Amps won't power up

Ok, here it is, I have a 98 Civic and I just installed the wiring, amps, subs, etc....but the amps won't power up.  I know I've run and hooked the wires up correctly (power cable from battery to fuse to converter to amp, ground from amp to chassis) and I also know that the amps are in working order, yet they won't power up.  I used a voltage tester to test the power cable and it shows that there is power running to the amp, I also bought a new amp incase it was my amp that was faulty, and well, the new one didn't work either.  I have hooked up the on/off wire from the head unit and also tried without it hooked up, as the amp should power up without it, right?  I am clueless as to what the problem could be.  Maybe I have bad wires?  I checked fuses, that didn't make a difference.  So any help to this problem would be much appreciated.

Thanks alot for your time!

I am using a Sony CDX-M8800 head unit.  I'll check the remote wire connection from the back of the head unit, maybe its not getting a proper signal.  I thought that the amps would power without it, and that all it did was turn it on or off with your head unit.  I've hooked them up both ways though, and still nothing. I don't have a tester that will tell me exactly how much voltage is running through the power cable.  All I know is that the tester I have reads 6, 12, and 24 volt currents, and lights up if it detects a current.  I have grounded the tester to the same spots that I have tried the ground cable and they have worked, so I am assuming that means the ground is working unless the cable is somehow faulty.  Not sure.  Anyhow, I am going to check the remote connection.  Where else could I get power for the remote if thats the case?  Also, how do I figure my load impedance, and if was too low, how might I change it?

Thanks again for your time and help, much appreciated!

I'm gonna try that jumper wire too, I'm starting to think that the remote wire or something like that is my problem.  I'll let you all know what the outcomes are tomorrow after I try all the suggestions.

Thanks a million for the help!

Well, I connected the remote and power cables together and the amp worked.  So I know its the remote signal.  I'm gonna check the connection behind the head-unit and if it doesn't work, then I'll have to hook the wire up somewhere where the circuit will turn off with the car.  Does the cigarette lighter turn off with the car?  I dont have a lighter to go in the socket, so I've never checked that out.

Thanks!