How necessary is an AMP !!!

[Valentino MR2]

Check out the link below it should help, i've never connected to the amp using speaker cable i've always used rca's, would be interested to know how it sounds

[Scruff]

Please excuse my ignorance but what is an RCA ??

And does it mean I don't have to worry about the previous questions?

(to Valentino) How did you wire up your JBL ?

I may be thick but I couldn't see anything on connecting the JBL to the head unit in the manual ! (apart from this High Level Input) plug!

Also how did you go about mounting the JBL under the bonnet ?(I used a crude bit of wood strapped to the spare wheel)

Any ingenious ideas welcome!!!
scruff

[Valentino MR2]

I've got an aftermarket headunit so it allows me to use amp leads (RCA) but as you are using the original stereo it doen't have these connections.

I have mounted my jbl amp under the passenger seat, the old ones are quite small but i did have to cut away the carpet to allow a bit of clearance for cooling.

The way you plan to do it means you will have to run 4 sets of speaker cable to your amp from the original stereo along with the REM wire

[Scruff]

thanks for the help and wiring diagram Ross (nice car btw)

(I presume the ACC (9) is the switched power 12v Accessory Circuit cable) and I can clamp another wire onto that to take to the AMP REM?

The speaker wires are straightforward but No.1 (AMP) and No.3 (+B looks like) I'm not too sure about !!

As you can tell I'm a complete ICE virgin!!

cheers
scruff

[Valentino MR2]

You need to connect your REM to No.1 AMP wire and I'm guessing the B+ is just a battery + cable

so to recap you have to run 4 speaker cables going to your amp, run a remote cable to the amp and connect it to No.1 AMP wire on your stereo
Then you need power and earth to the amp, Power you can take directly from the battery and you need to earth it some where under that bonnet.

And once you wired you speakers to the amp you shoud have SOUND!!!

[Scruff]

Smashing !

will try it later

no more silly questions for now!

thanks again
scruff

[Paul R]

You need to connect your REM to No.1 AMP wire and I'm guessing the B+ is just a battery + cable

so to recap you have to run 4 speaker cables going to your amp, run a remote cable to the amp and connect it to No.1 AMP wire on your stereo
Then you need power and earth to the amp, Power you can take directly from the battery and you need to earth it some where under that bonnet.

And once you wired you speakers to the amp you shoud have SOUND!!!

hi,

I agree with all of what you said appart from earthing it under the bonnet. The earth should be as close to the amp as possible, otherwise you are going to get interference.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Valentino MR2]

I agree Paul but he said he was mounting the amp under there

[Scruff]

Sorry 1 more!!!

You say I need to run 4 speaker cables TO the amp (I take it 14,13,6 and 5)
Do you mean these connect to the HIGH LEVEL INPUT plug supplied with the AMP !

thanks (and sorry for the abundance of Q's I just want to do it corret like)
scruff

[Valentino MR2]

Yep you got it, 4 to the amp and then 4 from the amp to the speakers
No probs with the questions, just glad I can help

[Paul R]

I agree Paul but he said he was mounting the amp under there

Ok, you can slap me now if you like I didnt see that bit :O

Paul.

[Scruff]

Excellent (at least I can go and make a bodge job knowing that I understood the process in theory)

thanks
scruff

[Valentino MR2]

Good Luck!!!
if you have any probs, email me at work and i'll talk you through
[email protected]

[Scruff]

Finished the electrical bit! (hoorah)
Now all I have to do is adjust either the mdf rings I made or cut some of the plastic from the door cards because my doors won't shut !! (boo)

My wiring was different to all the diagrams I had and I ended up using an Oscilloscope to sort out which wire went where!!

I have a 91 Import with (what I can only presume) is the passive system!

It went something like:
Blue with Green Stripe (12v Permanent)
Grey (Switched 12V Ignition)
Pink (Passenger side Front Speaker Pos)
Purple (Passenger Side Front Speaker Neg)
Mint Green (Drivers Side Front Speaker Pos)
Blue (Drivers Side Front Speaker Neg)
Brown (Earth)
Green (Dim)
Didn't do rear speakers but the colours (I think)were:
Yellow and Black Passengers side
Red and White Drivers side

I got most of this info from another thread so thanks to whoever posted it!

Thanks to all those who helped (sounds great)
Scruff