How to install a car amplifier | Crutchfield DIY video 

Thanks, James and welcome! We'll be here.

Yep, I wanted to buy local only because I'm not patient. I was planning on adding an amp and sub when I replaced the head unit... But I wasn't quite ready to do all that just yet... That is until I destroyed my aux port the other day, which was the only way to connect my phone since my car is equipped with BT. And two of my jobs are doing deliveries so I NEED my music. So now, ready or not I'm doing this shit... Replacing the head unit it no biggie. I've done that many times before... Same with regular speakers. But this will be my first time doing an amp and sub. Honestly, it's a little intimidating, which is why I've never done it before. So just the fact that I know there will be help if I need it is enough to make me buy from y'all... Not only that but this video was one of the easiest, if not the easiest, tutorials I've seen. Y'all actually seem to give AF about your customers, which is rare these days.

Yeah. I bought my aftermarket radio from best buy but all speaker equipment from them. They have specialists that can help you make a choice.

dude for real that was the hardest part for me 🤣

@@lilpoopoo3415 i

Ya I run 00 I had to drill a hole 🤣

I had to use vaseline and a mashing utensil made of wood. The grommets are like dry women,, when I was done I told my wife it's like trying to get busy without foreplay

@@godlesssociety498 i may or may not have used astro glide 😅💦😂

Thanks so much! Glad we could help and hope you're enjoying all your new equipment.

Never underestimate the limitlesspower of education.

REally? Take a look at "Video quality mobile" or "Fabrication"

Thanks Miguel, glad we could be a source of information for you!

@@crutchfield This is literally the only one that actually shows how to connect the amp to the car battery. I didn’t know how and this showed me. Thank you. I’m dropping a like

Thanks, Rashad!

You're welcome! We are happy to know it helped. Let us know when we can help again.

You're welcome! We are happy to know that this video helped you!!

You're welcome! Glad we could help. If you need anything further, please let us know.

@@crutchfieldhow do I know what’s the right thing to use for my amp like the fuse ?

You're welcome!

That's a great amp! What type of speakers are you going to power with it?

@@crutchfield the rears are jbl g7-96.. I dont know whats in the front..

I think that is going to be a great combo. Make sure to let us know how it sounds when you get it installed!

"I bought the sony xm-gs4 from amazon but said it was sold by crutchfield." A good reason to buy straight from Crutch. I've noticed this on several products in the past few years. Crutchfield is tightly integrated with Amazon. Prices are almost always the same, but buying thru Crutchfield directly adds their service to the product.

Welcome!

Ideally you'd want to have the speaker wire and RCA cables both routed on one side of the vehicle, with the power wire on the other. Hope that helps! --Crutchfield

Crutchfield Hi. If I decide later on to install subwoofers in my vehicle, what kind of speaker wire is recommended? 14 or 16 gauge as well?

If possible you'd want to try and avoid the power wire with your speaker wires as well. However that's typically not as much of a concern based on speaker mounting locations in most vehicles. For more details or to discuss further feel free to contact an Advisor directly from the Crutchfield website: bit.ly/2xOOeQR Hope that helps! --Crutchfield

Your best bet is to run new speaker wire from the new amp to each new speaker directly.

Yes, you could do that.

In this case, we did just pass the wiring through an existing opening. If you need one though, we do carry some great grommets here: www.crutchfield.com/I-rIGRc921/I-rIGRc921/support/ContactUs.aspx Though this step was not covered in the video, most fuse holders do have provisions for mounting them with screws or even wire ties.

Would you like a son?

😀 It's good to hear that you found it helpful!

The wiring harness from your aftermarket radio will have a remote wire. It should be a blue wire and sometimes they’re labeled “amp turn on” or just “remote”

Sorry to hear that, Joseph. Sounds like you may want to double check your fuse match and power connections. If you got your amp here, you can call our Tech Support as well. Their direct number is on your invoice.

