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Topic: CD changer and premium sound? (Read 5534 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #15 –
ehh, if u ask me, id buy a headunit n just not worry about it, i dont know much about premium sound but granted it cant be better than most headunits out there now. electronics unlike whine dont get better with age, most of those old stock stuff sucks n e way. u can prob match it or even improve upon it with some nice headunit n speaker components.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #16 –
alright, i got the changer for christmas, it has almost a splitter box, it runs up to under the dash, the factory antenna runs to that little box, and a wire from the box runs into the factory head unit, so it doesnt actually transmit, it just sends the signal through the antenna feed

i havnt installed it yet, i need to get the trunk sealed and dried out before i do, and figure out why the front, driver side speakers dont work
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #17 –
honestly ive never heard premium sound, but no stock system has ever impressed me, dont mind me asking but what in gods name is so great about premium sound. to me it sounds like ur doing all this work for somthign that is outdated n prob isnt so great. maybe thats just me but it seems alot of ppl just stick a headunit in their car. my original radio was stolen when my aunt drove the car so idk what was even in it.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #18 –
out of every car ive had, its always been a low option, rather base model car, im not a fan of removing options, or factory gizmo's if i dont really have to

that, and the premium sound sounds suprisingly awesome, it man handles my aftermarket setup in my other bird in volume and sound quality, the only downfall is i cant play CD's, which i will be able to once i install this changer

and i cant find a CD player that actually matches the dash, the dashs are nice and bruched aluminum, dark blue/gray, satin black, green illumnation, then a CHROME cd changer with BLUE/RED/YELLOW/PURPLE/MAGENTA illumination....yeah
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #19 –
My new Kenwood deck has that 64-color illumination .  You can make it match stock illum. pretty well.  Even the buttons have a red/green option.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #20 –
ohh My car has a headunit that lights up green. pretty close to the color of the spedo and the clock. n then its got silver s, cause i hate chrome. i didnt intend for it to match at first, cause when i bought it my car was still in storage it just worked out for me.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #21 –
Sheesh....there's hardly anything available now that isn't silver. I think that's because of newer cars going with satin nickel finishes on the dash. That's why I did my dash up with brushed aluminum...I made the dash match the radio, literally!

Mine's a Blaupunkt Los Angeles MP72 CD/MP3 player that lights up red, white and blue. :america:

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #22 –
with all the white and aluminum, you gotta do something about that shifter base, anything in the market for the mustangs in that respect?

i have an alpine in my red bird that matches rather nicely, but it doesnt fit as id like it to, doesnt sound as good as id like (its from '98), and it doesnt play burned CD's

looks or function, makes it tough
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #23 –
Quote from: Tbird232ci
with all the white and aluminum, you gotta do something about that shifter base, anything in the market for the mustangs in that respect?


Not without losing all looks and functionality of the console...no choice but to use what I've got. I tried making an aluminum cover plate for the shifter base (the part that's dark grey) but it ended up looking mighty cheesy to me. I can live with it for now...no biggie.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #24 –
What about using one of those "chrome paints" that always ends up looking like any metallic surface other than chrome?

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #25 –
Finally, someone else out there trying to keep the stock interfaces but improve the sound and function.  Shawn, I posted a question about this some time ago on the old board and Thunder Chicken posted some useful information.  Granted, you are asking about CD players but I'm sure the thought of using the factory premium sound with aftermarket speakers has crossed your mind.  I emailed Crutchfield two years ago asking questions about preserving the factory interfaces but bypassing the factory amp and their response is in the body of my original email:

[size=-2]
advisors@crutchfield.com wrote:
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 16:58:07 -0500
From: advisors@crutchfield.com
Subject: RE: keeping the factory interface [T2002121800R3]
To: debandkarl@yahoo.com

Hi Karl,

Thanks for your e-mail, and for shopping the Crutchfield web site.

In answer to your questions about upgrading your system, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that, unfortunately, I do not have any information on your Mark VIII. In addition, I do not have much of the information you are looking for on the Cougar.

However, the good news is that I will try to answer the questions, as best I can, from the information that I have. I have taken the liberty of answering your questions within the text body of your e-mail. My responses should appear in Blue to make them easier to discern.

When you're ready to make a purchase, just visit our web site at http://www.crutchfield.com. For only $3, Crutchfield will still get most items to you by Christmas. (TVs 24" and up and large tower speakers are excluded.)

Thanks again for your e-mail. Please let me know whenever you need anything else!

