Yes you can dis-connect the speakers from the built in amp and the amp
will be OK. In theory it will not "try to push". Its not like old tube
amps that toast the oputput transformer without the speaker load. Just
make sure to insluate any exposed speaker leads, dont want them shorting
to chassis ground.

Theres only one way to find out.

disconnect all the speakers from the HU amp.
Feed the head units full range line outputs to the pioneer amp in
stereo, pushing 2 of the 4 speakers full-range. Turn the pioneer line
level gain way down. Turn up the HU volume be carefull and dont blow
the speakers though!! If the signal still cuts out using the line level
outputs, then something is wrong with the HU.

IMHO you should try this before buying a new amp, because the amp may
not be the root cause.

Garrett

Matt Nye wrote:

I hooked a discman up to it & it worked fine. I guess it is my
headunit then. I did get it to cut out without the amp being powered
last night as well. The weird thing, is that it seems to cut out
moreso when the amp is being pushed hard. I can't return the headunit
(had it 2 months) at this point. Is it possible that the headunit is
not getting enough power itself, or is it just junk?

Not that it really matters at this point, but the amp is 1-ohm stable.
In your opinion, if I run a seperate amp for the 4 speakers (since
that would be cheaper than buying a new headunit) would it still cut
out? Does the receiver amp still try to put out a signal even though
there is no speakers attached to it? If so I'm worried it would still
cut out using an amp. Thanks for all your help.

-Matt



Sanitarium wrote in message ...
Is the Pioneer GM-X942 1 ohm stable in stereo? By running a bridged 2
ohm load, the amp "sees" a 1 ohm load. Hence the output mosfets pass
enough current to match that of a 1 ohm load in stereo. This does not
sound like the root cause of your problem, but IMHO you should be
carefull with impedence loads. If this amp is not 1 ohm stable, IMHO
it would be safer to wire the dual voice coils in series and push a
bridged 8 ohm load. The amp would "see" this as a 4 ohm load, and
you'll be safer that way.

Sounds like a head unit problem to me. IMHO built in headunit amps are
tricky, they generate a LOT of heat and are stuffed into the dash with
zero circulation. When pushed, the heat build up can adversely affect
other things in the head.

Do you have a portable CD or MP3 player you can hook up to the sub amp?
You need to start with a known good signal source and work your way back
from there. If you send a signal from a known good source to the sub
amp and it does not cut out, then its something else.

????

Garrett