HELP! Trying to install replacement speakers

chonkyfire · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 09:10 PM

I got some infinity kappa speakers today but i'm having trouble with them. They come with crossovers and the front speakers have 2 separate connections, 1 for the tweeter and 1 for the woofer. I guess they're kind of an integrated component system. Anyways, I had to strip the orignal speaker wire to splice it to the crossover and i squeezed the crossover unit into the little recession in the kick pannel for the speaker. When i turned the stereo on the speakers work but the sound is very soft and had alot of static. I have an Aiwa cd/mp3 player that has a built in amp supplying 45X4. I think i did everything right. Are they simply underpowered? The reccomeded power is 55W rms. Any suggestions?

C///M3 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 11:46 AM

A headunit's internal amp is no match for a power amplifier of the same rating. The seperates will sound a lot better with an amp.

Any possibility is that you wired something wrong. Maybe a + where the - should go? Recheck the connections...

pete · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 04:45 PM

a 45 watt head unit really puts out somewhere between 12-15 watts... sad huh?

chonkyfire · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 06:31 PM

Yeah you guys are right. I need an amp. Anyone selling a cheap 50X4 amp?

Erik325i-Texas · #5 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 12:14 PM

Did you bypass the stock amp?

chonkyfire · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 12:39 PM

Erik325i-Texas · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 03:07 PM

Since your adding new speakers it is a necesity to bypass the factory amp. The stock amp has a built in crossover. You can tie into the different outputs from the stock amp but you will not get a good signal unless you go directy from the headunit to the crossover for your next speakers. Your signal right now is going to your stock amp which splits up the signal into three different ranges. You then are taking one of those signals and trying to split it up.

Its not very difficult. You just have to run some wires which is very easy for the front speakers. I had the same problem and this fixed it.

chonkyfire · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 07:46 PM

Great, thanks! My head unit is powered by 45x4 so does that mean that i can only hook up 4 speakers? I have a total of 6 that i want to connect. Also do you know of a good write up on the web concerning stereo installation, particularily the wiring that you mentioned?

C///M3 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 09:06 PM

Well, its easiest done if you headunit as front and rear rca outs. THen you would be able to add all of your speakers.

Pretty much, it goes like this if you have an aftermarket amp (get a 4 channel so its easier for you to install)

Front and rear rcas to amp.

Front + and - wires from amp go into the crossover.

+ and - speaker wires from crossover goes to each one of your component speakers. So if you have 3 speakers, thats 3 pairs of wires from the x over to the speakers.

Erik325i-Texas · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 10:53 AM

Heres a site that I always used for reference:
http://www.eskimo.com/~dalus/bmw/bmw_e36.html

The stock amp is just hooked up to the speaker outputs through the harness. You have eight wires total and they should be color-coded. Unless your going to get a new amp you don't need to mess with rca ouputs. just take out all of the underpanels, glovebox, and kick panels so you can run your wires. Crimp, solder or however you like to connect your wires to the headunit and just find the easiest path to each corner of the car. The best way that I have found to get your wires to the rear of the car is to go down the center. you can tuck everything under the center consul and you only have to go under about 1 foot of carpet. Does that answer your question? If not what specifically do you not understand?
-good luck