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It can be frustrating to play music if you only have one RCA output and multiple amps. However, splitting RCA can be daunting, and buying a new soundboard is too expensive. Is there an easy way to split RCA for multiple amps?
There are two main ways to split RCA for multiple amps – daisy chaining your amps or buying and installing an RCA splitter. Both types of splitting work well and will not decrease sound quality. However, there are pros and cons to each.
Here is a complete guide on how to split RCA for multiple amps. Once you learn the method, you can choose whether you want to daisy chain your own amps or split RCA with a wire splitter. Either way, you’ll be hearing more sound through your soundboard soon!
Daisy Chain Amps vs. Splitting RCAs To Run Multiple Amplifiers
The two main ways to run multiple amps are to split the RCA outputs or to daisy chain your wires. Either way will do the job effectively, but which one you choose depends on your personal electrical knowledge and budget. For your personal amp setup, you’ll have to decide which works best for you.
Here is a quick comparison of daisy chaining versus splitting RCAs. While either can work to run multiple amplifiers, one might work better for your setup and budget.
Pros and Cons of Daisy Chaining
Daisy chaining is an electrical term that means connecting two or more wires in a sequential pattern. It’s possible to daisy chain just about anything, but usually, daisy chain connections appear in homemade wiring. Here are some of the pros and cons of daisy chaining your amps together:
Pros
- Amps use less cabling
- It’s cheaper than buying an RCA splitter
- Between two amps, you’ll have fast transitions
Cons
- More electrical knowledge required
- Slower operation over multiple amps
- Less professional
While daisy chains will get the job done and not reduce the sound quality of your amps, they can be challenging to do if you don’t know anything about electricity. If you know a bit about wiring and want to save money, daisy chaining is a great option. You will still need to purchase wire splitters, but they are much less expensive.
Pros and Cons of Splitting RCAs
Of course, the other way of splitting RCAs is through an RCA splitter or Line Output Converter (LOC). You can purchase these online or at a local electronics store, and they are easy to install. RCA splitters can split to two amps, while line output converters can split to multiple amps. Here are some of the pros and cons of splitting RCAs:
Pros
- Easy installation
- No writing or electrical knowledge required
- Quick transmission
- Splits at the source (the RCA output)
- Safer
Cons
- More expensive
- More hardware
- Multiple lines and cords connecting
How To Split RCA for Multiple Amplifiers
While there are two different kinds of RCA splitters, the system for installing them remains similar. Whether you use a single RCA splitter or a multi-split line output converter (LOC), your sound will split smoothly and quickly. RCA splitters are also more protected and are usually coated in rubber, making them safer than daisy chaining techniques.
When you purchase the right equipment, the sound quality resists deteriorating for multiple connections. It was created to split sound without decreasing sound quality, and most brands of splitters work well. Sometimes, the sound quality might reduce after adding three or four amps. However, this depends on the quality and price of the connector.
1. Unplug All Cables
Of course, the first step is to unplug all of the cables. You don’t want anything plugged in or turned on when adding new cables. Turn the volume down on everything and turn off the soundboard. Once everything’s unplugged, you’ll be able to reset RCA inputs and plug in the connector.
2. Hook in the RCA Split Cable or LOC
Once everything is turned off and unhooked, you can insert the female (white) ends of the split cable or LOC into the corresponding ends of your first and second amp and the male end of the soundboard. It is all you’ll need if you have a regular split cable.
For a LOC, input the red and white cables into the soundboard, and the rest of the wires can split between multiple amps. Follow the instructions on the packaging if you have a different brand. This method is an excellent way of splitting sound if you’re looking to split between more than two amps.
3. Reconnect and Turn on the Music
Once everything is connected correctly, you can plug the amps and soundboard back in and test your new sound. It shouldn’t affect sound quality but give you access to two or more amps. After a simple setup, you’ll be able to connect to as many amps as you need to with a LOC cable.
How Many Times Can You Split RCA Audio?
There is no limit on how many times you can split RCA audio while retaining its quality. Because of the LOC connector’s professional grade wiring and safety, there are multiple outputs for amps. It depends on the LOC you purchase and how many amp outputs it has the capabilities for. Check the number of splits available before you buy the LOC connector.
However, a regular RCA audio splitter can only split the RCA between two different amps. If you purchase an RCA splitter cable, you can safely split your sound between two amps instead of more. However, it’s less expensive than a LOC connector and doesn’t reduce sound quality at all.
How To Daisy Chain Amps
The alternative method to connect multiple amps to a single RCA connector is by daisy-chaining amps together. It involves a bit of wiring knowledge but is relatively easy to do and much cheaper. To complete the wiring, you will also need a wire that splits from one male end to two female ends.