You can install more than one amplifier in your system--the best way to do so is with a dual or multi-amp wiring kit. You can find a selection of multi-amp wiring kits on the Crutchfield website here: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc000/g_711/Amp-Wiring-Kits.html?tp=635#&nvpair=FFType|Multi-amp kit If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to an Advisor via the "Contact Us" link on the webpage. Hope that helps! --Crutchfield

Shawn yes you can do that. I had a Rockford fosgate Punch 40 amplifier powering 2 Punch 8" woofers and a Alpine 4 channel amp pushing 2 Altec Lansing 6x9s and 2 5 1/4 Infinity kappa mids in the door. I ran the two amps from my battery and from pre amp outputs from an Alpine head unit. I got my wires, amp installation kit,etc from CRUTCHFIELD and installed it myself. As long as you have the equipment,and a big enough battery, CRUTCHFIELD will guide you through a 2 Amp setup.I installed this setup on a 1982 Olds Cutlass supreme...

The amp should have a lead that goes directly into the headunit. Some of them look like telephone line cables.

Hi Mark. That does sound like a wiring issue. If you purchased your gear from Crutchfield, our tech support team is here for you, and will be happy to go through those connections with you. You will find their contact information located on your invoice, or by logging into your Crutchfield account, and looking under the "My Orders" tab.

You will need to make sure your wire is connected to the output side of the new amp but if you are running less than 75W (I would say 50W) RMS power you can use the existing factory wiring. I think it's never a bad idea to run new, heavier gauge speaker wire to get the best performance out of your amp and speakers.

@@crutchfield Damn, your customer support really is impeccable like Ive heard from others. I've run into some new problems installing my new radio and sadly I am not from the US so I cannot use your installation kits. Also about my speakers, I will be installing the factor speakers from someone else's car which are a lot better than mine. Then I'll just run an amp and sub combo in the back which will be sufficient. I just want a quality system not some high end music machine.

Sorry to hear that! It may be a noise caused by a ground loop--in which case a noise filter can be useful, like this Ground Loop Isolator: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc000/p_127SNI1/PAC-SNI-1.html For more details please feel free to contact an Advisor directly from the Crutchfield website. Thanks! --Crutchfield

Sir can i ask Where to connect batt - and + The pin is 1. Batt. 2. Gnd 3. Remote .whats the use of remote pin?

Do you have the exact model number of the sub?

Thanks again for your order, Thomas. Looks like you got the Alpine KTA-200M amp which is super compact so you can mount it in any convenient location. If you have an Alpine iLX-W650 or iLX-407 digital multimedia receiver, you can use the included PowerStack bracket to mount the amp behind those radios as well.

Tapping into them works just fine! It also reduces the amount of work that is needed to complete the installation. You don't have to cut and stripe the wire and hope to pull the ends together again to keep them connected.

Tapping in works well. In most cases, you can even use a good wire tap like these: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYALc921/p_669PP607/item.html

That's brilliant, thanks for the quick reply too! I've seen them positaps on amazon UK, lot more expensive over here but then again everything is compared to the states! 😱 Enjoy your day buddy, thanks again

Anytime! 🙂

Disconnecting the negative battery terminal ensures your safety during amplifier installation, as well as ensuring that nothing within your vehicle's electrical system shorts out should you make any sort of contact with your vehicle while installing.

Hi Anthony, happy holidays! We haven't researched your new car; but it can be tricky adding aftermarket amps or components to an electric model. You can wire to the battery and, in general, you do need to stay at or below 30-amps or 350 watts.

@@crutchfield Thank you for quick reply !

You're welcome! If you need anything further, please let us know.

Car amps do not usually have a power button or on/off switch. They rely on other triggers to turn on like audio coming in on the input wires or a 12V trigger becoming active when the radio is turned on.

Since the negative battery wire has been disconnected, no short will occur. The circuit cannot be completed so power will not pass again until the negative battery wire is reattached.

If there is no pre-cut hole or knockout in the factory firewall, you may need to drill a new hole to pass your power wire through. For additional assistance and personalized recommendations, feel free to contact us directly: bit.ly/2jBGHPp Hope that helps. --Crutchfield

Crutchfield First of all thank you for answering my question! I found a place in the door, I don’t know how it’s called But I can make photo so other people can benefit from it

I'm having the same issue right now with my 2001 Chevy Silverado. There's no holes at all lol. Great tutorial though 👍 I'm hoping to finish this installation today. First ever car sub for me so I'm super hyped to hear it. SVR-12

No. Just leave the radio off.

