Bridged?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX, USA
Bridged?
Ok this is probably a very noobish question and I tried searching but I get different answers. I can install hu and speakers but when you talk about amps and ohms and voice coils I get lost.
Anyways I picked this up the other day for 140, seemed like a good deal to me. It's 2 infinity 10" subs and a sony 2/1 480 watt amp, or so it says. Basically I just want to know how to bridge it since after I installed it and I wasnt really satisfied. So I started mucking around with the eq's and crap and then I pulled the top (L) channel audio plug from the amp and the left sub cut off but the right one became louder and so much clearer. Did I basically just bridge it by disconnecting the other input or am I just getting the right channel only...but louder? On the back of the amp theres a thing that says BTL and it points to the first positive and the second negative which im guessing might have something to do with it. So whats the correct way of bridging this thing, the way I have it right now is like in the pic but I dont think thats quite right.
Anyways I picked this up the other day for 140, seemed like a good deal to me. It's 2 infinity 10" subs and a sony 2/1 480 watt amp, or so it says. Basically I just want to know how to bridge it since after I installed it and I wasnt really satisfied. So I started mucking around with the eq's and crap and then I pulled the top (L) channel audio plug from the amp and the left sub cut off but the right one became louder and so much clearer. Did I basically just bridge it by disconnecting the other input or am I just getting the right channel only...but louder? On the back of the amp theres a thing that says BTL and it points to the first positive and the second negative which im guessing might have something to do with it. So whats the correct way of bridging this thing, the way I have it right now is like in the pic but I dont think thats quite right.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: Beavertown, OR
No you didn't bridge you amplifier. One of your speakers is out of phase. In other words flip the wires around on one of the speakers.
I would assume those are 4 ohm voice coils and its doubtful that amplifier is 2 ohm stable, so try setting it up correctly first.
I would assume those are 4 ohm voice coils and its doubtful that amplifier is 2 ohm stable, so try setting it up correctly first.
Old Fart
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,173
Likes: 18
From: kelowna, bc, canada
Re: Bridged? (KaoSyN)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KaoSyN »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok this is probably a very noobish question and I tried searching but I get different answers. I can install hu and speakers but when you talk about amps and ohms and voice coils I get lost.
Anyways I picked this up the other day for 140, seemed like a good deal to me. It's 2 infinity 10" subs and a Sony 2/1 480 watt amp, or so it says. Basically I just want to know how to bridge it since after I installed it and I wasn't really satisfied. So I started mucking around with the eq's and crap and then I pulled the top (L) channel audio plug from the amp and the left sub cut off but the right one became louder and so much clearer. Did I basically just bridge it by disconnecting the other input or am I just getting the right channel only...but louder? On the back of the amp theres a thing that says BTL and it points to the first positive and the second negative which im guessing might have something to do with it. So whats the correct way of bridging this thing, the way I have it right now is like in the pic but I dont think thats quite right. </TD></TR></TABLE>Can you show a better pix of the front of the amp, [where all the connections are] I tried to find the amp at Sony. com but their site sucks, as I can only see 1 speaker lead connected to the amp, and by the look of it you are using the pos. of one ch and the neg. of the other ch ,[BTL] and that is correct, and although you may have a wiring problem with the speakers, [wired out of phase] I do not think that is the problem, [as you are wired in the mono mode, you can check the speakers for phasing by disconnecting them from the amp, and using a batt., [9V works good] touch the speaker lead to the batt. term. it makes no diff. what way you do it pos. to pos. and neg. to neg. ot the other way around, when you touch the batt. term. the speakers will "pop", what you are looking for is that they both "pop" in the same direction, if one pops in and the other one pops out they are wired out of phase, and you will have to switch the speaker leads pos. and neg. on one of the speakers, it makes no diff. on what speaker you do that to, your only concern is that they both "pop" in the same direction, if this is all good, reconnect the speaker wire to the amp, using the BTL terminals, again do not be concerned about the pos. and neg. the other thing I would want to look at is if there is a switch on the amp that says something like "input mode" a 2 or 3 position switch marked ST, L or R mono, L&R mono, L&R or mixed mono anything like that, if there is a switch like that and it is set to L or R mono, the that is you problem, or at least the problem that kind of goes away when you unplug one of the RCAs, that switch is for when you are using that amp as a one ch. amp, Left or Right and you can only plug in one of the RCAs, plugging in both, will short out the input. if there is no switch or the switch is not the problem, the I would want to check the RCAs themselves for damage, [shorts]
