ok aftermarket radio?

Black02GT · May 12th, 2008, 09:20 PM

thinking slightly about an aftermarket radio. how well do these work with the stock mach 460 system? ive heard to get the metro harness but will it still produce the sound as clearly and the same bass? some have told me that the bass will be no where near the same and it sounds fuzzy or garbled. I want to clear this up before I even waste the time on it. im perfectly okay with the radio i have its the 6disk but I just wanted to invest in a better looking radio and dress up the inside a little since all ive done is mechanical mods so far. I really wouldn't mind getting a 10" sub in the trunk for an extra little thump but nothing crazy. so if i did get a 10" sub, should i just say the hell with the factory amps like un plug them or just not use the metro harness and just let the sub put out my bass? now that i think about it that dont seem like it would work out well bc the speakers need atleast a little bass of their own right? someone feel free to guide me here . i havent been in the audio game since i was 16 but now im kinda wanting a little thump in the trunk keep in mind . LITTLE not nothin big. just maybe a simple small box that doesnt take up much room or nothin. blah i dont even know what brands are good or if i should replace the factory speakers with aftermarket ones .

BrandonJD25 · May 13th, 2008, 12:37 PM

YES aftermarket head units are a BIG improvement! I got the Dual XDVD8290 (love it). You have a few options...

A) Get the head unit then wire it straight to the speakers. Will give you maybe a little bit of sound advantage over stock, plus the benefit of the a head unit with more features

B) Get the head unit then go ahead and replace the whole system (new amps, and new speakers). Which will give the biggest bang, but will also be the most expensive.

C) [The best option] Get the head unit and the Metra wiring harness (about $20). That harness will let you plug the head unit into the already existing wiring, which will enable you to use the stock amps and speakers. HUGE sound improvement, relatively cheap, and very easy!

Here's a couple good write ups...

Step By Step Sound System Installation 00-04 Mustang GT

Headunit swap (mach 460)

Black02GT · May 13th, 2008, 06:36 PM

so option 'c' will produce the same bass? or more bass?

sounds like a good idea if so, but the big question is the sound quality.. ive heard alot about the aftermarket head unit with factory setup making the sound not very clear at all.

also thanks for the links that helps alot!

ChrisJ · May 13th, 2008, 07:35 PM

My Center Console...

Its cake...

Bullitt2445 · May 13th, 2008, 08:57 PM

You best bet, if you are thinking about a 10" sub in the trunk, is to ditch the factory stuff, have a 4 channel amp installed to power some nice front speakers and the sub. Replace the rear speakers and power them off of the radio. Something like this would run just under a grand installed. Spend a little more and pop for a double din indash DVD player w/ screen or nav unit if you want.

ChrisJ · May 13th, 2008, 08:59 PM

If you run the metra you can have the factory amps run the factory stereo and run a remote, rca cables, power wire, and ground to the trunk and then just use the amp to run the subs...

Black02GT · May 13th, 2008, 10:01 PM

wow you lost me chris.

ok use the metra and have the factory amps run the factory stereo? do u mean the factory speakers? and whats the deal on the rca cables. i THINK thats how my old setup was.. it had a power from the battery and then the amp plugged into the rca ( red and white) jacks on the rear of the radio. so basicly the metra will allow me to do it just like if i had a regular situation( i.e. NOT MACH460)

ChrisJ · May 13th, 2008, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Black02GT

wow you lost me chris.

ok use the metra and have the factory amps run the factory stereo? do u mean the factory speakers? and whats the deal on the rca cables. i THINK thats how my old setup was.. it had a power from the battery and then the amp plugged into the rca ( red and white) jacks on the rear of the radio. so basicly the metra will allow me to do it just like if i had a regular situation( i.e. NOT MACH460)

With the metra adapter you can use the stock 460 set-up with an aftermarket head-unit...

Then if you want to run subs or something like that then you just run a remote wire and rca cables from the headunit and then run the power wire from the battery to the amp and then ground it in the trunk...Tha way you have the stock Mach 460 working great and if you want subs you can have that too...

I run the metra harness on my car with my touch screen and it is awesome...

I just installed another touch screen in another mustang this past weekend...

I did not take the pictures...

But you get the idea...Its cake...Takes me about 45 minutes to install...

Black02GT · May 13th, 2008, 10:31 PM

looks great. thanks for the help man.

i just wanted to make sure i understood it perfectly and now i am certain. im glad this can be done. no one has answered my question about if this will make the sound quality different? like i said before ive had friends have their stuff installed professionaly and it sounds like crap with an aftermarket head unit. is that because they didnt use metra or is it that you cant get the good sound out of an aftermarket radio as the mach460 deck unit

ChrisJ · May 14th, 2008, 07:36 PM

Yes it sounds 10X better with the aftermarket head-unit...

