How to set up an amplifier: instructions and recommendations. How to connect an amplifier in a car

The audio power amplifier is one of the key elements of a car audio system. We will tell you how to correctly connect it with your own hands. Installation of the amplifier requires minimal technical skills.

There are several types of car audio amplifiers.

1. A two-channel amplifier for a car involves connecting two front or two rear speakers. Also used to connect a subwoofer. Very rarely connect 4 speakers.
2. The four-channel car audio amplifier makes it possible to connect two front and two rear speakers. Another option is possible: in two channels - two speakers, and the other two channels are connected by a bridge to the subwoofer. In the case of a subwoofer, it is difficult to achieve good sound pressure. It is preferable to use two two-channel amplifiers.
3. If the unit is five-channel, four channels are for the speakers and the fifth is for the subwoofer. As in the previous version, when connecting a subwoofer, most of the power of the amplifier will go to reproduce low frequencies. It may not be enough for medium and high frequencies. A five-channel amplifier is a good option for listeners who are not demanding in terms of volume level.
4. Monoblock - amplifier with one channel for a subwoofer.

On amplifiers for a car, the connectors are combined into groups depending on the purpose:

Power connectors (power).

Three pins marked - +12V.

Power is supplied from the positive terminal of the battery. The power wire should not be thin. At a distance of 40 cm (or less) from the battery, it is advisable to install a fuse (pictured). It is designed to protect the electrical wiring of the car.

R.E.M.

The control wire is connected from the head unit (radio). The interconnect wire usually has a third thin wire, which is used as a control wire. It is needed in order for the amplifier to turn on and off with the head unit.

GND (ground), connected to the mass of the car.

The wire should have a cross section not less than the supply wire and be as short as possible.

Connectors for acoustic systems (speakers or subwoofer).

Speaker wires are connected. It is important to connect the "+" and "-" pins on the amplifier to the corresponding "+", "-" pins on the speakers. How to connect a subwoofer with a bridge to two channels? We connect one wire from the subwoofer to the positive terminal of one channel on the amplifier, and the second wire from the subwoofer to the negative terminal of another amplifier channel. We connect the free positive and negative terminals to the amplifiers with a short wire to each other (not required for all amplifiers, see instructions).

Line input (lineinput), sometimes there is also an output (output).

Represents RCA connectors ("tulips"), designed for connection to the line outputs of the head unit via an interconnect cable. If there are line outputs, then they are used to connect another amplifier.

Tools and materials for installing the amplifier in the car

• Amplifier
• Interconnect cable
• Supply cable, long enough and small enough to connect to ground
• Speaker wires. Those that come with speakers usually do not fit, as they are very thin
• Screwdriver
• A set of hexagons, needed for some amplifiers
• Wire cutters
• Self-tapping screws for mounting the amplifier.

Installing an amplifier for a car

1. We choose a place in the car. There should be good ventilation - the amplifier heats up pretty well. Also, the place should make it possible to get to the amplifier for tuning in the future.
2. We fix the amplifier with self-tapping screws or bolts.
3. We fix the main fuse with two screws near the battery.
4. We stretch all the wires to the amplifier (speakers, interconnect wire, power) and connect them. It should be noted that it is better to lead the power wire away from the speaker wires and the interconnect wire to minimize interference.
5. We supply power to the head unit, amplifier. Check for closures. Most amplifiers have an LED to indicate problems. If it lights up green or blue, then everything is in order. If red, it means that something is not connected correctly or has a short to ground. If the two wires leading to the speaker are shorted together (for example, at the speaker terminals), the protection is also triggered. Cheaper amplifiers may not have protection, so you should check everything carefully before applying power.

Now the sound amplifier for the car should be configured

There are usually several typical settings:

1. sensitivity level. On amplifiers, it can be indicated as "level" or "Gain".
2. Low pass filter. LowFrequency or LPF. Cuts the high end for the subwoofer.
3. High pass filter. HighFrequency or HPF. Cuts the lower frequency limit. Used when mid/tweeters are connected to the amplifier or these channels.
4. Crossover or x-over, switch between low and high pass filters. It also has a third position when the filters are not used (Full or Flat).

Setting up an amplifier for a car

1. We set the sensitivity level to a minimum (turn counterclockwise until it stops).
2. We turn on the head unit and make the maximum volume level (or almost maximum, until sound distortion appears), now smoothly turn the sensitivity control on the amplifier until noticeable noise and sound distortion appear, do a little less and leave. Caution: can be very loud.
3. We remove the volume level on the head unit (radio) to a normal level.

A subwoofer is an indispensable thing for those who want to get full enjoyment from listening to music. But the trouble is that the power of the radio is not enough for its normal operation. You have to connect an amplifier. And installation is only half the battle. You need to know how to set up the amplifier correctly. We will talk about this and not only in our today's article.

