Amp advice please!
 

I'm soon to install an amp and sub in my P5 (nothing crazy, just 150-250 watts and a 10" single box sub), and would like some opinions before I start:

I'll most likely be keeping the stock head unit for now (changing the door speakers, though). Is there a significant problem hooking the amp up with speaker-level inputs? I'll probably splice into the rear speaker wires, and hook them up to the speaker-level inputs of the amp. Does the sound and/or output suffer greatly as compared to RCAs? Obviously RCAs are a better choice, but I can't really do it without changing the head unit, too. Will I be reasonably pleased with using the speaker-level input option?

Also, any advice on how to hook up the remote turn-on? Can't I simply splice into any wired accessory thet turns on and off with the vehicle? For example, the lighter in my P5 does not operate with the vehicle off - would it be sufficient to splice to the lighter for the remote turn-on lead?

Thanks for any help.

RCAs I believe will sound better than the speaker wire inputs. You CAN use RCA wires with the stock head unit. They have a converter for this. It is a box with RCAs coming out one end and speaker wires out the other. Just connect the speaker wires to your speaker wires coming out of the back of the radio. Then the RCAs to your amp. I did this with my McIntosh amp and it sounds great, although the stock door speakers suck.

I also have a 10" Orion XTR in a bandpass box I am looking to sell. I don't know how much it would cost to ship, but the box has black carpet, and a recently replaced sub. The bbox measures 1' X 1' X 3'. I had 100 Watts running it and it sounded very good for one 10". E-mail any offers to yellowpr5@hotmail.com.

But if the RCAs still originate as speaker wire, what is the difference? I could easily understand that RCA outs direct from a head unit to an amp will sound better, but converting the speaker wire to RCA? How could this possibly help?

Generally speaking, any stereo system is only as good as it's weakest part, so if the signal still comes from speaker wire, I can't see how converting it to RCA is worth the cost and time.

As far as the sub you're offering - I only have about 1'x2' of floor space left in my hatch (I use it as a daily driver, with toolboxes), so I'll probably be going for a smaller pickup truck-type box. The shallow angled ones. But I will match the speaker to the internal volume of the box for the best sound possible - I'm doing a balancing act between the car's cargo capacity and it's stereo sound.

Thanx.

If your amp has speaker level inputs already, this is the same as using a speaker level to line level converter and connecting to the amp's RCA inputs. If your amp does not have speaker level inputs, then you will need to get a speaker level to line level converter as per YellowPR5. Either way, this probably will not yield as good sound as going with a good aftermarket deck that has line level outputs already, as the stock deck will still have the signal going through the deck's internal power amplifier.

According to YellowPR5, the results are good using the speaker leads out of the deck into a line level converter though (be it in the amp or external), so go for it. This is what I will do, as I have the in dash changer and I want to keep that feature.

Dale.

Well, the decision has been made to go with the speaker-level leads. Found a good deal on decent amp and Kenwood sub and box. $200 for the whole thing - brand new, in the boxes.

Not the best amp in the world (Koiiler - anyone heard them?), but a two year warranty makes me feel a bit better.

I figure since I'm not going for throbbing bass, an off-brand amp will do me fine.

Thanx for the help.

NO, don't use an accessory wire to turn on the amp...while not totally critical with just subs, it can introduce noise VERY easily.

There are add-on remote turn on modules, that use a speaker lead, just like the line converters... (DEI makes a very good one)

also, depending on the amp, the speaker leads can be soldered directly to RCA connectors and plugged right in....but the Koiiler may not like the high voltage....

i doubt very much you'll tell the difference with RCAs vs line converters with the equipment you have.

Where can I check out one of the remote turn-on modules?

What does something like this cost, and how does it get installed? I'm really going on short space.

Thanx