@@twotwentyswift thanks.

It is best practice, as you want to avoid any possibilities for shorting out electronics.

Factory speaker wire is typically very thin and not ideal for high powered aftermarket amps. If the amp is rated in the 50 watts RMS per channel or less range, it's usually ok to tap back into the factory speaker wiring. But for amps stronger than that, it's best to run thicker 16-gauge speaker wire from the new amp directly to each speaker it powers.

You would need to remove any connected power cables to remove the battery. Be sure and follow all listed safety instructions.

The best wiring option will depend on your exact setup. What model amp, radio and speakers do you plan to use? What is the year, make, and model of your vehicle? Did it come with a factory amp? Thanks!

Possible issues are the speakers and amp are not a good match, the amp settings are not adjusted properly, and could be that the sound qualities of the speakers are not a match for your goals. What speakers and amp did you get? What aspect of the sound was reduced as compared to the stock?

The Infinity 3004A amplifier is 2-ohm stable and can drive a pair or 4-ohm component speakers/tweeters and a pair of 4-ohm 3.5" dash speakers off of the front two channels, no problem. You will use the rear two channels to drive your 6x9"s.

@@crutchfield awesome, thanks for the reply!

Anytime! 🙂

Yes, you can run the remote turn-on lead on the same side of your vehicle as the RCA cables for amplifier installation. Hope that helps! Crutchfield

I wasn't able to find the part you are referencing with the different gauges, but I can tell you that amp kits power wire and an amp kits remote turn on wire will be different gauge wires. The turn-on wire doesn't need to pass a lot of power so its usually small like an 18 or 16 gauge size while the power and ground wires will be bigger. Usually, 12 gauge up to 1/0 gauge (depending on the size the amp needs).

Hi Elliot, what are you planning to power with the new amp? What is the year, make, and model if your vehicle?

@@crutchfield the year is a 2005. Suzuki jimny, However it has a radio from a Honda crv init, so no rca inputs

That will depend on what speakers the amp will be used to power and which channels on the amp the speakers are connected to. The main thing to keep in mind is the flow of the audio and making sure that you get the proper audio to each speaker (i.e. front left audio to the front left speakers). We give lifetime technical support on every purchase and include their toll free phone number on the order invoice. They can help ensure proper signal flow

Yikes! Sounds like you've got a big project ahead. Hope your installation goes well and you enjoy your new setup.

Your best bet is to start by re-checking all your wiring and connections. From there, you could test the speakers with another power source. If you got the amp/speakers here, please give our techs a call. Their direct number is on your invoice.

Were the wires that led to old speakers already wired to input of your amp.if not,you will need to run those wires to your amp input,and new wires to your amp output and then to your new speakers.

No, you'll need to also connect the amp's ground connection to a metal chassis grounding point close to the amp, such as a seat bolt.

The lack of a remote turn-on wire would not cause noise. It would only cause an amp to either not turn on or always stay on. There are wires in the vehicle that are only active when the radio can be turned on. We recommend contacting technical support for help locating such a wire. If you purchased the gear from us, you can contact technical support using the toll free phone number we include on the order invoice. Some line output converters can create the return turn-on wire for triggering the amp. Also, some amps have the ability to turn on when audio starts coming to them. Noise typically comes from other areas of the vehicle and is most often linked to grounding issues. We have a few articles on our web site to help diagnose and troubleshoot the noise: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYALc227/learnsearch/noise.html

Most batteries will include wiring instructions; but you'll run your power wiring in line with your main battery and then ground the second battery as well. If you got your battery here, you can call our tech Support for installation assistance. Their direct number is on your invoice.

It's possible so be sure and verify the fit there with your mechanic. From there, double check all your wiring and make sure you have the subs wired to a correct load to match the amp. If you got the amp here, you can call our Tech Support. Their direct number is on your invoice.

@@crutchfield thank you but I bought the sub pre wired in a box from skarr audio. Opened the box and found a loose ground. I fixed it now it works great!

Glad to hear it!