How to connect?

Let's see how to connect an amplifier in a car:

• First, the subwoofer and other speakers are connected to the corresponding connectors on the amplifier.
• Next, the device is connected to the radio.
• The amplifier will then distribute the signal automatically. Part will go to the subwoofer, and part - to the high and midrange speakers.

Understanding the design

On the back side of any amplifier there is a panel with connectors. It has two separate blocks. The first block - "Front" - is designed for the front channels. The second - "Rear" - is used to connect rear speakers or a subwoofer. It is this block that we will configure.

Acoustic Amplifier Controls

The process of tuning a car amplifier is to change the parameters, each of which has a separate function. For tuning even on the simplest amplifier there are controls:

• So, the Crossover Selector is nothing more than a filter switch.
• In the LP position, the amplifier operates in the mode
• When the regulator is set to the NO position, the operation is in the HPF mode.
• In the AP position, the filters are disabled and do not work.

In addition, there is a switch on the rear panel that adjusts the cutoff frequency of the filters. "Level" is a knob for adjusting the power level. And with the help of "Bass Boost" you can enhance the low frequencies, but you should not be too zealous.

If this is a high power device, then before that, experts recommend installing a capacitor.

Starting point for tuning acoustics

At the entry level, anything beyond adjusting the operation of the crossovers and gain level is irrelevant. In addition, it does not matter how the amplifying part is implemented. The basic principle is always the same.

Here's how to set up the amplifier:

• To begin with, turn off any sound adjustment schemes.
• If this is not possible, then the correction is set to zero. It is worth remembering that this is not the same thing - in the first variant, the signal will not go through the correction circuits. This means that its path will be smaller and the level of distortion will be lower.
• In passive crossovers, the RF control is set to about average, even if it is not zero. You should choose a value of -3 dB.
• In the case of active crossovers, the crossover frequency of the low-pass and high filters is initially made the same. The level should be around 75-80 Hertz.

The gain level on any channels is set to the minimum position. If all these conditions are met, then optimal basic settings can be achieved.

Gain setting

Adjusting the input sensitivity of the amplifier is an important step. Any manual for the amplifier indicates how to adjust this coefficient. But in practice, you can find that the level is set incorrectly. In the most innocuous case, these errors can only lead to inconsistent sound. At worst, there will be significant distortion (perhaps even some system components will fail).

If the tweeters are constantly on in the car, the incorrectly set gain is to blame. Subwoofers also burn, even if they are well and correctly matched in power to the amplifier. This sometimes happens to those who do not know how to set up an amplifier in a car, and are trying to squeeze everything out of the device. But sound quality doesn't have to be loud. The main parameter is its purity.

If the goal is not to achieve maximum volume, then the main thing in adjusting the gain is not to be greedy. You do not need to squeeze everything out of the device that it can. It is intended for other purposes. Speaker, amplifier - everything should sound clean. It is better to make a little mistake and underestimate the coefficient. This will reduce the volume margin, but the sound will be better. Given the power headroom that most low-end amps have, loss in extreme volume does not lead to a quiet sound.

Gain adjustment is very closely related to crossover adjustment. There is a simple rule - the narrower the crossover range for a particular speaker system and the steeper the roll-off, the more power can be delivered to the speaker. Hence, the gain can be higher. This is important to know before setting up an amplifier for speakers in a car.

The basic principles of adjusting the named coefficient are simple - in the process of listening to certain tracks, the level is smoothly increased until distortion appears. When a distortion point appears, the level is lowered.

Before setting the amplifier to a high ratio, you should decide at what volume distortion appears on the radio. Often this is about half the sound range, and sometimes even lower. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the coefficient on the amplifier within this undistorted range. So, if the radio scale has 60 units, then the range from 30 to 60 is not suitable, it is better to forget about it. These losses will be made up by the amplifier.

The first step is to set the described coefficient for the front speakers. In the most basic case, they can work through a passive crossover. Then they move on to the subwoofer channels. But here it is necessary to monitor not possible distortions, but the tonal even balance. It is necessary that the sound is not "thin" or excessively "fat". If there is a big difference between the power of the channels, then it is very difficult to get distortion in the subwoofer channel.

Subwoofer setup

Let's look at a simple example of how to set up an amplifier for a subwoofer. Let it be connected to Rear on the amplifier, and the front speakers connected respectively to Front. Experts recommend the following settings:

1. The bass boost is set to zero for both channels. The level or gain is also set to zero.
2. The crossover for the Front channel is set to the HP position.
3. For the Rear channel, the crossover is set to the LP position.
4. Then it remains only to adjust the sensitivity, using the gain setting, so that the sound is as harmonious as possible. It is adjustable for the front and rear channels as desired.