When using wire cutters or re-wiring anything, be cautious and follow all safety precautions. Ask a professional for help and ensure that your new wires are fully coated and safe. However, using wire cutters shouldn’t be necessary if you have the proper wire splitters and extensions.
1. Find a Splitter
You need a Y-shaped wire splitter with two female ends and one male end. You can get as many of these splitters as you have amps – the sound will continue to split. However, the more amps you have, the more sound will degrade over time.
2. Connect the Amps
Put the male end of the splitter into the output on one amp and the female end into the input on the next amp. For each amp in the chain, repeat this process. Ensure that each wire is fully inserted into the amp and there are no loose wires.
3. Turn on Your Amps
Once everything is connected, you can turn on your amps and start to experiment with the sound. Depending on how many amps are connected, sound from all of the amps will play through your soundboard. Your single RCA has been split through the daisy chaining technique.
How Many Times Can You Daisy Chain an Amp?
Theoretically, you can daisy chain an amp an unlimited amount of times. However, after two or three amps, the sound quality coming from the amps will decrease. Also, daisy chaining will give you a high-speed connection between the first and second amp. However, the connection’s speed will diminish after three or four amps.
While daisy chaining is a simple and inexpensive method of connecting multiple amps to an RCA output, it doesn’t always have the desired effect. A professional splitter will do a much better job if you want consistently good sound over multiple amps.
How Do I Split My RCA to Two Amps?
An RCA plug is the output and input on your soundboard that causes the sound to move through. Without RCA inputs and outputs, you won’t be able to move the music from your instrument to an amplifier, a computer, or another type of speaker.
This input and output device is essential for music producers and creators. So, you’ll need to split your RCA to split your audio into two amps.
Splitting Audio Signal to Two Amps
If you have a soundboard with only one RCA or more amplifiers than RCA outputs, it’s frustrating not to be able to create music with as many instruments or amplifiers. However, you can split the input and output of your RCA between two different amplifiers using a divider cable, daisy chaining your amps, or you can use a line output converter.
- 1. Use a Splitter Cord – For RCA output, a splitter cord is the most common method of splitting sound between two amplifiers. Like splitting inputs, you can simply plug a sound splitter wire into the RCA output and two separate amps. The sound quality depends on the RCA splitter, but most have excellent quality.
- 2. Daisy Chain the Amps – Get your device with its single RCA jack ready, then set up the amplifier you’d like to connect and ensure that you’ve removed all input and output connections from the amp. Connect your daisy chain splitter to your standard RCA jack. Lastly, connect your daisy splitter cable to your amp’s input and output ports. To connect the next amp, you’ll take another male plug from your daisy splitter cable and connect it to your other amp to create a connection between the amps.
- 3. Use a Line Output Converter – Find your amp’s output ports, then connect your LOC to your amp head’s output unit. This step allows your line output converter to work like an additional RCA jack to allow a connection between two amps.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any other questions about splitting audio and RCA audio for multiple amplifiers, here are some of the commonly asked questions and their answers.
Does splitting RCA degrade audio?
Splitting RCA degrades audio after a certain amount of daisy chaining or multiple amps. However, most RCA splitting cords don’t degrade the audio noticeably. If you are splitting between two amps, you won’t notice any audio degradation at all. However, you might hear grainy audio after four or five daisy-chained amps.
Can you daisy chain audio splitters?
Daisy chaining audio splitters is possible and will work to create sound throughout the chain of splitters. However, the farther down the chain you get, the softer and grainier the music or sound will become. While it is possible to daisy chain the splitters themselves, the more audio is split, the more the sound will degrade.
Can I run two amps off one power cable?
Two amplifiers can run off one power cable, as long as the cable is strong enough. Make sure that your power cable can run the electrical amperage of each amplifier and that you are running a safe and effective splitter. You can run two amps off one power cable if that is the case.
Can you run two amps off RCA?
Two amps can run off RCA, as long as you either daisy chain the amps together or use an RCA splitter to split the sound between them. It’s an easy process and only takes one piece of equipment to run two amps off one RCA port.
Do RCA splitters reduce quality?
RCA splitters do not reduce sound quality because they were made to split the sound between multiple amplifiers without reducing the signal going to each amplifier. RCA splitters or LOC connectors are the only guaranteed way to split your sound without degrading it or reducing the quality at all.
Can you daisy chain amplifiers?
Amplifiers can be daisy chained to create a string of sound. However, the sound of the music might degrade and sound grainy or staticky after a few daisy-chain links.
Splitting RCA for Multiple Amps
And that’s how to split RCA for multiple amps. Whether you use a daisy chain split or a store-bought RCA splitter, you should be able to split your RCA input or output for multiple amps without an issue.
As long as you don’t split between too many amps, you can up your soundboard’s output without needing to buy a new one. With a few easy steps, you’ll be ready to hear music on more devices.