rca's and bridging an amp

[jacka 10+ year member]

When I bridge my 4-channel amplifier to power my frontstage, should I be using Y-adapters for the front rca's so it will be easier to tune (fading and balance) with the HU?

Click to read more...

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

get 4ch Rcas

 

[pwnt by pat 10+ year member]

Whenver you bridge your amp for fronts, usually you only need to plug in one rca per channel.

So say it's like this:

bridge 1 + 2 = rca in channel one left

bridge 3 + 4 = rca in channel three left

It should be printed on the amp or in the amp manual.

Also, with a bridge amp for frontstage like that, you don't get any fade as you won't have rear speakers, just balance.

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Some amps sum the input of L and R when bridged. 4 Channel RCA's wont help since he'll be using Front and Rear output for singal to just that one amp powering the fronts. Y adapters on the Front Outputs of the HU at the amp would be best. Bridgeing a 4 channel for fronts is a very good idea btw, you get a much better stereo separation out of a bridged 4 channel then a standard 2 channel (depends on brand of amp, but most are like this)

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Y adapters on the Front Outputs of the HU at the amp would be best.

That's how I did mine. Works great.

Bridgeing a 4 channel for fronts is a very good idea btw, you get a much better stereo separation out of a bridged 4 channel then a standard 2 channel (depends on brand of amp, but most are like this)

Hadn't thought of that, but makes sense.

The reason I like it is because the power/dollar issue. I had a 100x2 @ 4 that worked pretty well, but I had a chance to get the 50x4 @ 4 from the same series which bridged to 180x2 for exactly the same price. It was a no brainer.

Some people argue that the increased THD makes it a bad idea -- That's just silly. Going from .01 to .02 or even .05 is a microscopic increase and still FAR below the threshold of audibility. The bonus power is a much bigger positive factor than a few tenths of a percent of THD are a negative.