AMP wiring help I think

Autobot · 07-19-2008, 05:28 PM

So I went to install my Alpine PDX-2.150 to give a little more oomph to my SWS's. Install was pretty straight forward however When I went to test them I got pretty much nada. The AMP powers up fine, the rest of my speakers play fine but I have barely anything on my subs. The amp is only powering the subs. It almost sounds like they are hitting something but I know they are not. That kind of muffled sound almost but only when I up the volume.

I followed the amp install from the DIY here on the forum. I tapped the wires that originally went to the subs right after the OEM amp into a Stinger SLOCII, then using RCA cables into the amp. I tapped one of the positive speaker wires for the remote, and grounded the Stinger and the amp at the same pace. Then ran new wires from the amp to the subs. Essentially I am tapping the wires that originally went to the subs to the Stinger but there is nothing on the other end of those wires anymore as I am using new wires from the amp, if that help explain anything.

I played with the gain and crossover but that didn't seem to help any.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this? Thanks

sageashton · 07-19-2008, 06:04 PM

PDX amps do not need a LOC, btw.

If you have the Hifi the amp remote turn on wire is the small black wire, and it works fine for me and my pdx.

I am assuming you have tried the gain settings?

Which wires are you tapping into, the front or rear? Are you tapping before the factory amp or after? Which one?

Autobot · 07-19-2008, 07:27 PM

If it doesn't need a LOC then how do I get the input into a RCA cable??

I have the basic radio so non-Logic. Which small black wire? Before the amp I am assuming?

Yeah I started at 0 and worked my way up for the gain.

I am tapping into the wires that would go to the subs After the OEM amp, These:

SUB LEFT
Red/White +
Brown/Yellow -

SUB RIGHT
Red/Blue +
Brown/White -

Autobot · 07-20-2008, 01:16 PM

Anyone? Should I just re-tap the output wires from the amp into the OEM wires that went to the subs?

Anyone know what else it could be?

sageashton · 07-20-2008, 03:30 PM

To tap into the wires cut an rca cable and use that, strip out the positve and negative in each line and hook them to the corresponding positive and negative of the wire. You can also find these at an audio shop.

There should not be a problem with using those outputs but PERHAPS (technic would probably know this better than I) you would get better results in using a full range signal from BEFORE the factory amp. Another question is what do you have the x over set at?

sageashton · 07-20-2008, 03:34 PM

The remote turn on is before the OEM, btw, tiny little black wire. Tap into that.

sageashton · 07-20-2008, 03:37 PM

Looking at the manual right now. You have the filter on LP, right? And the xover set to? If you have it on HP that may be your problem as it will be filtering out the only part of the signal that it is getting...

PM me if that does not work and I may be able to help over the phone...

Autobot · 07-20-2008, 05:58 PM

Ill switch the remote tap here shortly but i don't think tat will have anything to do with it, but i have been wrong before

For the RCA should I just cut the one I have and splice them together and tap those into where I had the others? Or should I go to a shop and buy a seperate cable?
Yes the Filter is set to LP. Xover is set to 110. I have tried it lower and higher with no better results. Tried the gain on 0 then moved slowly up to NOM and prety much there I get the horrible sounds.

PM'd

Autobot · 07-20-2008, 06:50 PM

Switched the Remote to the black wire. Xover is down to like 40-60 because it just seemed like too much for the speakers. I now also have found that there is nothing going to the right sub, as in no sound from it. I double checked the wires but they are good. I don't think this is the issue but do not know why this is doing that

Autobot · 07-20-2008, 07:25 PM

Found the reason the right speaker was not getting anything, the wires ad come out of the LOC, lets see if this has any effect...

Autobot · 07-20-2008, 07:52 PM

THAT was it.... Re-plugged them into the LOC and then there was BEAUTIFUL Bass.

Thanks sageashton!!

sageashton · 07-20-2008, 09:10 PM

Glad you got it sorted out.

Now you get to fix your side skirts

Take care.