If your head/dash lights dimmed when the music played (commonly, when the bass hits) you may need to consider upgrading your vehicle's electrical system: bit.ly/2NFw4qi For additional assistance and personalized recommendations, feel free to contact us directly by phone or through our online chat service: bit.ly/2jBGHPp Hope that helps --Crutchfield

Add a capacitor, stores power so not a drain on cars electrical system.

Are you using a factory radio? It sounds like the blue remote wire is getting power constantly and the amp is not turning off when you turn your vehicle off with your key, draining your battery. If you are using a factory radio the Kicker 46KISLOC2 below taps into speaker signal and provides the 12-volt wire to power on/off your amplifier. The Kicker LOC is passive, only requiring a solid ground and speaker wire input connections for use. www.crutchfield.com/I-rYALc166/p_20646KILO2/Kicker-46KISLOC2.html

We make all the amp connections (power/ground/12v turn-on/RCA's if applicable) with the battery disconnected, and the main fuse installed removed from your main power wire. Once you have made your amp connections and double checked your wiring work, you can connect at the battery and install the main fuse as the very last step before testing.

Shouldn't the fuse be installed before connecting the neg. cable to the battery?

Hola Markonachy, Gracias por tu comentario. Pasaré sus comentarios al departamento correspondiente para que puedan completar un video más apropiado que satisfaga sus necesidades. Gracias, Alana. ext. 3246

We do not recommend installing an aftermarket amplifier to power stock speakers.

We do not recommend installing an aftermarket amplifier to power stock speakers.

The very last part of step two discussed the options for connection an amp with speaker level inputs. You can tap into those speaker wires either at the back of the radio or, if your amp is in the back of the vehicle, the rear speakers. Every Crutchfield purchase comes with lifetime tech support so if you have questions during the installation we are happy to help.

If I understand correctly, you are installing speakers and an amp to power them. If that is correct, speaker wire will need to be ran from the speakers to the amp

Sounds like you're planning a nice upgrade! What is the year, make, and model of your vehicle?

2001 honda crv , I read about Erins Crv install on crutchfield which im thinking of following except that i wont be be getting the same set up but ill try to replicate it power wise for example he was only running 2 polk speakers upfront which was 60rms 180max & his amp was 40watts x4 I feel like replicating his set up but just matching my power for example if my speakers are 100rms and I have all 4 installed I would atleast need a 800 watt amp to have enough power to drive them? Haha sorry for the long reply

Got it, thanks! The best amp match will depend on the exact speakers you use; but you can add one amp now for the new full range speakers and a second sub amp later when you choose a sub. Did you want to stick with Polk speakers? Will you be using an aftermarket radio with 3 sets of pre outs?

@@crutchfield I was trying to use polk audio but cant really find any on eBay I found some Prv Audio 6mr200A-4 which are 100 watts rms 200 program power and 400 watts max peak im thinking of getting 4 they are midrange speakers I also just installed a Pioneer DEH-S4220BT 1 din which has 4 rca inputs in the back

What would u think would be a good amp for those speakers and also would I be able to run the same amp for the door speakers and a sub ? Also how would i go about running my speakers to amp wouldnt that just be running them directly to the amp & not using the factory speaker harness

You can get speakers that will work on the builtin amp in a receiver. The subwoofer will need an amp to run. We have advisors to help you design a system and make sure you get everything you need: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc000/ContactUs.aspx --Crutchfield

What brand and model amp are you looking to install?

@@crutchfield asked my brother to help and got it figured out. 😁

Glad! Thanks for the update.

Welcome, Jackson! We have Sales Advisors and Tech Support here to help 7 days a week.

How many pairs of those Pioneer speakers do you have? Will the amp be connected to a factory radio or an aftermarket head unit?

