[afi292]

I have a 2003 Taurus SES...and i would like a better audio system than i have now (CD changer w/ stock HU)...i really would like to keep my car as stock as possible so i was wondering if it'd be worth it to buy the Mach System thats designed for the Taurus.... would it be much better? What would this cost? thanks a bunch for the input guys!

 

[CometGSR]

I would check the Ford EVTM (electical Vacume Troubleshoot Manual) manual for your car to see whats involved. You can get those on ebay pretty easy.

I do know its not plug and play. I think they use a diffrent amp.

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by fordaspiregv@Dec 27 2003, 11:50 PM
I would check the Ford EVTM (electical Vacume Troubleshoot Manual) manual for your car to see whats involved. You can get those on ebay pretty easy.

I do know its not plug and play. I think they use a diffrent amp.

Yeah, that's what i was kinda thinking...


I wouldnt do it if i have to regut my entire taurus...if that was the case i'd rather buy all aftermarket stuff if i had to

Does anyone know how it sounds compared to the normal setup like i have??

 

[CometGSR]

I don't know but I have noticed that Ford radios have made a big jump from the crummy ones in the late 80's - mid 90's. I like a good sounding radio and was surprised that my Gen 3 Sable had a great factory radio already installed. It has all the range I need for music through the 6 speakers.

I was even more happy with my Villager. It has a CD changer in the dash and VERY good sound. I think it was made by Alpine since I have seen similar radios in Lincolns with the Alpine logo on the tape deck door.

I wouldn't bother since doing any major wiring will void whatever new car warrenty you have. If you bring your car in for electrical work, they may notice the radio change and choose to not honor the warrenty. I did some stuff to my new Escort SE that I regretted later.

QUOTE

I have a 2003 Taurus SES...and i would like a better audio system than i have now (CD changer w/ stock HU)...i really would like to keep my car as stock as possible so i was wondering if it'd be worth it to buy the Mach System thats designed for the Taurus.... would it be much better? What would this cost? thanks a bunch for the input guys! [/b]

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by fordaspiregv@Dec 28 2003, 12:23 AM
I don't know but I have noticed that Ford radios have made a big jump from the crummy ones in the late 80's - mid 90's. I like a good sounding radio and was surprised that my Gen 3 Sable had a great factory radio already installed. It has all the range I need for music through the 6 speakers.

I was even more happy with my Villager. It has a CD changer in the dash and VERY good sound. I think it was made by Alpine since I have seen similar radios in Lincolns with the Alpine logo on the tape deck door.

I wouldn't bother since doing any major wiring will void whatever new car warrenty you have. If you bring your car in for electrical work, they may notice the radio change and choose to not honor the warrenty. I did some stuff to my new Escort SE that I regretted later.

QUOTE

I have a 2003 Taurus SES...and i would like a better audio system than i have now (CD changer w/ stock HU)...i really would like to keep my car as stock as possible so i was wondering if it'd be worth it to buy the Mach System thats designed for the Taurus.... would it be much better? What would this cost? thanks a bunch for the input guys! 

[/b][/quote]
Do you know if putting in an aftermarket CD player will void the warranty?

 

[Twilight]

It will not void the warranty.

If you really want to keep it stock though, go out and buy the following:

- A decent four channel amp with speaker level inputs that puts out around 40 watts RMS/continuous power.

- Four 6x8 speakers that do not suck.

This will sound much better than stock and will probably kill the mach system anyway.

What is your price range? I can make some suggestions for products that way.

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by Twilight@Dec 28 2003, 12:43 AM
It will not void the warranty.

If you really want to keep it stock though, go out and buy the following:

- A decent four channel amp with speaker level inputs that puts out around 40 watts RMS/continuous power.

- Four 6x8 speakers that do not suck.

This will sound much better than stock and will probably kill the mach system anyway.

