How would I do this?

[Randomman]

Basically, I'm looking to link 4 six-by-nine speakers together through an amp. I have a fairly new head unit with the red and white plug things, and 4 channels.

But I already have an amp running for the sub in the back. And I want to run the fron 4" speakers as well. So how could I go about amp-ing the 6X9's? Could I get an amp that runs off a channal or two of my head unit, or do they all need the white and red plugs? (obv it will need 12v power as well, thats easy to do though)

 

[chaos]

Basically, I'm looking to link 4 six-by-nine speakers together through an amp. I have a fairly new head unit with the red and white plug things, and 4 channels.

But I already have an amp running for the sub in the back. And I want to run the fron 4" speakers as well. So how could I go about amp-ing the 6X9's? Could I get an amp that runs off a channal or two of my head unit, or do they all need the white and red plugs? (obv it will need 12v power as well, thats easy to do though)

IMO you'll be overloading the cinq with speakers and the soundstage will be messed up with most of the speakers in the back.................................

You'd need a 4 channel amp (1 channel per speaker). You'll need to check the amp specs to see if the amps support 'daisy chaining' if you only have 1 RCA input (red and white plugs). If you have 2 RCA inputs, then you don't need to worry about daisy chaining (1 RCA for the sub amp, and 1 RCA for the 6x9 amp). I assume the 4" speakers will be running off the headunit?

 

[Randomman]

IMO you'll be overloading the cinq with speakers and the soundstage will be messed up with most of the speakers in the back.................................

You'd need a 4 channel amp (1 channel per speaker). You'll need to check the amp specs to see if the amps support 'daisy chaining' if you only have 1 RCA input (red and white plugs). If you have 2 RCA inputs, then you don't need to worry about daisy chaining (1 RCA for the sub amp, and 1 RCA for the 6x9 amp). I assume the 4" speakers will be running off the headunit?

Most the speakers wont be in the back, two 6X9s in the back with the sub, 2 6X9s in the door pockets (already working on a custom unit to hold them) then the 4" up front.

What is daisy chaining? Does it have any negative effects?

 

[chaos]

Most the speakers wont be in the back, two 6X9s in the back with the sub, 2 6X9s in the door pockets (already working on a custom unit to hold them) then the 4" up front.

What is daisy chaining? Does it have any negative effects?

Daisy chaining is where you have 1 RCA lead going from the headunit to one of your amps. If your amp has a 'through' RCA socket (i,e, a second set of sockets on the amp) you can run another RCA cable from the first amp to the second and link or daisy chain the two together

And BTW, if you have a pair of 6x9s in the shelf, and another pair in the door pockets (I assume the rear ones?) then the bulk of the sound will be behind you - not a good soundstage IMO.

 

[Randomman]

Daisy chaining is where you have 1 RCA lead going from the headunit to one of your amps. If your amp has a 'through' RCA socket (i,e, a second set of sockets on the amp) you can run another RCA cable from the first amp to the second and link or daisy chain the two together

And BTW, if you have a pair of 6x9s in the shelf, and another pair in the door pockets (I assume the rear ones?) then the bulk of the sound will be behind you - not a good soundstage IMO.

They will be in the front pockets.

 

[chaos]

They will be in the front pockets.

Ah right. 6x9s in the front ain't that common!

 

[Randomman]

Ah right. 6x9s in the front ain't that common!

I know, which is partially why i really want to do it!

One quick question, if my current amp doesnt have the two extra RCA sockets for daisy chaining, could I just buy one with them, then use that as the 1st one, then my current one as the second one?

Ie new one as master and current one as slave (to put it in comp terms!)

 

[chaos]

I know, which is partially why i really want to do it!

One quick question, if my current amp doesnt have the two extra RCA sockets for daisy chaining, could I just buy one with them, then use that as the 1st one, then my current one as the second one?

Ie new one as master and current one as slave (to put it in comp terms!)

You mean get an amp with daisy chaining ability (through RCAs)? Yep.

 

[Randomman]

Right then, its sorted, any idea how much a daisy-chainable 4 channal amp would be?

Got any recommendations?

 

[custard]

Right then, its sorted, any idea how much a daisy-chainable 4 channal amp would be?

Got any recommendations?

persoanally i would look to get a HU to save all off that work.plus it means you are flexible to change the set up more easily. eg my kenwood HU has 3 sets of pre outs,one set is non fading to feed the sub amp

 

[DJTenchu]

If you have speakers in the back of your car already you can add wires onto those speaker wires going into a high/low level converter, this turns the signal in the speaker cables into an rca feed you can plug into your second amp. Theyre low drain so you should still be able to run speakers on those channels too. You can get em cheap off ebay --> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-LEVEL-TO...820825493QQcategoryZ14932QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Alternatively you could just buy rca splitters if the two amps are gonna be in the same place in the car ---> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BALANCED-RCA-...819058283QQcategoryZ14932QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Randomman]

If you have speakers in the back of your car already you can add wires onto those speaker wires going into a high/low level converter, this turns the signal in the speaker cables into an rca feed you can plug into your second amp. Theyre low drain so you should still be able to run speakers on those channels too. You can get em cheap off ebay --> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-LEVEL-TO...820825493QQcategoryZ14932QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Alternatively you could just buy rca splitters if the two amps are gonna be in the same place in the car ---> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BALANCED-RCA-...819058283QQcategoryZ14932QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Excellent advice mate. Just one quick question, how many RCA leads will a 4 channel amp need as an input? Is it just the one pair, or two?

 

[custard]

4 channel needs two pairs of rca's.

 

[Luke M]

if ur amp doesnt have a RCA output u can buy RCA splitters. these are simple Y splitters which u just put onto your cable from ur headunit and plug in 2 RCA cables to your amps. ive seen them in my local motorworld will cost you a tenner at most depending on quality

 

[Stilochris]

Most the speakers wont be in the back, two 6X9s in the back with the sub, 2 6X9s in the door pockets (already working on a custom unit to hold them) then the 4" up front.

If you're running the 6x9's on the parcel shelf then they will be competing with the sub to move the same air but at different frequencies. IMO if you leave the 6x9's off the shelf, upgrade the front speakers and put some speakers in the rear doors and run the four speakers off a decent four channel amp you will get better sound quality.

 

[paulbfd]

Randonman, have you already bought your equipment?

If not, forget the 6x9s and the 4" fronts.

If youre going to the effort of building an enclosure for front speakers, use components. Put some 5.25" or 6.5" midbass drivers in there and the tweets in the dash or A-pillar. Make sure they can handle around 75+ wrms of power and get an amp that does at least that.

Loads simpler and will sound much better.

 

[DJTenchu]

Damn straight it'll sound good paulbfd, thats exactly the setup I have (except I've got 2 x 12" woofers in the boot) and it sounds great, nice soundstage, feels like you're inside a big speaker.

 

[paulbfd]

It's my mission in life to rid the world of rear speakers.