Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Forum => Topic started by: commandcom on September 03, 2005, 08:38:39 pm

Title: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: commandcom on September 03, 2005, 08:38:39 pm

Hey now,

I'm using a car amp to power the sound in my cab.  The plan was to cut one end of a standard 1/8" stereo patch cord and splice the ends into the left and right channels of the amp.  However when I cut the patch cord, I was surprised to see only three wires: red, black and an unwrapped silver wire.  I expected to see four wires: left channel + and -, and a right channel + and -.

So how does one get left and right channels from only three wires?  And yes, I'm sure the patch cord is a stereo cable: there are two black "bands" on the jack. 

TIA

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: BobA on September 04, 2005, 10:25:18 am

The black and red are the left and right channel + and the silver is a common ground the - for both channels.

BobA

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: Silver on September 04, 2005, 05:17:30 pm

Is that cable from an old car? older cars/cheap radios used to have common ground for the left and the right audio - not so often now...

If your amp has seperate +ve and -ve terminals for each channel (very likely) then I would suggest getting some speaker cable that has a seperate -ve and +ve - practically all speaker cable you can buy will, and its cheap.

Not sure how powerful the amp is, but if its high powered the common ground is not such a good idea.

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: commandcom on September 06, 2005, 03:45:57 pm

Ah, stupid me.  I should have realized.  Thanks for the info.

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: Silverwind on September 06, 2005, 03:47:20 pm

It could always be a mono amplifier.

positive terminal
negative terminal
remote terminal (for remote turn-on)

Got a model name?

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: commandcom on September 07, 2005, 05:48:45 pm

The question concerned a cable/patch cord, not an amp.  It was just a run-of-the-mill stereo cord with 1/8" jacks on either end.  I was being stupid and not thinking the problem through  :P

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: webgeek on September 08, 2005, 07:59:26 am

You can also buy a 1/8" to component patch cable for a couple bucks. I'd personally suggest you go that way as you will get less potential noise on the line and you can get high quality jacks.

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: commandcom on September 09, 2005, 04:40:06 pm

Any idea where?  I looked for something like that at Radio Shack but, not surprisingly, they did not have one.

Title: Re: Car Amp Sound Input
Post by: webgeek on September 09, 2005, 04:45:24 pm

I would have bet money that Radio Shack carried them but if not, try a Best Buy or equivalent store that sells audio equiptment. I picked up one a while ago but I can't remember where.