Connecting External Speaker To Amp

I have a bass speaker from a truck stereo with horn that I want to try as an external speaker to my amp. It is fitted with a two color receiptical (red & black) for its attachment. I bought an AV cable with a 1/4" phono jack at one end and red & white connectors at the opposite end. I asumed the pluging the 1/4" jack into line out of my amp and the two small ends into the speaker would activate it. Didn`t happen. I reversed the wires with no outcome either. Whats not right about this? Thanks & take care. Bob

I have a bass speaker from a truck stereo with horn that I want to try as an external speaker to my amp. It is fitted with a two color receiptical (red & black) for its attachment. I bought an AV cable with a 1/4" phono jack at one end and red & white connectors at the opposite end. I asumed the pluging the 1/4" jack into line out of my amp and the two small ends into the speaker would activate it. Didn`t happen. I reversed the wires with no outcome either. Whats not right about this? Thanks & take care. Bob

I wanna know about this too. I used a subwoofer from a car off the back of my amp once, but stopped because I was afraid I'd ruin something. Is the amp solid state or tube?

A line output won't drive a speaker, it's low level audio. You need to connect to the amp's speaker output, but keep in mind the total load on the amp. Tube amps should have a matched load, meaning that if the amp's output is designed for 8 ohms, your total load should match that. Solid state amps usually specify a minimum load (4 ohms or maybe 2 ohms) but do not require a match. Note that two 8-ohm speakers in parallel yield a 4-ohm load, in series yield a 16-ohm load.

Hope that helps...

Please stop! this is hurting me!

speaker (passive only!) load must match the load the amp wants to see or you will damage the amp.

Line out will not power a speaker. unless it is active and you are sending the line signal to the active speaker (which doesn't sound like the case).

The AV cable has to be 16 gauge or bigger or you will fry the cable and then the amp. Depending on the power of the amp. A 1/4" mono to R/W RCA connector is not necessarily a speaker cable!

The power output of an amp puts out enough amperes to melt things if you just hook things up willy-nilly.

Is the car speaker active or passive?

Yes, I agree with waparker4, you do not use a/v cables for speaker cables, nor will a line out power a speaker. (think of a line out as a headphone out).

You need an extension speaker output, or tap into the speaker line itself. In so doing, you must make sure your (total) speaker ohms load matches that of your amp (the amps speaker(s) PLUS the other speaker)...if not you could damage things (think - your amp).

You need to study up on ohms loads, there is a formula for series or paralell wiring of multiple speakers, and how to do them...plenty of info online.

Electronics have never ever made sense to me (obviously). I can wire in accessories in a 12 V automotive system but that about the extent of it. At nearly 70 yrs of age it seems unlikely that I will suddenly catch on. I`m happy to have resources like the Bass Place to gain guidance in these issues.

So if I tap into speaker connection ( single 12" Fender Rumble 60) i should get a sampling to determine if this is somethink i wish to persue farther? Thanks & take care. Bob

Bob, I just Googled that amp, and it doesn't have a speaker out jack. You'd have to do like you said, and disconnect the existing speaker and tap into the speaker cable going to it (with more speaker wire). Make sure the new speaker box is 8 ohm or you might have trouble.

I don't really think it's worth the hassle, it's not likely to sound better than the stock speaker...

Tim

Tim I know what you are saying about sounding any better. Just something I want to try for the hell of it. I have another amp that is far better but this is my practice amp & I don`t mind experimenting. I have a soldering iron coming that will be used to assemble the electronics on my Tele bass project. I could get in a little practice before really needing to use it on the bass.

Havn`t seen much of you here lately. I always look for your comments because I know you know what you`re doing. Thanks & take care. Bob

So I have you fooled too?

Grins, Tim