Ultrashock

First off, I know next to nothing when it comes to audio.

I have a 96 cobra and when I purchased the car, all speakers worked, but the bass wasn't there. Then, my front door speaks stopped working simultaneously (i have a muffled bass sound in them now). Now I only have rear speakers and the bass comes on every now and then. Oh and one tweeter works.

So I spoke to someone about the problem and they said it could be the old head unit. I had planned on getting a new one anyway so I purchased a new one. It didn't fix the problem so I'm just left with a few questions.

Would you assume the factory amps are bad? I don't have the funds to put in an amp, sub, and door speakers. If it's just the factory amps, I have a buddy that has a few complete mach systems on hand and would just replace the factory amps.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Rockwell28

replace them and see if that works its only like two plugs front and back on the amps on the 99-03 stangs im not too sure about the 96-98s bc my thunderbird amp has one plug. get your buddys amp give it a test and see if thats the problem.

98mustangkidd

the amp only has one plug, i would try it and see if that makes a difference.. if you put in an aftermarket head unit and keep stock speakers and amps (460 stereo) it really wont sound as good as the stock head unit being in there.. fords design wasnt all that great but if the funds are there to get a set of like pioneer or kicker speakers (60-90 bucks) i would do that and just drop the mach 460 system in the back and direct wire them from the head unit to the rear speakers, then keep the old amps just for the front speakers to keep those running because the stock speakers need that amp to run them... you will get better quality and better sound just from the watts from the head unit running without an amp to those speakers... same thing goes for the front whenever you want to do them. good luck man.

Ultrashock

Thanks guys!

I've read from a lot of guys that the best upgrade for the mach system was a head unit which they claimed to sound better.

I agree that the Mach System is hard to deal with. I might just wait until the funds are there.

98mustangkidd

I would wait for the funds and just drop the system all at once. you will have enough power out of the head units built in amp to run your speakers and they will sound 10x better than the mach stereo, no amp needed just all straight wired. you would be amazed at how much better it sounds.

Ultrashock

Here's the head unit I purchased.

http://www.sony.lv/product/ica-bluet...reo/mex-bt2900

BraMas

FYI you can't just plug an aftermarket stereo into the 460 system and expect it to work properly. You need an adapter like one from scosche
Crutchfield . Com
to me it sounds like one of the amps are not powering on. There are 3 of them one under the stereo an the 2 in the trunk and they all work together. If you have access to 3 good amps from a friend switch them out and see if your problem goes away

Ultrashock

The head unit works fine. I bought the wiring harness that was needed. I've heard its the new edge mach systems that are a pain to find a harness for.

I may just wait and get rid of the system entirely. Not sure yet, but that's what I'd like to eventually do.

foru2nv4

If its anything like the 1995 camaro's bose system which runs at half an ohm you will fry your new head unit in a couple of weeks at high volumes. your head unit an only run at 4 ohms straight wired to the speakers already in the car. If the speakers in the car is 4 OHM speakers your new head unit will be fine. Bose speakers are 1/2 OHM and since its stock Im not sure if it will show you the OHMS on the back of the speakers.

98mustangkidd

It does say 4 ohm for the mach 460 stereo on the bottom of the speaker.