I going to be putting in a sub in my F150, but will retain the factory head unit. I came across the MTX 3410 Class D amp and it has smart engage whereby you don't have to run the amp trigger wire back to the deck. It turns on, off of the line level input.

Is anyone running this type of amp and does it work well? I am going to be running a single 10.

 

I can't seem to find a 3410 MTX amp anywhere? You sure on the model number? Is it a brand spanking new model? I do have a 421D, that I have been more than happy with power wise. Got a link?,,,,98

 

The JLs have that feature too. IMO the time it takes to run the wire, its not worth the extra money your paying for that techonology. I mean you have to run the RCAs so why not just run the 14-18 awg wire with it? Really not hard to do at all.

 

what if any extra money would that feature cost? You put an extra remote on wire to one of the RCA plugs, it senses the signal voltage and turns the amp on? That would be simple to do internally, and would not cost much of anything for them to engineer. I paid a decent price for my MTX, and I'm sure that was not an expensive "special" feature. It's just a nice option for the people just putting a first system in a car. The remote wire could also short somewhere possibly, and smart engage eliminates that. Not a bad idea, reallly?,,,,98

 

Im not saying its going to raise the cost of the amp a lot, but it does add to the total cost of the amp. I mean I bought a JL that had that feature but never used it, Im just saying no need in paying for techonology if your not going to use. Basically Im saying don't make the reason your getting that amp just because of that feature.

Yes a remote wire can short just as any other wire in the car or amp could short out; if properly ran the chances of it happening are slim to none. Also if you run it with your RCAs then chances of just that wire shorting out are very slim since they follow the same path as the RCAs so chances are you'd have to replace the RCAs too. Really my point is that a 18 to 22 awg wire doesnt have a high probability of shorting out. Its simple and easy to run so you choice of an amp should not be based on this feature alone.

 

I didn't even know it was a feature until I read the manual, so I guess I didn't base the purchase on it? It's turned on by my previously run remote on wire besides. I see your point, though.,,,,98

 

Yea its the same thing with the JL that I had...I didn't even know it could do that until after I sold it!

 

Ok so if you stick with the stock HU, where is the best (easiest w/o having to tear up the dash) place to pick up the amp-on (ACC) trigger?

 

Fuse box. Just get an 'add a circuit' from autozone and plug it into the audio fuse and you'll be good to go.

 

I'll look into it...tnx.