Autobot · 07-21-2008, 12:25 PM

So far I have no rattling, but I wil give it some time to slowly break in the subs then I am sure I will have to

07-19-2008, 05:28 PM	#1
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	AMP wiring help I think So I went to install my Alpine PDX-2.150 to give a little more oomph to my SWS's. Install was pretty straight forward however When I went to test them I got pretty much nada. The AMP powers up fine, the rest of my speakers play fine but I have barely anything on my subs. The amp is only powering the subs. It almost sounds like they are hitting something but I know they are not. That kind of muffled sound almost but only when I up the volume. I followed the amp install from the DIY here on the forum. I tapped the wires that originally went to the subs right after the OEM amp into a Stinger SLOCII, then using RCA cables into the amp. I tapped one of the positive speaker wires for the remote, and grounded the Stinger and the amp at the same pace. Then ran new wires from the amp to the subs. Essentially I am tapping the wires that originally went to the subs to the Stinger but there is nothing on the other end of those wires anymore as I am using new wires from the amp, if that help explain anything. I played with the gain and crossover but that didn't seem to help any. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this? Thanks __________________ Delivered 28 May
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07-19-2008, 06:04 PM	#2
sageashton Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, Manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Clarita, CA iTrader: (0)	PDX amps do not need a LOC, btw. If you have the Hifi the amp remote turn on wire is the small black wire, and it works fine for me and my pdx. I am assuming you have tried the gain settings? Which wires are you tapping into, the front or rear? Are you tapping before the factory amp or after? Which one?
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07-19-2008, 07:27 PM	#3
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	If it doesn't need a LOC then how do I get the input into a RCA cable?? I have the basic radio so non-Logic. Which small black wire? Before the amp I am assuming? Yeah I started at 0 and worked my way up for the gain. I am tapping into the wires that would go to the subs After the OEM amp, These: SUB LEFT Red/White + Brown/Yellow - SUB RIGHT Red/Blue + Brown/White - __________________ Delivered 28 May
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07-20-2008, 01:16 PM	#4
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	Anyone? Should I just re-tap the output wires from the amp into the OEM wires that went to the subs? Anyone know what else it could be? __________________ Delivered 28 May
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07-20-2008, 03:30 PM	#5
sageashton Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, Manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Clarita, CA iTrader: (0)	To tap into the wires cut an rca cable and use that, strip out the positve and negative in each line and hook them to the corresponding positive and negative of the wire. You can also find these at an audio shop. There should not be a problem with using those outputs but PERHAPS (technic would probably know this better than I) you would get better results in using a full range signal from BEFORE the factory amp. Another question is what do you have the x over set at?
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07-20-2008, 03:34 PM	#6
sageashton Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, Manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Clarita, CA iTrader: (0)	The remote turn on is before the OEM, btw, tiny little black wire. Tap into that.
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07-20-2008, 03:37 PM	#7
sageashton Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, Manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Clarita, CA iTrader: (0)	Looking at the manual right now. You have the filter on LP, right? And the xover set to? If you have it on HP that may be your problem as it will be filtering out the only part of the signal that it is getting... PM me if that does not work and I may be able to help over the phone...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-20-2008, 05:58 PM	#8
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	Ill switch the remote tap here shortly but i don't think tat will have anything to do with it, but i have been wrong before For the RCA should I just cut the one I have and splice them together and tap those into where I had the others? Or should I go to a shop and buy a seperate cable? Yes the Filter is set to LP. Xover is set to 110. I have tried it lower and higher with no better results. Tried the gain on 0 then moved slowly up to NOM and prety much there I get the horrible sounds. PM'd __________________ Delivered 28 May
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07-20-2008, 06:50 PM	#9
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	Switched the Remote to the black wire. Xover is down to like 40-60 because it just seemed like too much for the speakers. I now also have found that there is nothing going to the right sub, as in no sound from it. I double checked the wires but they are good. I don't think this is the issue but do not know why this is doing that __________________ Delivered 28 May
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-20-2008, 07:25 PM	#10
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	Found the reason the right speaker was not getting anything, the wires ad come out of the LOC, lets see if this has any effect... __________________ Delivered 28 May
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07-20-2008, 07:52 PM	#11
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	THAT was it.... Re-plugged them into the LOC and then there was BEAUTIFUL Bass. Thanks sageashton!! __________________ Delivered 28 May
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07-20-2008, 09:10 PM	#12
sageashton Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, Manual Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Clarita, CA iTrader: (0)	Glad you got it sorted out. Now you get to fix your side skirts Take care.
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07-21-2008, 12:25 PM	#13
Autobot Brigadier General 84 Rep 3,106 Posts Drives: 15 F22 M235 6MT Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (8)	So far I have no rattling, but I wil give it some time to slowly break in the subs then I am sure I will have to __________________ Delivered 28 May
	Appreciate 0 Quote