[BNE] Amp Installation Help

[Dell99]

Hey guys, i'm all up for DIY. I got an amp and finally went out and purchase a installation kit.

Now installing a AMP is really mind boggling and i don't want to ruin and components. This is where i realise i am over my head to think that i can even attempt it.

how hard is it to install an AMP to connect to the four speakers only with a helpful website would be nice. Preferrably with lots of pictures, next if it becomes too hard.

Can anyone in B'bane help me install it at all, for a "small" fee. Cause i would like to learn.

Any help??

[D4rk4n63l]

in terms of wiring its not at all difficult.. the hardest part is to route all the wires to the desired position. basically I do this:


for the power cable you want to fuse it as close as possible to the battery
for a clean install I think its safe to say that u need to rip open around 80% of your interior panels and carpet
route the power cable from the left of the car, you will need to find the engine wiring grommet to pass the power cable through the firewall
next, you need to attach the RCA cables to the head unit and route them from the right of the car, don't forget the remote signal wire while doing this
speaker wires can go in the middle underneath the center console and re-route them to each individual speakers, for the front this may involve routing the wires through the door wiring grommet with all the power windows and central lock wires
close to the amp location, find a solid ground point as close as possible.. I normally use the seatbelt anchor point and sand down the paint on the surface and mount my ground there
when u finish all the wirings.. next thing to do is to hook them up to the amp
after that its just simply connecting the speaker wires to the speakers and putting all the panels back together


this is of course just a basic guide, if you only need a simple install using stock wiring you can also put the amp underneath the front passenger seat and wire the speaker wires to the stock stereo wiring harness (I would not recommend this tho)..

some tips:

use gaffer tape to secure all the wiring to the floor when possible
separate power cable and signal (RCA) cable as far as possible to prevent interference
for the speaker wires its wise to leave plenty extra length and trim it down as necessary after you finish with the routing.. a bit more is better then a bit short
if you are upgrading stock speakers, consider sound deadening front door and the rear panel where the rear speakers are as the first step.. you wont believe how much better the sound will get
use high quality cables !!! cheap wires usually end up in headache. Quality cables is not necessarily the expensive top of the line one, make sure they have proper shielding to prevent interference

[Dell99]

i was thinkin of just connecting the wires from the wiring harness. Can u please explain y this is not recommended??

but anyway
+rep to u for a good description and help

[Joeyboy]

Try these:

http://www.crutchfield.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/car/amplifier_installation_guide.html

http://www.subwoofertools.com/portal.asp?CategoryID=12&ContentID=3

http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Guide-To-Easy-Car-Amplifier-Installation&id=348854

by d way, u have a 4-channel amp right? coz obviously 1 channel per speaker. and also your head unit supports this setup? meaning at least 2 RCAs?

[Dell99]

in the kit. I got this hard cylindrical hard plasitc hollow tube. Hope that made sense, with a small piece of oval metal in the middle. Now wat is this and what is it used for. I was guessing something on the line of a firewall, although i don't even know what that means in Audio terms?

[Joeyboy]

in the kit. I got this hard cylindrical hard plasitc hollow tube. Hope that made sense, with a small piece of oval metal in the middle. Now wat is this and what is it used for. I was guessing something on the line of a firewall, although i don't even know what that means in Audio terms?


sounds like the fuse. u have to keep that secure next to your battery

[D4rk4n63l]

yep its a fuse.. you must wire one end to the battery and the other end to the amp..
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/amp_install_guide/2-fuseholder.jpg
as for the speakers, while using stock wiring is ok, its subject to interference as the stock wiring is bunched together with other wires.. so its better to upgrade to better shielded wires while ur at it

[Dell99]

man i can't get any wire to fit into the fuse, i thought it is ment to the be from the battery wire (long blue cable). However on one end its is fine as it connects to the battery. But it has the same connector on the other end.

Isn't that ment to connect to the fuse??? and how?

[Dell99]

i purchased the US-audio 4 channel amp kit

http://www.us-audio.com/car/homeAccessories.htm

model US4CH8

[D4rk4n63l]

the 8ga cable should fit into the fuse supplied.. if not bring it back to your retailer and ask for a proper sized fuse

[Dell99]

ok Dark need ur help again.

I literally spent hours doing it, roughly 5-6 since i ain't that savy and all. Anyway i think i got the most part all done now, however the trigger wire (p.con) is connected to the amp.
I know that i have to connect it to the H/U but i don't know which wire it is. In the kenwood manual it said the ISO wire is pink/black. I'm guessing its pink with black stripes.
But the ISO harness that i bought doesn't come with any pink cable??
Any ideas

And how essential is it, obviously i don't want to skip this part but i would like to know

Head unit model: KDC=W6534U

[D4rk4n63l]

u want the amp remote cable.. normally the blue wire from the headunit wire harness.. no sure which one it is from your ISO harness, but just trace back to the kenwood harness which wire connects to the blue one...

[Dell99]

thanks mate, u helped me heaps and it is working now. Now just that the stupid wires are too long and have to tidy it up.

[D4rk4n63l]

happy to help.. and have fun with the new system :D

[Dell99]

one thing that i realised. The amp doesn't seem to do much, i mean i never crank it up high. Just keep it at a comfortable level but i think the front is just a tad crisper.

If i knew that was the case in the first place i wouldn't of done it.
Am i missing something?

[D4rk4n63l]

its all just a matter of tuning up... and of course sound deadening. Btw, what do u mean by crisp? too much highs? set ur tweeter to -3db or even -6db (not sure if your split's x-over can do this, but most can), also it depends on the placement of the tweeter.. tweeters placed against the front glass will sound a bit harsher than the ones directed straight to the listener. Also, dont forget, splits are design for mid-high freqs.. but by doing proper sound deadening you will gain a significant improvement in mid-low response.. (try listening to drum heavy jazz track to hear the difference)

if you are not sure what to do with the tuning, get help from ur local audio shop as they are more experienced to do this, I'll be happy to do it for you if u were in syd :D

[Dell99]

i kno this is a noob question but....

ur sayin to move the +ive wire from the front splits to the -3db spot?

[D4rk4n63l]

yep.. try that, but I usually do a trial fit for tweeters cos mostly there's a sweet spot for them in every car

[Dell99]

dam it

i just put it nex to the a pillar close to the windshield

and can u confirm if the =ive wire is attached to -3db

[D4rk4n63l]

I assume you missed the 'shift' button on ur keyboard and was meant to say '+ve'... if so, yes ur correct !!!