using multiple amps
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=95895
Printed Date: May 17, 2024 at 10:18 AM
Topic: using multiple amps
Posted By: slatham
Subject: using multiple amps
Date Posted: July 25, 2007 at 1:36 AM
I am getting ready put a system in a chevy s10 xtreme. The system i plan on installing will have 5 amplifiers ( 2 kicker ZX1500.1 monos to subwoofers, 2 kicker ZX350.4 4 channel amps, and a kicker kx 200.2 2 channel amp.) The 2 1500s will each power a pair of kicker solobaric L7 12's. 1 of the 350s will power 4 kicker 6x9s and the other 350 will be bridged to run 2 8" kicker midbass. The 200 will power 2 kicker ss 6.5" drivers. I plan to use my head unit to power 4 tweeters also. Ok, so i am new to installing car audio, and the question i had was since: Since i am using 5 amps, how would i wire them to the head unit? I know that you use a remote wire and RCA outputs but i dont believe any head unit has 5 sets of pre-amp outputs. Also, I would like to know what you guys think of this system idea. Good or Bad?
Replies:
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: July 25, 2007 at 7:43 AM
First off... BAD! Yes, in all caps! While I am not necessarily a fan of Kicker stuff in any way, shape or form, if you are amplifying everything else, FORGET, PLEASE the idea of powering tweeters from the head. You are already telling us that you are going to have 6 tweeters in there, (4 in the six-bys, and two in the 6's, right?) four (?!?!?! - rediculousness, in the highest) more won't be necessary, and it's ONLY gonna make it louder, by less than 1dB, in that frequency band. If you are trying to completely forego ANYTHING resembling sound quality, go for it, but your description (the way I read it) is exclusively an SPL system, with no regard for SQ anyway.
BUT, to answer your question, you could use signal processors, such as "surround" processors, (or 5.1, whatever they are calling them today) crossovers, EQs, or even just "Y" adapters... The Kicker amplifiers will also (probably) have output RCA jacks, as well. These can be used for daisy chaining to other amplifiers; basically, whatever is on the inputs will be present on the outputs, possibly crossed over, possibly not.
Here is where you will need to read the owner's manual, which will describe ALL of the capabilties of your chosen electronics.
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: slatham
Date Posted: July 25, 2007 at 8:40 AM
Thank you for letting me know that it was a bad idea before i went and spent alot of money. Since my idea is not a good one then what would u recommend for an extended cab chevy xtreme? I want something that's really loud but still has good sound quality.
Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: July 25, 2007 at 9:17 AM
you're gonna need a new 200-300 amp high output alternator
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: July 25, 2007 at 9:54 AM
aznboi3644 wrote:
you're gonna need a new 200-300 amp high output alternator
Yep... There's where I'd START!
Honestly, I have no idea as to the "loud" aspect. I don't build "loud" systems. My efforts are almost exclusively geared toward SQ, and I like to think I take SQ to levels far and above what most people consider adequate - I call it "Uber-SQ".  While the systems I design are CERTAINLY loud enough for me, your idea of loud and my idea of loud are going to be two completely different views. As an example, I am running 1200 watts to the doors in my Civic, in a 3-way system, (150w, 150w, and 300w) with processing capabilities "out the wazoo", but I'd never consider it a "loud" system. While realistic sound pressure levels are WELL within reach for this system, 108dB to 110dB peaks are about as loud as I'd ever be able to push it, without bending something...  I'll typically run about 95dB to maybe 100dB, on a continuous basis. Transients are FAR louder, due to the "excessive" power capacity, but as far as an RMS SPL, not "loud" at all...
There are others on the board that can help with your "loud" quest, though. Keep checking in, I'm sure you'll get responses... ------------- It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
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