Aftermarket deck sounds bad

Supra · October 2nd, 2009, 07:23 PM

A few months ago I installed an Alpine deck into my mustang because i wanted to add a subwoofer and use my ipod. BUT, it just didn't sound right compared to the stock mach 460 deck. It sounded terrible so i swapped it back to the stock deck and it sounded good again.

Is this normal? What should/can I do about it?

ajm · October 2nd, 2009, 07:33 PM

It has to do with bypassing the factory amps as far as I know.

dansgt · October 2nd, 2009, 07:36 PM

let me guess, you didnt bypass the factory amps?
edit: ajm beat me to it, thats what i get for opening a bunch of threads at once lol

Supra · October 2nd, 2009, 11:28 PM

How do you bypass the amps?? I searched and found nothing..

330CubeGt · October 2nd, 2009, 11:31 PM

Modded Mustang User Name:Supra = Fail!

Lefty · October 2nd, 2009, 11:56 PM

No need to bypass the amps. Get the correct wiring harness.

Supra · October 3rd, 2009, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by 330CubeGt

Modded Mustang User Name:Supra = Fail!

lol. long story short supra was my first car and ive used the same user on every forum so I dont forget

Supra · October 3rd, 2009, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by Lefty

No need to bypass the amps. Get the correct wiring harness.

I believe I did? atleast I think so.. On the aftermarket HU, i only have to turn up the volume a tiny bit and its already blasting, hardly any bass either.

I believe it looks like this,

wraitherx · October 3rd, 2009, 02:19 AM

that is the right harness, did you make sure you plugged it into the sub output? If you want to bypass it really isnt hard but you will loose your tweeters in your sail panel

vita · October 3rd, 2009, 08:56 AM

1) that harness is the one you need.

2) bypassing the factory amp can help your problem. theirs one good way to bypass the original amp, but its pretty messy. You re-run wires from you HU to the speakers... it requires a LOT of time because your removing lots of panels and speakers, but you get the best sounds quality this way.

weems · October 3rd, 2009, 09:16 AM

It has no bass because your door speakers on with the stock head unit only play bass, and when you added the aftermarket unit it changed this, so now you need to add a sub to compensate for the loss in bass.

When I did the mach I had the amps bypassed and all speakers replaced with Pioneer Premiers and added a W6 and a 500.1 and it sounded awesome.

06RedfireGT · October 3rd, 2009, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by weems

When I did the mach I had the amps bypassed and all speakers replaced with Pioneer Premiers and added a W6 and a 500.1 and it sounded awesome.

Blitz34 · October 3rd, 2009, 12:14 PM

Well to clear things up, in my old car, I bypassed the amps like said above. I went to our local innovative audio, and was told if i used the above wiring harness then the signal that the actual 460 unit puts out is too weak of a signal.

The head unit sends very small signals to the amp that just tell the amp what to do, when using that wiring harness behind the head unit, it doesnt send a strong enough signal to aftermarket subs. The guy said my two 1200W 10's would only sound like 6x9's so this is probably your reason for no bass.

i used a small RCA adaptor that you tie in behind the amps. So in doing that, you wont run your RCA cables to your deck, they just plug to the adaptor, and the adaptor is tied or spliced behind your amps. so you'll have to keep the stock amp for the back speaker deck, and the RCA adapter gets a stronger signal from it. I spliced my adapter right behind the speakers on the rear speaker deck in your back window.

Like stated above its a pain in the ass. lots of panels and crap to move.

Lefty · October 3rd, 2009, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by weems

When I did the mach I had the amps bypassed and all speakers replaced with Pioneer Premiers and added a W6 and a 500.1 and it sounded awesome.