Here's how to set up an amplifier for a subwoofer in practice. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this. All you need is a good ear, acoustic tracks and enough free time.

Do-it-yourself setup without a subwoofer

In this case, the speaker system consists of four speakers. In this option, the settings will be the simplest. With such a scheme, the amplifier filters are disabled. All parameters are set to zero, and the crossover selector is set to the “Flat” position. With these settings, the speaker, amplifier and all other components will generate high-quality sound without distortion.

It remains only to set. This can be done by choosing from the ready-made equalizer settings. The volume is brought to 90 percent and the track starts. In the process of sounding, adjust the gain until the sound is loud and clear, without distortion. So you can set up a simple amplifier for an ordinary music lover.

Setting up household amplifiers

The principles of adjusting home amplifiers are practically no different from the above technique. But there is an exception - if this is an amplifier, and not a receiver, then often it has two channels and an equalizer.

At first, everything is set to zero, and then the desired frequency response is adjusted by ear and taste on the equalizer. Also adjust the input sensitivity so that there is no distortion at the output.

Conclusion

Here's how to set up an amplifier in your car or at home with your own hands. With high-quality audio recordings, you can adjust the sound so that everything is balanced, and the sound is clear and without distortion.

Everyone does something for the first time. When it comes to cars and electronics, it’s better to “measure seven times” (read) before you start doing something, it will be easier and cheaper in the end 🙂 I already wrote about that before. Today we'll talk about how to connect a car amplifier.

Let's assume that you have already chosen a car amplifier, and found a good place in your car to install it. Now we need to conduct good power wiring to power the amplifier, connect the acoustics to our amplifier and bring the signal from the head unit (radio). Now about everything in order.

1. Power wiring for auto amplifier.

Many who encounter car audio for the first time are very surprised by the thickness of the wires used to power the car audio system. Of course, in ordinary life you will not find such wires, except for the wire to the starter and wires from the welding machine 🙂 The fact is that car amplifiers have decent power and consume quite a lot of current from the on-board network. For example, a 4 x 50W amplifier will consume (very simplified) 200/12 (on-board network voltage) \u003d 17A. Impressive? Therefore, in order to deliver the necessary current to the amplifier, we need wires with a large cross section. Read how to choose a wire to power a car amplifier.

Here is a typical car amplifier wiring diagram. The power wiring connects directly to the car battery. In most cases, the battery is located under the hood of the car and the amplifier is somewhere in the cabin. Thus, the positive wire passes through the wall of the engine compartment and through the entire interior of the car. It is necessary to protect the wire with a special fuse installed as close as possible to the battery (no further than 30 cm). How to choose a fuse.

It is also necessary to protect the wire with additional insulation, most often a corrugated tube (tubing) is used for this. Particular attention should be paid to the place where the wire passes through the wall of the engine compartment. Gently guide the wire through one of the wire holes, usually with a rubber plug. Or use plastic wire grommets like in our photo. Do everything so that the wire does not get on the metal and does not fray.

Carefully lay the wire around the cabin so that it does not get under moving parts (steering wheel, pedals, seat skids - do not laugh, there are such mistakes!).

Stretching the wire through the cabin, connect it to the positive terminal of the amplifier. Connect the negative terminal to the car body with the same cross section as the positive wire. Choose a secure mount, do not use self-tapping screws, only bolts and clean the contact point well from paint.

Here on the left is a photo of the power terminals of a typical amplifier. We connect our positive wire from the battery to the + 12V terminal, the negative wire from the body to the GND (ground) terminal. The third terminal "remote" is used to connect the control wire from the radio. + 12V appears on this wire when the radio is turned on and thus the radio controls the amplifier to turn on. Usually on radio tape recorders this is a blue wire or blue with a white stripe.

It's also a good idea (not necessarily, but it's better if you do) to install a car capacitor. Why do you need a capacitor in a car audio system and how to choose the right one.

2. We stretch the signal wire from the radio.

Now we need to send a musical signal from our sound source (radio) to our amplifier. In most cases, we will take the signal from the (Line Out) radio ("bells" on the rear panel). Here's what it looks like:

Different radio tape recorders may have a different number of line outputs. A maximum of three pairs of them (not counting multimedia centers where there may be more) are exits Front, Rear, Sub those. line outputs for connecting an amplifier frontal X, rear acoustic systems and subwoofer. Select the appropriate output(s). Here we connect a special shielded interconnect cable. The choice of an interconnect cable is material for a separate article, here I will limit myself to advice - do not save on the "interconnect", choose the highest quality one as far as your budget allows.

We also need to extend amplifier control wire, which we talked about earlier. This can be done together with the interconnect, moreover, such a separate wire is already built into some interconnect wires. On the one hand, the control wire is connected to the radio (usually a blue or blue wire with a white stripe), on the other hand, to the amplifier. It makes no sense to choose a “thick” wire (large section), because There is very little current flowing through this wire.

