using two amps when head unit only has one set of RCA jacks

[talon2nr7588 10+ year member]

i got a question about my head unit, my head unit only has one set of rca jacks. i wanna poer two subs and run one amp to each of them. but the amps that i'm gonna us does not have a set of preouts to link to another amp. if i i use Y connectors that will split the RCA jacks at the head unit into four will this affect the signal in any way? two would be coming out of each output on the head unit, on if for the Right and one is for the Left if i use the Y splitter will this affect the sound in any way?

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[btmorris972 10+ year member]

as long as the out on your hu is the sub out it will be fine to split the signal. Just use a dmm to set your gains.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

as long as the out on your hu is the sub out it will be fine to split the signal. Just use a dmm to set your gains.

Can't say that I have ever seen an entry-level HU that featured only one set of preamp outputs have those outputs as dedicated sub outs.

I would suggest that the single set of RCA outputs the OP mentioned are likely configured as "rear" outputs with no crossover controls on them.

talon2nr7588 ~

No, provided you set the gains on the amps properly you should be okay. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

 

[KaeZoo 10+ year member]

You're running both amps on subs? If so, you may not need any splitter.

If they're 2-channel amps running bridged, then it's possible they're designed to only use the left input signal. Many 2-channel amps are set up this way in bridged mode. If this is the case, you can just run your left output to one amp and your right output to the other, using only the left inputs on each amp.

If they're mono amps, then you can do the same thing, since it won't matter if only one input gets a signal; they just sum the signal anyway.

Prowler, some manufacturers are starting to use a selectable sub vs. rear output on their entry-level head units with just one set of pre-outs. Sony comes to mind, for example.