Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio SVT amp bypass

I just installed a Sony Xplod head unit last weekend, (CDX-M610) and am looking for a harness or way to bypass the stock amp. The sound is great but by the time I get the volume up to 3 bars it's maxed out because of the amp. I also get a lot of noise between tracks, like when you turn your volume all the way up with nothing playing. Just wondered if anyone else has a solution. None of the stereo shops have one, they can't even believe a Contour has an amp! Thanks!

Disconnect it. I disconnected mine and spiced all the wires for the door speakers and ran them directly to the HU. I will be using an external amp soon and I will only have to re-route the wires for the door speakers to connect them to the 4 channel amp.

Hope this helps

Check out www.Crutchfield.com. They have a bypass kit which will allow you to hook up your HU to the speakers directly. I"m not sure of exact part number, but they do have it. It runs about $25 give or take. i think.

Brian

Hard wiring the doors is the best way. The unit sold to integrate into the factory amp is junk. It doesn't work. You are better off running your own wires from the HU.

cruises8

The amp bypass from crutchfield.com is the easiest way to do it.

It cuts the factory amp out of the factory wiring loop. You plug into the factory wiring after the factory amp with the supplied wire harnass.

It sells for $20 and is worth every penny, especially the detailed instructions and color-coded wiring for the novice installer.

Rewiring all of the speaker wiring in the car is waste of time unless you're pushing some component speakers with some serious juice.

Just make sure to get the amp bypass and not the amp integration kit. Like cruises8 said, it'll sound like crap if you don't bypass the amp.

Go to Circuit City or Best Buy. They both have the bypass harness. Mine was $11 from Circuit City but I saw Best Buy was selling for $15.

Also, DEFINITELY by-pass that amp. The distortion WILL blow/damage your new speakers! While you're using the amp don't turn it up so loud that it is getting even slightly distorted. I would get that bypass harness ASAP.

I agree about the recommendation to bypass the amp but distortion is not inherently dangerous for a speaker as long as the speaker can handle the power being supplied. If you have a 500 watt speaker and play 100 watts of distortion, it will not damage the speakers. But if you play 750 watts of distortion free sound, it will tear the speaker. The speaker doesn't car if its playing music or distortion, unless that distortion is caused by sending too much power at a given freq.

I ordered a harness from crutchfield on Wed., it should be here tomorrow. When I get it hooked up I'll let everyone know how it went. By the way $12 plus 4.95 shipping. Thanks for all the help!