Now the most important thing that beginners often come across: we stretch the interconnect wire away from all power wires !!! For example, if in the car the main wiring harness goes on the left side and we stretched our power wire from the battery there, then pull the interconnect on the right! Or under the carpet in the center, there is the least chance of “catching” interference from power wiring. If you run the signal wire along with the power wire, you will 100% get noise induced from the power wiring in the form of crackles, howls and other nonsense when the engine is running. Everything will have to be redone. So think about it ahead of time. Sometimes, in especially severe cases, the interconnect wires even have to be passed through the ceiling, there are so many sources of interference in the car. This applies mainly to modern premium cars, it is better to entrust the installation of an amplifier in such a car right away.

If you are installing a 2-channel amplifier, then you will need a two-channel interconnect, if four-channel, then you need two two-channel or such a four-channel. What to do if your radio has only one pair of line outputs (as in our picture above) and you need to send a signal to a four-channel amplifier? Then you can use the so-called Y-adapters (splitters). Such a splitter has one input and two outputs for each channel, so we get two stereo pairs from one. See illustration:

Normal modern amplifiers (Audison for example) have the ability to internally parallel the inputs, so you do not need a Y-adapter.

You can also take a signal directly from the radio outputs to the speakers(high level signal) if your radio does not have line outputs. Most modern amplifiers have corresponding inputs for this (Hi level input). We connect with ordinary acoustic wires, observing the polarity and not confusing the left channel with the right:

There are various schemes for connecting car amplifiers. We divided the connection examples by the number of amplifier channels:

Connecting a four channel amplifier

3. We stretch and connect the wires to the acoustics

Now you need to connect your speakers to the amplifier. We use acoustic wires for this. The topic of choosing an acoustic wire will have to be devoted to a separate article, more on that later.

You can stretch the acoustic wire without being particularly afraid of pickups, you can do it together with the rest of the wiring. It is almost impossible to catch pickups on the speaker wire, the easiest way is to “catch” pickups on the acoustic crossover, so carefully choose the location of the crossover away from the accumulation of wires, fuse box, etc.

The only difficulty with the acoustic wire (but on modern cars it can be not just a difficulty, but a DIFFICULT!!) is the pulling of the acoustic wire in the door. The fact is that, according to modern car manufacturing technologies, the wiring going from the passenger compartment to the door has a connector in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe rubber transition. Sometimes manufacturers did not forget about us installers and left space in the connector for additional wires. But in most cases there is no place for "extra" wires. Therefore, additional holes have to be drilled in the connectors, very carefully. See what it looks like (VW Passat B7 door connector):

In this case, some skill is required, the main thing is not to damage the connector, since repair can be very difficult and expensive. And of course, remove the terminal from the battery before doing this.

To be continued!!!

130033 Total 51 Today

Some motorists are not satisfied with the sound quality of the standard multimedia system. In this case, it is not necessary to change the speakers or audio system in the car. The situation can be improved by installing a power amplifier. Having selected the device for your needs, it remains to install it and connect it correctly to the radio, following the step-by-step actions.

Why do I need an amplifier for the radio in the car

Installing an amplifier in addition to the radio will not only increase the overall power of the audio signal, but also improve the sound quality. Plus, you can connect a subwoofer to the amplifier. Using an amplification device allows you to optimally tune the sound of your car audio system. By connecting the amplifier through a crossover, the sound is perceived better in the entire frequency range. It is important to understand that the voltage of the car's on-board network does not always correspond to 14.4V, which is necessary to ensure maximum amplifier power. In particular, this situation manifests itself when using a subwoofer: the output voltage of the amplifier at a lower supply voltage cannot drive a powerful load in the form of low-frequency (low-frequency) dynamic heads.

The indicated problem is solved by installing high-capacity electrolytic capacitors (1F). This element accumulates the necessary discharge and at peak load does not allow the bass to “sag”, i.e. the signal is juicy, clear, without any distortion. In order to be able to connect a subwoofer to an amplifier, the devices have a special output for a subwoofer. To improve sound quality, it is not necessary to replace the head unit and speakers. In this case, you just need to install a four-channel amplifier, which is endowed with compact dimensions and has a fairly high output power. If you seriously approach the re-equipment of the sound part of the car, then connecting an amplifier will not be difficult.

It is worth noting that many cars are equipped with regular audio systems with mediocre quality speakers. In order to achieve really high sound quality, you need to think not only about purchasing an amplifier, but also about replacing standard dynamic heads. Each car owner has the opportunity to choose the location of the speakers, as well as additional components. Many are quite satisfied with the installation of speakers with tweeters and tweeters in the front of the cabin. To install such a system, you will need a four-channel power amplifier.