Jerry
Product Advisor
Advisors@crutchfield.com
http://www.crutchfield.com
1-888-474-7138

P.S. Get a $20.00 credit whenever you refer a friend! Details at:

http://www.crutchfield.com/SendAFriend

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 1:08 PM
Subject: keeping the factory interface [T2002121800R3Z1533921]
Tracking Number
: T2002121800R3Z1533921
Sent to
: Advisors@Crutchfield.com
Date
: 12/18/02 1:08 PM
_____

Crutchfield Advisors,
I would like to upgrade my vehicle audio system in two cars - 1996 Lincoln Mark 8 with factory "premium sound" and a factory CD changer in the trunk and a 1988 Mercury Cougar XR-7 with factory "premium sound" and a factory equalizer in the dash. My request is unorthodox because I want to pull a "RC" or "line level" signal from my factory radios which do not have these ports usually found on aftermarket source units. However, I think that a low level, "pre-amp" signal is sent from my source unit or e.q. to a factory amp mounted against the back seat (I want to check with you on that one - questions below). I think my speakers are then connected to that amp (again, can you confirm or clear this up for me?). On the surface, one might suggest to just take the signal currently going to the factory amp and run it into an aftermarket amp and go from there but I want to find the signal from my radio in its earliest stages before it goes through too much of the factory componentry. I will then take that signal to quality aftermarket componentry so as to get the best possible sound sent to my speakers. The reason for all of this is I want to have aftermarket sound but I want to still be able to use my factory interface. I will upgrade everything else: the speakers, install Dynamat, perhaps upgrade the wiring, install a crossover, amp, and a sub in the trunk.

While I cannot give you specifically how this works in either vehicle, I can tell you that, in general, there is a low powered signal (about 2-5 watts) coming from the factory receiver to the factory amplifier. This is higher than a pre-amp level output. There are very few factory systems (and only ones in the last year or two) that use a pre-amp level voltage from the receiver to the amplifier.

Some additional questions: Has the "RC" or "line level" output signal coming out of aftermarket radios gone through a "pre-amp" stage within the radio or is it an "uncorrupted" signal meant to be sent to a separate amp somewhere else in the vehicle?

Typically, the signal is amplified coming out of the receiver. More information on this below.

If I were to compare the cleanliness/quality of a signal coming from the "RC" or "line" port of an aftermarket radio before it goes into an aftermarket amp to the signal coming out of my factory radio before it goes into the separate amp, is the aftermarket signal cleaner because it has not gone through any pre-amp stages or is it cleaner because even though they both (factory and aftermarket) go through a pre-amp stage, the quality of the components inside the aftermarket is better and no radio in existence has a signal coming out of it that has not gone through a pre-amp stage within the radio?

The signal coming out of an aftermarket radio is typically a lot cleaner because of better quality components, and also because it is pre-amp level (less susceptible to noise)

I know these are lengthy sentences but I couldn't articulate my questions any better. All I want is to pull the cleanest signal from my radio in its earliest stages and send it to amps, crossovers and everything else from there. If I have to, would it be feasible to find someone who repairs factory radios and have them open mine up and trace out the signal and do some soldering, drill a hole in the housing and create RC/line level jacks?

This may be feasible, but at the cost that you will incur to do this, you will be much better off going with an aftermarket receiver. In addition, you will receive better sound quality from an aftermarket unit.

Have you seen this done by someone who understands factory componentry within the radios and factory equalizers?
Thank you,
Karl M.[/size]
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
[size=-2]Click on paw print \/[/size]

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #26 –
i knew if anyone did some homework, youd be the man Karl

too good to get on AIM i pressume?

so basically, crutchfield is saying "no, it wont work"
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #27 –
From the looks of that email it seems to me that Crutchfield just wants to sell you a stereo. Even if the outputs of a factory premium sound deck aren't line level they'd be close (and certainly not 2-5 watts, else you'd be able to use the head unit without an amp). Almost all amplifiers have a "gain" control that would allow you to compensate for a higher line level.

You could install a nice 4-channel amp in the place of the factory premium amp without even having to cut any wires (except you'd have to cut the plugs off the factory amp). If you cut the plugs off the factory premium amp you could connect RCA ends to the low-level wires from the head unit to these plugs (and then plug them into your new amp) and you could connect the speaker wires in these plugs directly to the speaker outputs of the new amp. then just plug the plugs that used to be attached to the premium sound amp back into the vehicle's harness and presto, you're wired. About the only wire you would have to run is a heavy gauge wire from the battery because the stock power wire wouldn't power a very big amplifier. I know this can be done because I did it in my own car. I replaced the head unit, though, but I used the stock premium sound wiring for the head unit and the amp.

I eventually will do up another diagram showing the connections required to install an aftermarket amp with stock premium sound head unit (and if applicable, the EQ, as the wiring in the trunk would be identical), but the info is already in my other diagrams if you know hw to read schematics
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #28 –
could you also do a diagram, if possible, showing how to run an amp in addition to the factory amp, to run a sub or additional speakers?
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: CD changer and premium sound?

Reply #29 –
Dude, Shawn, sell both your T-birds for $300 a  piece and just buy a Mustang.  Then you don't have to worry about swapping the 5.0 in anymore.  That's your best bet.