How to install an amp and sub in your car | Crutchfield video

Installing an amp and sub in your vehicle is a straightforward process, but not without its potential challenges. This video shows you a typical installation and the tools and best practices that'll help your project become a success.

Skip to section:
0:00 Intro
0:25 Project overview
2:23 Running power wire from the battery
3:26 Getting through the firewall
4:55 Installing the fuse
6:32 Routing the power wire to amp location
7:18 Finding a grounding point
8:20 Getting signal to the amp
9:00 Tapping into the factory radio harness
9:56 Hooking up the line output converter
10:13 Running the RCA cables to the amp location
11:36 Connecting RCA & power at the amp location
12:49 Connecting the speaker wire from amp to sub
13:26 Recap

[dieseldiesel]

This is hands down one of the best sub-woofer install/instructions videos on the internet. Thank you.

[kuzan]

Best thing about vid is theres no backround music

[Daniel-gzwn]

No beating around the bush! Straight to the point no background life stories no bs! Thanks!!!

[josephnichols]

I've learned a lot. Primarily, that I want to pay for an amp installation lol

[CheeseyMilkshakes]

All the other videos on youtube are in 360p and feature some 19 year old from birmingham talking quietly over shitty early 200s EDM. Thanks for this

[daganfarkas]

I'm not going to lie Crutchfield is awesome in there ways of finding what you need, want or even give schematics on how to implement anything electrical into any car. Absolutely astonishing service, Thank you!

[DrakesFoodReviews]

Honestly Crutchfield has been a damn lifesaver. This is my first time doing any of this stuff and they have made the entire process so much easier. From figuring out what to buy to putting it all together, it’s been a damn pleasure. First time in a long time that I don’t feel like human livestock and more like an actual customer of a company that cares

[michaelfierro]

"oh this looks pretty easy"

*Takes apart entire dash*

"Nevermind"

[jessiec]

I have installed many amps with subs. And many to factory stereos too. I showed a few younger guys/girls how my aftermarket radio sounded, and some actually had me install a new radio too. But installing to factory radios is very easy as you saw here. Just an extra step. Very good video, no music like others said, and clear instructions. A+ video here!

[bimbi]

Great video! I was installing my amp last night and I had so much fun installing it. I finished installing it at 4am on my convertible mustang. I have to say it was not easy, but not too difficult. Its all about taking the dive and few 🍻

[KevinRay_man]

I’ve been a customer of crutchfield for years, back before the type r 12’s went from 500rms up to 600, they’re generally more expensive than my local shops and other online stores but their customer service more than makes up for it. Add to that the fact that they also send instructions specific to your project via car make/model, year and various trim options and it’s easy to see why I’ve recommended them dozens upon dozens of times. Oh, and they also provide the adapters for, say, the door speakers in an extended cab 2000 s10. That kind of stuff really makes a huge difference. This is literally the only company I’ve ever consistently recommended to my friends, coworkers and family *and* never once have I regretted it. Every time they listened to me I’ve always received an almost surprised call/text from the respective person saying that they haven’t ever been so surprised by the supreme coverage provided for the product by a company. I bought the sound ordnance ported bandpass dual 12’s, matching alpine amp and focal 165v1 component one time and they sent the replacement focal speakers before I even returned the original ones to them. One of the mid range woofers has an incredibly minuscule pin prick of a hole right by the seal but other than that I honestly cannot explain the amazing, full body sound that they create. The soundstage is unparalleled and songs like bohemian rhapsody literally sounded like I was a couple rows back dead center at a concert just for myself/occupants. This comment got out of hand but it’s honestly because I can’t recommend crutchfield enough, back in the mid 2000’s I was hesitant to spend my limited cash(I was around 17/18 at the time lol) on a system I had priced around town/online that I knew was around 80-100 dollars more expensive but the warranty included already made up for it as that alone would have cost more from daddy-o’s(one of my infamous local shops) but then when I got the items, which arrived insanely quick relative to what I’d been used to with places like eBay etc at the time, I found a print out with detailed instructions. This peace of mind was invaluable as this was my first install I’d done by myself and was beginning to second guess myself. The instructions were great, but the added speaker wire adapters were greater. That was one of those things you sometimes just completely don’t even consider until you’re midway through the project and it’s now too late to go to the store lol that was such a life saver and that experience made me a customer for life, if that was somehow in question at this point. I love crutchfield, I’ve never loved a company, hell ive only ever really loved two women so I’m not exactly throwin around love lol but crutchfield is something else. They do things the right way in a time where they really don’t have to. I’ve got about seven stories where they have saved or at least expedited a project of mine but this comment is excessive enough.

*TL;DR Crutchfield is unparalleled and their customer service is in a league of its own.*

Edit - man the whole reason I even started this comment was to point out the guy calling the mini van a hatchback lol I found that funny even tho I guess it’s technically correct, just found it humorous. Great video btw. My passion for crutchfield really took over there...smh.

[dwilson]

Years ago I installed one hell of a stereo system in my car and I found and used crutchfield let me say they are one of the most informed professional and best stereo companies I have ever worked with they give you more than what you need in the form of technical support directions and instructions and extra paperwork that actually helped me save some of my hearing before blowing it out with the over 6, 000 watts of usable power I had again thanks to Trust me I've tried a few there is no comparison crutchfield by far the best.

[xmikex]

This was hands down the most simplistic way to install an amp / sub. Great Video!

[yodamaster]

The sound of stripping the wire was so satisfying

[hopelessvlogpage]

I wonder how many times he stopped recording to look for a 10mm

[seehearspeaknoevil]

Id have to watch this a dozen times to get it right honestly you can see hes been doing this for along time

[coryhines]

Crutchfield's customer service is top notch...you guys really set the standard on how to do business. Thank you!

[SkoolConnor]

I've been wanting to get an amp and sub in my car as well as a new digital stereo, I already have the aftermarket speakers in and while they do sound okay-ish I think an amp will make them sound way better. I have watched a ton of tutorials already but this one is by far the best one that shows how to get everything working from the very start to the very end while going into detail on how to do everything. After I watch this a couple times I'm pretty sure I'll be confident enough to do all of this by myself, or with a friend :)

[natskar]

Thank you for making a how to for someone who's never worked in their car before, this is the best tutorial I've been able to find so far

[doxxdd]

“And now this car is actually gonna sound decent”.

I WAS DEAD