Ok I have an alpine mrv-m500 when I plug the RCA outputs from my head unit they only work if the inputs go across channels ex; left ch(1) right ch(2) or vice versa. When the RCA inputs are correctly connected to the same channel there is a slight response but only with my ear on the sub at higher volumes. Also I'm not sure if the light on the top is supposed to be lit or if it ever was but it's not now

Determining the Cause of the Problem Let's assume our system has a head unit, a crossover, a two channel amplifier and two door speakers with only the right speaker working (the left speaker is not working). If the door speakers are behind the door panels then we want to make sure the speaker is the problem before removing the panel. We'll work backwards starting with the amplifier and ending at the head unit. Testing for a Speaker Problem With the vehicle and the stereo turned off disconnect the speaker wires for both the left and right speakers at the amplifier. Now connect the left speaker to the right amplifier output (which we know works). Turn on the stereo system and make sure the balance is set to the middle position.If the speaker still doesn't work then the problem is somewhere between the amplifier and the speaker Testing for an Amplifier Problem Now we'll need to see if the amplifier channel is bad. Put the left speaker back on the left amplifier channel and the right speaker on the right amplifier channel. This returns the speaker wiring to its original configuration. Again, with the vehicle and stereo off unplug the RCA cables from the amplifier's input and switch them so the left cable is in the right input and vice versa. Turn on the stereo system. Testing for an RCA Cable Problem For any intermediate components between the amplifier and the head unit follow these steps for each one. We only have a crossover so we'll just do this once. Begin by testing the RCA cables between the intermediate component and the amplifier. Unplug both RCA cables from the intermediate component's output. Now plug the working channel's RCA cable into the non-working side of the crossover. In our case the working channel is the right so plug the right RCA cable from the amplifier into the left side of the crossover. Turn on the stereo system.
If the right channel continues to work then you know the problem is in the RCA cables between the amp and the crossover. esting for a Crossover or Equalizer Problem At the input of the intermediate component (in our case the crossover) flip the RCA cables around (left to right input and vice versa). Turn on the stereo system.
If the right channel continues to work and the left channel continues to not work then you know the problem is in the intermediate component. Replace or repair this component.
If the problem is now in the right speaker and the left speaker works then the problem lies before the crossover. Turn off the stereo system and return the RCA cables to their normal places.
Testing for a Head Unit or RCA Cable Problem Pull out the head unit from the dash so you can access the RCA cables. Unplug both RCA cables from the head unit. Do not disconnect any other wiring. Plug the right RCA cable into the left channel of the head unit. Turn on the stereo system.

the prq can be used after a head unit before crossover and amps. it is a preamp/equilizer and you must have an orion amp in the signal chain that uses the 5 pin din plug to provide power to the prq via phantom power. if you have a crossover it must be a brand with the same 5 pin din pinout input and output. the din pinout is 1\+15v, 4\r. ch input, 2\ground, 5\l. ch input, 3\-15v. left to right or clockwise on din. the power can be supplied to the prq with an optional 100 pps power supply unit. rca from head unit feed the input and the 5 pin din is the output .

Hello herb31,

It sounds like there is a difference in the signal levels on the inputs to the amps. You did not specify what the RCA's are connected to on the head unit side. If they are connected to a stereo pair of preamp outputs, you may be able to solve the problem by using only the channel with the higher signal and use an RCA "Y" adapter to split it to both amps. If they are connected to a dedicated subwoofer output on the head unit, make sure that the head unit is set for "subwoofer". Some less expensive head units, I know JVC in particular, has only 1 set of line outputs and requires you to go into their "PSM" (Preferred Setting Mode) to set the line output mode and if you select "subwoofer", then allows you to select the low pass frequency.

If you are converting speaker-level outputs through a "line out converter", check both the input and output levels.

Also, if you are splitting an output from the head unit, you still need to connect 2 RCA's to the amp inputs. The signal will be properly split if you use a 1-female to 2-male "Y" adapter. To feed the same signal to both amps, you would need 3 "Y" adapters. Feed the output signal to the female end of the first "Y", and plug the male ends into the other 2 "Y" adapters. Then, the 4 plugs you have left on the ends go into your amp inputs.

Hope this helps.

Yes you can use a y to go to all four. Or you could bridge the four speakers wires onto the two outputs for 1 channel

Alpine is just a better brand in general. I have the older MRV-1507, sounds GREAT, i have had friends who has had the Explode line, but it was always a temporary system until they got something better, like the alpine or kenwood.

If it indicates that you have an open shield ground, read through the following page. It will show you how to test the shield ground connection of your head unit..

Temporary RCA Shield Repair

The wiring is fairly straight forward. Along the top row of the ten pin plug =
(Left to Right)

Front Left positive,

Front left Negative,

Control wire from your stereo head unit should be thin blue wire sometimes listed as Remote Wire this switches your amp on and off via your head unit so you don't run your battery flat,

Front Right Negative,

Front Right Positive.

Bottom Row=(Left to Right)

Left Back Positive,

Left Back Negative

Centre Nothing

Right Back Negative

Right Back Positive

These are all inputs from your head unit.

To bridge from 4 channel to 2 you connect

one left speaker to Ch B Left Positive and Ch A Left Negative

one Right speaker to Ch B Right Negative and Ch A Right Positive

Ten Switching the Input Select switch to 2CH

Alternatively if your unit has RCA's on the back of the Head unit you can use them to run your subs.
Hope that helps.

Unless your amp is 1 (one) ohm stable then you may have fried it. When you attach a 2 ohm load across a bridged amp then you have effectivly placed each output channel on a 1 ohm load. Not a good thing in most cases. Try hooking up ONE speaker on one channel and one input to that one channel one at a time. Then switch the speaker/input to the other channel and see if you can get either or both channels to work independently. Needless to say you must turn the amp off before you make ANY change in the wiring.

Your problem stems from the fact that the CDA-7892 is not equipped with an RCA aux-input jack. If you're plugged into RCA connectors at the back of the head unit, they're outputs, not inputs. The sound you hear is just feeding back through the outputs and into the head unit's amplifier. If you want to play your iPod through this head unit, you need to purchase either the auxiliary input adapter (KCA-121B) or iPod adapter (KCA-420i).