Car Audio 101 (part 2)

[Fox Body]

I know this is long, but all I'm asking is that the ones who have the knowledge, please just take the time WHEN YOU HAVE TIME and look at the diagram and answer the questions. I don't expect you to just jump on in and answer it all in 15 minutes from the time I post it, just when you have time (hopefully in the following day or 2), I'd appreciate you answering these questions. THanks a bunch


Here is a diagram of my gameplan for setting up my car audio, but I have a few questions.

(Alright, gonna try to explain this as easily/clearly as possible.)



See the diagram. See the colorful wires coming out from the left side of head unit? My car has a wiring harness that goes to the four speakers in the car, so if I just want to hook up the radio without the amp, all I have to do is attach the 4 wires plus the black wire (I assume it's a common negative terminal for all the speakrs) coming from the head unit, to the car harness, which also has 4 colorful wires and a separate black wire. SIMPLE ENOUGH, YES.

BUT, I wish to hook up the amp b/c the radio seems to hardly push enough. Okay, this is where it gets complicated. You see, in this big audio circuit, the amp must somehow go b/t the radio and the speakers so that whatever comes from the radio is amplified and then put out to the speakes. You follow me so far, right? Good.

1) Looking directly above head unit, see the dark yellow and dark red wires labeled ?2 and ?3. Those are 2 RCA red and white outputs from the back of my head unit. IF there where 4, it would be less confusing b/c I would assume you hook them to the 4 RCA inputs labeled "1CH, 2CH, 3CH, 4CH" in the amp. But there are only 2 so how does that work. .

2) And if those are the outputs, then what do I do with the 4 speaker wires?

3) Why are there only 4 speaker wires? Should there be 8, a negative and positive for each of the 4 speakers??? Even the car harness going to the speakers in car only has 5 wires (4 speaker wires plus black gnd--do all speakes share same negative terminal?)

4) Look at wire labeled ?1. (The quote is what is on a label attached to that wire.) Is that supposed to be hooked to the RMT (remote) on the amp or is the RMT on amp supposed to be hooked to ignition switch power?

5) Why does the amp need a constant power source? (Labeled 12V on amp)

6) So, all in all, the basic question is how do I make this audio circuit? How do I connect the head unit ----> to amp -----> to speakers? Or is it possible with this head unit/amplifier combo?

Thanks.

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351W-powered 1979 Ford Mustang notchback
Stock 5.8L under 4" cowl, C4 w/ shift kit
Holley 750 cfm, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
1 5/8" MAC shorty headers, Al driveshaft
2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters
Front: 225/60/15, Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II
Weld wheels (15x6;15x8), 8.8" Rear w/ 3.55s
14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup someday)

"Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body

[This message has been edited by Fox Body (edited 07-29-2001).]