how do i mount an amp?

cnstarz · 08-09-2008, 12:53 AM

first question: i'm wanting to mount an amp under the driver seat. a lot of sites say to run the power cable on the opposite side of the speaker wires to avoid interference. well, if i mount the amp under the driver seat, and run the power cable under the carpet along the driver side into the engine bay, then how do i keep the driver side speaker wires away from the power cable?

second question: what do i actually mount the amp on? do i just drill holes (carefully) through the car floor and bolt it down? are there other ways of keeping the amp from sliding around without drilling holes in my car?

surfcitylocal · 08-09-2008, 01:58 AM

Your power wires can run under the driver side and you can run your speaker wires up through the center console. Or you can run them back up the passenger side and under the dash to the driver side.

Assuming you're using the stock speaker wires you'll only need to run them up to the rear of the head unit.

For mounting the amp under the seat, use short screws and only tighten them into the carpeting. It will hold your amp and you won't need to drill any holes in the floor. I would however advise you to drill into the floor just to make sure it doesn't move around on you.

There is much more room under the front passenger seat too. The jack is mounted under the drivers seat.

enuf2spare35 · 08-09-2008, 02:08 AM

Bravo Surfcitylocal. good info and nice pics.

cnstarz · 08-09-2008, 02:17 AM

so do i just have to make sure that the wires dont run next to each other for an extended distance, and also make sure that they dont touch or come within in a couple inches of each other?

i think i read a suggestion where you can put a piece of wood under the carpet, and mount the amp through the carpet into the wood. would that be a good idea? this is for an xb2 btw. does the xb2 have floor vents under the seats for the rear-passengers feet?

surfcitylocal · 08-09-2008, 11:39 AM

Yes you can run them together for a few inches. The main point is to avoid running them together for an extended length. The power wires build up an electrical field that can interfere with the audio signal. Kind of like when you put stereo speakers next to your non shielded monitor or TV and you get the cool colors on the edges.

I didn't realize this was for a second generation, I don't know about the vents on those yet.

Exposure101 · 09-26-2008, 10:31 PM

you can run power cables and speaker wires as far and long as you need....IF you go to home depot/lowes/hardware store and pick up some aluminum tape and wrap both the power cables and speaker wires with it once you find a good place where you want them to stay....and there you go! no static (probably should do it with RCAs too)