Audio Issues With An Amp

[farrelltravis]

I have the JBL head unit in my boat. It has two sets of RCA audio outs for an amp, one for the front speakers and one for the rear speakers. My dilemma is that my amp needs 3 RCA inputs, one for the front, one for the back, and one for the sub. Currently, I am splitting one of my RCA audio outs from the head unit to the amp to get a total of three outputs from the head unit. However, this reduces the volume on those 2 sets.

Any ideas on how to remedy this?

 

[txav8r]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but you can run full signal to your front/rear channels with the RCA's and set the amp up without direct feed from the HU. My 700/5 didn't have amp inputs for the sub.

 

[txav8r]

Correction, it did, but I didn't have any to input!

 

[farrelltravis]

I started off with a Kicker amp. That amp did what you are indicating and could only use 2 inputs for 5 channels. I now have a MB Quart amp that doesn't seem to allow only using 2 inputs - it needs 3 - unless I am missing something.

BTW - the Kicker amp had 1 channel that didn't work, so I returned it and ended up with the MB Quart amp.

 

[farrelltravis]

Here is the manual for the amp. I have the 5 channel amp. In the manual pdf, the 5 channel part starts on PDF page 8.

http://www.mbquart.com/manuals/amplifiers/mb_quart_nautic_amplifier_manual.pdf

 

[txav8r]

I am a "follow the directions" and get "good advice" guy on the tuning and amp setup. I bet @David Analog was glad to be rid of me by the time my system was done! But I think this is a setting function Travis, not sure that amp has the capability, but mine could take the signal provided by the 4 channels, set the filters, and put out the push to the sub. I am not sure if that is best, but that is all my HU could provide. What HU do you have?

 

[txav8r]

Lemme get a glass of vino!

 

[farrelltravis]

I have one of these for the head unit:

JBL MR140/145/145.2

 

[farrelltravis]

I know the Kicker amp would do exactly as you are describing Mel. I just don't see where I can make it work on this new amp.

 

[txav8r]

OK...just set the mode to 4 ch and be done with it!

 

[txav8r]

You can set that amp with a single set of rca's to supply the signal to ch 3/4 and 5. Or you can set it so that two sets of rca's can supply ch 1/2 and ch 3/4 and ch 5. Or...you can have 3 sets of rca's and 1/2 to 1/2, 3/4 to 3/4, and 5/6 to 5.

 

[farrelltravis]

Well, I will retry it with 2 inputs. I was pretty certain i tried that and got no audio on the sub on channel 5. I can easily try it again though.

 

[txav8r]

 

[farrelltravis]

Hmmmm, I will check it. I just have to reach in and plug/unplug some RCA cables.

 

[txav8r]

I forgot to point this out...you have to set the mode switch, in yellow, to 4, so it will trigger the amp to provide the 5th channel with the signal from 1/2 and 3/4

 

[farrelltravis]

Yes, I understand what you are saying. I was pretty certain I did what you are saying and received no audio to the sub at channel 5. However, once I had audio in to the 3rd set, it then worked. I will double check it. Right now the mode switch is on 5. I just need to do some swapping on the RCA cables and swap that to 4. Then we can see what happens. I hope it works!

 

[txav8r]

Wait...I may be misreading it. You may only want to connect one set of rca's from your HU to ch 1/2, then set the mode to 2 then it provides the 1/2 signal to channels 3/4 and 5

 

[txav8r]

I was expecting that you could supply signal with either 2 or 4 selected and get signal to all 5 channels, maybe not, and you need to only use channel 1/2 input and select mode 2, and it will supply the stereo input to all 5 channels.

 

[txav8r]

this is where I need help Travis, you need to set those filters too. I don't fully understand that at face value...but you want to filter out the lows to the coaxials speakers, and let the sub take care of that frequency band...now, how to do that?

 

[txav8r]

I am feeling a little inferior...everyone has music, but I can't hear my install from California! I have my work cut out for me...