Car amp and sub

[Dan7357]

Does anyone know how I can link a sub to a standard headunit in a vehicle ?

I have a company car, which has a built in radio. I would like to put a sub in the boot, but the headunit (being built in) has no RCA outputs to attach an amp !!

Is there a way I can use the front and rear speakers, and attach a sub witout RCA's, off the rear speakers ????

Thanks for your help.

[twinturboz]

I didnt think you could without rca outputs, but it seems you may be able to get a converter that turns your speaker wires into rca outputs. Hopefully someone else will know and be able to give you more info, heres a link to the converter I found.

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_...

[Dan7357]

twinturboz said:

I didnt think you could without rca outputs, but it seems you may be able to get a converter that turns your speaker wires into rca outputs. Hopefully someone else will know and be able to give you more info, heres a link to the converter I found.

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_...

Thanks for the link..

Does anyone know if I use this, can I still use the rear speakers ?

[freecar]

if the amp or sub has a built in crossover then you're laughing. Most amps have inputs for either RCA leads or speaker wires, you can run a spur from one of your rear speakers to these inputs. The amp (or sub) will remove the higher frequencies and sub lovliness abounds.

Don't convert from speaker to RCA as the output to the speakers is massively higher than the amp will take and a bang will ensue!

If the amp has speaker inputs they will be designed to take speaker output.

[Dan7357]

freecar said:

if the amp or sub has a built in crossover then you're laughing. Most amps have inputs for either RCA leads or speaker wires, you can run a spur from one of your rear speakers to these inputs. The amp (or sub) will remove the higher frequencies and sub lovliness abounds.

Don't convert from speaker to RCA as the output to the speakers is massively higher than the amp will take and a bang will ensue!

If the amp has speaker inputs they will be designed to take speaker output.

So if I can find a sub with an amp built in (with speaker wire inputs) take the + from one rear speaker wire and the - from the other speaker wire ??

[Graham E]

Dan,

Dead easy:
Either option1 - buy a self amplified sub - I used to have an infinty jobbie that worked like this in a company car. Plus is it's dead easy to take in / out, which worked for a company car. Neat, no hassle to install, can't make a balls of it.
Negative - doesn't sound as good, go as loud or as low.

Other option - amp / sub in a box. In my next company motor, I screwed the amp to the back of the sub box, and made ure the amp had speaker level insa nd a crossover.
Pros - much louder, better, sounded great
Cons - looks pants (but hidden in the boot so OK), slightly harder to spec right, needs bigger power supply cables.

If you're doing a proper job, you might want to look on ebay for second hand beter stuff - the "100-250 ste in halfords is just that =)

[north of watford]

I've got a pioneer sub fitted which is powered by a 12v feed in the boot. Each of the rear speaker wires is spiced into to provide the supply the drive for the sub. All the car speakers work and the sub volume is controlled by the head unit.

[Dan7357]

Graham E said:

Dan,

Dead easy:
Either option1 - buy a self amplified sub - I used to have an infinty jobbie that worked like this in a company car. Plus is it's dead easy to take in / out, which worked for a company car. Neat, no hassle to install, can't make a balls of it.
Negative - doesn't sound as good, go as loud or as low.

Other option - amp / sub in a box. In my next company motor, I screwed the amp to the back of the sub box, and made ure the amp had speaker level insa nd a crossover.
Pros - much louder, better, sounded great
Cons - looks pants (but hidden in the boot so OK), slightly harder to spec right, needs bigger power supply cables.

If you're doing a proper job, you might want to look on ebay for second hand beter stuff - the "100-250 ste in halfords is just that =)

Option 2 sounds good..

Do you know of an amps where it takes speaker wires ??

[freecar]

Dan7357 said:

Graham E said:

Dan,

Dead easy:
Either option1 - buy a self amplified sub - I used to have an infinty jobbie that worked like this in a company car. Plus is it's dead easy to take in / out, which worked for a company car. Neat, no hassle to install, can't make a balls of it.
Negative - doesn't sound as good, go as loud or as low.

Other option - amp / sub in a box. In my next company motor, I screwed the amp to the back of the sub box, and made ure the amp had speaker level insa nd a crossover.
Pros - much louder, better, sounded great
Cons - looks pants (but hidden in the boot so OK), slightly harder to spec right, needs bigger power supply cables.

If you're doing a proper job, you might want to look on ebay for second hand beter stuff - the "100-250 ste in halfords is just that =)

Option 2 sounds good..

Do you know of an amps where it takes speaker wires ??

Most amps do. You'll see another set of speaker terminals on it one set in, one set out.

[Graham E]

OP,

Most entry level, or mid level amps do. Re. above post, don't get confused and run a loop from your amp back to your speakers - kust "t" ift off as it were. The speaker "out" terminals on any amp are amplified, and as such putting sub power through whatever is in your doors will almost certainly result in their demise =)

G