How the amplifier works

To understand this, it is not necessary to delve into its electrical circuit and find out what elements it is assembled from. It will be enough to consider what happens to the signal when it enters the amplifier from the radio. It is generally accepted that the signal to the amplifying device is supplied with a small amplitude, after which it increases to a certain value. This reasoning is true, but only partially, since the amplifier creates a new signal, which is a copy of the input.

The signal is fed to the amplification device from the standard radio, increases to a level that ensures the normal operation of the speakers. As a result, the input and output signals differ only in power characteristics. Regardless of the amplifier, the design will have three main nodes:

1. input schema.
2. Power supply (PSU).
3. output stage.

Each sound source has a certain output voltage level. For example, one radio tape recorder produces a signal at a linear output with a voltage of 1V, the other at 3V. In this case, the amplifier must process signals with different levels. One signal, as a rule, is processed by standard devices and some amplifier models. However, most devices are capable of processing two input signals. If they have a high level, then they are fed directly to the load, at a low level, they first pass through an amplifying device.

It is important to know that the sensitivity of the input node must correspond to the level of the signal that is supplied from the radio. In the amplification device, the input sensitivity is adjusted, which determines the gain. If the input sensitivity is too high, the output signal may be distorted. In this case, it is controlled by the volume control on the radio. For a better understanding, we can say this: the sensitivity is adjusted in order to eliminate the discrepancy between the output levels in the car audio system. The correct adjustment of the sensitivity can be judged by the absence of distortion in the dynamic heads.

A node such as a power supply is designed to convert the voltage from the battery to a higher one. The need for such a voltage arises as a result of insufficient power from the on-board network to drive the speakers. One of the functions of a car amplifier is to increase and control the supply voltage. For this, a transformer is used in the power supply. Since the audio signal is variable, two voltages are required to operate the load (speakers): positive and negative. For their implementation, two voltages with opposite polarity are removed from the transformer. Combining these oscillations, you can get a variable signal.

If the PSU outputs +25V, then it must also output -25V, which is necessary to power the amplifying device. In the given example, the voltage difference is 50V. Having calculated the power according to the formula P \u003d U² / R, where P is the power of the amplifier, U is the voltage, R is the load resistance, with a supply voltage of 50V and speakers of 4 ohms, we get a power of 625 watts. The greater the difference in the power supply voltage of the PSU, the more power can be removed from the amplifier.

The output stage directly amplifies the input signal, which is then fed to the dynamic heads. The main element of the output node is high power transistors that operate in key mode, providing increased voltage from the PSU to the output of the amplifying device. This is realized by converting the voltage from the power supply into the required signal form. The transistors are controlled by an input signal: the voltage from the PSU takes the form of an audio signal, i.e., the transistors turn on or off depending on the input signal.

Types of amplifiers

Before you get ready to buy an amplifier, you need to find out what these devices are. Today, a large selection of the equipment in question is offered, but their main difference is the number of channels. There are amplifiers from one to six channels. In addition, devices are classified according to the method of signal amplification: analog (AB) and digital (D). Digital devices are capable of delivering high power with relatively poor signal quality. Analog, on the contrary, are characterized by low power with high quality.

Amplifier characteristics depending on the number of channels:

1. Single-channel. Mainly used for subwoofers. This type of amplifier is designed for a nominal load of up to 2 ohms. For larger loads, it is recommended to use a two-channel amplifier. A positive feature of such devices is ease of use. Since car radios do not have a bass volume level, single-channel amplifiers are equipped with a special volume control with which you can customize the audio system for yourself.
2. Dual channel. Designed to connect two dynamic heads with a higher power value than for a single-channel amplifier. A single high power speaker can also be used as a load.
3. Three-channel, although rare, can be found. They were replaced by four-channel devices.
4. Quad amplifiers are the most popular. They can be used for four speakers or used in two-channel mode and even connect a subwoofer. It is possible to connect two speakers and two subwoofers.
5. Five-channel allows you to connect four speakers and one subwoofer.
6. Six-channel for a car audio system is rarely used, since four speakers and one subwoofer are mainly used. In addition, such an amplifier is able to quickly discharge the battery.

How to choose an amplifier

After reviewing the types of amplifiers, it will be possible to decide which device is best suited for your audio system. It remains to give preference to one or another manufacturer. If you really want to get high-quality sound, then it is better to pay attention to the following brands: Infinity, Alpine, DLS, JL Audio, Audison. In addition, it is desirable that the amplifier be equipped with a fan and various signal level controls. It is worth remembering that a significant indicator is the sound quality, but not the power. The presence of an equalizer will not be superfluous at all, which will allow you to customize the sound to your liking. At the same time, you need to understand that a larger number of functions leads to an increase in the cost of the device.

