Help out a confused semi-noob. Im installing part of my system from my 98 Camaro into an 02 Z71. In the camaro I had a 4-channel amp running a set of components and a set of 6.5in kicker free air subs. No problem. Well in the truck Im only going to run a [new] set of components. Still deciding on the brand. I really want to use the amp I have since I cant afford another one right now. Its my understanding I can use a rca y-splitter at the HU to split my front L & R into 2 sets of L & R outputs. Then I will somehow connect this to the 4 channel amp and somehow bridge(?) the amp to run the one set of components in the front. Make sense?? The amp I have is an MTX 4244. However, here is what the manual says. "Thunder amps are not recommended for loads below 2 ohms stereo or 4 ohms bridged." This amp is rated to put out 120watts x 2 bridged into a 4ohm load at 12.5 volts and 200watts x 2 bridged into a 4ohm load at 14.4 volts. I know these ratings arent anything to jump up and down about but I really need this to hold me over for awhile if possible. Thanks guys!

 

You should be able to get by without using a Y-adapter. When you bridge channels 1 & 2 together and 3 & 4 together typically you only need to connect the RCA cable to the Left input for each bridged channel. In other words the Left RCA from the HU would go to the Left input of channels 1 & 2 and the Right RCA from the HU would go to the Left input of channels 3 & 4.

You would then connect one set of components to the Left + and Right - of channels 1 & 2 and the other set of components to the Left + and Right - of channels 3 & 4

 

Interesting...I had no idea that would work. Shows what I know. So would this put the amp in a 2ohm stereo load or a 2ohm bridged load?? Thats where I get confused. Im assuming its a 2ohm stereo load since your taking L of channel 1 and R of channel 2. What would a 2ohm bridged load be with a 4-channel amp?? L of 1 and R of 3?

 

I forgot to mention that some amps have switches on them that need to be set accordingly for bridged operation. If your amp is the kind that doesn't have these types of switches then it may be necessary to use the Y-adapters. In that case you would put one on each set of RCA's from your HU and connect them to both sets of amplifier inputs. So both sets from the HU's Left channel would get connected to the Left & Right inputs for channels 1 & 2 and both sets from the HU's Right channel would get connected to the Left & Right input of channels 3 & 4. The amp would then sum the 2 signals together internally to give you your output for that set of bridged channels.

The speakers would still get connected as described above.

Since the 4 channel amp is now a 2 channel amp you can only hook up a 4ohm load to each bridged channel. There are very few amps that will allow you to connect a 2ohm load to 2 bridged together amplifier channels.

 

That answered my other question. I read that some amps have this switch but mine doesnt, so I guess I do need the y-adapter. So a "4ohm load to each bridged channel" means a 4ohm speakers L and R going to L+ on channel 1 and R- on channel 2? The whole 2ohm stereo and 4 ohms bridged is whats really throwing me off.