Running an amp with stock wires connected?
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Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 1:02:47 PM
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Big Frost
Posts: 87
Joined: 5/11/2008
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Hi guys!
This is my first post on these forums, even though ive been reading around for the past couple of days.
Now i know a lot about electronics, but not much about how audio works. I did hook up my own stereo/speakers/sub all by myself, having never done so before.
My question comes in with the addition of a speaker amp. Now ive already ran 12 gauge speaker wire manually from every speaker, one in each door, and i replaced the tweeters in the dash with 125rms 4x6's...so all the wires are already to go, except for the fact that i still have my stock radio outputs hooked to all speakers.
My goal is to have the stereo working like normal, and im running the remote wire thru switch in the dash to the amp, so that i can have an amped stereo at the flip of a switch.
After all of that lol i finally get to my question. Can i run the speaker amp when the speakers are still connected to the stock radio outputs? if so, will it affect the clarity of the sound?
Thanks in advance guys,
-Frost
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"Party on the GPS, all in the dash, pull up in my chevy same color as cash "
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 1:11:01 PM
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otnietdehoooo
The Chop Shop Moderator
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Joined: 5/25/2007
From: Ft. Worth, TX
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So you would still have the speakers getting a signal from the deck and have them hooked up to the amp at the same time? It doesn't seem to me like it would work but then again, I'm fairly new to audio stuff too.
I'm not sure why you would want to revert back to non-amp'd music. It will sound much better with an amp.
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Matt - 98 4DR 4WD
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 1:38:09 PM
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Big Frost
Posts: 87
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Well i agree it will sound much better with an amp, but my 6 speakers right now get to the point where snares make you blink ;) lol if you know what i mean.
That is more than enough sound for my ears, so normal music listening will come from stock stereo.
Its just that people are always trying to "out-do" my system in my neighborhood, and i want them to learn to respect the switch ;) btw the switch right now, only turns on my second 2000watt 15'
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 2:24:04 PM
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bobditts
Posts: 681
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unless you can figure out a way to disconnet the stock wires when the amp is on and vice versa, then the answer is no.
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 2:24:29 PM
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bobditts
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oh, and btw, 12ga is overkill for most subs let alone door speakers ;)
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 2:27:38 PM
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Big Frost
Posts: 87
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so joining the output of the stock stereo and the amp wont work at all?
=( that suddenly makes it a hell of a lot more complicated...
lol and ya about 12 gauge...my the guy at the audio place said that house speaker wire will be more than perfect, but this thing is gonna be super amped up when i get finished, so im playin it safe ;)
< Message edited by Big Frost -- 5/12/2008 2:36:49 PM >
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/12/2008 5:02:42 PM
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bobditts
Posts: 681
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no you cant "join" the 2 devices together.
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/13/2008 1:26:16 AM
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kross
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Big Frost
Well i agree it will sound much better with an amp, but my 6 speakers right now get to the point where snares make you blink
Sounds like your sound is overly bright, almost certainly from the highs from your aftermarket dash speakers reflecting off the windshield, and straight at you. Really, for best sound, you should disconnect the dash speakers. Many people will argue that you shouldn't have rear fill either, but I'll leave that choice to you.
You don't need a switch in your dash to control when you want to go from normal listening level to a loud level. That's what the volume knob is for.
Never hook up an aftermarket amplifier output to speakers that are still connected to the head unit! Most stand-alone amplifiers are bridgable, which means the output from the right channel is actually carried on the negative speaker wire, but flipped in phase 180 degrees. If this is attached to a non-bridgable amplifer, like the one in most head units, which carries the audio signal on the + wire on both left and right channels, then that means the - wire from the HU is usually attached to ground. You would most likely end up damaging both your new amplifier and your head unit.
But really, if the sound quality isn't what you'd like it to be when you turn up the volume, refraining from turning up the volume is not the answer. Buying quality speakers, giving them plenty of clean power, properly deadening your doors, etc, etc, is the way to go.
What kind of HU, amp, speakers, etc, do you have?
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RE: Running an amp with stock wires connected? - 5/13/2008 1:36:17 AM
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Big Frost
Posts: 87
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I dont have an amp yet, but my speakers are all soundstream, Dash:125rms, frost door:100rms, and rear door: 150 rms, my headunit is a sony (I KNOW they suck) with the usb drive in the front, which is why i bought it...
i have a planet audio, 1350 rms amp, attatched to a 1000rms audio pipe sub if that makes a difference...
I was planning on just connecting the remote wire to a switch, and that works for the sub...but i wantd to make sure it wasnt going to blow the head unit...
as for speaker amps, i was planning on just picking up 3 40x4 amps, by alpine or something at a few pawn shops around town (they seem to have an abundance of them) and run one amp to each pair of speakers, pushing a bridged 80 rms to each speaker...which im assuming will be pretty damn loud considering each speaker is only getting about 17rms out of the headunit now and its already super super loud...
so if i have to go into using relays for each wire, i may as well forget it =/
For the dash problem, would facing the speakers forward rather than up fix the problem? and do you think that really makes a big difference?
< Message edited by Big Frost -- 5/13/2008 1:51:54 AM >
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