can I connect three amps to my aftermark HU?

[khisanthax]

I've got a pioneer p4000dvd unit and on the back it has two pre-outs and one subwoofer out. So, I was wondering since the altima has 8 speakers slots, if it's recommendable to use two 4 channel amps for the 8 speakers and a mono amp for the subwoofer?

[rjdmmfl1]

I've got a pioneer p4000dvd unit and on the back it has two pre-outs and one subwoofer out. So, I was wondering since the altima has 8 speakers slots, if it's recommendable to use two 4 channel amps for the 8 speakers and a mono amp for the subwoofer?

ok, the p4000dvd has 4 preamp outputs... correct?

oK, first, what do you mean by eight speakers.... the Altima has either 6 speakers or 9 speakers if you have bose...

I don't quite understand why you feel you need 2 seperate 4 channel amplifiers and a mono amplifer for the subwoofer.... i have 4 amplifiers in my systems, but that's because

1 mini amp goes to the center channel speaker1 x 4 channel amp run my front tweeters and 4" midranges, but only because I am running an active crossover system do I need 4 channel for those four speakers.... typically, you would only need two channels and you'd run the components on a passive crossover system

1 x 4 channel amplfier going to my 6.5" midrange speakers up front and my 6x9 full range speakers for my rear fill

1 x mono amp going to my subwoofer

So, if you aren't running active crossovers, seems like you only need 1 4 channel amp and a mono amp for your sub...

[khisanthax]

I guess i'm still trying to understand everything. I have 4 speakers installed (base model) but I can see two speakers on the dash, two in the front door, two in the rear doors and two on the back seat. Am I not seeing a center speaker?

Well, from what I've seen of amps, they are either mono, 2 channels or 4 channels, I take it that a channel is one speaker? I wasn't planning on running components, just regular speakers.

And yes it does have four preouts but I thought it was L/R 2x, i'll check again.

[rjdmmfl1]

I guess i'm still trying to understand everything. I have 4 speakers installed (base model) but I can see two speakers on the dash, two in the front door, two in the rear doors and two on the back seat. Am I not seeing a center speaker?

Well, from what I've seen of amps, they are either mono, 2 channels or 4 channels, I take it that a channel is one speaker? I wasn't planning on running components, just regular speakers.

And yes it does have four preouts but I thought it was L/R 2x, i'll check again.

OK, for the non Bose models... you only have 6 speakers...

2 x 3.5" speakers in the dash2 x 6.5" speakers in the front doorno speakers in the rear door2 x 6x9" speakers in the rear deck

now, you have openings in the rear doors for speakers, but there are no speakers actually there! (dumb i know, but that's the way it is)

now, for your front, you don't know it yet, but if you replace your front 3.5" and 6.5" speakers, you need to get a good set of components.. I'm currently running diamond audio s600a components off of ebay for ~ $200 shipped, and I love them. For $200, I would say these are around the best in that price range.. if you want to spend more, I can give you other ideas

but again, just go with components, and use the passice crossovers that come with the components...

and then, you can either get some decent 6x9 speakers for the rear, or it may be better to get another set of 6.5" components, and use an adapter plate to fit them in there.. something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...akers

but in any case, for your setup, yu really only need 1 4 channel amplifier... but if you wanted to add more 6.5" speakers to the rear doors, then yeah, 2 x 4channel amplifers would take care of that plus any future plans you may have

in either case, you don't sound like you're very comfortable with car audio, so I would just go to a local shop and talk to them!

[rjdmmfl1]

but to get back to your original question... yes , even with that head unit , you can use three different amplifiers... and this is how

your p4000dvd has 4 preouts....

1.Front left, 2.front right3&4 subwoofer (left and right)

now the subwoofer is usually a non fading pre-out, and usually, you have the ability on the deck to adjust the subwoofer to be either fading or non fading (explanation: on the fading setup, when you fade your music from front to back, and you have the subwoofer connected, your subwoofer will go away if you fade to the front... hence you want to use the non-fading setting so that, even if you fade your music to the front speakers, you will still have sub bass!)

in your case, if you want to add three amplfiers.. you would

1.add amplifier one directly to the front preouts2. take the speaker wires leaving the rear of the pioneer unit that power the "rear speakers" (purple, purple w/ black stripe, green, green w/ black stripe for right and left rear speakers respectively) and add a high-low converter to these (like this http://cgi.ebay.com/QUANTUM-AU...nQ5f0) this will allow you to connect RCA to the second amplfier!3. then use the subwoofer preouts to connect to the third amplfier

[erick.s]

Even easier than all that is to just use a Y splitter on the front left and right preouts. It won't let you fade front to back, but you can adjust each amp channel's gain to get what you want. I've done it this way in the past and it will work just fine as long as your head unit's preouts have decent voltage ratings.