May 12th, 2008, 09:20 PM	#1
Black02GT Hardcore Enthusiast 03 Mach 1--~--1 of 2513 8.9 1/8 mile time Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alcoa/Knoxville, Tn Posts: 1,287	ok aftermarket radio? thinking slightly about an aftermarket radio. how well do these work with the stock mach 460 system? ive heard to get the metro harness but will it still produce the sound as clearly and the same bass? some have told me that the bass will be no where near the same and it sounds fuzzy or garbled. I want to clear this up before I even waste the time on it. im perfectly okay with the radio i have its the 6disk but I just wanted to invest in a better looking radio and dress up the inside a little since all ive done is mechanical mods so far. I really wouldn't mind getting a 10" sub in the trunk for an extra little thump but nothing crazy. so if i did get a 10" sub, should i just say the hell with the factory amps like un plug them or just not use the metro harness and just let the sub put out my bass? now that i think about it that dont seem like it would work out well bc the speakers need atleast a little bass of their own right? someone feel free to guide me here . i havent been in the audio game since i was 16 but now im kinda wanting a little thump in the trunk keep in mind . LITTLE not nothin big. just maybe a simple small box that doesnt take up much room or nothin. blah i dont even know what brands are good or if i should replace the factory speakers with aftermarket ones . __________________ -Josh- 2003 Torch Red Mach 1 Originally Posted by HMUSN it's like racing a mach 1 .. not untouchable but still gonna lose plain and simple no matter how you roll the dice.

May 13th, 2008, 12:37 PM	#2
BrandonJD25 Regular 2002 Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 139	YES aftermarket head units are a BIG improvement! I got the Dual XDVD8290 (love it). You have a few options... A) Get the head unit then wire it straight to the speakers. Will give you maybe a little bit of sound advantage over stock, plus the benefit of the a head unit with more features B) Get the head unit then go ahead and replace the whole system (new amps, and new speakers). Which will give the biggest bang, but will also be the most expensive. C) [The best option] Get the head unit and the Metra wiring harness (about $20). That harness will let you plug the head unit into the already existing wiring, which will enable you to use the stock amps and speakers. HUGE sound improvement, relatively cheap, and very easy! Here's a couple good write ups... Step By Step Sound System Installation 00-04 Mustang GT Headunit swap (mach 460) __________________ '98 Coupe: K&N Filter/GT intake, Steeda tri-ax, Pioneer sound system, Flowmaster 40s muffler... '02 GT - Mineral Gray (so far): Flowmaster 40s mufflers, MAC cold air intake, BBK 75mm throttle body, C&L highflow plenum...

May 13th, 2008, 06:36 PM	#3
Black02GT Hardcore Enthusiast 03 Mach 1--~--1 of 2513 8.9 1/8 mile time Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alcoa/Knoxville, Tn Posts: 1,287	so option 'c' will produce the same bass? or more bass? sounds like a good idea if so, but the big question is the sound quality.. ive heard alot about the aftermarket head unit with factory setup making the sound not very clear at all. also thanks for the links that helps alot! __________________ -Josh- 2003 Torch Red Mach 1 Originally Posted by HMUSN it's like racing a mach 1 .. not untouchable but still gonna lose plain and simple no matter how you roll the dice.

May 13th, 2008, 07:35 PM	#4
ChrisJ MM Ninjas! 2002 Mustang GT SLOW Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 14,743	My Center Console... Its cake... __________________ My Junk www.myspace.com/cjobe

May 13th, 2008, 08:57 PM	#5
Bullitt2445 Regular 2001 Bullitt #02445 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 161	You best bet, if you are thinking about a 10" sub in the trunk, is to ditch the factory stuff, have a 4 channel amp installed to power some nice front speakers and the sub. Replace the rear speakers and power them off of the radio. Something like this would run just under a grand installed. Spend a little more and pop for a double din indash DVD player w/ screen or nav unit if you want. __________________ 2001 Bullit #02445 built in the only color Henry would build- Black.

May 13th, 2008, 08:59 PM	#6
ChrisJ MM Ninjas! 2002 Mustang GT SLOW Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 14,743	If you run the metra you can have the factory amps run the factory stereo and run a remote, rca cables, power wire, and ground to the trunk and then just use the amp to run the subs... __________________ My Junk www.myspace.com/cjobe

May 13th, 2008, 10:01 PM	#7
Black02GT Hardcore Enthusiast 03 Mach 1--~--1 of 2513 8.9 1/8 mile time Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alcoa/Knoxville, Tn Posts: 1,287	wow you lost me chris. ok use the metra and have the factory amps run the factory stereo? do u mean the factory speakers? and whats the deal on the rca cables. i THINK thats how my old setup was.. it had a power from the battery and then the amp plugged into the rca ( red and white) jacks on the rear of the radio. so basicly the metra will allow me to do it just like if i had a regular situation( i.e. NOT MACH460) __________________ -Josh- 2003 Torch Red Mach 1 Originally Posted by HMUSN it's like racing a mach 1 .. not untouchable but still gonna lose plain and simple no matter how you roll the dice.

May 13th, 2008, 10:31 PM	#9
Black02GT Hardcore Enthusiast 03 Mach 1--~--1 of 2513 8.9 1/8 mile time Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alcoa/Knoxville, Tn Posts: 1,287	looks great. thanks for the help man. i just wanted to make sure i understood it perfectly and now i am certain. im glad this can be done. no one has answered my question about if this will make the sound quality different? like i said before ive had friends have their stuff installed professionaly and it sounds like crap with an aftermarket head unit. is that because they didnt use metra or is it that you cant get the good sound out of an aftermarket radio as the mach460 deck unit __________________ -Josh- 2003 Torch Red Mach 1 Originally Posted by HMUSN it's like racing a mach 1 .. not untouchable but still gonna lose plain and simple no matter how you roll the dice.

May 14th, 2008, 07:36 PM	#10
ChrisJ MM Ninjas! 2002 Mustang GT SLOW Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 14,743	Yes it sounds 10X better with the aftermarket head-unit... __________________ My Junk www.myspace.com/cjobe

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