Help Installing Sound System

[hulk311]

I am having a hard time figuring out how to install my new system. Here are my components:

• Kenwood Excelon X494
• Clarion EQS746 1/2 DIN Graphic Equalizer with Built-in Crossover
• 1 pair of CDT speakers
• IDQ 12" Sub
• 4 channel hifonics amp (an old one, not one of the current ones that aren't as good)

Also, I will be hooking up my iPhone to the deck as well, not sure if that matters with the setup or not.

I have three question:

1. How exactly do I hook up all of the RCA cables (Seems like there's a lot of different ways, which one would be the best)?
2. Do I set the equalizer on the Kenwood deck or the Clarion?
3. Correct me if i am wrong but I think I can set the gains on the deck, equalizer, and the amp? Which component should I do this on?

Also I'd like some clarification on how to hook up three wires from the equalizer:
ground wire
power wire
Remote turn on

Can I hook up the power wire from the equalizer to the headunit power wire instead of the car battery? Do I just splice the two wires together?
The remote turn on wire, is that part of the wires that comes with the headunit or do I have to buy this wire?

 

[shadow247]

I am having a hard time figuring out how to install my new system. Here are my components:

• Kenwood Excelon X494
• Clarion EQS746 1/2 DIN Graphic Equalizer with Built-in Crossover
• 1 pair of CDT speakers
• IDQ 12" Sub
• 4 channel hifonics amp (an old one, not one of the current ones that aren't as good)

Also, I will be hooking up my iPhone to the deck as well, not sure if that matters with the setup or not.

I have three question:

1. How exactly do I hook up all of the RCA cables (Seems like there's a lot of different ways, which one would be the best)?
   
   Front RCA to 1/2 input on the AMP. Rear RCA's to 3/4 input.​
2. Do I set the equalizer on the Kenwood deck or the Clarion?
   
   If you've got a secondary equalizer, leave the Deck at nuetral settings and use the Clarion equalizer to set your tones.​
3. Correct me if i am wrong but I think I can set the gains on the deck, equalizer, and the amp? Which component should I do this on?
   
   Gain is only set on the amplifier. See the following link for the PROPER way to set gains. How to Set Your Gains​

Also I'd like some clarification on how to hook up three wires from the equalizer:
ground wire -Use the Seat mount bolt
power wire Run an 8 gauge wire with a fuse from the battery
Remote turn on Use the BLUE wire from your Kenwood deck

Can I hook up the power wire from the equalizer to the headunit power wire instead of the car battery? Do I just splice the two wires together?
The remote turn on wire, is that part of the wires that comes with the headunit or do I have to buy this wire?

NO NO NO NO! You need to run a separate FUSED power wire form the battery directly to the amp. The TURN ON wire is the BLUE wire coming from your head unit. Extend that wire from the headunit to the REMOTE input on your amplifier. DO NOT use the poewr output wire from your equalizer. If you run the +(power) wire to your amplifier off of the equalizer, ou are guaranteed to burn up your equipment.​

If there are another other things you need help with, feel free to PM me. I have plenty of experience in car audio and can help you not burn up your new equipment.

 

[hulk311]

Thanks for the info. The equalizer came with this power wire, is there anyway I can hook it up to the headunit?

 

[jimmied]

All of the above but i would just run one set of rcas from front output to front 1/2 input on amp and set crossover to HP for the fronts. I would then run a second set of rcas from sub out on head unit to rear input 3/4 on amp and set it to LP filter for the sub.

Run your rear speakers off of built in radio power from deck harness.

I would just not use the clarion eq if I was you. With the basic questions you are asking, I would try to keep it as simple and clean as possible. The eq will just add in more trouble than you probably need.

 

[shadow247]

Where are you located at? If you are in the Virginia area I'd be happy to give you some hands on help. I have installed enough stereos in the last 10 years that I'm sure I could help you put together a decent sounding system even with the 7 beer and 2 glass of wine buzz I've got going now.

 

[hulk311]

I have the following components:

Kenwood Excelon X494
Clarion EQS746 1/2 DIN Graphic Equalizer with Built-in Crossover

The iphone can be hooked up to the HU or to the equalizer via rca aux inputs. Does it matter which component I hook up the iphone to?

I was thinking it doesn't matter if I hook up the iphone to the HU because the radio and CDS are played through it also, and they go through the equalizer.

However, the equalizer has a button where I can switch between main source and aux source (and the aux source has its own gain).

If I should hook up the iphone to the equalizer which cables do I need? I know I need RCA cables but what about the cable that hooks up to the iphone? Do I need a 3.5mm with splitter into rca cables?

Is there anyway I can piggy back the power on and remote cable either from the HU or the amp?

 

[riceandpho]

if the kenwood controls the ipod better use that, use the front preout of the kenwood and hook it to the input of the eq, make sure on the kenwood all the eq on that is flat, the clarion is going to be the main eq.

