Ok, so I'm not an expert on speakers or car audio so help me out please.

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer with the Mach audio system (audiophile). I got the wiring harness here for the job. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HHh3NI2hOhu/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=120705517

I crimped all the cables together correctly and plugged it all and in sounds pretty good, but the sub doesn't sound very good. Almost fuzzy. I put my ear up to it and it sounds like it's trying to produce the high and mid range sounds as well as the lows. Is there anything I can do to make it sound better or is that normal?

On these Mach systems there is a dedicated amplifier for the subwoofer that supposedly is matched to the factory head unit. What is the purpose of an amplifer bypass and is that what I need to do? Get one of those amplifier bypasses and a new amplifier?

Thanks.

8/5/2005 10:05:37 AM

Just kidding, I wrote a novel that you already answered the question about. Basically ,waht I was saying is that typically the factory amp is not a good idea for a number of reasons;

1) Quality of sound typically isn't aimed at a larger sub. The settings are very specific on manufacturer units and won't generally provide the best sound.
2) The impedance of the factory amp could be WAY off ,and you could be damaging both your sub and your current stereo system.
3) There's so much more clarity out of an external amp, even if you have to use a line-out converter (which might be what you need to do depending on the in-dash unit...)

Mike

[Edited on August 5, 2005 at 10:51 AM. Reason : durk]

8/5/2005 10:49:16 AM

from what I can find on the web...

Factory:

Audiophile Systems are rated at 145 Watts RMS @ 2% THD (4X15W from the head unit or remote Parametric Amp; 1X85W from the SW Amp) Audiophile Systems have an Advertised Peak Power rating of 290 Watts. Subwoofer is 8 ohms (I think, can't find any specs on it).

Head Unit:

Pioneer DEH-2300. MOSFET 50x4 - 4-Channel High Power. RCA Preouts (x1 pair) (2V).


I'm using the the red RCA out for the subwoofer. Let me know if you need more info. Sound it looks like I'm supplying to much power to the factory speakers? What can I do? I really don't feel like shelling out hundreds on a car that already has 100,000+ miles.

8/5/2005 12:03:12 PM

more info on my head unit: 4 x 22 Watts RMS. 4 x 50 Watts (peak i guess)

8/5/2005 12:40:02 PM

Wait wait, so all you did was install a new head unit with the factory speakers/amplifier? That's what the harness was for, correct?

Mike

8/5/2005 12:44:17 PM

yeah factory speakers with a new head unit. Yes, that's what the harness was for.

8/5/2005 12:59:11 PM

Sorry I misread that whole thing. And you're wondering why the sub sounds funny? Hmm...Well it sounds like what I said before, just minus the external amp part. So basically, how do you have the RCA wired to the amp that's powering the sub (it sounds like all of the sound coming through the RCA is a full signal (not just low-range, which would make sense)) and that's why your sub sounds like that. But I'm curious what you have that RCA plugged to...

Mike

8/5/2005 1:12:02 PM

Well I kind of just have it hooked as the wiring harness cables match up. The RCA on my head unit goes directly to a cable in the wiring harness that I'll assume is the line for the preamp in to the subwoofer amplifier. Then I have the amplifier ground on the one wiring harness connected to the amplifier ground on the other wiring harness. Then there's the third wire on the sub harness that amplifier turn-on which I connected to the 12V amplifier/power antenna wire on my head unit.

I can't tell you exactly where that RCA goes because I haven't taken off the interior rear side panel to take a look.

If I am sending all the signal to the sub, do I need a low-pass crossover to filter out the high end?

[Edited on August 5, 2005 at 1:22 PM. Reason : added question]

8/5/2005 1:20:00 PM

That's a definite possibility. But thats something i would ask the manufacturer of the harness about. Has it always put out full-range sound without the fuziness, or is it just now that it puts out the high end?

Mike

8/5/2005 1:58:28 PM