After living with my Polk speakers for about 18 months, I've decided that I'm going to add an amp. I've read tons of threads, but I still have some questions. I still haven't fully decided on the exact amp, but it will more than likely be a four channel amp as I don't see adding a sub.

Most of the amps I'm looking at have speaker level inputs, but a couple are RCA only (i.e. no speaker level inputs). Regardless of amp, I'll be pulling speaker level connections from X9331.

Questions:

1) If I end up needing to use line out converter(s), do people put them at the amp or at the X9331 connector? If you put them at X9331 connector, is there enough room to stash the devices behind / above the kick panel?

2) Has anyone just popped the eight speaker wire female sockets and the male pins and connected the speaker wire to the amp (or to the LOC) directly? It seems as if one could securely connect wire inside shrink wrapped tubing. Thus no $35 expense (shipped price) for X9331 connectors and pins.

3) How is everyone routing speaker or RCA cables from X9331 connector area to under passenger seat?

4) Any thoughts on circuit breaker vs fuse at the battery? One shop (which I am not going to use -- they quoted $110 labor an hour, 4 hour estimate for a four channel amp, running all new speaker wire) said they only use circuit breakers.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

I bought a module for converting low level (head unit output) to high level (rca) that also restores bass etc. It is called RE-Q5.

I put this unit in the boot, to the right (where the little opening is). I cut the wires for speaker leads off the x9331 and soldered my connections there. I went to home depot and bought some 16 gauge wire (simple wire, not speaker wire). I bought 106 feet of it, and in the store had someone go down the isle and help me fold it into 8 different pieces. (Fold once = 2, twice = 4, again = 8 even length pieces.) These were about 13 feet in legnth each which was perfect for my run. I labeled the wires on each end with some # labels and taped them all together (to make one clean 13 foot cable bundle) I ran it back along drivers door across the base/front of back seats and back to the corner/ right side of boot to my module.

As for " routing speaker or RCA cables from X9331 connector area to under passenger seat?", I just ran 16 gauge speaker wire from my amp (in boot false floor - where jack is) up the crossovers under each of the seats and then into the door.

Hope this helps. I will be posting all my information within the next week about my install. Good Luck

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-install.html

 

A coworker recommended a local shop, who thanks to the economy is more than willing to install the parts I have purchased for $85 plus 10% for speaker wire and misc connectors. I'll be supplying the amp + amp kit. They said it would take "about 3 hours", so I know they will not be doing a hack job. Plus they have no problem with me observing / taking pictures. Also, they have 30+ reviews on Yelp, and all are positive except one.

For under $100, I'm going to let the shop handle it.