@@crutchfield i have two pairs i also ordered a alpine ute-73bt from you guys

Sweet! So these Pioneer speakers can handle 80-watts RMS max. I would pair with the Pioneer GM-A6704 4-channel in the first link below, it would deliver 60-watts RMS and allow some headroom on the speakers so you could run a full-range signal to them with good results. The CK8 in the second link is needed for power and ground connections, you will need to add some RCA cables and speaker wire. The Crutchfield Reference 4-channel in the third link is available in 12 or 17-foot lengths and would go from the Alpine 73BT to the Pioneer amp. You will also need some new 16-gauge speaker wire to connect your amp to your speakers, so choose the right length of 16-gauge speaker wire in the fourth link below and you should have everything you need for install. If you have any questions or need any help getting the order placed, you can always give us a call at 1-800-309-2075. www.crutchfield.com/I-rFBKc166/p_130GMA6704/Pioneer-GM-A6704.html www.crutchfield.com//I-rFBKc166/p_007CK8/Crutchfield-CK8.html www.crutchfield.com/I-rFBKc166/p_007CMER417/Crutchfield-Reference-4-Channel-RCA-Patch-Cables-17-foot.html www.crutchfield.com/I-rFBKc166/p_007CSW16/Crutchfield-Speaker-Wire-16-gauge.html

@@crutchfield i appreciate you very much crutchfield

You're welcome, Kalvin. Let us know how you like it and if you need anything else.

It would be possible to cause damage

Anytime you are working on your vehicle the battery should be disconnected and the vehicle de-powered. If your fuse is repeatedly blowing, there could be an issue with your wiring.

A capacitor can help a system perform better by making more power available for a subwoofer amp. Typically, it is recommended to get 1 farad for every 1000 watts RMS power. Which amp are you wanting to get a capacitor for?

@@crutchfield Alpine R-a90S and R-A75M.. Which capacitor model should I use also?

Great amps! The T-Spec 1.5-farad capacitor is a good match here: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYALc921/p_12015DDC/item.html

2007 honda fit to b more exact

If you are installing an amp, that is the terminal that the amp's power wire gets connected to using a ring terminal. This terminal typically comes included in amp wiring kits but can be purchased separately if needed.

Hi Lloyd, we're glad to help. To verify, your car came without factory navigation or a factory Shaker audio system? Will you be maintaining the factory radio? What model amp do you have in mind?

@@crutchfieldcorrect, no navigation, no Shaker, just a standard factory unit I would like to keep.

@@crutchfieldI have no idea what amp or speakers I want. Just better sound. Considering doors & rear deck all 6x8’s.

We're happy to recommend new speakers and an amp to match. Do you have the coupe or convertible? Are there any speaker brands you love the sound of most? If not, what types of music do you listen to most often? Any plans to add a sub and sub amp later too? Thanks!

what kind of speakers?

Mofo So Dope JBL gto 690s

Mofo So Dope their 90watt component speakers

Typically you want to find an amplifier that's producing around 75-125% of your speakers RMS power handling. So for example, if you have speakers that are rated to handle 100 watts RMS, ideally you'd want an amplifier that's pushing somewhere between 75-125 watts RMS to get the best sound performance. For more details or help finding the right amp for your setup, feel free to contact an Advisor on the Crutchfield website: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc000/Support/Chat.aspx Hope that helps! --Crutchfield

We do not offer replacement factory amps. In fact, the gear we sell that helps install our amps onto a factory radio require the stock amp to be working which means this is not an option for you. We may be able to replace the stock radio with an aftermarket radio and get one that's built for installing aftermarket amps. Let's check your Genesis! Is it a 2 door or a 4 door? How many speakers can factory installed in it? Does the stock radio include navigation?

Hi, we're glad to help. To verify, the Kicker sub is rated at 300 watts RMS? And the Planet Audio sub for 1500 watts RMS? What is the exact model of your amp?

Yes to both questions. The amp is a crunch ground pounder gp-2000.2 2000 watt amplifier

Thanks! Based on the sub and amp specs, this amp is going to offer too much power for both subs. Planet audio lists the AC10D at 750 RMS. Since the power ratings for each sub is substantially different, using different amps to power each will work better too. Would you like help choosing a better match?

@@crutchfield Im actually looking at a different set now, the two subs are American Bass XD-1222 1000w 12". I was looking at the Belva BXA15001 1500W Peak BX-Series 2-Ohm Stable Class-A/B Amp. Is this a good match?

Looks like that amp also offers too much power. Would you like help choosing an amp to match the XD-1222 subs?

