Pre Amplifier Questions

Okay here it goes again another post from an Audio newbie.

Help me understand a Preamplifier....

I have a Panasonic Head Unit with a front/rear/sub 5 volt (I believe) preamps and I was wondering WHAT a preamp would do for me.

I am planning on running (3) 2-Channel amps for my subs and (2) 4-Channel amps for my highs/mids

What should I be looking for in a preamp if a preamp is even necessary for my situation?

Pre amp outputs are what you need in order to hook up an amplifier to an aftermarket radio.. It sends out a low voltage signal(typically 2-8 volts). You connect the head unit to your amps using RCA's. you would run an Rca from the chosen output( front, rear, or sub) to whatever amp.

So to gain more control and tuning ability is there a preamp out there that has 3 sets of RCA Signal Input Ports(1 Front/1 Rear/ 1 Subwoofer) and 6 RCA Signal Output Ports (2 Front/2Rear/ 2 Subwoofer)?

With a preamp like this I could plug my existing Front/Rear/Subwoofer RCA outputs from my head unit into the Preamps Inputs and have a lot more tuning ability don't you agree or am I way off?

no your way off lol... its ok though when your first starting its confusing... on most aftermarket head units there is usually two types of output... high level and low level... high level is what you would connect dircetly to a speaker because it runs through the amp inside the headunit.. low level or "preamp"(there called pre amp because it gets its signal before the headunits internal amp) outputs are simply used as a signal sent from a headunit to an amplifier and then the amplifier actually drives the speaker... get it?

You might be thinking of a line driver. The line driver increases the preamp (rca) voltage level. The more rca voltage an amplifier recieves the cleaner and louder (theoretically) it will play. Because the amplifier has to work less hard to increase the input signal. On almost all stereo's i build or sell, that has more than 2 amps usually, i install a line driver. Mainly because the head unit voltage is crap for running multiple amps in my opinion. Many aftermarket eq's have a line driver built in. This will also give you more RCA outs, along with tunability.

Originally posted by Karathos



Many aftermarket eq's have a line driver built in. This will also give you more RCA outs, along with tunability.

I think you nailed my question. I was looking at EQ's and trying to find an EQ with 3 sets of rca inputs (1 Front/1 Rear/ 1 Sub) and at least 6 sets of rca outputs. (2 Front/ 2 rear/2 Subs) etc. etc. So i was just asking the wrong question because I wasn't sure what I was looking at.

Good! Now we know what your looking for. Now what to purchase. I myself like an 8 band in dash eq. I use audiobahn's AEQ8 in my truck. Customers have tried about 15 different eq's they all seem to be about the same when it all comes down to it. Six to eight bands for the EQ should be plenty for most people. They make many different kinds, I just perfer the ease for a daily.