TheTechMan

Hey all,

I have a few questions relating to the wiring setup of my car audio system.

I drive a 2006 Honda Civic 4 door and currently use a 2 channel Kenwood amp in bridge mode to power a 10" Alpine Type E sub. I have purchased some new stuff and it's currently being shipped to me. Here's some information relating to the makes and models of the equipment I will be using for my system

Amp- Kenwood kac-8405 (4 channel amp)
Front Speakers- Infinity Reference 6032cf (60watt rms @4ohm/90watts rms @ 2ohm)
Rear Speakers- Leaving them stock
Headunit- Leaving it stock

I have a few questions regarding installation when my new stuff arrives. I'm using a loc tapped into the stock rear speakers and have the rca outputs from the loc plugged into my 2 channel amp and everything is working fine.

When my 4 channel amp arrives, my plan is to use channels 1+2 for the infinity reference 6032cf's in the front and then bridging channels 3+4 for my Alpine Sub. Can I simply run the rca outputs from the loc into the new amp, then hookup the speaker wire from the amp to the sub and front speakers while keeping the rear speakers operating off the hu?

Also, if I bridge channels 3+4 and run that to my sub, it should be 175watts rms at 4ohm and my sub is rated at 50-250watts rms so I think this should be ok. More importantly, I overlooked the planning of my amp+speakers as my amp will push 90watts x4 at 2ohm and 60watts x4 at 4ohm BUT the infinity reference 6032cf's are only rated 60watts rms @ 2ohms and my amp will be pushing 90watts rms to them and I'm worried I will blow them. What can I do to ensure I don't blow my new speakers?

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Cheers,
TheTechMan

ScottS

You could add a second LOC off of the front speakers at the deck to run the Infinity speakers. Run the RCA from front to back with a pair of speaker lines attached to the front speaker leads on the opposite side of the power wire. Hook the front RCA's to channel 1&2 and use your existing RCA's to feed the signal to the sub. Your power ratings are ok. Remember you'd rather have too much power and not use it all then not having enough and needing more.

TheTechMan

Would using a second loc be the only way to amplify the front speakers and my sub off my new 4 channel amp?

I was under the impression I could just run speaker wire from the front speakers to the amp as I've already tapped into the signal with the loc into my rear speakers?

Thanks for the suggestion.

ScottS

You could do that but you loose the capability of fading between front and back/sub. The way I suggested you keep your fading. Personally I prefer to keep fading as I am not very big on rear fill. Depending on the amp you may have to add a set of RCA Y adapters, but that will depend if the amp will run off of only a single set of RCA's.

TheTechMan

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have been thinking about using the speaker level inputs on my amp to wire my front speakers. However. I have been researching a lot of forums and websites that claim the quality of speaker level input < loc. Specifically, there has been a lot of people with alternator whine that use speaker level inputs. This is a disappointment as my amp has speaker level inputs.

If I were to tap into the front speakers with a second loc for my new infinity's, would I need to do that at the hu so that I tap into both the left and right speakers, or can I just tap into one or the other (left or right) from just inside the door.

I'm really trying to avoid taking my dash apart to get at my hu.

Thanks

ScottS

You'll want to do it at the HU to get both speakers. This way you still keep your stereo if you don't you'll have a mono signal going to your Infinity's. The best way o do this is cut the front speaker lines from the deck about 3" from the end and use the leads coming from the deck to the LOC and the other side of the lead use to run to your amp from the output side and then just attach your Infinity's to the factory wires in the door. But watch your polarity or else yo will be out of phase.

TheTechMan

When you say "watch the polarity", do you just mean ensure the positive is matched to positive and the negative is matched to the negative?

Also, I was looking around at some different loc's and it seems they come in 2ch, 4ch and even 6ch with different watt ratings. How do I know which one I need to match my infinity speakers?

Thanks

ScottS

yes I mean watch your positives and negatives (even the best of us get them mixed up from time to time) As far as which LOC is best for the Infinity's, that's very difficult to say. I've never had a problem with most of the ones I've used but I have also repaired installs with bad LOC's. I find the Stinger LOC's from Future Shop get noise in them very easily. most reputable shops use decent ones. Should be about $30 -$40 for a decent one. As far as multi channel LOC's only high end companies make good ones. Audio Control has up to an 8 channel LOC, but Cache makes a good version very similar to Audio Control's

TheTechMan

Thanks for all of your help. I'm going to take a trip to my local audio store and pickup a 2 ch loc for my infinity's.

I will be sure to let you know how the install goes.

TheTechMan

Do I match the watt per channel rating on the loc to my speakers or the signal coming from my hu?