Here's my setup... 4-channel amp running 2 channels to the fronts and bridging the two rears to a sub.

My amp has two sets of RCA inputs I will be using, front and back. Can I simply run 1 set of RCA jacks from the headunit to the amp, then split the connection at the amp so that it goes into both the front and back inputs?

Since the cables are pretty cheap, I was gonna go ahead and order another set of RCA cables. But if it's ok to split the connection, then I'll save myself some time and money.

thanks

 

Yes since you're sending the same signal to both the amp's front channels for the four speakers and to the amp's rear channels for the subwoofer you can do this. The RCA cables are a high impedance meaning the amplifier doesn't use much of the signal. But this is not an ideal set-up at all.

Doesn't your headend have more than one set of RCA outputs?

Ideally you'd want at least two sets to have a balance control (fader) between the front and rear speakers channels. The front speakers ought to have about 75% of the sound coming from them and the rears just the 25% to fill in and open the sound a bit. A third set of RCA outputs would run the subwoofer - or a dedicated subwoofer amplifier would have an RCA pass-through to provide sound to the front channel amplifier.

If your headend has a second set of RCA outputs they should be run to the matching amplifier.

 

Thanks, that answers my question! I'll just buy another set of RCA cables. I didn't know if splitting them would matter, but if you think it's better for me to run two sets, then I'll do that.

As for my speakers, I will only run the fronts to the amp. The rears I will probably disconnect entirely. So of the four channels on my amp, two to the front speakers and two brdged to the amp.