I bought a Panasonic Strada Nav system for my 05 GT.
I am replacing my Shaker 1000 head unit. I really
don't know much about audio. Does anyone know if
this will be an upgrade in sound? Will this be as
poweful as the Shaker? I have pasted some of
the specs from their website below. Thanks.

Dino

AMPLIFIER
.

Max. Power Output
50W x 4(MOS-FET)

Power Output (at 4 and 1% THD+N)
18W RMS x 4

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (reference: 1W into 4)
78dBA

Speaker Impedance
4 ohms

DISC PLAYER FEATURES
.

DVD Video Playback
Yes

Music CD Playback
Yes

MP3 Playback (CD-R/RW)
Yes

WMA Playback (CD-R/RW)
Yes

AUDIO
.

Frequency Response (± 1dB): DVD
20Hz - 20kHz

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF, A)
100dB

Dolby Digital Decoder32[/color]33
2ch downmix

Sound Quality
SQ7

FM/AM RADIO
.

AM Usable Sensitivity (S/N 20dB)
26dB/uV

FM Usable Sensitivity (75, S/N 30dB)
12.2dBF

50dB Quieting Sensitivity (75)
25.2dBF

Number of Presets
18 FM, 6 AM

INPUT/OUTPUT
.

Video Input (Composite)
1.0Vp-p, 75 ohms

Audio Input
2.0V rms

Video Output (Composite)
1.0Vp-p, 75 ohms

Audio Output/Preamp Output
2.0V rms, 600 ohms

 

it may take a little bit of tweeking but if you do it right it should sound better then the factory radio. I recommend bypassing the factory amps that run the tweeters, but using the factory amps for the subs. When doing this you will need to add capacitors to the tweeters speaker wires to take the bass out of them. Your deck only supplys a 2V RCA output for the subs which is common. The ford sub amplifiers like a little stronger signal so this is easily fixed with a line driver. This is a low level amp that will boost the RCA voltage up a couple of volts and make the subs sound much better.

So with 4 caps and a line driver you will be happy. I cover it on a mach 460 in my 94 gt on page 2 of my cardomain page. I used the factory radio with an alpine for a little over a year before I started the real stereo.....

 

Wow, thanks for the advice.

Since, as I mentioned, I am not that knowledgable with this stuff I was hoping I could ask a few more questions.

Are these products (links below) like the ones you mentioned in your post? I notced a farad rating on the capacitors,what sizedo I need? What brands would you recommend?

Should I remove the amps for the tweeters?


http://www.etronics.com/p-16111-lega...p;bname=NexTag&

http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Gold-t...424&sr=1-1

Thanks,
Dino

 

Hi ,
I've done the change over ,to the strada on my 2000 GT , VERY happy with it the only thing I don"t like is you have to push the I Agree button every time the unit powers up ,,
I simply spliced in some RCA 'S into the factory amp's ,and installed the voltage regulator to take care of the pop when the unit comes on ,,
the hard part is finding the speed pulse wire ,on the cars computer wireing harness ,
very good navigation prompts and awesome dvd player ,
ttocs write ups were very helpful ,,
No need for caps as they are a gimmic ,,
the line driver is the right one ,,

 

the caps I was recomending were closer to 100 MICROfarads, not the big style. In this application the cap works as a high pass filter to take the bass out of the tweets, which are probably distorting with any bass at all.

 

Thanks for your help guys!

Meggaman, Did you bypass the video lock feature to allow you to use the DVD while the car is moving? Is it done by grounding the e-brake wire on this unit?


Dino

 

ttocs,

I had a couple more questions if its all right,

How many inputs/outputs do i need for the line driver? I noticed this varies per model. You mentioned that I should use the sub amps to power my tweeters. Am I to assume that I need an additional output from the line driver for that?

How much extra voltage do I need from the line driver? I am not sure how much the stock speakers need or can take.

Also I noticed stores selling 'Bass Blockers' which seem similar in function to the caps you suggested. They are not rated in Farads but in cut-off (from 150hz and up). Which rating would be comprable to 100 microfarads?

Thanks again for your help.

Dino