could only afford a head unit with 1 rca preout, and it's used for my sub.

Though, the dual subs are way too loud for the mid's. So I plan to buy a 4 channel amp, to power my mids. Do I need to have 2 rca more preouts for this? Or will I be able to come out of the front and rear channels from the head unit, and plug them into the amp?

e.g. how would I set this up:

1x RCA pre out

1x Mono Block

1x 4 Channel Amp

^ Is that possible?

Click to read more...

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

RCA splitters, line output converters

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

RCA splitters, line output converters

electronic crossover

Lanzar VIBE X6

 

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

Could you give me some more information? I'm a bit confused on what you've told me.

Do you mean that I only use the 1 rca pre-out to power my mono amp as well as my 4 channel amp? Also, does this electronic crossover go before the amp, or after?

- Matt.

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

Preouts > electronic crossover input >

Electronic crossover front and rear output > 4 channel amp

Electronic crossover sub output > mono amp

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

i am so win

 

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

Preouts > electronic crossover input >
Electronic crossover front and rear output > 4 channel amp

Electronic crossover sub output > mono amp

Ok, I understand this part. Though, I only have one preout. With this setup, that one 2ch preout would be controlling all 5 channels (2 front, 2 rear, 1 sub)

Wouldn't this give a bad sound quality (e.g. surround sound, etc, it will all be mono?). Is there no way that I can use the non-preout outputs from the head unit (that are powered at 50w ea)?

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

there is one input on the electronic crossover

all settings are meant to be controlled separately from the crossover

if you have one set of preouts, l and r, how would it be mono? lol

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

To help you visualize.

The L and R preouts from the HU go into the L and R main input on the crossover. Then there is a front, rear and sub output on the crossover, to seperate and send signals to the amp. They are separated because the settings can be EQ'd from the crossover.

 

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

Awesome, thanks man. It makes sense now. As for when I said "it would be mono", I didn't take into account the L and R from the preout, I just looked at the preout to be single left, or single right channel.

 

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

One last thing. In order to do what I explained above, should I use a crossover or an equalizer?

 

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

Ignore what I said above, as I believe I need a crossover. I am thinking to buy this:

Could you please tell me if I am right with this setup:

i) HU Pre Out > Front Input R/L

ii) Set the switch to 2CH (thus, this one RCA input is shared between the front and rear channels)

iii) Set the next switch to SUM (so the front input is this shared between the front, rear, and sub)

(so the Rear Input and Sub Input have nothing connected)

Then:

i) Front out > 4ch amp

ii) Rear out > 4ch amp

iii) Sub out > Mono block

Is this all right? So my system will only have a left and right channel, it will not have a front/rear (e.g. front left, rear left will output the exact same).

Lastly, for the sub, as I'm using a ported box I need a High Pass filter (my box is tuned to ~45Hz). Does this Clarion Crossover have a HP Filter - is this it:

Sorry to ask so much guys, I'm sure this will be my last set of questions.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Ignore what I said above, as I believe I need a crossover. I am thinking to buy this:
Could you please tell me if I am right with this setup:

i) HU Pre Out > Front Input R/L

ii) Set the switch to 2CH (thus, this one RCA input is shared between the front and rear channels)

iii) Set the next switch to SUM (so the front input is this shared between the front, rear, and sub)

(so the Rear Input and Sub Input have nothing connected)

Yes

Then:i) Front out > 4ch amp

ii) Rear out > 4ch amp

iii) Sub out > Mono block

Is this all right? So my system will only have a left and right channel, it will not have a front/rear (e.g. front left, rear left will output the exact same).

yes, but you'll be able to adjust your front/rear independently using the output level adjustment of the x/o.

Lastly, for the sub, as I'm using a ported box I need a High Pass filter (my box is tuned to ~45Hz). Does this Clarion Crossover have a HP Filter - is this it:

I don't see an infrasonic filter, but a lot of mono's have one. have you checked yours?

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

L.O.C. would be cheap fix.