Installing a Pioneer 400W What Do I Need?

[rseifert 10+ year member]

Hey, I'm going to install a Pioneer cdx-gt42ou amp in my pick-up truck. I have a Sony Xplod HU, 2 Pioneer 4" speakers and 2 Pioneer 6 1/2" speakers. I'm just wondering what materials I need for the job as this will be the first time I've ever done this.

I know what I need to do for power and ground, but the rest is what I'm not sure about. I know I need RCA cables, but don't know how many I need. What are good ones? And I need a wire for the system control wire, do they make a specially made wire for that or can it be anything?

Also, the unit came with wires that plug into speaker input jacks on the amp. Do I need to use those or can I just use the RCA cables from my HU?

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[Plutoman 10+ year member]

Ouch... Sony Xplode HU -.-

Anyways, since you came here for help, and not to be berated about the setup, I'll tell you here.

The first thing is the run of RCA cables and the remote wire. The RCA cables just "need" to be normal ones, but it can sometimes be better to use a shielded wire. However, I doubt that'll affect anything much. The remote wire is just one wire, from the remote on the HU to the amp, and that tells the amp when to turn on. Doesn't matter on the type - just use a decent sized wire. I used a 14 gauge, which worked fine. RCA cables, well, the brand won't matter a whole lot. It's going to be pretty similar either way. Just find a decent run of it at a hardware store.

Power and ground are important. Fuse 'em, and run the ground to good cold iron on the chassis, and bolt it down - sand it down, all the paint, to the iron, too. 8 gauge should be enough, though the bigger, the better (well, if you ever plan on upgrading, that is). If the amp can hold any bigger, that is - use what fits. Most likely 8 gauge.

Hope that helps ya a bit ^^

 

[rseifert 10+ year member]

Thanks for your help Plutoman. Yeah I've been reading some not so good things about the Xplods during the one day I've been a member of this forum. Got mine as an xmas gift last year and I have not had any major problems with it other than it is not that user friendly when it comes to using the ipod with it.

Anyway, do you know if my HU has the ability to hook up to 4 speakers with the RCA cables, or will I need to use those speaker input wires? As I think i understand it it is one or the other. My HU model # is cdx-gt42ou. Thanks.

 

[Plutoman 10+ year member]

Ahh.. I'm a bit confused here, methinks.

So, you're installing a pioneer amplifier, correct? 4 channels?

If so, you'll connect the speakers to the amplifiers, one to each channel. And you'll have the RCA cables from the HU to the amplifier - just one cable (two connections, red and white) is all you'll need.

The RCA cables to the amplifier will run all four speakers.

I'm thinking that's what you needed ^^ It basically comes down to the amp more than the HU - the RCA cable pre-outs send the audio signal to the amp, which correspondingly sends the sounds through each channel, each color sends a signal down left/right, and the amp divides up the signal for two channels on each - so you can fade as wanted.

Few tips - make sure to set the gains correctly. I'm taking a ballpark guess, if this is a 400 watt RMS amp, then those almost certainly won't take that power. Be easy on them. If that's a 400 watt max amplifier, you should be fine - but you want to set them correctly anyways.

 

[rseifert 10+ year member]

Thanks again Plutoman. My amp is a 80wx4 max and yes it is 4 channels. so I think Im OK. My 4" ers are rated for over 150 watts. Plus I wont be cranking this system to the max ever. I'm asuming with my set up I'd keep the gains at the "normal" position. Is this what you would guess as well?