Aftermarket Amp Install

[lkrasner]

Hi all,

I need a little advice on my most recent upgrade on my '02 Tahoe, non bose, with sub. First off, here is what I have so far: Aftermarket head unit, factory amp/crossover bypassed, Polk DXi651 speakers in the front, and A kicker sub dropped in place of the factory one.

I just bought a 4 channel amp (Alpine MRV-F300), with which I would like to power up the front speakers and sub (3 channel mode). I would also like to keep the back speakers and tweeters working for a bit of fill. The HU has one preamp out, that can also be configured as a controllable subwoofer out, so I have some options, and I want to know what is best. Here's what I'm thinking:

1. cut the front speaker level outs from the HU and go right to the amp. cut the sub out from the factory amp, and use the preamp out from the HU so I can get some control. this would nicely give me some fader control to drive the back a bit more if I'm not mistaken, but would it hurt the quality using speaker level outs?

2. cut the front and sub lines, and just use the preamp output into the amp for all the channels. I don't think I would really get fader control, and I am not sure if this will even work.

What is the best way to go about this? Also, where is the best place to mount the amp so I don't have to run ridiculous amounts of wire?

 

[felixgun]

4 Channel amps are made for door speakers. There amp "class" signifies this. They make 1 channel and 2 channel amps for subs. They also make a hybrid 5 channel amp which is 4 channels of lower wattage with one designated extra channel with higher wattage for a sub. If I were you I'd return the amp and get a 5 channel or just get a 1 or 2 channel amp for the sub.

 

[scoobyxj]

How I would set it up would be to run the front speakers, and the sub off the amp. Rear speakers off the HU, or the OEM amp (which would help keep the lows out of them, and probably let the system play louder. Then as funds allow get an amp for the sub which would allow you to move the 4 chan to the rears.

 

[Issac08]

Your gonna save yourself alot of pain if you bypass your factory amp and go with a 5 channel. Your fader control can be set on your amp so you wont have to worry about not being about to control it from your headunit.
Its possible but youll have to do more work than its worth to run all your speakers with your equipment

 

[jbancs]

I've sold and installed that setup numerous times in vehicles. It will work great provided you're not looking for tons of bass. You said your radio had 1 set of outputs that could be set to sub. Does it have front rear and sub outputs or just 1 set that can be set to low pass or full pass?