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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: d stroud on March 07, 2008, 07:42:11 pm

Title: Anyone runnin an Amp(s) with factory Radio?
Post by: d stroud on March 07, 2008, 07:42:11 pm
Has anyone ever hooked an amp to the factory stereo?

This is in my '85 Sierra.  I really hate to cut the dash in this truck.  I bought one of the Ken Harrison stereos that fit the factory opening but, to tell you the truth, it sounds worse than the factory unit did.  I just don't like it.

I've got a Jensen JPA460 and JPA260 amps (don't laugh, I have em so I'm gonna use em  ;), 2 Kenwood 6 x 9's and 2 Polk Audio 3.5" along with a Kenwood 10" and Visonix 10" woofers.  Probably just gonna use one of the subs.

I was considering runnin my factory stero through the JPA460 to drive the 4 corners and then bridge the JPA260 to drive the woofer.  

Can this be done?  Running an amp with a factory head unit?  If not, I do have a Kenwood head unit that I could run, but I really, really, don't want to have to cut the dash.

If nothing else, I could leave the Ken Harrison unit in and hook the amps to it.  But, If possible, I would really like to use the factory unit.

It dosn't have outputs for RCA jacks (the factory unint) so I would have to run the speaker lead to the amp.

Thanks
Title: Re: Anyone runnin an Amp(s) with factory Radio?
Post by: red4wd on March 07, 2008, 07:55:00 pm
I am running an amp through the factory radio in my work truck.  I tied into the wiring on the rear channels and ran them through a speaker level to rca adaptor.  It is a Pioneer amp that I use to run one 10" sub.  I still power the rear speakers with the factory radio too.
Title: Re: Anyone runnin an Amp(s) with factory Radio?
Post by: VileZambonie on March 07, 2008, 08:17:06 pm
Sure you can do it but just follow the instructions in the manual

http://mobile.jensen.com/jensen/docs/man/JPA460_DOC_OM.PDF
Title: Re: Anyone runnin an Amp(s) with factory Radio?
Post by: d stroud on March 07, 2008, 11:09:23 pm
Sure you can do it but just follow the instructions in the manual

http://mobile.jensen.com/jensen/docs/man/JPA460_DOC_OM.PDF

You are the man!

It looks like I can piggy the smaller amp with the RCA jacks for a signal from the big amp.  Is that right.  Course, I know I will need to run power to both.