Audio wiring questions

[heykosal]

okay so i finally got a new headunit. i also had a set of speakers. im ready to install but i do not know what wiring is necessary. i assume an RCA cable from the headunit to the amp? then what? i was told i have two options, running wires from the amp to the speaker, or from the amp back to the stock speaker wires. i assume that using the existing wires would be easier but would it have negative effect? what brand speaker wires should i buy and where should i buy them from?
basically my question is, i have components up front, two-ways in the rear, and one 4 channel amp. explain to me everything i need to install. thanks dudes

 

[DailyDB8]

its pretty simple. do you know the basic how to hook up on stereo systems? like the wiring of the power, ground, remote wires, rca's of the amp and/or headunit.

 

[TegSox]

I assume an RCA cable from the headunit to the amp?

yes

then what? i was told i have two options, running wires from the amp to the speaker, or from the amp back to the stock speaker wires. i assume that using the existing wires would be easier but would it have negative effect? what brand speaker wires should i buy and where should i buy them from?

You can do that first option, it makes for a quicker/easier install. But if you pushing a good amount of power from that amp, the factory speaker wires will be too skinny to deliver all its juice. I use Phoenix Gold 14 guage speaker wire in my Teg, I'm pushing 80x4 RMS. I bought it at a local privately owned car stereo joint. It's not only bigger wire, but the copper strands are of higher quality than factory speaker wire.

To install an amp, you need:
-Power wire (with a fuse inline!)
-Ground wire
-RCA cable(s)
-Remote turn on wire
To run a power wire from the battery to the back of the rear seat, you shouldn't need more than 17 feet.
To run remote lead and RCA's from the deck to the back of the rear seat, you shouldn't need more than 15 feet.
I'd grab 5 feet of ground wire.
If your amp is less than 50x4 RMS, you can use 8 guage power and ground.
If your amp is 50x4 RMS or more, use 4 guage power and ground. (8 guage is smaller than 4 guage)
Put between 12 and 18 inches between the fuse holder and the battery.

Just buy an amp installation kit at Circuit City, it'll have everything you need. Power, ground, remote wire, connectors, most come with a fuse holder and fuse.

 

[heykosal]

so today i picked up an amp install kit which includes inline fuse and holder, 17ft of power cable and 16ft of signal wire. then i bought 15feet of speaker wire. i also picked up a headunit harness. i guess i need some connectors.
also, if you refer back to my "broken into" thread. youll notice the theives took the whole radio including the surrounding trim or whatever its called. will i need to buy a headunit install kit?

 

[heykosal]

so i guess this headunit harness is useless. it plugs to the car but not to the headunit, how am i supposed to hookit up?

so i found the alpine harness that connects to the back of the unit im a dumbass(can you tell ive never done this?). but still there are just loose wires, how am i supposed to the hook the headunit to the harness to the car?

 

[heykosal]

should i cut my harness and splice it to the alpine harness so it becomes one between the headunit and plug?

 

[TegSox]

also, if you refer back to my "broken into" thread. youll notice the theives took the whole radio including the surrounding trim or whatever its called. will i need to buy a headunit install kit?

You'll need a dash kit anyway. You can get one with a pocket below the radio, or one with a slot for an in-dash EQ (a half din hole). Get one made by Metra, not some crappy one from Walmart. Metra is the king of dash kits and harnesses.

so i guess this headunit harness is useless. it plugs to the car but not to the headunit, how am i supposed to hookit up?

It's your job to attatch the harness that plugs into the car, to the harness that plugs into the radio. Just match the colors.

should i cut my harness and splice it to the alpine harness so it becomes one between the headunit and plug?

You got it. You'll need to buy some butt connectors and a wire crimping tool.

 

[heykosal]

well i plan on gettin someone to solder the wires together. is this better or does it not make a difference? i just want to do that because its cleaner. should i get a kit like this one? circuit city link

 

[TegSox]

Soldering vs. crimping won't make a difference, crimping is easier and faster. If your gonna solder, I'd use heat shrink tubing to cover the connections up, not electric tape. All that work isn't worth the time and effort. I'd just use butt connectors.

That's the kit with the pocket, if you don't plan on getting an EQ it'll work fine.

I have the kit with the EQ slot:

The 99-7890 kit.

 

[heykosal]

so before i go ahead and cut the harness and begin installing this, should i use butt connectors or crimp caps to splice the wires?

edit: oh wait you said it already...my bad!!!!