How to Connect an Amplifier to a Car Stereo
Sound is everything to music lovers and if you enjoy listening to tunes when you're driving, you may decide that this weekend is the right time to install an amplifier to compliment your car stereo. An amplifier is often installed in the trunk of the car and provides power to larger, after-market speakers. Although the task may sound daunting, it's fairly straightforward and only a few basic tools are required.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Socket wrench
- Drill and small drill bit
- Car stereo wire
- Stereo amplifier
- RCA cables
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1
Open the car hood and disconnect the battery. Loosen the retaining nut on the battery clamp using a socket wrench and pull the cable off the battery post. Decide where you would like to install your new amplifier. Typically, amplifiers are mounted in the trunk of the vehicle.
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2
Run a power wire straight from the battery through the firewall, under the carpet and into the trunk. You'll need to remove some metal or plastic plates on the door jams to run the cable, and you might need a drill. You could also use an existing power line to power the amplifier.
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3
Run RCA stereo cables from the back of the stereo receiver to the amplifier. These cables feed the sound to the amplifier. Run the cables on the opposite side of the power cable to minimize electrical interference. Invest in a good set of cables, preferably one with a ground wire.
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4
Run the remote wire from the back of the stereo receiver to the amplifier. You can run this parallel with the power wire. This cable activates the amplifier when the stereo comes on. It is usually (but not always) a blue wire, but this depends on the brand. Hook up the cables to the amplifier, following the instructions supplied with your product, run speaker wires to the speakers and you are ready to rock.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Don't skimp when buying an amplifier – you get what you pay for.
If you are hooking up only one speaker or a sub-woofer to the amplifier, you can "bridge" the amplifier so that more power is sent to the speaker. This is done by using the positive of one channel and the negative of the other channel. Some amps cannot be bridged; refer to your owner's manual for specifics.
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