How to hook up car speakers to an amp?

How to Hook Up a Car Amp & Speakers

• Answer:

  Car audio enthusiasts have several ways to upgrade their vehicle stereo systems. Adding an aftermarket car amp and replacing stock speakers makes for a clearer and louder sound system. Factory stereo decks are often tuned to the specifications of the stock speakers. Adding an amplifier can force a signal that is too strong for the standard speaker arrangement. Switch the speakers in your car to handle the boosted stereo signal. Difficulty: Moderately Easy Things You'll Need Wrench or pliers Amplifier wiring kit (grounding wire, signal & turn-on cable, ring terminal and power cable) Wiring harness adapter Speaker wire Amplifier Speakers Instructions Lift the hood of the vehicle to access the battery. Loosen the bolts that secure each of the two battery cables from the battery terminals. Use a wrench or pliers for the bolts (consult the vehicle repair manual for exact sizing). Remove the negative battery cable and rest it away from the battery until the entire installation is complete. Lift the positive battery cable from the positive battery terminal and place the ring terminal from the amp wiring kit onto the positive battery lead post. Place the positive battery cable clamp over the ring terminal and tighten the bolt to secure the cable to the battery. Remove the fuse from the fuse holder on the ring terminal. Plug the power cable from the amplifier wiring kit into the ring terminal. Route the power cable into the cabin of the vehicle through the firewall. Use an already established path to the inside of the vehicle or create a new one with a drill and 14mm drill bit. Place a rubber grommet into the new opening if you elect to drill a hole specifically for the amp power cable. Remove the vehicle's stereo. Consult the vehicle repair manual for specific instructions. Disconnect the stereo wiring from the back of the stereo and plug the wiring connectors into a wiring harness adapter. Plug the wiring harness adapter leads into the outlets on the rear panel of the stereo. Plug the signal and turn-on lead cables into the appropriate wiring harness adapter leads. Feed the cables through the back of the vehicle's stereo dock and down to the floor behind the dashboard. Replace the stereo into the dock following the instructions provided in the vehicle repair manual. Run the power cable and the signal cable down opposite sides of the vehicle to the location of the amplifier. The power cable will cause interference if laid parallel with the signal cable. Plug the power cable into the power input on the amp. Connect the signal and turn-on lead cables to the amplifier. See the amp manual for correct connection points. Insert a 16 gauge grounding wire (included in the amplifier wiring kit) into the grounding input on the amp. Connect the wire to a screw or bolt near the amplifier. Any screw or bolt that is less than 20 inches away from the amp and directly connected to the vehicle's frame serves as an adequate grounding source. Connect speaker wires to the amplifier. Route the speaker wires to the location of the speakers you wish to have amplified. Remove the stock speakers following the instructions for doing so in the repair manual. Connect the speaker wire from the amplifier to the outlets on the back of the new speakers. Place the speakers into their docks and replace the screws that were used to hold the factory speakers in place. Replace the speaker cover over the new speaker (commonly achieved by pressing firmly onto the cover to snap it back in place on the rear deck or door panel). Return to the engine compartment. Place the negative battery cable back onto the negative battery terminal post. Tighten the cable clamp to the post with a wrench or set of pliers. Return the fuse to the fuse holder on the ring terminal. Close the vehicle's hood.