Need help connecting 4 channel amp.

[BoBa524]

So, i am installing an amp on a friend's car. I have only connected subs in the past, never a 4 channel amp to all 4 speakers in the vehicle.

Anyways i need help on wiring... do i run 2 sets of RCAs to the amp and then run speaker wire to the each speaker? or can i run the speaker wires back to the dash where i can connect them to the harness going to speakers?

The headunit is Alpine CDA-9885 owners manual http://support.alpine-usa.com/...M.PDF

The amp is MRP-F550 owners manual http://support.alpine-usa.com/...M.PDF

Let me know, thanks.

[the converted]

There's a lot of ways to run wires through a car depending on what car it is and where you are putting the amp. Let us know and we can give you some suggestions.

[EW]

Yes, you need to run 2 pair of RCAs to the amp. For the best sound, you should run 16ga or larger speaker wire directly to the new speakers. Sometimes running speaker wire into the doors is a biatch so many people will connect to the factory wires in the dash instead. If you connect to the factory wiring, it also makes reinstalling the factory deck easier. If your car has a factory amp on the rear deck, you can connect to the speaker wiring there. There will not be a night and day difference in audio quality by running new wire to all the speakers but it is the best way to do it. I would run a third RCA to the trunk so if you ad a sub amp you will be ready to hook it up without taking the car apart again.
Modified by EW at 12:35 PM 2/12/2008

[xekushnr]

You will hook new speaker wire to the speakers and run them back to the amp. Then you run either two 2 channel RCAs or one 4 channel from the head unit back to the amp. It's much easier than it sounds once you get into the job. Just remove all the trim around the floor, like the B-pillar cover and the little plastic step things by the doors (cant remember what they are called). Stuff all the cables under the carpet. Just make sure you spread them out so the carpet doesnt bulge. When you get all the speaker wire to the back of the car, you will probably have no idea which wire is for what speaker. Grab a 9v battery. Strip all the speaker wire and touch one pair to the battery. You will hear a speaker make a popping noise. Hook that wire to the corresponding post on the amp. Repeat for the other wires.

[BoBa524]

ok thanks for the info so far... so once i connect the RCAs the signal to the amp will be there(not like subwoofer option when you have to turn it on in the headunit)

this amp is going into an 06 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Any Audio guys here that know if it has an amp? It has a CANbus network. The headunit is installed all i have to do is the amp now.