[khisanthax]

Since I have the base model, there's actually no speakers behind the back seat, so I only have 4 =( (another detail the salesman neglected). I'm not comfortable in the sense that I'm ignorant, but I plan on doing a lot more research before I do anything else. Thanks for your help I'll reread what you wrote a few times and dig deeper, thanks again!!

[rjdmmfl1]

Even easier than all that is to just use a Y splitter on the front left and right preouts. It won't let you fade front to back, but you can adjust each amp channel's gain to get what you want. I've done it this way in the past and it will work just fine as long as your head unit's preouts have decent voltage ratings.

for staging purposes, this is never a good idea...

1. as you mentioned, you lose the ability to fade front to back... yeah you could make the initial adjustments at the amps... but for day to day operation, that's not an option... if for whatever reason you decide you don't want music in the rear, you'd be a$$ out!

2. imaging wise, some music is designed to send certain signals either to the front or rear speakers... in your setup, you lose the ability to ever have good sound imaging....

Since I have the base model, there's actually no speakers behind the back seat, so I only have 4 =( (another detail the salesman neglected). I'm not comfortable in the sense that I'm ignorant, but I plan on doing a lot more research before I do anything else. Thanks for your help I'll reread what you wrote a few times and dig deeper, thanks again!!

no problem.. and yeah, regarding car audio, we all had to start somewhere... keep asking questions, and we'll keep trying to answer to the best of our ability...

also, definitely go through the FAQ as Applebonker did a wonderful job putting that together

[erick.s]

Agreed that it's not ideal but for a "regular" non competition every day system that you're not trying to tweak all the time it does work just fine. It all depends on what the plan for the overall system is.

[rjdmmfl1]

Agreed that it's not ideal but for a "regular" non competition every day system that you're not trying to tweak all the time it does work just fine. It all depends on what the plan for the overall system is.

I agree..sort of... I don't take my car to competitions, but I love listening to music in my car.... to the OP, if you don't mind losing the ability to fade your music, then the Y adapter may be an Ok option... but being that you can get a hi-lo converter for just a few bucks... the hi-lo converter is a better all around alternative...

honestly, if you give me a prie range you're trying to stay within, I can recommend a full setup for you... again, its just my recommendation, you could take it or leave it

[khisanthax]

I don't get why I need the converter if there are four preouts on the HU not including the subwoof preout?

I'm only in the planning stage so maybe $300 for the rear door speakers, back seat speakers and an amp? I'll probably have to run the wires as well.

[khisanthax]

but based on what you're saying since I'm going to use one four channel amp for all of my speakers, then after I put components in the back I should replace the froont door and dash speakers with components as well???

[erick.s]

I don't get why I need the converter if there are four preouts on the HU not including the subwoof preout?

I'm only in the planning stage so maybe $300 for the rear door speakers, back seat speakers and an amp? I'll probably have to run the wires as well.

I looked up a photo of the back of your head unit based on the model number you provided in your first post - here's a link. http://www.amazon.com/gp/custo...dex=1

You can plainly see that you have 2 pairs of preouts only - no dedicated subwoofer out. That is why you will need to run a converter or a Y splitter if you plan on using more than four channels of outboard amplification.

IMO, $300 won't get you very far if you're looking for two pairs of speakers and an amp. For quality components ypu'll need to spend at least double that plus allocate some money for wiring.

[khisanthax]

I could have sworn I saw it back there. Either way I don't have a large budget, so I'll have to do it piecemeal in small chunks. But right now I don't have anything in the rear doors and back seat, so anything would be better. I don't mind not doing components so long as it's good (doesn't have to be great) and fits within a reasonable price range over time.

I'd like to see what Dr. was talking about with regards to price so I can learn and make comparisons and learn about making comparisons.