Anyone know how to hook up a car amp ?

[cpars]

I am trying to add a little boost to the wife's CR-V factory setup. I have bought an amp, some speakers and wiring kits I am getting ready to install.
Please take a look at the diagram that i made and see if I have the general idea and if not please correct me.

example link

 

[Spoooon]

Looks good to me.
edit: Assuming you know how to do the power, ground, etc.

 

[Xionide]

you bought kenwood? :Q

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: Xionide
you bought kenwood? :Q

 

[Black88GTA]

From the diagram you posted....you're amping the front speakers? Usually if you only run a single 2-channel amp you run it to the rears. Rear speakers are usually larger and have better power handling capabilities than fronts.

And the wiring like you posted it WILL screw up your amp/speakers. Reason being, you cannot run speaker level inputs to line level inputs on an amp. For that setup to work, you would either need to have a HU with line-level outputs (RCA jacks) or an amp with speaker level inputs, or a line level converter.

Most factory HUs don't have RCA jacks, so, if your amp doesn't have speaker level inputs, you will probably need to get a converter or replace your HU.

 

[cpars]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Looks good to me. edit: Assuming you know how to do the power, ground, etc.

Yea the I bought the scosche wiring kit that has all that and I understand that but it and the kenwood directions were vague on line level hookups

And yep Xionide, its just to add a little clarity and boost to that poor system they installed

 

[Black88GTA]

Something like this is what you'd need to do what you want to do, assuming your amp has no speaker level inputs.

 

[cpars]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
From the diagram you posted....you're amping the front speakers? Usually if you only run a single 2-channel amp you run it to the rears. Rear speakers are usually larger and have better power handling capabilities than fronts. And the wiring like you posted it WILL screw up your amp/speakers. Reason being, you cannot run speaker level inputs to line level inputs on an amp. For that setup to work, you would either need to have a HU with line-level outputs (RCA jacks) or an amp with speaker level inputs, or a line level converter. Most factory HUs don't have RCA jacks, so, if your amp doesn't have speaker level inputs, you will probably need to get a converter or replace your HU.

Thanks, my mistake on the wording, the amp has speaker level inputs. I could purchase a LOC and use the RCA cables but i thought I would try this first.

And yes I am doing it opposite than most do, with the front speakers that is. The wife is usually in the car by herself or has our 2 year in the back so i thought this amp with a couple of decent front speakers would help

 

[Black88GTA]

Ah...Ok then, looks good! Although, as I stated, you'd probably get more boost to the sound if you ran it to the rear speakers.

One thing you may want to check out is if the car has a factory amp installed. In your case, I doubt it, but when I installed a full system in my old Continental, I found a factory amp hiding in the trunk. Turned out that all the outputs on the factory HU were line level, and running to this amp :Q. I'm pretty sure that a factory Honda system in a CRV will be the standard type though, esp. if you say that it's crappy already. The stock stuff in my 89 Continental actually sounded pretty good, and was made by JBL.

One more suggestion I have for you, is to get bass blockers, esp. if you like listening to music loud. They cost like $10-15, and you can get them at BB. Basically you wire them in the positive wire to the speakers, and it prevents all frequencies under a certain cutoff point from reaching the drivers. These can help keep you from blowing out speakers.


**EDIT - nm, if it's usually just your wife driving with a baby in the back, amping the fronts may be the way to go in your case.

 

[cpars]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Ah...Ok then, looks good! Although, as I stated, you'd probably get more boost to the sound if you ran it to the rear speakers. One thing you may want to check out is if the car has a factory amp installed. In your case, I doubt it, but when I installed a full system in my old Continental, I found a factory amp hiding in the trunk. Turned out that all the outputs on the factory HU were line level, and running to this amp :Q. I'm pretty sure that a factory Honda system in a CRV will be the standard type though, esp. if you say that it's crappy already. The stock stuff in my 89 Continental actually sounded pretty good, and was made by JBL. One more suggestion I have for you, is to get bass blockers, esp. if you like listening to music loud. They cost like $10-15, and you can get them at BB. Basically you wire them in the positive wire to the speakers, and it prevents all frequencies under a certain cutoff point from reaching the drivers. These can help keep you from blowing out speakers. **EDIT - nm, if it's usually just your wife driving with a baby in the back, amping the fronts may be the way to go in your case.

OK , Thanks all

 

[Xionide]

Originally posted by: cpars

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
From the diagram you posted....you're amping the front speakers? Usually if you only run a single 2-channel amp you run it to the rears. Rear speakers are usually larger and have better power handling capabilities than fronts. And the wiring like you posted it WILL screw up your amp/speakers. Reason being, you cannot run speaker level inputs to line level inputs on an amp. For that setup to work, you would either need to have a HU with line-level outputs (RCA jacks) or an amp with speaker level inputs, or a line level converter. Most factory HUs don't have RCA jacks, so, if your amp doesn't have speaker level inputs, you will probably need to get a converter or replace your HU.

Thanks, my mistake on the wording, the amp has speaker level inputs. I could purchase a LOC and use the RCA cables but i thought I would try this first.

And yes I am doing it opposite than most do, with the front speakers that is. The wife is usually in the car by herself or has our 2 year in the back so i thought <a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.crutchfield.com/S-JjpSPn96tNV/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=113KAC5201" target=blank>this amp</A> with a couple of decent front speakers would help

You could have got a pg amp on ebay for what you payed

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: cpars
I am trying to add a little boost to the wife's CR-V factory setup. I have bought an amp, some speakers and wiring kits I am getting ready to install.
Please take a look at the diagram that i made and see if I have the general idea and if not please correct me.

<a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.wncvoice.com/amp" target=blank>example link</A>

I'd stay away from wiring it yourself without professional or qualified help. If you're wiring anything to your trunk or anything, you're going to have to rip out the seats, tear out the carpet and reseal them all. It's a pain in the ass.