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What IS the difference?

rexxdoggy

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
3,239
Location
Crestview, Florida
I know the Ford factory amp behind the glove box has been declared crap. But how MUCH of a difference in sound quality from going with the output of just the head unit by bypassing the OEM amp does it make?
 
I'm running an older Alpine {cda-9825} that is rated 50 watts per channel peak. I have it running threw the contours amp via the rca jacks and an adapter and I'm ussing the factory wiring, was the quikist -easiest to hook it up.I also replaced all 4 speakers. over all it sounds as good -clean as it did in my last car that was running off the head unit. I did eventual ad an amp and an 8" sub in the rear deck to boast the bass,the 6" by 8"s in the doors Didn't quit cut it.
 
It is real easy to bypass the stock amp using a wire harness you can get from Best Buy or somewhere like that. It sounds a ton better w/o the stock amp so you should probably just do that.
 
The difference in sound quality is huge IMO, depending on the quality of your HU. Its like comparing a hand radio to a nice Harmon Kardon home stereo. As a simple guideline :

Good HU with OEM amp deleted = Megan Fox
HU + OEM amp = Bea Arthur
 
It is real easy to bypass the stock amp using a wire harness you can get from Best Buy or somewhere like that. It sounds a ton better w/o the stock amp so you should probably just do that.

I just used the adapter-harness that was already in my car ,took out the P.O.S. roadmaster unit and replaced it with my alpine.
Thanks for the info , didn't know such an adapter-harness existed.:shrug:
I'll have to look into it.
 
NO one of the absolute best upgrades you can do is going to be a new headunit and new speakers with the amp bypassed. Just dont get a pos replacement headunit.

And thats what I said. Splice up the bypass harness to go directly to the speakers.
 
Read the stickys, there is a how-to on factory amp bypassing... it's not that hard.... It's also posted in the old forums.
 
There is a detailed posting with pictures posted by CarpePoon in audio. Did the amp bypass bright and early this morning and WOW!! World of difference,cleaner ,crisper,more detailed ,cymbals sound like cymbals and not aluminum pie pans! That factory amp truly is a P.O.S.! Best buy has the amp bypass cable #70-5513 or the whole install kit#70-5514.The sound difference is well worth bypassing the factory amp.
 
There is a detailed posting with pictures posted by CarpePoon in audio. Did the amp bypass bright and early this morning and WOW!! World of difference,cleaner ,crisper,more detailed ,cymbals sound like cymbals and not aluminum pie pans! That factory amp truly is a P.O.S.! Best buy has the amp bypass cable #70-5513 or the whole install kit#70-5514.The sound difference is well worth bypassing the factory amp.

About all the amp is good for is weight reduction :D Pretty simple once you've done it. Glad you found the info and were able to get it done.
 
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