Speakers and amps

[Johnraka]

OK, here's the plan...
Got 2 very nice tower speakers from my Sis' some time ago, consists of 4 x mid-range and 1 x tweeter in each column, also have a small Bass unit from my old PC speakers, pulled these out of the cabinets and now have them ready to fit to my GL (Once I get a few bits of MDF to make new backboards etc.)
Problem I have is that these things need to be run through an amp, you simply won't get any usable sound without, am I right in saying that I will have to cut my existing speaker wires, route them up to the boot, through an amp and then back to each respective speaker again?
Suspect I am, if so do I need to use shielded cable?

Can't use these in the house any more as the cabinets are really too big but once the speakers are out they are a really decent set, the sound through them is pretty awesome too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
(Chris, I know we touched on this on Sunday but just need to clarify the position above) 

[Murph]

No need to cut wires matey!

You run a phono lead from your head unit to the amp then run new speaker wire from the amp to the speakers.

[doz]

Has the head unit got pre-out? if not you will have to use hi level input amps which will whack the volume up and also the distortion. Not the best set up in the world. Also most home stereo's tend to be 8 ohm resistance speakers while cars are 4 which will give you more headaches

[Johnraka]

Got 2 phono leads coming out the back - not sure if they are in or out (Will check tonight), Weird arrangement with these speakers, they were connected in series (4 in a row with the tweeter in parallel).
If I remember my old electrical course right I should be ok using 8 ohm speakers on a 4 ohm system but not the other way around?  (It was a long time ago  )

[doz]

hmmm can't remember either which way round but you could always wire 2 of the 8 ohm speakers in parrelle which will give you 4 ohms

[Johnraka]

OK, phono leads coming out of the back are line out to power amp, so I presume I just wire the speakers from the amp and disconnect the existing connections at the speaker end, am I right?

Sorry to sound like a div but just want to make sure of my ground here - been a lot of years since I have messed with speakers and amps...

[doz]

That's it in a nut shell.

[Johnraka]

Cheers Doz... just having a Senior moment.... every now and again 

All sorted now - thanks...

[colonelk]

and yes 8 ohm on a 4 ohm amp should be no problem, just bear in mind that the way most car amps are designed you will be looking at halving the output in power terms by doing so.

 

[Johnraka]

That's ok, don't want to blow the doors off or anything, just want some good quality for my sounds...

[HMK]

Are you sure these speakers are 8 ohms?

You say that they were connected as 4 in series - so that is likely to mean that they're all 4 ohm each totalling 16 ohm across a 16 ohm output