Smallest amp with speaker level inputs

[propellerhead]

I want to add an amp between the headunit and speakers in my truck but I don't want to go through the trouble of running speaker wires from the dash to the seats and back, then have to run a power line along a separate path. There's a small space under the radio stack that can take a 7" x 5" x 2" size component. If I can find an amp to fit that area, I will only need about two feet of speaker wire, and the amp will be hidden for a total stock look.

Anyone know of a small 4-channel amp that will fit in a 7" x 5" x 2" area?

[Aceman85turbo]

you can always put it under the passenger seat, I have also had a car where i was able to put a normal sized 4 chan in the dash behind the glovebox.( i dont know what you are working on but you could look)

[EW]

Alpine KTP-445
JL Audio XD400/4
JL Audio XD500/3!!!!

[Aceman85turbo]

wow that alpine is an awesome idea

[propellerhead]

you can always put it under the passenger seat, I have also had a car where i was able to put a normal sized 4 chan in the dash behind the glovebox.( i dont know what you are working on but you could look)

I don't really want to go through the trouble of running four pairs of speaker wires from the HU around the door sill to the seat then back. If I can't keep it local and hidden behind the radio stack, I'm not gonna bother. I don't want an amp that bad.

Alpine KTP-445
JL Audio XD400/4
JL Audio XD500/3!!!!

Will that Alpine Power Pack work for non-Alpine systems? Just cut off their connectors and wire it in?

[propellerhead]

Ok, I just read up on the Alpine one. Got one in stock, EW?

[RuStYpNuS]

what kind of headunit do you have now?? although most are probably only 25x4 even though they claim 45x4 i wonder how much of a difference that alpine inline unit would even make. what size (wattage) components do you have now?

[propellerhead]

It's gonna go into the factory radio on my 2010 F-150.

[RuStYpNuS]

Stock door speakers?

[propellerhead]

No. I already replaced them with Polk db571s.

[propellerhead]

Got it all done. Thanks to EW for awesome pricing!



I got this Alpine in-line amp. It is designed as a plug and play add on for non-amplified Alpine systems. It plugs into an Alpine head unit and the factory harness plugs into it. After doing some research, I found out that people are installing these on non-Alpine systems too.

The wiring harness is this Parrot adapter for some bluetooth thing. If you plug those two small connectors into the big connector, it's basically a pass-through cable. This allowed me to add the amp inline without cutting the factory wire harness.



I cut off the Alpine connectors, and cut the speaker wires (8 wires for 4 channels), constant 12v (yellow), switched 12v (red) and ground (black). Then I soldered and heat shrink wrapped the lines.



When I was done, I had the Alpine amp with a Ford connector on the ends. The bundle of wires included 4 speakers channels, constant 12v, switched 12v and ground -- all in one neat package. The only snag I ran into was the switched 12v (red wire) wasn't getting anything when you turn the ignition key. After a little spark chasing, I ended up using the orange with black stripe coming from the factory wiring harness and connected that to the blue with white stripe going into the amp.The Alpine amp had a bunch of other wires I didn't need. I just bundled them with a wire tie.



The wires that were on the amp were maybe 2-3 feet long on each end so everything reached the back of the factory head unit with the amp tucked behind this panel. It fit snugly so I didn't even have to bolt it in or anything.



This is what it looked like before and after the install. Nothing is visible. Nothing under the seats. Nothing on the back wall of the cab. Nothing under the hood.

As far as sound quality goes, it's a huge improvement over stock. It's not earth shaking like the $500-1000 upgrades but for my tired old ears, it's heavenly.

[EW]

Glad it worked out!

[Johnny Armijo]

those in lines are the shisnit

[BttleFedC10]

So basically this lil amp is for systems without subs huh? Wonder how it will improve my 2 polks and 1 pioneer speaker??? I actually have 2 more 6x9 polks that i havent installed, because I would need a small box built behind my seat. I just have 6x6 as kickers and a small 3 1/2 pioneer on top of the dash.

[propellerhead]

Yes.
Don't know but it really improved the stock stereo in my truck.