noob amp question

[Radar 10+ year member]

Id like to hook up another sub into my car (totaling 3 subs, possibly 4 in the end) and I know how to hook up single amps fine, but I've never hooked up more than 1 amp in a single car. I need this second amp because im running 2 12's from 1 amp(very close to a full load on the amp) and id like to add another sub. How should I go about doing this. Both amps are 760W. Is it the same like a single amp, just run another power wire and ground?

Thx

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[bumpin_8605 10+ year member]

ya except u might want to up grade ur alternator so ur lights wont dim and stuff like that

PS u want that box built

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

If it were me I'd sell both amps on ebay and buy a class D amp that's capable of powering all 3 subs.

But if you're set on using 2 760W amps (the sonys?) I would recommend getting a hold of a 4 ga dual amp kit off ebay, they're usually about $50 shipped. It will have all the stuff you need to wire two amps the right way.

You'd run:

• 4 ga wire from battery to fused distribution block
  
• 8 ga wire from distribution block to each amp's (+)
  
• 8 ga wire from each amp's (-) to un-fused distribution block
  
• 4 ga wire from unfused block to grounding point
  
• Remote wire can simply be daisy chained --> hu to amp to amp
  
• RCA's - y-cables would be easiest
  
• Also don't forget a fuse (about 60A) in your 4 ga power wire close to the battery (within a foot or 2)

 

[roester37 10+ year member]

dual amp kit definetely the best setup

 

[Radar 10+ year member]

one is pioneer, one is a sony amp. I think I might get rid of the other (sony) and get another pioneer.I thought about upgradin the alternator sence the lights are dimin' already

PS I PM'd ya Bumpin

Any recomended amp brands/models if i do go class D ? I know RF is good and a few others. Ill need an amp that can supply about 1400W max(400w to each RF 12 and 650W to a sony 10 i got sittin around) if i do go with 1 amp. how much wattige do yall think i actually need to power these subs well, all 1450W?

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Just a suggestion -- You should probably remove MAX ratings from your vocabulary when you're talking car audio. They are probably one of the most useless specs out there. It makes me kringe kinda like someone scraped thier fingernails on a chalkboard.

What are the RMS numbers for your subs?

 

[Radar 10+ year member]

Ill make a note of that...

200 RMS each for the RF. the sony i think is 300 (i dont have the specs on it, its been in my garage for a while.

 

[Mr. Loki 5,000+ posts]

Well first of all its not a good idea to mix your subs. It doesnt help you...if you want to run 3 subs then get another rf 12. Also you wont need 1400watts of power. I would say a jbl bp 600.1 would do just fine.

 

[Matador 10+ year member]

yeah not good idea to mix subs. if you like the RFs get a third one, so you would only need a 600rms amp, which you can only get one easily.

i would recommend looking at JBL 1200.1, also, another cheap alternative might be Profile, alot of ppl recommended this one cuz is a nice good amp n i was gonna get the CA-1200 one until i decided to go for another amp. But 600rms should be not bad. one question tho? what car do you have? cuz u said u running i'll think ~400rms for one amp n ur lights r dimming really bad? hmmmmm

 

[Radar 10+ year member]

My car is a '94 lincoln continental. lights are dimmin somewhat, but only when system is cranked up. Part of the problem, i think, is that there are alot of things in the car that draws power, the speedomoter and all gauges are digital. a crapload of lights and lighted buttons. If i decide to get a jbl 600.1 should i run larger gauge wire? im runnin 8 now for power and ground. I could always go to 4. I know a Cap is not the solution to the dimming problem

 

[Mr. Loki 5,000+ posts]

I have a lincoln continential also......lol mine is sittin on some 16 inch rims....lol my lights dont dim though....I have a 1000watt cold cranking amp battery with a 80amp alternator and my dash and everything is power also. You would be fine with the jbl bp600.1 8guage would be fine for the 600watt jbl, but any bigger you would need 4guage

 

[Matador 10+ year member]

8 gauge should suffice for the 600.1.

however, if you r planning to add another amp (for comps/speakerS) i would recommend you to get a 4 gauge now, n then just use a distro to iwth a 8 gauge power wire to connect another amp. just a suggestion tho

 

[Mr. Loki 5,000+ posts]

Yea correct matador, I totally forgot to say that....if you get the 4guage now you wont have to take anything out to fix, but you will have to add stuff to fix...like a distroblock...so if you have another amp in your plans it wouldnt hurt to get 4guage now with a distro block. when the time comes you will be ready minus the 8guage wire.