How to install

After the amplifier is purchased, you need to choose a place for its installation and perform the correct installation, taking into account possible nuances. You should not install the device in the first place you like: most likely it will not be the best option.

Choosing the right place

Depending on the location of the amplifier, the length of the connecting wires will depend. It should be noted that when installing in the luggage compartment, you will need wires to connect the radio to the amplifier and subwoofer. On average, you will need about 5 m of wire for the multimedia system and 3 m for each speaker, which depends on the specific machine. Calculations are made in advance, since the laying of wires will be carried out under the skin.

When choosing a location, it is important to consider that the amplifier generates a lot of heat, so normal air circulation is welcome. It is necessary to avoid mounting the device in a side position or upside down, it is also necessary to exclude air obstruction, which is possible when covering with a rug or things. One option for installation space may be the space under the driver's seat. In this case, it will be possible not only to save on the length of the wires, but also to improve the sound quality, since with a longer length, part of the signal is lost.

In fact, there are a lot of options for mounting the amplifier, so it’s worth stopping at least briefly on each of them:

1. Front of the cabin or center. This option is optimal (vehicle dependent) as good coupling to the load can be achieved, resulting in an extended crossover frequency level.
2. In the trunk. If it is planned to install two amplifiers, then one is installed in front, the second in the luggage compartment. The connection will require longer wires, but the location of the device will not take up free space.
3. Rear shelf installation. The option is relevant for a car in a sedan or coupe, while the shelf must be strong.
4. Under the passenger or driver seat. There will always be free access to the device, which will ensure quick dismantling if necessary.

Wires for mounting

One of the important elements in connecting the device are wires. They are necessary for power supply and interconnection. Additional wires may also be needed. To supply power, the wire is selected according to the power of the amplifier. To this figure should be added another 30% for losses due to low efficiency. If we consider as an example two two-channel amplifiers with a total power of 200 watts, then at the maximum volume level they will consume 260 watts. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to determine the cross section of the wire, which depends on the current passing through it. To do this, we turn to Ohm's law: I \u003d P / U, where I is current, P is power, U is voltage. Since the battery voltage of the car is 12V, after performing the calculation, we get a current of 21.6A. It is recommended to buy wires with a margin, paying attention to the quality of the insulation.

Fuse

Since the power cable runs in close proximity to the body, a mandatory element in the amplifier connection diagram is a fuse, which in the event of a short circuit will prevent fire. The amplifier itself has protective elements, so it is recommended to install the power cable protection fuse near the battery. The element chooses in most cases with a face value of 50A. It is forbidden to install a part with a large value.

There are different types of fuses, but the most common are AGU and ANL. The former are used by amateurs because they have a low cost. The design is a glass cylinder, on which a metal tip is displayed, and a fusible insert is located inside. The design features of such fuses are their disadvantage. The problem is that the part consists of several parts that are connected by a fusible metal element. During operation, the fuse oxidizes and simply fails with constant vibrations. In addition, the contact in such a protective element is very unreliable. As for the ANL fuses, they are free from the listed disadvantages. The part is made of an all-metal plate, it is securely fastened in the retainer with the help of bolts. The chance of failure is minimal.

Interconnect cable

The sound from the radio to the amplifier is supplied using an interconnect cable. The quality of the signal that comes from the source directly depends on this element. You should not rely on inexpensive options or those that come with an amplifier: first of all, they are thin, the shielding is poor, and the insulation itself is weak. A high-quality wire must have strong insulation, solid shielding, and a good central core. The RGA connector itself must also be of high quality. When choosing wires, you can pay attention to manufacturers such as Tchernov Cable and Daxx. From the tools for installing the amplifier, you will need a set of screwdrivers and a wire stripping knife.

How to connect with your own hands

With a standard connection, the power wires are connected directly to the battery. Plus is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, minus - to the car body. Power is supplied to the amplifier and connected to the appropriate inputs: the positive wire (red) is connected to the amplifier socket, which is marked with the supply voltage. Negative (black) is connected to the GND connector. A signal wire is connected to the Remote jacks from the signal source, i.e. from the radio. In some circuits, a capacitor may be used, but, as a rule, it is installed complete with powerful amplifiers.

Step by step connection process

Having dealt with the connection diagram and having prepared all the necessary tools and materials, you can proceed to the process itself.

1. We install the amplifier in the place where overheating, obstruction of air exchange and getting wet will be excluded.

Let's start laying wires. First of all, it is necessary to lay the signal and additional wires going from the radio to the amplifier. Each car owner must decide for himself how to do this better, since there are no universal recommendations. In any case, you will have to remove the decorative trim of the cabin in order to lay the wires beautifully. It is important to know that the interconnect wire should not come into contact with the vehicle's wiring, which is energized.

