Just bought a new AM/FM Cassette for my Fiero. Question -- it has regular old stranded wires coming out for 4 speakers. But, it only has two RCA jacks coming out. Why is that?? I would much prefer to use the low level audio out as an input to my amp but where's the other 2 channels?? Am I dumb, or what??!!

TIA for any help...

Mike

If the older cassette units even had RCA outputs, it was usually only one pair. Even my older CD players only have one pair. You'll have to "Y" off the one pair, if you're using two amps, or better yet, get a 4 channel amp that only needs one pair of RCA outputs going to it.

The low level output is usually taken before the amplifier in the radio. Some radios have the fader circuit as part of the amplifier output. It is an inexpensive way to put the fader in. This means you only have 2 channels out (left and right) of the pre-amp stage. Some radios split the low level outputs to 4 channels before the amplifier stage. Yours sounds like it is just 2 channels. You can get "Y" adapters to hook it to 2 seperate amps or buy a 4-Channel amp. This takes 2 in and 4 out.

[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 05-13-2000).]

My amp (Baja 440) has 4 input RCA jacks. My AM/FM has only two output RCA plugs.

If I use Y cables to provide 4 inputs, is the 'fade' function gonna work on my radio???

Thanks,
Mike

[This message has been edited by mbramble (edited 05-13-2000).]

Correct, You would need to use the high level output to be able to use the radio fader. Also there might be a switch on the input side of the amp to switch between 2-CH and 4-CH input. A lot of 4-CH amps have these. If you did this your front/rear balance would be controlled by the amplifier gain controls. Once it is set you shouldn't need to mess with it anyways.

Thanks for the info...

I have a question similar. I have a JVC cassette head unit with 2 sets of RCA outs and a Kenwood 4 channel amp. I'm going with a set of 5 1/4" separates and a sub. Are the separates considered one set of speakers (out of the amp) or two? It says in the destruction manual something about "70Wx2 + 200Wx1". Does this mean that I can run my separates off of the "70Wx2" and the sub off of the "200Wx1"?? It would be nice not to have to buy another amp.

OK. I just read a little farther down in the manual. The rated power is only 35Wx2... The face of the stereo says it's rated at 40Wx4. Will I still get more power if I use the amp? I'm so confused!!!

Monkeyman, The 70X2 and 200x1 is probably MAX watts. Yes many 4-CH amps allow you to use 2 channels for normal speakers and bridge the other 2 channels for a single channel output at higher power. So yes you can run your 5 1/4's off of the 70W and put the 200W's to your sub. As for the 35X2 this is probably RMS watts The radio is most likely 40W X 4 max watts. The music will sound cleaner (less distortion) Than the radio amp because the radio amp Is in reality 20W X 4 and most likely a class B amp set-up. The regular amp is most likely a Class A amp which offers very little harmonic distortion. Even if you had a 20w X 4 seperate amp the music would sound better due to the quality of the amplifier as opposed to the amp internal to the radio.

Great! At least I don't have to invest in another amp. Thanx. Gonna try to order my speakers today, then get with another forum member about the sub. (Either 8" or 10" for a VERY good price-not free) If I can get the speakers in by this weekend, I might even be able to hook things up sometime next week!!!! If nothing else, I'll have a clock in the car!

hell i got a cd player with 1 set of preamp outs runnin to my eq that i can fade everything with one of my amps is a pioneer 35x2 and runs my polk ex series 2 4x6's and my 6x9's in my dash and my alpine 340x2 rms v-12 amp running my 2 12's and my 2 10's all in all i have 153db now and i have little power running to my mids and tweets and i can still hear all the treble over the bass soon i will have pics and the results of my db readings for ya all

TooLow
aka Bobby