https://forums.bimmerforums.com/foru....php?t=1830737
1-all speaker level outputs from from factory head units are balanced. Not referenced to ground in any way shape or form. This applies to the outputs from the factory amps as well. Its actually a btl output but very similar to balanced.
This means you should not use chassis ground for the negative side on any audio signal wires coming out of the head unit or amp. You can but its not a good idea.
2-all of the above mentioned are also balanced meaning the audio signal is generated by the difference in voltage between the plus and minus side of the speaker channel.
A-the audio signals are kept free of noise by putting half of the signal on the positive side of the wire. The negative side is 180 degrees out of phase with the positive.
B-the difference in voltage between the 2 wires created the audio signal. If positive wire is at plus 2.5 volts the negative is at minus 2.5 volts. This means you have
A voltage of 5 volts. Which is the voltage coming out of the factory amp. More on this later.
3-there is no rhyme or reason to the cost of an aftermarket amp when it comes to what types of signals can be put into the rca inputs. Low cost amps or high cost amps employ both designs.
A-what i mean is you want an amp that takes speaker level inputs or another method called line driven inputs will accept the output signal from the factory amps without line output convertor or a LOC. more on locs later...