2. We stretch the power cable to the amplifier from the battery. It is convenient to place it along the regular wiring. The fuse is installed near the battery at a distance of no more than 30 cm.
3. We connect the signal cable: on the radio into the Line-out connector, to the amplifying device into the Line-in connector. We also connect the power cable.
4. We connect an additional cable to the Remote connector on the amplifier and to B + Ant (blue) on the signal source.
5. We connect the amplifier with the speakers. If the connection is made according to the bridge circuit, then one channel of the amplifier is connected to the "+" load terminal, the other to the "-".
6. We install a capacitor near the amplifier (if necessary). The connection to the amplifying device is made with short wires.
7. Set up the amplifier in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The adjustment depends on both the amplifier and the radio itself, the presence of a subwoofer in the audio system.

Connecting an amplifier to a radio without tulips

What if the radio does not have tulips, i.e., a linear output? As a rule, standard devices do not have such connectors. The connection process becomes more complicated, but the problem is still solvable and a matching adapter is used for this. To implement a linear output into the radio, perform the following steps:

1. Purchase a line-out adapter. The device allows you to match the output signal with the input of the amplifier.
2. Remove the radio and attach an adapter to it, which will allow you to connect it to the amplifier. After connecting the input wires of the adapter to the radio, set the value of the output signal, which must correspond to the characteristics of the amplifier.
3. The adjustment must be done carefully, because it depends on how good the sound will be.
4. The adapter is taped to the harness with wires. To avoid the appearance of knocks on the body of the device against other structural elements, the adapter is wrapped with foam rubber and fixed with electrical tape.
5. A signal cable is connected to the output connectors of the adapter, and power wires are connected to the amplifier. Line wires are connected in accordance with the marking. After turning on the amplifier, you need to pay attention to the sound of the speakers: each should sound in accordance with its channel and location.
6. Check the balance ratio: turning the knob to the right position - the sound should be observed only in the right speakers, in the left - in the left ones. In addition, it is necessary to check the output signal level: the volume control is set to approximately 70% of the maximum value, after which the volume is reduced to a minimum. If no distortion was observed in the sound signal during the performed manipulations, then the connection was made correctly.

How to connect two or more amplifiers

As a rule, two or more amplifiers are connected by those who want to achieve high sound quality and increase signal power. However, there are some difficulties with this option:

• with power connection;
• with RCA cable connection to several amplifiers;
• with remote activation of amplifiers.

If the installation of the first amplifier was carried out without a capacitor, then with several devices it still has to be installed. The scheme, in accordance with which the power supply of several amplifiers will be organized, is selected based on their power. You can connect two amplifiers using one capacitor, connecting it in parallel with the battery. As for connecting an RCA cable, you need to proceed from the requirements for a particular amplifier. For example, when two amplifiers are connected, the same frequency band is reproduced. In this case, it is enough to use the output connectors on the devices themselves, if any. You can also separate channels by input using a crossover.

To remotely turn on the amplifier, a +12V voltage is applied to the REM connector of the device, power is taken from the antenna on the radio. The problem with connecting multiple amplifiers is that the load on the head unit can be too large. At best, the amplifiers will not turn on, and at worst, the radio tape recorder may fail. The situation can be solved by installing a relay on the remote switching circuit. The element is connected quite simply: when the head unit is turned on, the relay is activated, +12 V is supplied through it to the REM connector of the amplifiers.

Video: how to connect an amplifier with your own hands

Do-it-yourself installation and connection of an amplifier is not a time-consuming procedure. Even if you are faced with this for the first time, it is enough to purchase the necessary items and familiarize yourself with the step-by-step process. The main thing is to choose the right place for installation, when connecting, observe the polarity of the power supply, make the connections reliable and, upon completion of work, check the connection diagram. It remains to check the performance of the device.

You always want to take music with you. The car is no exception. However, I want to not just take it, but also so that it is pleasant to listen to. Standard acoustic systems installed in cars, in most cases, do not give out the required. In order to rock your car acoustically, an additional system is installed, which includes an amplifier and an extended circuit of multi-frequency speakers.

Varieties of car amplifiers

1. Amplifier of two-channel type. This unit is designed to provide sound to two speakers (front or rear) and a subwoofer. Very rarely, channels are divided into four speakers.
2. Amplifier of four-channel type. Can provide sound to four speakers or two speakers and a subwoofer.

Important! When connecting two speakers per channel and a subwoofer per channel, it is very difficult to achieve pure sound.

1. Amplifier five-channel type. Four speakers and a subwoofer can be connected to it. Each element connects to its own channel. The disadvantage of such a device is that most of the power of the amplifier goes to the subwoofer, as a result of which the sound will not be even. Low frequencies will go off scale with a lack of high frequencies.
2. A monoblock is a device designed to amplify the sound that goes only to the subwoofer.

