xXxDONAHUExXx

I have a 2001 V6 Mustang with a Mach 460 sound system. I want to put a new head unit in but im not sure what kind i should get. Does anyone have sugestions? I'm also interested in hearing about different suboower, amp, and box combinations.

rsh0763

I was going to ask the same question. I have checked at Crutchfield, I found a replacement that was specifically for the Mach 460 equipped car (there was a difference) and i found a number of HU's, but there was some specific install items that allowed for the deck to function with the current speakers/amps.

has anyone used these items with success? (with the 460 sound system)

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1207055...977&tab=review

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_003FMK5...eiver-Kit.html

jthorn9

While you can use an aftermarket head unit with the Mach 460 the sound quality will go to poop because of the odd ball manner Ford wired everything. In short it's best to stay with all Ford components (upgrade to Mach 1000 which I have a full write up on) or go all aftermet, there isn't much in between.

Again you can make it work but the speakers won't sound as good because of the 6/3 ohm loads they opperate at. All aftermarket stereos opperate in 4 ohm loads.

rsh0763

I am interested in the write up you mentioned, but I did get the Kenwood head unit to work pretty well. What I ended up doing was using the RCA's from the Crutchfield provided harness at the Sub output of the head unit, Then wiring the rest as normal. Basically using the unit's pre-amp for the tweeters. Upon installation, it obviously sounded like death, but using the HPF's for the tweeters and the LPF for the Subwoofer built into the deck. With that adjustment and severely reducing the bass output, I ended up with essentially what I had before.

That said, I do not want to start any fires or damage anything. So I was thinking about the following:

Removing the amps and all the speakers, replacing the speakers with these:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575R152...me-R152-S.html

They have built in crossovers, less junk to install

With this amp:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KAC2...KAC-2404S.html

I am just curious if I will get any bass out of the 5.25" woofers. It doesn't have to be what it is now because that is just too much at this point, but I still want to feel it.

Anyone have any history with those Rockford Fosgate Prime R-152's?

OR

I would like to see the write-up on the 1000 you mentioned. I am very interested and have no issues using that deck in my boat or truck.

Thanks for the info.

jthorn9

Horrible amp and about as good speakers....

The Mach 460 will put out more sound and be better than that system. Honestly, the Mach 460 and Mach 1000 are damn good systems for factory, they're equivilant to most $1000 aftermarket systems.

If you want to run components then spend a little extra and get something truely worth your while. Look into DLS, Focal, Polk Audio Mo Mo Series, and even Boston Acoustics for those kinds of speakers.

For amps look into DLS (my fav), Diamond, Hifonics, MTX, and Arc Audio. Those are about the best bangs for the buck.

Alpine, JL, and Kicker are good run of the mill name brands, but have become so popular they cost as much, or slightly more than the above and aren't even as good.

For subs look at Elemental Designs, DLS, Diamond, JL, Kicker, and Memphis.

Here are some helpful links:
Terms and Deffinitions
https://mustangforums.com/forum/audi...finitions.html

Sub Info
https://mustangforums.com/forum/audi...formation.html

Mach 460 to 1000
https://mustangforums.com/forum/audi...0-install.html

rsh0763

I see, those Fosgates are pretty cheap, must not be too good. I sure liked the built-in crossover idea though for the doors.

I have a "decent" Sony Head unit in my 2005 Cummins Ram, it has a cheap Blaupunkt EMA460 4-Channel Amp, 1 set of Infinity Reference 5.25 5030 components in the front and 6.75 6030's in the back door. That whole system was less than 600 with cables and all, it has no Sub, but plenty of bass from the 6.75's and even the fronts. It is clearly a better sound than the Mach 460 in my Mustang. I truly liked that system for factory, but darn it if that head unit had disc issues.

It actually sounds better now than it did with the factory head unit, but from what I understand, the mismatch in resistance will be an issue. Not to mention, I find myself having to make adjustments often depending on Music, where the factory setup seemed to just work no matter what I put in there.

Thanks for the info, I am pretty sure that I am just going to spend a little more money and get the same speakers that I have in my truck (But 6x8) with a better amp, not that the cheap Blaupunkt POS is having problems, it is working great, but I know I can do better.

jthorn9

Yeah the Mach stereos did have a problem wanting to "eat disc". Mine never did but it was slow as hell sometimes to eject them, and was rather picky for scratches.

Carmen_Stang12

I have an 04 with the Mach 460 system in it. Despite what a lot of people say about it, I agree that its a good system for factory. Mine just started having issues though. If I try to turn down the volume sometimes it likes to turn itself all the way up and won't let me turn it back down unless I turn the engine off... Does anyone have any suggestions on what could be causing this? Or how to fix it?

BabyGT

Spray some electric contact cleaner in the volume ****, and turn the **** back and forth as bunch of times, gets crud built up in it. Had that issue and that cleared it up.

On another note, if you get the correct adapters and a head unit with decent settings and options for adjustment, it will sound as good/better than stock head unit. The biggest thing is make sure the unit has a high pass filter, often abbreviated hpf.

Also you will need a second adapter that triggers the factory amps and converts the factory harness to RCA plugs, ill dig for the item number later tonight.

BabyGT

Metra 70-5521 is the part number on their site for the harness you need.
You need the harness with the RCA adapters.