I have an old Jensen amplifier and I'm not sure if it works. It is used and it's definitely years old... at least 7 years old.

It would be my first amp install, but I don't want to go through all the hassle and a day of labor to install it and then have it NOT work. I also don't have the money to buy a new amp. I should say I only want to use the amp to power my front 2 coaxial speakers.

So, is there any way to tell if the amp is functional before I install it? Perhaps even if I can only test the POWER that may work as opposed to power and sound quality.

Thank you.

 

find a friend with an amp in their car
replace urs with theirs
see if it works

or go to an audio shop and see if they will do that

but its probably crap

 

why do you say its crap? as in not good or broken?

 

as in not good

 

just run a +12v and a -12v to it, jump a small wire from the rem to the +12v on the amp
then plug up some rca's from the stereo to the amp and then hook up a speaker to it and find out, or like he said hook it up to a friends car that already has a system and see if it works.

 

^wow he said it all

 

a bit over my head, so let me try to understand.


what does rem mean?

also, are you basically suggesting to install the amp to see if it works? i was wondering if there is a way to avoid ripping apart my dash to get to the head unit before i "test" the amp.

i appreciate all the help so far.

 

rem is remote. It's a wire that goes from the headunit to the amp and tells the amp to turn on. This is so that the amp is only on when the headunit is on.

 

The "rem" or "remote" terminal should be right next to the power terminals. Connect both remote and the + power to + of a car battery. Connect - power to - of a car battery. For a signal source you can use an ipod, etc. with a 3.5mm to RCA adapter cable. Start with the volume all the way down.