 

[jimmied]

I have the following components:

Kenwood Excelon X494
Clarion EQS746 1/2 DIN Graphic Equalizer with Built-in Crossover

The iphone can be hooked up to the HU or to the equalizer via rca aux inputs. Does it matter which component I hook up the iphone to?
I would use the head unit for more control

I was thinking it doesn't matter if I hook up the iphone to the HU because the radio and CDS are played through it also, and they go through the equalizer.
Yes, it should not matter much in terms of sound but the head unit will give you more control over iphone/ipod

However, the equalizer has a button where I can switch between main source and aux source (and the aux source has its own gain). I would not use this gain to control between sources, you could end up over driving amps if you set it up incorrectly and cause something to clip or cut out.

If I should hook up the iphone to the equalizer which cables do I need? I know I need RCA cables but what about the cable that hooks up to the iphone? Do I need a 3.5mm with splitter into rca cables?
You will need the 3.5 to aux if you plan on using this. I would just use the input on the head unit.

Is there anyway I can piggy back the power on and remote cable either from the HU or the amp?

Yeah, you can run the remote lead to both the amps and eq from the remote out lead from H/U

 

[jimmied]

I am still confused on how you are powering rear speakers? if using the head unit than they eq will have no control over their sound...maybe you can add a sub amp and use your 4ch for your main speakers in doors.

I will restate this but you need to slow down and think out your whole plan before you just start hooking everything up and having to redo and change things around later. Get it right the first time and be done.

 

[hulk311]

Quick stereo installation question.

Ok so I have decided not to use an equalizer. I'd like to hook up my headunit to a pair of speakers and sub and use a 4 channel amp and divide it into 3 channels, one for each speaker and two for the sub.

My question is how many RCA cables do I need and will I be needing any Y-splitters? Here is the back of my headunit.

The KDC-X494 features front, rear and subwoofer 4V preamp outputs. So I think for the sub I can just use one pair of RCA cables and hook those up to the 2 channels on my amp. But for the speakers I think I will need a Y-splitter so that the end of the y cable will be going into the amp, and the one pair of RCA ends will go into the y cable? I will do this for both L and R speakers. Does this sound about right?

 

[stevec5000]

Ok so I have decided not to use an equalizer. I'd like to hook up my headunit to a pair of speakers and sub and use a 4 channel amp and divide it into 3 channels, one for each speaker and two for the sub.

My question is how many RCA cables do I need and will I be needing any Y-splitters? Here is the back of my headunit.

The KDC-X494 features front, rear and subwoofer 4V preamp outputs. So I think for the sub I can just use one pair of RCA cables and hook those up to the 2 channels on my amp. But for the speakers I think I will need a Y-splitter so that the end of the y cable will be going into the amp, and the one pair of RCA ends will go into the y cable? I will do this for both L and R speakers. Does this sound about right?

RTFM? There should be some good pictorials in the manual showing how to hook it up. If you didn't get the manual with it you can Google it and probably download one.

 

[jimmied]

Ok so I have decided not to use an equalizer. I'd like to hook up my headunit to a pair of speakers and sub and use a 4 channel amp and divide it into 3 channels, one for each speaker and two for the sub.

My question is how many RCA cables do I need and will I be needing any Y-splitters? Here is the back of my headunit.

The KDC-X494 features front, rear and subwoofer 4V preamp outputs. So I think for the sub I can just use one pair of RCA cables and hook those up to the 2 channels on my amp. But for the speakers I think I will need a Y-splitter so that the end of the y cable will be going into the amp, and the one pair of RCA ends will go into the y cable? I will do this for both L and R speakers. Does this sound about right?

You will need two pairs of rca's. One running from front to channels 1/2 and one set running from sub out to channels 3/4. Bridge channels 3/4 to run the sub, run the front speakers off the amp channels 1/2 and run your rear speakers through radio power using the adaptor harness in dash.

 

[hulk311]

All right thanks, I don't know why I always make stereo installation harder than it has to be. I will be buying two of these RCA cables:

https://www.monoprice.com/products/...=10218&cs_id=1021814&p_id=2866&seq=1&format=2

 

[jimmied]

You wont need anything that long. Maybe 15' will work. Shorter if amp fits under passenger seat.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

You definitely don't need 25 ft ones, I was able to run a 17 ft power cable from my engine bay all the way to the opposite end of my 4runner to power a JL amp in the stock location. 25 ft seems way too long. The RCA's I used were 16 ft I believe and I had tons of extra slack

 

[hulk311]

Good thing I double checked. I need less than 10 feet of cable, the amp is attached to the back of the seat behind the passenger in the back row.

 

[riceandpho]

12 feet is only long enough, if u only run it down the middle, having like a 16ft of cable is better, u do that u can run it on the side faster install. Longer is better than shorter, what happens if it was too short and u spent over an hour just on that cable?

 

[06ryan27]

I ran 3 strands of 16 feet around the side to mount my amp in the same place, I didnt read all of this, but, why do you need a equalizer when your running a x494?? I could see if you had a radio from the 90's