car speaker/subs, please explain

[clancy]

right, looking for a sub at the moment but i really dont understand the info on them at all.
could someone explain what the whole 1 way, 2 way, component and what not?
and if i buy a sub do i need an amp aswell, and what should i be looking for in the way of amps? cheers.

 

[Goodj]

AMPs-
channels - amount of speakers it can connect to
1 channel - subwoofer amplifier
2 (or 4) channel - used to power 'normal' speakers
4/3 chanel -can power 2 'normal' speakers and a subwoofer
RMS - how loud it'll go, make sure this number (per channel) is less than which of the speakers you connect

Subs
Active - has own sub built in
Passive - needs an amp

Component - seperate cones of the speaker sit apart from each other
Co-axial - all the seperate cones of the speaker built onto one frame

# ways - how many speaker cones are for each "channel"

 

[jack_kemp]

Youre asking someone to explain car audio to you basically... That would take hours.

If you have no idea what you're doing, then get someone else to do it for you.

 

[Kane.]

Youre asking someone to explain car audio to you basically... That would take hours.

If you have no idea what you're doing, then get someone else to do it for you.

Wrong. I knew naff all about it, just went on car audio forums and asked around etc not that hard really, might be better off going to a shop and theyll help/teach you.

 

[rbrocky]

OP - well what do you want to know?
basically goodj answered most of the important stuff about the figures etc
all the rest aint too important unless you get deeper into it all

but also a 2 channel amp can be "bridged" to make an output for a sub - by using both channels combined

then with the wiring, not too dificult - easier if you are using an aftermarket head unit but still not impossible if you are using a standard one.
2 RCA cables from the head unit to the amp/active sub (L+R) and also a "remote cable" from the head unit (this tells the amp when to turn on and off)
remember these should go down the same side of the car (opposite to power cable)

which brings me onto the power cable - size depends on power going through it, but as a first project i dont imagine you will be running obscene amounts of power.
this goes from the battery and within 12" you should have a fuse holder with appropriate size fuse
take this to the amp.

then ground the amp to the to a "solid ground" within the car.
then from the amp your speaker cables to the speaker (usually 2 per speaker)

so remember the 5 different wires that go to the amp

+ve power - 12v straight from the battery
Ground - to an earthing point
the 2 RCA cables (gives the sound to be amplified from the Head Unit)
Remote Cable ( usually blue, tells amp to turn on/off)

thats the very basics of wiring up an amp and what is involved - hope this helps

BROCKY

 

[clancy]

cheers guys, yeah that helped. just basicly wanted to order a sub and wanted to know what im meant to be looking at etc

 

[Dink]

AMPs-
channels - amount of speakers it can connect to
1 channel - subwoofer amplifier
2 (or 4) channel - used to power 'normal' speakers
4/3 chanel -can power 2 'normal' speakers and a subwoofer
RMS - how loud it'll go, make sure this number (per channel) is less than which of the speakers you connect

Subs
Active - has own sub built in
Passive - needs an amp

Component - seperate cones of the speaker sit apart from each other
Co-axial - all the seperate cones of the speaker built onto one frame

# ways - how many speaker cones are for each "channel"

not really how loud it is, also the amp needs to have a higher rating