Update and a couple more questions...
I decided on this pioneer amp to drive the 12" pioneer champion series subwoofer. It's a 500 watt rms 1000 watt peak at 4 ohm. I am trying to stay with one brand when it comes to the subwoofer to hopefully get better characteristics. My thinking behind getting this pioneer amp is then use the JL audio 360/4 amp to power the infinity speakers in car.
This pioneer amp is refreshingly simple basically gain and fq adjustments... and a wired bass control. and that it. It fits the bill nicely as it DID add more punch at all volumes, and comes in STRONG on the upper end on the scale. I bought it new but for 45% off the mrsp so it was differently worth it.
But now the questions!.
How would I go about using the JL audio 360/4 amp to power the in car infinity speakers?
Is this where a distribution block comes in the play for the power and grounds of additional amp?
Would I use the "output" on the pioneer amp to send signal to the JL audio amp?
How would you go about installing and hooking up this JL audio amp?
Thanks!
ok now you've crossed into needing a bigger alternator, the 360w JL could just keep up at idle, the cap was a band-aid fix just to "keep up".. If you install this pioneer you will definitely need to upgrade the alternator. Not to mention you're also wanting to power the JL audio amp for the 4 speakers (I think it's 4) inside the cabin.
@meep is getting into the "serious" part of car audio, not playing around at all! I like it! But @1 SX how much $$$ are you wanting to put into this? That's going to be the big question..
Usually you can use speaker (wire) level outputs from the radio into the amp, but it just gets too messy and I mean that the signal isn't that clean. You're ok right now with tapping into it for the sub, but for the regular speakers it's not that great. Meep is right, you're going to need the crossovers to bring the speaker level inputs into the line-level (think RCA plugs) inputs. Plus a parametric EQ is very nice, it allows you to set the frequency mid point you want to adjust, instead of a fixed frequency, lots of fine tuning adjustments, and yes I've been there with fixed frequencies, it's limiting, sometimes you get lucky with the pre-sets.. and other times you don't.
You're definitely jumping into the deep waters of car audio, but if you want it done right, you'll have to do more studying, please do not just buy stuff without a full dive into more knowledge about crossovers, parametric eq's and dsp's.. the dsp's were a real gift when they came along!
but.. first step is a new alternator.. have to see what the current draw of the whole audio system is, minus what you need to drive the car..
also.. you can use the factory radio/headunit but if you're going into multi-amp setups.. the dsp's will be needed because who knows how the factory has tuned (read: EQ'd the signal). Might be better to get a new headunit, with multiple pre-amp/line outputs. So hold up.. and study...
Lots of homework for you... there will be a quiz later!!
check out crutchfield.com they have a lot of your basics that you can begin to learn more of what goal you're after.. (see here at Researcher's Car Audio, we even supply the study materials.. lol)