94
Anyways I picked this up the other day for 140, seemed like a good deal to me. It's 2 infinity 10" subs and a Sony 2/1 480 watt amp, or so it says. Basically I just want to know how to bridge it since after I installed it and I wasn't really satisfied. So I started mucking around with the eq's and crap and then I pulled the top (L) channel audio plug from the amp and the left sub cut off but the right one became louder and so much clearer. Did I basically just bridge it by disconnecting the other input or am I just getting the right channel only...but louder? On the back of the amp theres a thing that says BTL and it points to the first positive and the second negative which im guessing might have something to do with it. So whats the correct way of bridging this thing, the way I have it right now is like in the pic but I dont think thats quite right. </TD></TR></TABLE>Can you show a better pix of the front of the amp, [where all the connections are] I tried to find the amp at Sony. com but their site sucks, as I can only see 1 speaker lead connected to the amp, and by the look of it you are using the pos. of one ch and the neg. of the other ch ,[BTL] and that is correct, and although you may have a wiring problem with the speakers, [wired out of phase] I do not think that is the problem, [as you are wired in the mono mode, you can check the speakers for phasing by disconnecting them from the amp, and using a batt., [9V works good] touch the speaker lead to the batt. term. it makes no diff. what way you do it pos. to pos. and neg. to neg. ot the other way around, when you touch the batt. term. the speakers will "pop", what you are looking for is that they both "pop" in the same direction, if one pops in and the other one pops out they are wired out of phase, and you will have to switch the speaker leads pos. and neg. on one of the speakers, it makes no diff. on what speaker you do that to, your only concern is that they both "pop" in the same direction, if this is all good, reconnect the speaker wire to the amp, using the BTL terminals, again do not be concerned about the pos. and neg. the other thing I would want to look at is if there is a switch on the amp that says something like "input mode" a 2 or 3 position switch marked ST, L or R mono, L&R mono, L&R or mixed mono anything like that, if there is a switch like that and it is set to L or R mono, the that is you problem, or at least the problem that kind of goes away when you unplug one of the RCAs, that switch is for when you are using that amp as a one ch. amp, Left or Right and you can only plug in one of the RCAs, plugging in both, will short out the input. if there is no switch or the switch is not the problem, the I would want to check the RCAs themselves for damage, [shorts]
94
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: Beavertown, OR
Re: Bridged? (fcm)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> and although you may have a wiring problem with the speakers, wired out of phase I do not think that is the problem, as you are wired in the mono mode</TD></TR></TABLE>
If a speaker is out of phase with the other it wont matter if its in mono mode or not. I'm sure you already know this but out of phase means the two speakers are 180 degrees out of phase. Which means while one is pushing up the other is pushing down, effectively canceling the sound. Thats why flipping one set of wires around fixes the problem.
If a speaker is out of phase with the other it wont matter if its in mono mode or not. I'm sure you already know this but out of phase means the two speakers are 180 degrees out of phase. Which means while one is pushing up the other is pushing down, effectively canceling the sound. Thats why flipping one set of wires around fixes the problem.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX, USA
Re: Bridged? (nsxxtreme)
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.c....jpeg
Thats basically what the front of my amp is like except its organised differently.
I'm not sure if I have a problem with my wiring, I think its more my ingorance. Its just if I disconnect the (L) BTL input my left sub turns off as I think it should but my right one gets louder, but if I connect it again they both work just fine, except not as loud as the right one by itself which made me think I was somehow bridging it.
Also when I do connect the left input I can disconnect the right input and both subs with still play normally which doesnt make sense to me. Then Ill connect the red iinput wire to the left and only the left sub will play.
If I connect the speaker wire to the other negative it makes no difference I just left it like that since thats where the BTL lines are pointing to.
I dunno if im making any sense but basically I want to know why my right sub gets louder when I disconnect the left input. More importantly though I want to know how to bridge this ****? Connect the two negatives?
Modified by KaoSyN at 2:23 PM 8/11/2005
Thats basically what the front of my amp is like except its organised differently.
