Question on speakers...You may know

[PickupBass 10+ year member]

Good afternoon guys!

Some of you may know that I'm getting a JL Audio 13w7 subwoofer and Alpine cda-9835 headunit in my truck. I'm upgrading my whole system, but am running on funds here...you'll see...

Right now, there is a low end Alpine headunit, and upgraded-from-stock Alpine front staging co-axial speakers and rear fill speakers. The headunit is currently powering the 4 speakers. I plan on upgrading to ID Chameleons with a US Acoustics amp later on, but first I need to save up some cash (The w7 and 9835 is KILLING my budget...)

Luckily, I do have a 4 channel Pioneer amp sitting around, and it provides 35w x 4 @ 4 ohms, or 70w x 2 @ 4 ohms. I guess for a while, until I save up some more money for the ID Chams and USA Amp, I can use this to add more power to the existing speakers, so it won't sound as "uneven" with the w7. Is it possible to wire up the 4 speakers to my 4 channel amp, even without a crossover? There are no tweeters or crossovers...will that affect anything? I am pretty sure that the crossover is used for just component sets, which have midrange-coaxial speakers and tweeters, right?

I guess my question is this: Can I hook up the 4 channel amp to the 4 speakers I have already in there? There are no crossovers or tweeters, just 4 speakers....2 5.25" speakers in the door, and 2 6.5" speakers in the rearfill. All of them are Alpine...but I don't know which model, I bought the truck with them already. The owner replaced the stock speakers with these.

Anyway, thanks for all/any help. Links for how to do this and such, if possible, would be excellent!

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[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

uh...a 4channel amp is for 4speakers...2 and 3 can be used also - sometimes...

 

[PickupBass 10+ year member]

uh...a 4channel amp is for 4speakers...2 and 3 can be used also - sometimes...

I know...but the question is this...can I wire the speakers DIRECTLY to the amp? Don't speakers usually get wired to crossovers, which are then wired to the amp? What guage wire does everyone usually use from the speakers to the amp?

Thanks again.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I know...but the question is this...can I wire the speakers DIRECTLY to the amp?

Yes

Don't speakers usually get wired to crossovers, which are then wired to the amp?

ONLY component speakers have passive crossovers, co-axials don't.

What guage wire does everyone usually use from the speakers to the amp?

16-18ga will be fine.

 

[PickupBass 10+ year member]

Yes


ONLY component speakers have passive crossovers, co-axials don't.

16-18ga will be fine.

You rock man, thanks. That's exactly what I wanted to know...

Just to get this straight, I use 16-18 guage wire for each speaker going to a channel on my amp, and then I can just use an RCA cable going from my sub amp to my component amp OR use an RCA cable from my component amp going to the headunit for signal(assuming it has enough RCA outs)? And, wire the power/ground wires the same as my subwoofer amp?

 

[Apoc 10+ year member]

Isn't Squeak just the best?

 

[PickupBass 10+ year member]

Isn't Squeak just the best?

Haha, yeah. He answered my question fast and addressed each issue. Thanks again

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Just to get this straight, I use 16-18 guage wire for each speaker going to a channel on my amp,

Yes

and then I can just use an RCA cable going from my sub amp to my component amp OR use an RCA cable from my component amp going to the headunit for signal(assuming it has enough RCA outs)?

Depends on 1) where the subwoofers RCA's are coming from, 2) if the sub amp has RCA outputs, and 3) How many inputs your amp needs (some 4 channel amps need two RCA inputs)

And, wire the power/ground wires the same as my subwoofer amp?

For the power wire you can run a distrobution block for the power wire, and then ground to the chassis.