i'm installing an amp to power 4 speakers and would like to know the basics to do go about doing so. placement, which wire to where/ basic connections. A short walkthrough would be much appreciated. thnx

 

OK a short "walkthrough"
1- Mount amp where it can get cooling, and where it will stay dry, mount it so you have access to the controls and fuse(s), mount it to a piece wood, [to isolate it from the cars chassis] the wood can be glued into place under carpeting, or an "amp rack" can be made, [no need to drill holes in your car] I do not recommend amps be mounted to a sub box.

2-Make sure the appropriate gauge power and ground cable is used, use an ANL fuse, run the power cable on the batt. side of the car to the amp, keep the amps ground cable as short as possible, and ground it using an oem/stock bolt or stud already in the car, [again no need to drill holes in your car] seat-belt and seat bolts work very well, anything that connects the amps ground to the floor-pan of the car, [clean off any paint/dirt, to bare metal, solder all appropriate ring terminals to the power and ground cables.

3- Run the RCAs, [and amp control lead] down center of car, [away from any power wiring] to the amp, BTW the RCAs that come in "amp kits" are too long, buy the right RCAs.

4. If your running speaker wire, run it with the RCAs.

5. Make sure all connections are clean and tight. 94

Sorry, got to go, F1 qualifying just started.

 

so the speakers run into the amp then the amp's RCA's run into the headunit and thats how it gets the signal...correct?

 

More like ,the the RCAs carry the "pre-amp" signal to the amp and the amplified signal is then carried to the speakers through the speaker wires.

I should have mentioned keeping all the wiring neatly run and as short as possible is also an advantage, mounting the amp under the pass. seat, [if it will fit] will allow for short runs of power and RCAs and about equal length runs of speaker leads. 94

 

yea, i've put it all in the trunk and making kind of a "setup" though. under the seat, thats a good call though thanks.
alright let me get this straight. the RCA's run from the headunit to the amp as a preamp, then the speaker wires run from the speakers to the amp...that seems a little too simple. what about the wiring harness that goes into the back of the headunit, do i discard the speaker wires from that or what...please explain. thanks a lot and sorry for the basic questions, i just had to know

 

That is correct you will not need any of those speaker wires, unless you want to do a quick and easy wiring job, run the 4 speaker leads from the amp to behind the HU and connect them to the oem speaker wires, although I do not recommend doing it that way, it can be a pain for a No0b to get speaker wiring into the door, on some Honda/Acuras. 94

 

o' really NOOOOB? just had some basic questions, thanks a lot though BIG help

 

i've heard that running your speaker wires along side your rca's creates noise....

if i'm wrong.. then it makes my life running the speakerwires alot easier.. cause then i don't have to run them under tight carpet... and centerconsole mayhem..

my setup.. i have the rca's running along side the passenger side...

and i'm going to run the +12v along the driver's side sill..

i was going to run the speaker wire under the console... to the front.. doing a bi-amp component setup, and running the rears on stock wiring, powered by the head...

if u want.. u can also make ur own custom length rcas... with some good quality microphone wire, and some rca termials...

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all you need to know is keep the power away from the source/sound

 

yea that sounds good. I did the same with the rca's/remote on the passenger side then the power on the driver side. i'm gonna mount the 4 way alpine for the spakers under the driver seat for convenience.. thanks for the input