Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio how or can install ?

How or can an aftermarket amp and sub be installed onto the ford factory stero system?

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2000SVT running stock except for the wife limiter

Most any amp you buy will have speaker level inputs so you will be able to do that. I wouldn't recommend istalling an amp without upgrading the speakers though.

I think he means he will be purchasing and amp and sub. All the wiring you'll need will come with any decent amp kit.

If you want to use you factoy head unit, you will have to use speaker level inputs on the amp you buy. Most amps are installed using low level (unamplified) RCa wires fro mthe head unit to the amp. The factory radio does not have these RCA connectors (red & white). There are amp kits that come with al lthe required wires and parts to hook up a sub/amp combo that can be had for $20 or less on-line.

You would need extra speaker wire to splice into the speaker wires between the HU and factory external amp and take them to your new amp.

You can also use speaker-level to RCA converters to splice in an amp w/o speaker-level inputs. They cost $15 or so.

I'd recommend going with ones that have an adjustable gain, as I don't believe the output on the stock deck before the amp is "full" power. The stock amp will just introduce more noise into the system, so you'll definately want to splice in before it.

Actually, it is a low level signal, similar to the one carried by an RCA, before the factory amp. It won't have enough "juice" to work well. I'm pretty sure you'd have to it after the factory amp.

I would not waiste my money using hi level to RCA adaptors... It sound to me like a waist of time converting hi level sound to low only to have it go back to hi after the amp. You are better off by just replacing the head unit ....just do it!!!!!!!!
I did!!!!!

True, but keeping that crappy amp in the system is only going to introduce more noise/distortion.

The adjustable converters will let you match the input level to the amp and bypass the factory amp.

I guess that you could chop apart a pair of patch cables and the factory wiring and splice in the amp that way. You can then use the gain on the amp to adjust to input signal level.

Personally, I'd rather spend a few bucks than cut up some patch cables.

In any case, I'd do what ocinos suggested and replace the deck. Even a $150 deck will sound light years better than the factory deck/amp setup. There's lots of used stuff on the market too.