Car Stereos: A really basic (dumb?) question about speakers, honda civic coupe, alpine amplifier

Question
QUESTION: Hi Brian, i wanted to add a 4-channel Alpine amplifier to my 2004 Honda Civic coupe (also replacing the head unit (has 3 sets of preamp outputs) and speakers but that is not relevant to the question). My question is about the existing factory wiring to the speakers in the car.  If i install this amp, will i have to run new wires from the amp out to the speakers in the doors and the rear deck?  Can't i use the existing wiring that is already in place for these speakers?

ANSWER: Hi Nadeem,

You can use the factory speaker wiring if you wish, although you'll probably need to run new wiring from the after-market amplifier to a point where you can connect to the factory speaker wires.  Usually the easiest connection point is at the factory radio harness.  

In theory, when you're installing an after-market amplifier, the best option is to run new (larger) speaker wiring from the amplifier to each speaker.  In practice, the sound quality advantage in doing so isn't usually all that dramatic; and routing new wiring into the front doors of a Civic is not an easy task.  You might consider running new speaker wire from the amp to the rear speakers, as they're relatively easy to get to, and just use the factory speaker wiring for the front channels.

It's very important that the speaker wires are not also connected to your after-market head unit.  If you connect an amplifier's outputs to a wire that's also connected to a head unit's speaker outputs, then damage to the head unit is a likely result.

Hope this helps!

Brian



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank You Brian.  A follow up question.  If i run the front speaker wire from the amp to the head unit (so that i could utilize the existing wiring to the front door speakers) will i need special connectors/adapters to connect the wires from the amp to the existing door speaker wiring at the back of the head unit?

Answer
You'll need to cut the wire to make your connections, so you can use any type of terminal you wish.  You can solder and tape the connection, or use a crimp-type barrel connector or a quick-disconnect terminal set.  Just don't twist and tape the wires without solder, and don't use wire nuts; these aren't reliable connections in an automotive environment.

Brian