I'm not sure if I have a problem with my wiring, I think its more my ingorance. Its just if I disconnect the (L) BTL input my left sub turns off as I think it should but my right one gets louder, but if I connect it again they both work just fine, except not as loud as the right one by itself which made me think I was somehow bridging it.
Also when I do connect the left input I can disconnect the right input and both subs with still play normally which doesnt make sense to me. Then Ill connect the red iinput wire to the left and only the left sub will play.
If I connect the speaker wire to the other negative it makes no difference I just left it like that since thats where the BTL lines are pointing to.
I dunno if im making any sense but basically I want to know why my right sub gets louder when I disconnect the left input. More importantly though I want to know how to bridge this ****? Connect the two negatives?
Modified by KaoSyN at 2:23 PM 8/11/2005
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: Beavertown, OR
Re: Bridged? (KaoSyN)
The correct way to bridge that amp.
Only put one RCA in the "L BTL" input.
Connect the L + and the R- to your speaker
Again if the impedence is to low it will shut off.
If you want to hook it up in stereo
L RCA to L RCA input
R RCA to R RCA input
Left speaker wires to left ouput
Right speaker wires to right output.
Now play something with bass turn the volume up a little. no disconnect one speaker. Does the bass go up? If so flip one set of speaker wires around. If not then leave it how you had it.
Only put one RCA in the "L BTL" input.
Connect the L + and the R- to your speaker
Again if the impedence is to low it will shut off.
If you want to hook it up in stereo
L RCA to L RCA input
R RCA to R RCA input
Left speaker wires to left ouput
Right speaker wires to right output.
Now play something with bass turn the volume up a little. no disconnect one speaker. Does the bass go up? If so flip one set of speaker wires around. If not then leave it how you had it.
Old Fart
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,173
Likes: 18
From: kelowna, bc, canada
Re: Bridged? (nsxxtreme)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxxtreme »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
If a speaker is out of phase with the other it wont matter if its in mono mode or not. I'm sure you already know this but out of phase means the two speakers are 180 degrees out of phase. Which means while one is pushing up the other is pushing down, effectively canceling the sound. Thats why flipping one set of wires around fixes the problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>Yes I know that, and maybe there is a communication problem on KaoSyn's part, I see one speaker lead wired to the amp, to the BLT term., so I would assume that the subs are wired together in the box, and if that is the case then unplugging a RCA should not do any of the things he says it does, and would make no diff. if the subs are in or out of phase, other the a slit drop in volume on both subs, but I will ask him for a clarification.
BTW according to Sony the proper way to bridge that amp is to use both L and R RCA inputs and wire the speaker to the BTL term., [L pos. (+) and R neg. (-)] the only time you use only the L input is when you are using 2 amps one for each ch.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KaoSyN »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://akamaipix.crutchfield.c....jpeg
Thats basically what the front of my amp is like except its organised differently.
I'm not sure if I have a problem with my wiring, I think its more my ingorance. Its just if I disconnect the (L) BTL input my left sub turns off as I think it should but my right one gets louder, but if I connect it again they both work just fine, except not as loud as the right one by itself which made me think I was somehow bridging it.
Also when I do connect the left input I can disconnect the right input and both subs with still play normally which doesnt make sense to me. Then Ill connect the red iinput wire to the left and only the left sub will play.
If I connect the speaker wire to the other negative it makes no difference I just left it like that since thats where the BTL lines are pointing to.
I dunno if im making any sense but basically I want to know why my right sub gets louder when I disconnect the left input. More importantly though I want to know how to bridge this ****? Connect the two negatives?
Modified by KaoSyN at 2:23 PM 8/11/2005</TD></TR></TABLE> Please answer the questions below......
1- Do you have one or two sets of speaker leads for the subs?
2- Do you know which is pos. (+) and neg. (-) on each one, if there are two sets?
3- Are you using the High Level Input, the white plug on the left of the amp you link us to, [even if it's not there on your amp]?
4- Are you sure that the RCAs are good, and that they are plugged into the HU properly?
