I am looking at adding an Amp for the 6X8 door speakers (Infinity Kappa Components Front/Coax Rear) and an Amp for a set of Alpine 10" Subs. I planned on using the High Level Inputs for the Door Speaker Amp. Would it be ok to run the +/- Rear Speaker Wires into a Butt Connector and then running 2 sets of +/- wires out of each connector? I am trying to provide High Level Speaker Inputs to BOTH the Speaker and Sub Amps from the rear speakers. Is this ok or is there a better way other than changing head units and using the 3 RCA outputs? I really want to keep Sync and Satellite Radio w/o adding a lot of cost, that is why I am trying to stick with the factory HU. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

If you have sync, you need to tap into the front speakers wires as it does not play to the rear. It is common for amps to have RCA out, so run high level input into one, RCA out to the other. If you ever plan to replace the HU, put a LOC right behind it and run RCA leads back to your amps.

 

Thanks, I read about the amp having an RCA out after I posted so I am good there. I am looking at a 4 channel Alpine so I guess I will run all 4 channels into it then use the Pre out for the Sub Amp? Thanks for the response.

 

Use a 4 channel LOC and do it at the headunit.

 

If the amp supports high level inputs you do not need an LOC unless you want to spend money. You would need an LOC if you were going to put an EQ or other line level device before the amp. Speaker level, although sometimes more of a pain to wire, can actually be better because it is less susceptible to noise pickup.

 

Before I figured out the Amp outputs to Amp inputs I was gonna use one of these:

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_161LC6I...DynamicContent

I guess I will try it w/o the LOC first and see how the sound performs. What are the real world benefits of adding the LOC if the Amp accepts High level Inputs? Thanks again.

 

Easier wiring but you need to be careful about type of cables used and how you route them. You can pick up noise from electric motors and other electronic devices. This is why lots of aftermarket headunits jacked up their line out voltages to 5 volts or higher. This elevates the signal above the noise level and you can set a better gain level without amplifying the noise. Speaker level is higher voltage. Basically an amp that has speaker level inputs has an LOC built in.

The Audio Control device linked is a very nice LOC with extras.

 

I just got doing exactly what you are doing. I used an Alpine 4 channel amp with line out converters to run pre amp signal to the amp. I didn't need to, but wired it both ways, and liked the way it sounded with the line intergraters in there. Then I ran the Pre Amp outs to another amp for a sub, and it works great. I used reverse wiring harnesses and a regular harness, so I didn't have to tap into, or cut any factory wiring. I can pull the head unit and unplug and replug and pull the amps, and it is back to stock. Took a long time to run eight wires down and 9 wires back, but it was worth it.