Factors Affecting Amplifier Installation

- the device should not interfere with the driver and passengers, should not spoil the interior and should not take up much functional space;

- the amplifier must be screwed to the car body, and not to moving parts;

– the device must be well cooled, i.e. it should be located in a large space, and not in a small box;

– wiring should be simple. The speaker wiring must be a separate bundle from the main wires of the machine.

Interesting! If you connect all the wires into one bundle (main and music), then when the car is running, interference will be heard in the speakers.

Amplifier installation locations

1. Under one of the front seats. Pros: close to power source, radio; does not occupy functional space. Cons: overheats, inconvenient to do the wiring of acoustic wires.
2. Under the back seat. Pros: does not take up useful space, does not overheat. Cons: as a rule, there is not enough space, and, consequently, the low power of the device; away from the radio and power supply.
3. Under the trunk lid. Pros: a lot of space for placement (you can install any device in terms of power), excellent ventilation, does not take up useful space, does not interfere. Cons: if the trunk shelf is very thin or flimsy, then the amplifier can create extraneous sounds, loosen the shelf, and connectors can loosen in it; if the amplifier is designed to power not only the subwoofer, but also the speakers, then it is very inconvenient to do the wiring.
4. Place on one side of the trunk. Pros: easy installation, does not take up much functional space, convenient connection, you can install several amplifiers, good cooling of the device. Cons: far from all devices.
5. On the trunk lid. Do not occupy space, good ventilation, convenient connection, beautiful. Cons: the device and the trunk lid itself may become loose, wires may be shorted at kinks, far from all devices.
6. On the back of the rear seats. Pros: a lot of space for installation, good cooling, convenient installation, the ability to distribute wiring in detail on different sides of the machine, powerful fastening, does not take up functional space. Cons: wire breaks are possible with frequent folding of the backs, far from the sources.
7. on the wall of the subwoofer. Pros: close to acoustics, does not take up extra space, installation and dismantling are simple, powerful cooling. Cons: strong vibration of the sound source can damage the amplifier.

Choosing the wires to connect the amplifier

Now let's look at how to connect an amplifier in a car. Now on sale there are whole sets for connecting acoustics at once. However, the quality of the wires in the kits is rather dubious. The best option is to buy special speaker wires.

Important! Household wires are not suitable for connecting the speaker system.

For the rear and front speakers, a PVA cable with a cross section of 2x2.5 mm will go, for high-frequency (tweeters) a wire with a cross section of 2x1.5 mm is suitable, for a subwoofer 2x4 mm.

Important! Rule: the longer the conductor, the thicker it should be.

The amplifier is powered from the battery with wires such as KG-25 or 35.

Connectors in the amplifier

Connector + 12V - it is powered by the battery. A fuse must be installed between the battery and the amplifier.

REM - control connector, designed to create a connection with the radio. The equipment through this wire will turn on and off along with the radio.

GBD - mass connector. The wire should be as short and thick as possible.

Line connectors - designed to connect speakers and a subwoofer. The subwoofer can be bridged into two line connectors: the minus of the subwoofer is connected to the minus of one connector, and the plus of the subwoofer is connected to the plus of the second connector. We connect the remaining “+” and “-” in the connectors to each other (it is necessary to read the instructions, since this operation is not required for all devices).

RCA (tulips) - for connecting the head unit.

Do-it-yourself installation of an amplifier in a car

And now about how to install the amplifier in the car.

1. We fix the amplifier in the selected place with screws or bolts.
2. The next step is to connect the amplifier to the radio. If the device is four-channel, then two interconnect wires are required, if it is two-channel, then one wire is needed.
3. After that, the amplifier is connected to a power source. The mass can be found on the body of the machine.
4. We connect the control wire.
5. It is recommended to install a capacitor between the battery-amplifier. It will prevent battery drain and equipment failure.
6. Then we connect all speakers and a subwoofer to the device. When connecting, observe the polarity, and also ensure that the wires are securely fastened, as they move away from vibrations and contact is lost.

Setting up the amplifier

Traditionally, several settings are used.

The sensitivity on the amplifier is referred to as Level, possibly Gain.

LowFrequency (LPF) - low pass filter. This adjustment allows you to cut the maximum low frequencies of the subwoofer.

HighFrequency (HPF) - cuts the low end of high frequencies. Designed to adjust high and midrange speakers.

Crossover or x-over - switch between high and low pass filters.

Customization option:

1. Turn the sensitivity to the minimum.
2. On the radio we set the maximum volume or almost maximum. Until the sound begins to distort. Now we begin to rotate the sensitivity control on the amplifier until significant sound distortion is heard. We turn off to a slightly lower level and leave.
3. Turn down the volume on the radio.

These are not complex theoretical knowledge that will help you choose a good amplifier and correctly place it in the cabin.

Video on how to connect an amplifier to a car