# Of RCA’s for a 4 channel amp?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=47033
Printed Date: May 14, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Topic: # Of RCA’s for a 4 channel amp?
Posted By: acclu97
Subject: # Of RCA’s for a 4 channel amp?
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 1:46 AM
Currently my radio has 3 preouts... The subwoofer outs I am using to go into a 2 channel amp for the woofers, the rear outs I am using to go to a small 2 channle amp that will power a stock bose woofer in the center console. I am thus left with on more output (front) and am going to be using a four channel amp for my highs... Can a four channel amp run all 4 channels with only one set of outputs coming from the head-unit or do I need to have both front and rear avaialbe to the amp? If so, how ? Thanks!
Replies:
Posted By: MrSector9
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 2:02 AM
I would split the sub rca's and then use your front and rear RCA's normally on the 4 channel so your fader/balance will work correctly.Also your sub level control will also work according to the subs.
BJ White
Posted By: acclu97
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 2:18 AM
Is there anything in particular that I need to use to split the rca's or should I just look for a y-adapter? Also, where can I find one online? Thanks
Posted By: MrSector9
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 2:28 AM
Use a y adapter or I guess you coudl build your own if you have some rca ends (male and female) and some good wire.In reality thoguh way easier and probably cheaper to jusy buy a ready made unit.I am not sure where online woudl have them but any home audio or even electronics shop should have them there.
BJ white
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 3:24 AM
All you will do is loose the ability to FADE......................
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Posted By: acclu97
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 8:14 AM
So I technically can do it without needing the y-adapter adn just lose my ability to fade? How would this work? I read somewhere that I would put into the rca into the 1/2 channel input and set the"input mode" on the amp to two channel instead of 4 channel. Doing it this way there would not be anything plugged into the input for channels 3/4?
Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: January 06, 2005 at 10:01 PM
depends on your amp. it may have have the ability so split the signal up to all four channels. What amp is it? If it does have this ability, you probably will lose your ability to fade, but the check the amp. let us know.
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Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: January 07, 2005 at 12:23 AM
also make sure the 2-channel amp doesn't have preamp outputs on it. If it does, then you can just plug the rca's from those outputs to the rear-channel input on the 4-channel amp. OR if your 4-channel amp has preamp outputs, then you can run all the RCAs from the head unit output into the 4-channel amp, then plug the rcas for the 2-channel amp into the preamp outs on the 4-channel amp. If neither amp has preamp outputs, then set the switch on the 4-channel amp to "2-channel mode", and just plug in the rcas from the front outputs of the head unit. Usually they'll have a little diagram on the amp itself, showing you which channels 1+2 or 3+4 to input to, though most of the time it's the two front channels (1+2 usually). You will lose your ability to fade, but the sound quality will be better than if you use Y-connectors. ------------- Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
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Posted By: Blinden
Date Posted: January 07, 2005 at 6:27 AM
but he said he's using an actual sub output, which is a non-fading output in most cases, so this isn't going to do anything for his ability to fade anyways...
also, why not just run one more set of RCA's?
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2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X579 HU
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Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: January 07, 2005 at 9:34 AM
Ok I kind of misread that. That's what I get for going on the forums at 2:23AM I'm assuming when you say the "highs", you're referring to speakers that will receive a full-range signal, or a high-pass signal at least. Does the stock bose woofer get a crossed over signal or does it need the same signal that's feeding your subs? also, do any of your amps even have preamp outputs? cuz if not, then all this talk I brought up about using the preamp outputs is essentially meaningless ------------- Ethan
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Posted By: acclu97
Date Posted: January 10, 2005 at 9:46 PM
The amp is a soundstream VGA 320.4. If you click on this link and look at page 11, you will see a diagram of the back panel of the amp. According to this diagram, there is an input for ch 1&2, and an output from this channle. On channel 3 & 4, there is only an input. Technically, I would like to leave the sub output for my subs in the back, and run the bose woofer for the midrange bass.... So... Can I just runt my front and rear out from my h/u to the two inputs on the 4 channel amp, and then run a pair of rca's from the output of this amp to the 2 channel amp that will be pushing the bose subwoofer? https://www.soundstream.com/sub/owner_manual/OWNER%27S%20MANUALS%20AMPLIFIERS/Van%20Gogh%20amps/VGA-manual.pdf THX
Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: January 10, 2005 at 10:05 PM
yep that should work fine. ------------- Ethan
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