RCA cable problem

[Hydrastas 10+ year member]

My head unit only has 2 channels for low output, and i want to install 2 amps, so i went and got some y adapters. I used the y adapters to get two right and two left channels. When i hooked up one amp to one of my subs it sounded normal, as if i weren't even using the y adapters. Then i did the same for the other sub, and as soon as i hooked that subs rca cables into the two remaining low outputs the sub that was previously hooked up got weaker, as if it were only getting 50% of what it was getting prior to me hooking up the 2nd subs rca cables. The amp kit that i have installed is only a kit up to 550 watts, and i have 340 watt and 200 watt amps hooked up which are probably overrated anyway, so im sure that it can't be the gauge of the power wire. It most likely has something to do with sound waves and not power issues. Im just lost as to what the cause is, and getting annoyed at just knowing it's effect, any help?

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[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

My head unit only has 2 channels for low output, and i want to install 2 amps, so i went and got some y adapters. I used the y adapters to get two right and two left channels. When i hooked up one amp to one of my subs it sounded normal, as if i weren't even using the y adapters. Then i did the same for the other sub, and as soon as i hooked that subs rca cables into the two remaining low outputs the sub that was previously hooked up got weaker, as if it were only getting 50% of what it was getting prior to me hooking up the 2nd subs rca cables. The amp kit that i have installed is only a kit up to 550 watts, and i have 340 watt and 200 watt amps hooked up which are probably overrated anyway, so im sure that it can't be the gauge of the power wire. It most likely has something to do with sound waves and not power issues. Im just lost as to what the cause is, and getting annoyed at just knowing it's effect, any help?

sounds to me like it's splitting the voltage of the rcas. so in essence you split the voltage 50/50, so the amp's not getting as good of a signal as if you were just using the one set of rcas.

 

[project f-150 10+ year member]

sure your no wired out of phase? sorry gotta ask

 

[Hydrastas 10+ year member]

im sure it's not a polarity problem and i don't have them wired in a series. If it is splitting the voltage, would the best way to get more channels out of my head unit be to convert one of the rear speaker wires to low output, or is there a way to use y adapters without losing power?

 

[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

i can only think of running the rcas from the output of the first amp to the input of the second amp, but then you lose control of the 2nd amp via headunit. either that or get 1 big amp instead of 2 smaller amps. is one amp for a sub and the other for your speakers? or are you just running 2 subs (which i'm assuming you are).

*edit* you could use a LOC (which you are asking about) which would lose some signal but it could be a good route to go.

 

[burnzie2413 10+ year member]

either that or what about a signal processor??? dont they have ones that take one set of inputs and output multiple ones???

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

a good eq should be able to help im assuming