How to Hook Up Two Amps Together? — Experience Flexible and Intensified Audio

Last Updated: October 6, 2022

If you have a subwoofer and speaker, using two separate amplifiers can boost sound clarity and offer deeper bass without damaging the components. However, not everyone knows how to hook up two amps together properly. This article will detail the steps required so you can experience flexible and intensified audio.

How to Hook Up Two Amps Together

Hooking up two amps together can be done in a variety of ways. This involves using speaker wires, an amplifier switch, AV receivers, crossover, and an RCA cable jack.

Speaker Wires

Speaker wires or cables are used to make an electrical connection between speakers and amplifiers. They usually consist of two identical cables, marked to identify the audio signal separation.

Amplifier Switch

An amplifier switch is a plain box that allows you to switch in between amplifiers. Amps connect to the input connectors while the speakers connect to the output.

If you want to compare amplifier sounds or prefer to use an amp at a specific time, an amplifier switch is ideal. It also works best if you want to connect two or three amps to a speaker.

Our experts have simplified the process in the following steps:

Connect a speaker wire from one of the amps to the first input connector at the back of the switch.
Run the wire from the second amp to the second input connector.
Attach the speaker wire from the first output connector to your speakers.
If you want to switch to the second amp, all you have to do is change the speaker wire from the first output connector to the second output connector.

AV Receivers

AV receivers have various channels for front and rear speakers, surround speakers (two for the rear), center channel, and subwoofer. That means an AV receiver will run your speakers and subwoofer adequately and concurrently.

Below are the steps on how to hook up two amps together using an AV receiver.

Check the connectors at the back of the AV receiver’s panel.
Attach an RCA wire from the front speakers’ outputs on the receiver to the amplifier’s input jacks.
Run the same cable for all other speakers, including the subwoofer. Ensure all are appropriately connected.
Connect all the speaker cables from the amplifiers into their corresponding ports on the speakers.

Crossover

Hooking up two amps with a crossover is another effective method if you want to use all the speakers simultaneously.

A crossover is a machine that distinguishes high frequencies from low frequencies . It directs the high frequencies to the first amp, which usually powers the tweeters, while the low frequencies go to the second amp that powers the sub.

Below is how to connect your two amps to the crossover.

Attach a connection wire into the crossover’s high-frequency output port.
Plug the other end of the same wire into the amplifier’s input port designed to drive the high-frequency speaker.
Plug another connection wire to the crossover’s low-frequency output port.
Plug the other end into the amplifier’s input that will power the low-frequency woofer.
Run a speaker wire into the speaker’s high-frequency output jack. Do the same to the input jack.
Run another speaker cable into the speaker’s low-frequency output jack and the other end into the input port.
Modify the crossover frequencies and power up your system.

RCA Cable Jack

When connecting amps and speakers, an RCA cable jack is needed. An RCA cable jack consists of three colored jacks that connect audio and video devices

Important Reminders

Never run two amplifiers to the same speaker simultaneously, as they will damage the components, mainly if it’s a home theater system.
Use durable and reliable crossovers that match your speaker’s quality and home theater system.
If possible, the speakers should have different inputs for high frequencies and low frequencies.
Ensure that all your equipment is plugged in.
Do not power on all the equipment at the same time. Start by turning the receiver on and then the amplifier.
Connect all the cables to the right connectors (inputs and outputs).
Check all the fuses and breakers to avoid circuit break.

Why Hook Up Two Amps Together?

Hooking up two amps offers more musical volume. With two amp connected, the sound clarity is much better than when it’s just one amp used.

There’s less distortion with two amps, resulting in crisp sounds. The bass quality significantly improves since the subwoofer has a separate amp.

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FAQ

Can you connect two amplifiers together?

Yes, you can connect two amplifiers. However, it would help if you wired them correctly to have a good set up.

Can you use two amps, one sub?

Yes, you can use two amps and one sub. Connecting one woofer to two amps will offer the kind of power that you need. However, the amps to be used must be identical, and you must determine if the sub is a single or dual voice coil. Usually, a single voice coil doesn’t work with two amps because it causes power imbalance. A dual sub with two amps works efficiently.

Conclusion

Hooking up two amps together is an incredible way of enjoying music with less distortion. It allows you to listen to loud volumes and high-quality bass. Luckily for you, this experts’ review has elaborated on how to hook up two amps together correctly without damaging your speaker or amplifier.

Bothered by how you can set up all your home theater devices seamlessly? Then, these pages might have the best solution for you:

Writer

Willie Greer

Willie Greer is the founder of The Product Analyst. A cinephile, he has made it a personal quest to achieve the awesomest home theater possible. He now shares what he has learned through the years on the site, and has enlisted the help of tech-savvy colleagues in providing more insight about today’s most sought-after gadgets.