by Crutchfield's Buck Pomerantz
Jun 03, 2024
Some people think that installing an amplifier in their vehicle is hopelessly complicated and best left to a professional. That's an option, sure. But Crutchfield has been helping people realize they can do it themselves for over 40 years.
To that point, here are diagrams for a couple of typical amp installations to help you see how all the separate components fit together to form a car audio system.
The first diagram shows a total system upgrade using an aftermarket receiver, two amplifiers, and a subwoofer. The second is more specific. It shows you how to add a subwoofer to a factory system.
How to wire a full car audio system
This wiring diagram shows how a full-blown car audio system upgrade gets wired in a car. The system depicted includes new speakers, an aftermarket receiver, a 4-channel amp for the front and rear pairs of full-range speakers, and a mono amp for a subwoofer.
The extra gear you'll need for wiring the amps includes:
- a dual amplifier wiring kit
- distribution blocks
- speaker wire
- RCA cables
Capacitors aren't usually necessary in a car stereo installation but we included one here to show how it would get wired into a system.
How to add a subwoofer to a factory stereo
A lot of folks want to add bass to their system without replacing the factory radio, either because it looks good or is impossible to replace. The following wiring diagram shows the additional wiring you'll need to add a subwoofer to a factory system.
Start by getting a subwoofer amplifier or powered sub with speaker-level inputs. You'll need these items for the installation and to give it that professional touch:
- Use wire taps to get signal
- An Add A Fuse connector plus a 2A to 10A fuse to get the amp's remote turn-on voltage
- An amp wiring kit and some speaker wire
For further help understanding how to install your sub, check out our short videos How to add a subwoofer to a factory stereo and How to install a powered subwoofer.
Start building your system today
Now that you've seen how all the components and parts fit together, you can knowledgeably shop Crutchfield's extensive selection of car audio gear and start building your system.
Give us a call at 888-955-6000 and an Advisor will help you get what you need. If you want to learn more about installing amplifier systems, check out our Amplifier Installation Guide.
Comments (314)
Please share your thoughts below.
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Kay from Anchorage
Posted on 6/7/2023
Hey, looking for help to order a subwoofer for our car. It already has a kicker amp. The wire is bare for the subwoofer? Subwoofer is the only thing missing. I can post the model of the amp later...but trying to get a heads up bc I'm at a dead end. Do I need to get my husband new wires too? Or is it perhaps the model needed for the amp??? Our car isn't that old 2016..so I imagine the subwoofer is around same age. I really want to get this before father's day or at least before October. Any and all help is appreciated!
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 6/8/2023
Kay, With questions like that, it's always better to have a conversation with a real live human. Give us a call and talk to one of our Advisors. We can help you choose the right gear and give you the right advice on how to install it.
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John
Posted on 6/5/2023
I currently have a sedan with a Jbl stadium 4 amp installed under my passenger front seat powered with 4ga wire (120a in-line fuse). I want to add a Jbl club a600 in the trunk powering a Jbl Basshub subwoofer. Does it matter where I install the power distribution block? Is 120a main fuse at the battery enough to protect these two amps?
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Kirk from Jenkins Twp, Pa
Posted on 4/5/2023
What are you recommending when trying to get rid of alternator whine? I checked all of the grounds and even relocated as many as possible to the same exact location, no difference. I installed some noise filters on the stereo power and memory wires, no difference. I went over everything (voltage drops- all within .1 volt), resistance (0 ohms). It's horrific at low volumes but you can't hear it at higher volume.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/6/2023
Kirk, That kind of noise is usually induced due to a loose power or ground connection, but could also come from a defective device. You can use our interactive flowchart to help identify the source of the problem and solve it.
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Jason from Edmonton
Posted on 11/27/2022
I have a 2004 Sebring and I just added an aftermarket BOSS head unit. I have a 500 watt sub amp and a 10" 1000 watt shallow sub that I removed from my truck that I sold. I plan on adding that as a starting point but eventually upgrading all the speakers, and adding two subs. What is a typical alternator output requirement for this kind of upgrade?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 11/28/2022
Jason, A general rule-of-thumb for power in a car's electrical system is that one-half the top current capability of the alternator/battery/charging system is available to run accessories like amplifiers. A 500 watt amplifier might need as much as 48A (amperes) of current to run at full volume, so you'd look for a system that puts out a total of over 95A. For more info, check out Headlights dim when the music plays.
