PC Motherboard to 1 amp or 2?

hanzacra · 03-16-2004, 02:52 PM

Have a semi-newbie question about connecting my sound card to the car's amp:

The stock amp runs 6 speakers and has no RCA inputs. I believe the speakers are 4ohm. I have a 2-channel aftermarket amp that is 200W with RCA inputs, and it can run 2ohm without problem. The stock head unit is an Infinity which (I've read) is about 18W, so I can't splice the RCAs directly to the stock amp and expect any decent volume.

Should I...

a) replace the stock amp with the aftermarket, and use 4 of the 6 speakers to get a 2-ohm setup.
b) wire the computer --> aftermarket amp --> stock amp, and use all 6 speakers (the 200W amp will replace the headunit's 18W amp, hopefully nothing will blow up)
c) Buy some sort of line level amplifier/equalizer to output to the stock amp

Eventually I will replace the stock amp with a 4- or 6- channel aftermarket amp and replace all the speakers, but that is down the road a bit. Thanks in advance for the help.

beaverpants · 03-20-2004, 10:22 AM

get a 4 channel amp. chain the front 2 speakers together. and the rear have thare own channel's and thare should be a level nob on the amp so you can turn that down so you dont go deff

so if your front need more power. turn up thare level higher then the rear..

20mg · 10-27-2007, 12:29 PM

b) wire the computer --> aftermarket amp --> stock amp, and use all 6 speakers (the 200W amp will replace the headunit's 18W amp, hopefully nothing will blow up)

if you can figure out what is the inputs and outputs on ur stock amp u wont even need the aftermarket one. if you arent planning on using a deck and are gonna rune just the car pute. then its possible to take the deck out get the wires that come out of the deck. the green purple white and grey are all to the amp so if you connect those to rca by splicing its possible. may take a few hours but its cheap. just remember on a rca the wire that runs in the middle is positive so run the wires with the black line to them. if u need a more detailed plan id be happy to help.

stealinfool · 10-27-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 20mg

b) wire the computer --> aftermarket amp --> stock amp, and use all 6 speakers (the 200W amp will replace the headunit's 18W amp, hopefully nothing will blow up)

(emphasis mine)

OP was right with C. Get an line out converter so your stock amp thinks its getting input from a headunit.

You don't want to amplify an amplifier. You'll fry the stock one for sure.

If you want to simply replace the stock amp then you'll need to provide the proper wattage to the stock speakers with an aftermarket amp, otherwise you'll blow the stock speakers. (You'll probably want to upgrade/replace the speakers anyway over time) This may require several separate amps or one big amp to be done properly.

20mg · 11-26-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stealinfool

(emphasis mine)

OP was right with C. Get an line out converter so your stock amp thinks its getting input from a headunit.

You don't want to amplify an amplifier. You'll fry the stock one for sure.

If you want to simply replace the stock amp then you'll need to provide the proper wattage to the stock speakers with an aftermarket amp, otherwise you'll blow the stock speakers. (You'll probably want to upgrade/replace the speakers anyway over time) This may require several separate amps or one big amp to be done properly.

i was trying to explain how to run the stock amp off the computer.