So after a few drinks on a thursday night, came the topic of car audio, followed by a raher heated argument on installation. It was a very simple question, but to this day remains unknown to myself, as I havn't done any install work. However, the debate was - What is harder to install? A 4ch Amp or a new Head Unit.
Now, for general purposes. Lets say that the situation is someone with a stock system is just getting a 4ch amp to amp their speakers along with a new head unit. (so speaker wiring etc. is already there) What would be harder to install?

Also, I didn't really know where to post it, if needed to be moved to general or somethign, feel free

Both are relatively simple installs but I'd definitely say that the head unit will be the easier of the 2 due to the fact that you have to run power cables/RCA's etc for the amp.

also you can buy plugs for the HU so it just plugs into the factory loom, simple as.

Depends on the car.
Installing a H/U into a Subaru Liberty is a pain in the backside... + u need an expensive facia.

Not to mention, some cars are easier to lay cables (to the boot, or even under the front seat) then to take the dash apart to put a h/u in.

amp is definitely harder to install, with the hu all the wires are there ready for you, with an amp you have to run power cable find ground run rcas and as much as u say speaker wires are still there in the average case which is amp in the boot u have to run wires from back to front.

if all wires are already there then amp is easier.

headunit. amps require thought in some cars. I'll leave the fit times out of it but I can do a headunit quicker than an amp. ( unless I bench wire it first.)

would say over and over again a headunit alot quicker for me personally but differs from person to person.

mainly as h/u once ya have the mounts tis just a matter of connecting wires.

amp ya have to run power cables then bugger around feeding wires through crommetts, feed wirses under carpet. then RCA's then bolt the amp down feed wires to the speakers.

but guess yas get what i mean

i would pick a H/U install over a amp install if had to choose between the two which i would want to do.

H/U's do tend to be quicker as Chris said amp need a little thought about location etc.

Also, with an amp you gotta wire up the remote wire and RCAs. So you need to get the HU out anyway.

HU is easier, hands down. More headaches with installing amps.

It depends on your install. If all your wiring up for your deck is power, ACC, ground, the aerial just plugs in, along with rcas etc.

however if your doing up the interrupt, dimmer, all the speaker wires (front, rear, 8 wires total) etc, it rapidly becomes more complex. Even more so, if your stock loom doesnt have a wiring diagram, or has been cut.

So....

depends which car

my vote is HU is quicker.. i can usually wire up a headunit in 1 hour. 2 hours if i have troulbe with brackets or need extra materials..
Amps.. if done properly.. lifting up recesses panels.. going through firewalls. running Power, RCA's, speaker wire and rest of the crap, positioning. So my general would be HU.

I gotta start worring about my install soon as im finally going to get an amp sound deaden doors and remount my crossovers. so means grommets for new speaker wire.. to run through. re-routing of cables when i get em. soldering new wire onto terminals and already made cable runs. And last but not least.. power.. which should be crap easy cos my battery is already in the boot..

Thats a damn good point.

i would have said that from the start. ^^^^^^^^^^^^

my subaru svx was a nightmare to get the h/u out, its a whole compartment that slides out of the dash, and it hooks on everything, unlabled cables, it was by far the worst h/u changeover ever
But surpiringly, the amps were so easy to install, cables thru firewall, along seat, under back seat, into boot, and its all plastic so it was unclip/clip back on, and only one set of RCA's to the rear, so was reasonably easy.

doing a h/u swap in the VL commodoore isnt quick if u do it properly...some bolt in the back that holds it in or something from memory

definitely H/U's easy, head units u can do in 1 hour or so, Amps you have to set aside a ful day to do, just in case there are any complications involved.

Pretty much a headunit no question.

I've seen competant installers fit a headunit in under 15 minutes, including soldering or crimping all connections and doing the job propperly.

Amps generally take a lot longer to fit properly, dodgy installs can be quick installs but will allways remain dodgy.

sorry but there is no car where a headunit would be quicker then an amp install.
when starting from scratch.(which would obviously be the case if you were arguing which was easiest)