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Dylan from Fairbanks, AK
Posted on 10/29/2022
You forgot to add the most critical information about the amplifier wiring - the power wire and ground wire must be identical if possible, at the very least they need to be the same gauge wire, preferably ofc with silver coat or something comparable
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 10/29/2022
Dylan, If you can find and afford silver-coated oxygen-free copper power and ground wire suitable for car audio amplifier installation, please let us know how it would improve your amp's efficient operation and sound - and where one might get the stuff. But maybe you meant tinned copper wire, which is common.
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Patrick from Maricopa, AZ
Posted on 8/26/2022
Buck, I have a Kenwood HU that has 6 RCA jacks with 4 going to a Kicker 4 channel amp and 2 going to a 12 inch powered subwoofer in a Titan. The 4 channel and the subwoofer both need 8 gauge power wires. Should I run a (4 gauge?) to a distribution block and then an 8 gauge to each amp? What amp rating fuse do I need for the 4 gauge wire close to the battery. Do I need to run a fuse close to the distribution block for each 8 gauge wire to protect the 4 channel and sub individually ? The sub said to use a 20 amp on the power and the 4 channel 40 amp. Thanks!
See AlsoSubwoofer wiring diagrams — how to hook up your subsWiring subwoofers what's all this about ohms?How to install a powered subwooferHow to wire subwoofers? (Includes Subwoofer wiring diagram) Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 8/29/2022
Patrick, 4-gauge power wire from the battery to a distribution block, and then 8-gauge to each amplifier sounds good. The primary fuse should match the specs of the wire - 4-gauge would mean using a fuse rated no more than 150A. In your case, a 60A fuse - the sum of the two amplifiers' fuse ratings - will work safely. If your amplifiers don't have onboard fuses, you should also fuse each 8-gauge wire at the distribution block with each amplifier's appropriate fuse.
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Richard from Fort Worth
Posted on 5/17/2022
I just purchased a 5 channel amp from Crutchfield and I am keeping my stock stereo. When using the high level inputs, is it okay to use rear channel speaker wires for all required inputs? My stock stereo is only a 4 channel so I have to use the rears for channels 3 and 4 plus the subwoofer. It would save some hassle if I could jump them 3x instead of running wire all the way from the front of the car for input and then running another set of wires all the way back up to the front speakers for output.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 5/19/2022
Richard, If the rear channels are producing full-range signal, yes you can use them for your amp's inputs. If the bass or treble has been rolled off, attenuated, then you'll need to find some other source, like the front channels.
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Chris Hansen from Vaughn
Posted on 4/3/2022
If I only have two sets of rca's out of my stereo and am running an jl audio m800/8 should I just run it in 4 channel in mode, or y off rca's to fill up all 8 inputs? I am using all 8 channels out of amp.
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 4/4/2022
Chris, If you have two sets, four total, RCA outputs of your receiver, then by all means, use the 4-channel input setting to get eight outputs.
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Chris Hansen from Vaughn
Posted on 3/26/2022
Running all jl audio equipment. Just asking about rca hook up. Running head unit mm50, has two pairs rca out and one pair sub out. Amps are m800/8 running 6 pair 6.5 m3 and one m10ib5 second amp is 750/1 running one 10w7. Third amp is 600/4 running pair m880-ccx and one m10ib5. Plan was to run one set to m880 second set to 600/4 and third sub rca's to 750/1. Is this the best way? I have heard it's better to run all 8 channels into the m880 but is it worth splitting them up with y's?
Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield
on 3/29/2022
Chris, If your amplifiers don't have preamp outputs to help distribute input signals, Y-cords will work.
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Chris from Anchorage
Posted on 10/7/2021
Hands down MOST POINTLESS DIAGRAM!!
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