I bet. That sounds sexual

weems · October 7th, 2009, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by 06RedfireGT

I don't have the car anymore

But I did pull the amp, sub and headunit

October 2nd, 2009, 07:23 PM	#1
Supra Regular 2004 Mach 1 12.57 @ 111.72 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: saskatchewan, canada Posts: 422 iTrader: 0 reviews	Aftermarket deck sounds bad A few months ago I installed an Alpine deck into my mustang because i wanted to add a subwoofer and use my ipod. BUT, it just didn't sound right compared to the stock mach 460 deck. It sounded terrible so i swapped it back to the stock deck and it sounded good again. Is this normal? What should/can I do about it? __________________ 2004 Azure Mach 1 - K&N FIPK, 3/8" intake spacer, SCT Tuned, BBK O/R X, Magnapack CB, Tri-Ax, Built 31 spline diff with Eaton Truetrac, 4.10's, MM LCA's, Raptor shift light 2004 Mustang GT - Sold

October 2nd, 2009, 07:36 PM	#3
dansgt Hardcore Enthusiast 03 gt, 95 740i, 96 disco Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mo Posts: 1,298 iTrader: 2 reviews	let me guess, you didnt bypass the factory amps? edit: ajm beat me to it, thats what i get for opening a bunch of threads at once lol __________________

October 2nd, 2009, 11:28 PM	#4
Supra Regular 2004 Mach 1 12.57 @ 111.72 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: saskatchewan, canada Posts: 422 iTrader: 0 reviews	How do you bypass the amps?? I searched and found nothing.. __________________ 2004 Azure Mach 1 - K&N FIPK, 3/8" intake spacer, SCT Tuned, BBK O/R X, Magnapack CB, Tri-Ax, Built 31 spline diff with Eaton Truetrac, 4.10's, MM LCA's, Raptor shift light 2004 Mustang GT - Sold

October 2nd, 2009, 11:31 PM	#5
330CubeGt MM Fanatic 1997 SVT COBRA 1996 Mustang V6 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 4,880 iTrader: 14 reviews	Modded Mustang User Name:Supra = Fail! __________________ -04 IRS - Magnaflow - Wheel Replica - Autometer - FTBR - FRPP - SCT - Brembo - PRO 5.0 - BOI-

October 2nd, 2009, 11:56 PM	#6
Lefty Resident DJ '01 Cobra Vert. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 28,701 iTrader: 12 reviews	No need to bypass the amps. Get the correct wiring harness. __________________ 2008 Acura TL Type-S (the daily) 2006 Yamaha R6 50th Anniversary Edition (the other toy)

October 2nd, 2009, 07:33 PM	#2
ajm Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 7,966 iTrader: 4 reviews	It has to do with bypassing the factory amps as far as I know.

October 3rd, 2009, 02:19 AM	#9
wraitherx Moderator '99 SVT Cobra Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 9,568 iTrader: 11 reviews	that is the right harness, did you make sure you plugged it into the sub output? If you want to bypass it really isnt hard but you will loose your tweeters in your sail panel __________________ BUILD 2 IN PROGRESS

October 3rd, 2009, 09:16 AM	#11
weems Tech Exchange Head Honcho 2003 SVT Cobra 11.70 @ 121 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Forsyth/Statesboro, GA Posts: 9,176 iTrader: 3 reviews	It has no bass because your door speakers on with the stock head unit only play bass, and when you added the aftermarket unit it changed this, so now you need to add a sub to compensate for the loss in bass. When I did the mach I had the amps bypassed and all speakers replaced with Pioneer Premiers and added a W6 and a 500.1 and it sounded awesome.

October 3rd, 2009, 12:14 PM	#13
Blitz34 Hardcore Enthusiast 2002 Mustang GT 13.907@99.85 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,545 iTrader: 11 reviews	Well to clear things up, in my old car, I bypassed the amps like said above. I went to our local innovative audio, and was told if i used the above wiring harness then the signal that the actual 460 unit puts out is too weak of a signal. The head unit sends very small signals to the amp that just tell the amp what to do, when using that wiring harness behind the head unit, it doesnt send a strong enough signal to aftermarket subs. The guy said my two 1200W 10's would only sound like 6x9's so this is probably your reason for no bass. i used a small RCA adaptor that you tie in behind the amps. So in doing that, you wont run your RCA cables to your deck, they just plug to the adaptor, and the adaptor is tied or spliced behind your amps. so you'll have to keep the stock amp for the back speaker deck, and the RCA adapter gets a stronger signal from it. I spliced my adapter right behind the speakers on the rear speaker deck in your back window. Like stated above its a pain in the ass. lots of panels and crap to move.

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