how hard is it to install a 4 channel amp to speakers, can a person do it with no exp

[mdsniper7 10+ year member]

I want to 4 channel amp my speakers I hear its better than the alpine power pack but thats easy to install how hard is a 4 channel amp to install to speakers can I no exp person do it or should I have best buy do it thank u

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[MANTI5 10+ year member]

Not hard, just seems a bit daunting at first. Read plenty, and don't be afraid to ask, we all had a first time.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

i've fixed many Best Buy installs. but someone with zero experience will struggle with even the simplest of tasks. if you're a good mechanic and are comfortable taking a car apart, have general electrical experience working with wiring and have the tools to make wiring connections (wire crimper, stripper, electrical tape, wiring, soldering iron, drills, screwdrivers, zip ties, split loom, assorted hardware, etc.) then it's a doable task. even getting through the firewall can be a substantial challenge for a newbie.

if you buy a complete amplifier installation kit you generally get everything you need from a wiring/hardware standpoint. you'll need some extra speaker wires as well. intercepting speaker wiring behind the HU is easier than running through the doors.

you can let Best Buy do the install, then go over it in detail, share pics, and we can let you know if they did something silly. if you have local car audio shops, talk to them as well.

at a minimum, you must be good with your hands, have necessary tools, and have a place you can work on the car. if the answer to any of those three is no, then pay someone.

 

[mdsniper7 10+ year member]

i dont have tools lol but can buy some lol, my only thing that confuses me is I see in videos they run cables from each speaker to the amp that sounds crazy, this intercepting trick u speak of what does that mean, can u explain a little more to a newby, I would just buy the power pack cause its easy but I hear a straight amp is way better.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

yes, a separate amp is much better - but more time consuming.

we need year/make/model of the vehicle before we can make more recommendations. does it have a premium system installed (JBL, Infinity, Bose)?

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

If you're generally good with tools and good with your hands and assembling stuff, it won't be a challenge really. I only had to watch it once to realize how simple it is. Then you'll need the simple tools for the install, or a friend you can borrow them from.

If you're not confident though, call around to local shops and ask who will let you watch the install so you can learn. I'd avoid best-buy at all costs, they probably have as much experience as you.

And I know Florida has a great car audio scene, I bet if you posted in the Florida sub-forum here, you could find someone semi-local that could help you out.

 

[mdsniper7 10+ year member]

yes, a separate amp is much better - but more time consuming.
we need year/make/model of the vehicle before we can make more recommendations. does it have a premium system installed (JBL, Infinity, Bose)?

its a 08 honda fit base, no current system installed.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

if a chick can do it...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cSP3qHKgLOn/learn/customcar/jo-2008-honda-fit-sport.html

 

[mdsniper7 10+ year member]

yea but she didnt say how she ran those amp wires //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[Sub Woofin 10+ year member]

you'll need some extra speaker wires as well. intercepting speaker wiring behind the HU is easier than running through the doors.

would longer runs of speaker wire affect the amps performance in a negative way? i thought about doing this on my camaro. but i went the hard way

 

[Renzone3 10+ year member]

No it wont affect anything i use long runs for my front doors and directly connect the speakers in the rear deck and i hear no difference

 

[Renzone3 10+ year member]

Btw wont affect the amp neither

 

[daboyfrumdabx 10+ year member]

No it wont affect anything i use long runs for my front doors and directly connect the speakers in the rear deck and i hear no difference

Not quite that simple. Wire adds resistance. Period. Resistance from the speakers is necessary as amps are often not stable at loads of too little resistance. However, the longer the run, the less power you're seeing to the speaker. It isn't necessarily audible to the human ear, but unless we're arguing physics, the affect is there. The goal in turn, becomes using the proper size wiring and wire routing to let the amp work as efficiently as possible.

 

[Renzone3 10+ year member]

I didnt knOw That i guess i learned somthing new today.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/nerd.gif.c6fa51ddf7ff75f1c0371fbc648f70ae.gif

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Wire resistance is trival compared to the resistance at connections. Connections are the weakest link in any system, and they deserve the most attention. And over time, connection conductivity worsens. Solder is still the best electrical connection you can make, then insulate it properly - with heat shrink when possible.