5- What HU do you have, [make and model] and what is the model number of your amp? I can not find that amp at Sony only this one http://esupport.sony.com/perl/...LOC=3, a 400 watt 2 ch. 94
If a speaker is out of phase with the other it wont matter if its in mono mode or not. I'm sure you already know this but out of phase means the two speakers are 180 degrees out of phase. Which means while one is pushing up the other is pushing down, effectively canceling the sound. Thats why flipping one set of wires around fixes the problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>Yes I know that, and maybe there is a communication problem on KaoSyn's part, I see one speaker lead wired to the amp, to the BLT term., so I would assume that the subs are wired together in the box, and if that is the case then unplugging a RCA should not do any of the things he says it does, and would make no diff. if the subs are in or out of phase, other the a slit drop in volume on both subs, but I will ask him for a clarification.
BTW according to Sony the proper way to bridge that amp is to use both L and R RCA inputs and wire the speaker to the BTL term., [L pos. (+) and R neg. (-)] the only time you use only the L input is when you are using 2 amps one for each ch.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KaoSyN »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://akamaipix.crutchfield.c....jpeg
Thats basically what the front of my amp is like except its organised differently.
I'm not sure if I have a problem with my wiring, I think its more my ingorance. Its just if I disconnect the (L) BTL input my left sub turns off as I think it should but my right one gets louder, but if I connect it again they both work just fine, except not as loud as the right one by itself which made me think I was somehow bridging it.
Also when I do connect the left input I can disconnect the right input and both subs with still play normally which doesnt make sense to me. Then Ill connect the red iinput wire to the left and only the left sub will play.
If I connect the speaker wire to the other negative it makes no difference I just left it like that since thats where the BTL lines are pointing to.
I dunno if im making any sense but basically I want to know why my right sub gets louder when I disconnect the left input. More importantly though I want to know how to bridge this ****? Connect the two negatives?
Modified by KaoSyN at 2:23 PM 8/11/2005</TD></TR></TABLE> Please answer the questions below......
1- Do you have one or two sets of speaker leads for the subs?
2- Do you know which is pos. (+) and neg. (-) on each one, if there are two sets?
3- Are you using the High Level Input, the white plug on the left of the amp you link us to, [even if it's not there on your amp]?
4- Are you sure that the RCAs are good, and that they are plugged into the HU properly?
5- What HU do you have, [make and model] and what is the model number of your amp? I can not find that amp at Sony only this one http://esupport.sony.com/perl/...LOC=3, a 400 watt 2 ch.
94
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX, USA
Re: Bridged? (fcm)
Yea I found a manual online for a similar amp and figured out how to do it. All I needed to do was plug in the L BTL input to complete the setup. Still doesnt really explain why it acts the way it does though but it doesnt matter. After that I went to my friends house and hooked it up to his infinity amp and was soo much better. Kinda ruined my excitement 
. Owell, time to save for a better amp.
Thanks for all the help guys, sorry for the confusion.
. Owell, time to save for a better amp.Thanks for all the help guys, sorry for the confusion.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: Beavertown, OR
Re: Bridged? (KaoSyN)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KaoSyN »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yea I found a manual online for a similar amp and figured out how to do it. All I needed to do was plug in the L BTL input to complete the setup. Still doesnt really explain why it acts the way it does though but it doesnt matter. After that I went to my friends house and hooked it up to his infinity amp and was soo much better. Kinda ruined my excitement . Owell, time to save for a better amp.
Thanks for all the help guys, sorry for the confusion.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The reason is how that amplifier bridges the output. You have to ask yourself what is the difference between stereo and mono. True stereophonic sound systems have two independent audio signal channels, and the signals that are reproduced have a specific level and phase relationship to each other so that when played back through a suitable reproduction system, there will be an apparent image of the original sound source. So to answer your question, only guessing here but it would have to do with how the input is connected internally to the amplifier. The right channel may be canceling out some of the sound when connected in bridged mode. Its a cheap amp what do you expect.
. Owell, time to save for a better amp.Thanks for all the help guys, sorry for the confusion.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The reason is how that amplifier bridges the output. You have to ask yourself what is the difference between stereo and mono. True stereophonic sound systems have two independent audio signal channels, and the signals that are reproduced have a specific level and phase relationship to each other so that when played back through a suitable reproduction system, there will be an apparent image of the original sound source. So to answer your question, only guessing here but it would have to do with how the input is connected internally to the amplifier. The right channel may be canceling out some of the sound when connected in bridged mode. Its a cheap amp what do you expect.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
imadigitalgod
Audio / Security / Video
18
May 13, 2008 04:00 PM