stereo and amp connection question

[sarah.shepherd]

OK this is what we are working with:

Head Unit: Sony CDX-M50ip - 4 ch pre-amp outs (Front R&L, Rear/Sub R&L)

Boat Speakers: Kicker KM6200, JL Audio sub (I don't recall what model)

Amp Powering Boat Speakers: Alpine PDX5 - RCA inputs: Front R&L, Rear R&L, Sub R&L

Tower Speakers: Kicker KTM6s

Amp Powering Tower Speakers: Kicker ZX450.2 - RCA inputs (R&L), RCA outputs (R&L)

My question is how should my RCAs be run?

All of the equipment is installed and working but after experiencing some noise issues we looked at the wiring and discovered that the speaker wires were connected wrong (- into + side) so I suspect that there is also an issue with the RCAs

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

[chpthril]

Head-unit's FRONT RCA Left & Right outputs to the PDX5's AMP-1 Left & Right RCA input.

Head-unit's REAR RCA Left & Right outputs to the XM450.2 Left & Right input.

Just make sure the head-unit's REAR RCA outputs are set for full-range and not sub.

The two leading causes of noise are due to the amp gain settings being too high or the head-unit not sharing the same battery source as the amps. Let us know if you have further questions.

[sarah.shepherd]

Ok that leads me to another question (sorry) ...

The alpine amp is powering the 4 in boat speakers and the sub so doesn't it need inputs for front and rear/sub?

This was my logic on how to run the RCAs:
Front R&L from HU to kicker amp and then from kicker amp to alpine amp
Rear/Sub R&L from HU to Y splitter and then into alpine Rear R&L and Sub

Does that work? Or make no sense at all?

I am not a stereo person at all so that's why I posted on here b/c there ar plenty of people who know way more than me!!

[chpthril]

Ok that leads me to another question (sorry) ...

The alpine amp is powering the 4 in boat speakers and the sub so doesn't it need inputs for front and rear/sub?

This was my logic on how to run the RCAs:
Front R&L from HU to kicker amp and then from kicker amp to alpine amp
Rear/Sub R&L from HU to Y splitter and then into alpine Rear R&L and Sub

Does that work? Or make no sense at all?

I am not a stereo person at all so that's why I posted on here b/c there ar plenty of people who know way more than me!!

Let me check, but im 99% sure the PDX only needs one set of RCA cables going to it. It will pass the signal over to the sub chnl.

I like this setup because it puts the sub volume at the sam elevel as the other in-boats and the H/U "Fade" can be used to fade from tower to in-boats/in-boats to tower. This way you can fade back the in-boats and sub and crank the volume up for thr towers to reach the rider.

[sarah.shepherd]

Hopefully you are right about only needing 1 set of RCAs for the PDX5

[sarah.shepherd]

We're going to test out the one RCA into the PDX5 plan tonight - I'll report back on how it works!

[chpthril]

We're going to test out the one RCA into the PDX5 plan tonight - I'll report back on how it works!

Ok, good. There is probably a couple setting that will need to be changed to do this. I dont have the manual in front of me.

[sarah.shepherd]

I've read the "manual" that came with the PDX5 front and back and either there isn't anything in there about the RCA inputs, I'm completely missing it, or it's written in stereo language that I don't comprehend ... all of which are completely possible!!

The basic directions for the HU shows splitting the RCAs to get to two amps which is how I'm guessing ours is set up but it is a birds nest of RCAs under there.

[chpthril]

I've read the "manual" that came with the PDX5 front and back and either there isn't anything in there about the RCA inputs, I'm completely missing it, or it's written in stereo language that I don't comprehend ... all of which are completely possible!!

The basic directions for the HU shows splitting the RCAs to get to two amps which is how I'm guessing ours is set up but it is a birds nest of RCAs under there.

Who needs instructions anyway

Ok, did the PDX power all4 in-boats and sub with a single set of RCA cables hooked to the "Amp-1" RCA inputs?

[sarah.shepherd]

From what I can tell currently 2 pairs of RCAs leave the HU and then are split to make 4 pairs (2 Front and 2 Rear/Sub) and then there is 1 pair of Fronts going into the kicker amp for the tower speakers and the other 3 pairs (1 Frong 2 Rear/Sub go into the alpine amp for the 4 in boat speakers and 1 sub

Headed out there now to pull the RCAs and redo them

[chpthril]

From what I can tell currently 2 pairs of RCAs leave the HU and then are split to make 4 pairs (2 Front and 2 Rear/Sub) and then there is 1 pair of Fronts going into the kicker amp for the tower speakers and the other 3 pairs (1 Frong 2 Rear/Sub go into the alpine amp for the 4 in boat speakers and 1 sub

Headed out there now to pull the RCAs and redo them

before you gut an redo the system, lets make sure we're chasing the right problem. RCA configuration is not likely a cause of unwanted noise. If all the speakers are working, then the configuration is correct, but thats not to say that there's more then one way to skin a cat.

[sarah.shepherd]

We knew there were lose connections in the RCAs because of all the splitters so we knew the RCAs needed some attention.

We tried just one set of RCAs into the PDX5 but only got music from one set of speakers. So we tried this set up:

Front R&L from HU to kicker amp and then from kicker amp to alpine amp
Rear/Sub R&L from HU to Y splitter and then into alpine Rear R&L and Sub

All speakers are functioning and the fade is set up so we can actually use it to adjust the tower volume. We're going out this weekend so I'll report back on any sound issues!!

Thanks for all your help!!

[chpthril]

just an FYI, with a set of RCAs running from the Kicker amp's output to the PDX, the fade is effecting a set of in-boats the same as it is effecting the towers.

[sarah.shepherd]

Correct. We knew that and selected the in boat speakers that are the most audible to be on the opposite RCAs as the tower speakers.

[sarah.shepherd]

We ended up removing 2 splitters and 1 RCA cable from the set up so at the very least it is a cleaner set up