Hi,

I want to install an amp under my drivers seat (laptop lives under the passenger seat) and i want to know where the stock speaker wire for the rear speakers runs?

I'm only installing a 4x50 WRMS to power my 45 WRMS Directed Audio front splits and my ~50 WRMS JVC 6x9 rears with no intention to increase, apart from a sub but that will be a separate amp.

Before I pull my car apart, is it easier to run new speaker wire from the head unit to the amp (for rears, or both rears and fronts) or re-route the stock wiring, keeping in mind the amp is under the drivers seat. How much do I need to pull out for both options and where do i run the wires, I guess the amp power cable will come through the firewall near where the clutch would be?

Thanks,
Lindsay

Would be much easier just to use new speaker wire and run it along the side of the car into the boot to the speakers from the amp.
I dont recommend mounting amps under seats, they can overheat very easily on a hot summers day.
But if you must, definitely run new cable for the rears, but it's pretty safe to use the stock wires for the fronts.
There is a rubber grommet right in the middle of the firewall down near the bottom, this is perfect for a power wire.

Hi,

I want to install an amp under my drivers seat (laptop lives under the passenger seat) and i want to know where the stock speaker wire for the rear speakers runs?

I'm only installing a 4x50 WRMS to power my 45 WRMS Directed Audio front splits and my ~50 WRMS JVC 6x9 rears with no intention to increase, apart from a sub but that will be a separate amp.

Before I pull my car apart, is it easier to run new speaker wire from the head unit to the amp (for rears, or both rears and fronts) or re-route the stock wiring, keeping in mind the amp is under the drivers seat. How much do I need to pull out for both options and where do i run the wires, I guess the amp power cable will come through the firewall near where the clutch would be?

Thanks,
Lindsay

good day ms. lohan

yeah, you can find a few suitable grommits around the firewall area for running the power cable. Find any rubber thing and find something to poke it with :)

As for running wires inside the car, I'd say you're better off running fresh wires yourself. Saves you poking around snipping and joining wires etc etc. It also means you don't have to go snipping off connectors on the end of your stock wires too. If you ever want to return the stereo to stock it'll be much easier.

You can run the wiring down either side of the car. Just rip out the plastic kick panel things, they're only held on by a few plastic clips. You can also run stuff down the centre, but that requires a bit more work as you'd need to get under the carpet and that centre console compartment box thingy.

When you run RCA cables from your headunit to your amp under the seat, remember to keep it away from the main power cable. Also, keep the amp secure and wiring away from annoying passenger's feet. They'll kick it no matter what:badgrin: Oh, if you're worried about cooling, go buy a relay and some cheapo computer case fans.

Hey guys,

Thanks for that. I'm aware the power cable and pre-amplifier leads can't run parallel, that's why I asked so many questions about the position of the amp. As for the rear speaker wire, i was more concerned about where the cable runs between the head unit and the amp, not the amp and the speakers, because getting in behind the dash to run new wire from the head unit seems like it would be difficult, correct me if i'm wrong however.

Hey guys,

Thanks for that. I'm aware the power cable and pre-amplifier leads can't run parallel, that's why I asked so many questions about the position of the amp. As for the rear speaker wire, i was more concerned about where the cable runs between the head unit and the amp, not the amp and the speakers, because getting in behind the dash to run new wire from the head unit seems like it would be difficult, correct me if i'm wrong however.

You don't run speaker wire between your headunit to amp..unless you're using high-level outputs...which would probably mean you're using the stock head unit??

You can put your amp wherever you want really. Its better if you can access a good ground point real close as well.

its not hard to run cable from headunit to amp from the back of the dash. Just rip apart the dash (there's a how-to on this forum by bain).

Yeah I had the centre console out to put the head unit in, do i need to pull out more than that to run the wires?

I have a JVC mp3 headunit (not sure of the model number now but its ~$280 purchased about 3 months ago). it only has one set of RCA outs for the sub so i assumed i was using high level outputs for the fronts and rears, correct?

i dont even really want an amp but the headunit has stopped outputting sound a few times and it takes a day to come good again, seems really weird, everything else works normally when it happens just no sound, so it's not an earth/power problem etc. The JVC tech said the 50WRMS speakers would be putting too much load on the Head Unit as it is only 45 W peak (i calculate around 19WRMS) and he said i need an amp. I originally only planned to amp my sub. The head unit is under warranty but I don't want to be pulling it out all the time.

Yeah I had the centre console out to put the head unit in, do i need to pull out more than that to run the wires?

I have a JVC mp3 headunit (not sure of the model number now but its ~$280). it only has one set of RCA outs for the sub so i assumed i was using high level outputs for the fronts and rears, correct?

looking at ur profile u have a TE.

This is what I'd do:

Run teh RCA ouputs from the headunit down the centre console and towards the compartment where the handbrake lever is. If you put your hand down where there handbrake lever goes into the centre console, you'll feel there is a gap there...This would mean that if your fingers are skinny enough you will be able to fit the RCA plugs through the gap. (I just went to feel up the gap in my car and its big enough).

As for the main power cable, run it from the firewall down the drivers side in that channel under the doors, and you'd probably need to cut a small slit in the carpet to let it out and connect to the amp. From that slit you can run the speaker cable out and to the back...interference between power cable and speaker cable can be ignored.