We recommend grounding your amplifier to the chassis of your vehicle, close to the amplifier. You can place the ground wire to a bolt, free of paint, or coating of any time, to ground your amp. If you purchased your gear from Crutchfield, tech support will be happy to assist you with your installation. Please have your order number handy and give them a call. You will find their contact information listed on your invoice, or by logging into your online account.

HI Joshua, what are you trying to connect specifically?

Hi there! That is an 8-gauge wiring kit made by EFX. Here it is: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc313/S-Wl0MlYHcWna/p_142PA8BX/EFX-PA8BX-Wiring-Kit.html Feel free to let us know if you have other questions!

@@crutchfield what kind of wires would I run for speakers to amp (4 door speakers) What wires for subwoofers to amp(2 subs 1 box) What wires for amp to aftermarket radio(5 channel amp) Thanks for the wiring kit link, currently have everything to do car audio but the wires

Sounds like most of the system is ready! Generally, we recommend 16-gauge wire for the speaker connections and 12-gauge wire for subwoofers. For the after-market radio to the amp, we'll need some RCAs. What is the vehicle you are working with, and where will you place the amplifier? What is the equipment you are using in the setup? We can send a cart with the gear you will need. :-)

@@crutchfield I’ve actually gotten everything done with the exception of a wiring harness for the new radio I have in the mail from you all. So as long as it all work after that comes in I should be good

Most factory 12v plugs don't have the necessary amperage to handle the power connection of an aftermarket amplifier. In order to get the best performance from your amplifier, you'll want to run the power wire directly to your battery. Hope that helps! --Crutchfield

+Crutchfield I went ahead and did it and it works fine.

What is the fuse rating and RMS wattage of your amplifier?

Hi Drew! We would be happy to over this with you, and provide you with personalized recommendations on getting the top performance out of your audio upgrades. Please chat with us online or by phone! www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc164/contact

It truly depends on how they are wired within the vehicle. Because of the various ways they can be installed, our technical support can help our customers through to make sure they are safe while installing the gear they got from us. If you got your gear from us, I'd recommend calling them using their direct line that we put on the order invoice. Or you could do the safest thing which is to disconnect the negative terminal for all the batteries.

under the 3rd row seat.

You may want to disconnect the negative battery cable first so that you can ensure you are safe before working with any of the new cabling/parts that were installed for the new amp.

@@crutchfield thank you bro! Been driving scared asf!

Happy to help any time, and good luck with that amp situation!

@@crutchfield mission successful I’m good 😂

Running a new power wire through the firewall will require a new hole of some sort. You would either cut a hole into a factory grommet that's big enough to support the cut. Or you can drill a hole into the metal of the firewall and use a bushing like this to protect the cable: www.crutchfield.com/I-rFBKc227/p_142WPG0/item.html

@@crutchfield with lack of resources in my country i may not be able to buy your aftermarket boot to support the 0 gauge, what else could be done, will be checking all the oem boots, and is it viable to drill a hole in the firewall, if so how?

If you can't find an existing opening for routing the cable, you will need to drill a hole or cut one. Most auto supply stores will offer some type of grommet.

@@crutchfield also, the 0 gauge i am using was short in length, and i got it extended by adding another 0 gauge of the same length, joint together by a ferrule which was then pressed/crimped. Is it fine to use that for something rated at 1500 to 3000RMS? (its under heat shrink, and done by a local electrician)

As long as the connection point for the two wires is secure so it cannot come undone or get exposed, then that is ok because wires are joined together all the time to install things like fuse holders or distribution blocks

You can run speaker wire from the amp to your speakers. Do you have a specific amp and speakers in mind?

No i dont. I just didn’t see where the wires to the speakers come from.

I watched the video again and I didn’t see the speaker being installed from amp to speaker.

Got it. Step 4 does mention the speaker wire; but does not show it connected on the amp side. Keep in mind, you can call our Tech Support for any help you may need installing an amp and speakers you get here. And be sure and check out our Amp Installation Guide: www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/car/amplifier_installation_guide.html

Wow, thanks for that link. I don’t know how I didn’t find it. It is very helpful.