rca's
 

I'm hoping somebody can help me...I want to run a three amp setup powering speakers in the front, the rear, and subwoofers....so (1) - do I really need three sets of rca's running from the deck to the back of the vehicle where my amps will be? (one rca for each amp)?

(2) If the one amp has rca out plugs is that for running a shorter rca to a second amp instead of going all the way from the deck?

(2b) Is it better to do one or the other given the amps are different makes (I'm not sure if the signal would become affected at all not coming directly from the deck)

I could use any advice you might have.

Thanks a lot.

Use the ouputs on your first amp to your second, and so on, or go with a Y adapter to go from 1 pair to 2 pair and so on, either way. But since you are using different amps i would use Y adapts

I would run all three sets so you can have control over each thing from the head unit. If you're still not keen on this, then I'd just run one set from your front RCA outs, and jump them to your rear channel amp, but still run a seperate pair of RCAs to your subwoofer amp.

do you want a fader control ? and a sub level control? if not it is fine.

ya i definitely want to have sub controls from my deck so I guess I would need at least two pair or rca's with one maybe split using y adapters for the rear channels...does using a y adapter effect the signal quality at all?

Splitting RCA outs
 

Splitting an RCA out 3 ways sounds great, but each amp will see less signal so the input gains will need so be upped, and then the ohm value seen by the deck outputs will be dropped (just as a parallel connection to the speakers drops the ohms value) to a probable unacceptable level and your deck (head unit) may suffer a meltdown. You could probably split it once, without harm, so split it at the amp end, LOL. Less wire, same thing.

Yes you need 3 sets of rca's, so you have total control of your system. But I will suggest not to use amplifier, for the back speakers, just use your deck for that. The important speakers are the front and the sub. There are more important things in this..like sound deadening, good design of your box, placement for your front speakers, etc.? This is more important than have thousand of thousands of watts.

By the way, there is not only Dynamat outside!!!! There are very cheap options.

repeated :)