What is your price range? I can make some suggestions for products that way.

as little as possible hehe

 

[Twilight]

If you want to go for a deck and just want a basic setup,

http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/1814

Nice one, isn't it? =) Rotary volume control and 2x RCA Preouts. $135! It will improve your sound quality dramatically. Pair that up with two or four of these:

http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/1344

$55 a pair. Remember, you can probably find all of this on Ebay for cheaper. But for $245 total, you can have a deck and four speakers that will cause people to laugh at the Mach system which costs a lot more.

Now of course you'll need the face plate and all that jazz. If you are really insistent upon the stock look, replace the deck suggestion with this:

Puts out just a bit more wattage than a deck, you can attach this to your stock amp and wire up the speakers for a fairly decent sound. It lists for $129 at ikesound.com, but you can find it much cheaper on Ebay.

Edit - And just to let you know there the deck is a Pioneer DEH-P2600, the speakers are Infinity Reference 5x7", and the amp is a Kenwood KAC-6401

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by Twilight@Dec 28 2003, 01:05 AM
If you want to go for a deck and just want a basic setup,

http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/1814

Nice one, isn't it? =) Rotary volume control and 2x RCA Preouts. $135! It will improve your sound quality dramatically. Pair that up with two or four of these:

http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/1344

$55 a pair. Remember, you can probably find all of this on Ebay for cheaper. But for $245 total, you can have a deck and four speakers that will cause people to laugh at the Mach system which costs a lot more.

Now of course you'll need the face plate and all that jazz. If you are really insistent upon the stock look, replace the deck suggestion with this:

Puts out just a bit more wattage than a deck, you can attach this to your stock amp and wire up the speakers for a fairly decent sound. It lists for $129 at ikesound.com, but you can find it much cheaper on Ebay.

Edit - And just to let you know there the deck is a Pioneer DEH-P2600, the speakers are Infinity Reference 5x7", and the amp is a Kenwood KAC-6401

I love pioneer decks

So, could i just install the speakers, and let the stock amp drive them? or can the stock amp only drive the factory speakers?

Also, will the speakers fit into the door w/out any modifications?

 

[Twilight]

The stock amp can drive those but you won't notice as much of a difference. You want to get more power to the speakers. The deck will do roughly 22 watts RMS, but it will make up for it in sound quality.

edit - yes the 5x7 speaker will fit without modifications.

 

[CometGSR]

I agree. If you want an aftermarket unit, I would go that route. It will give you less headaches.

 

[joe5.0]

I have the Mach stereo in minw with the 6 cd changer, and for stock it is very decent. For the money though you might as well just get all aftermarket stuff because for the same money it's gonna sound better. I would suggest getting a subwoofer or two (or 3

) to compliment the improved mids/highs that replacement component speakers will give. I am very happy with my stock Mach mid/high's and a big box in the trunk to take care of bass. I dont have all the functions that an aftermarket headunit does, but I can still get very nice mids & highs because I dont need to turn the bass all the way up to get some bump.

 

[Twilight]

Joe, replace your speakers, get a four channel amp to them and run a high pass filter around 80 Hz and then come back and tell me that the Mach is decent.

 

[joe5.0]

Alex I realize that it isnt going to sound nearly as good as a nice aftermarket setup. The only time to me that the Mach sounds muddy is when the bass is past the 1/2 mark, but I dont need to go that high with my subs setup the way they are.

 

[BruiserCruiser]

Yeah I agree
I have some Pioneer TS-A series 6x8s in the rear, stock speakers (that I want to replace) in the front, 2 12" Lightning Audio subs and 150Watt (RMS) 450Max Lightning Audio amp mated to that all for around $500. Sure as heck sound better than stock.

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by BruiserCruiser@Dec 29 2003, 09:26 PM
Yeah I agree
I have some Pioneer TS-A series 6x8s in the rear, stock speakers (that I want to replace) in the front, 2 12" Lightning Audio subs and 150Watt (RMS) 450Max Lightning Audio amp mated to that all for around $500. Sure as heck sound better than stock.

have you ever tried hearing your system w/ the amp off...w/ just the two aftermarket speakers? I was thinking id do those two first.... I'd like to slowly start upgrading components asmoney comes in...if you know what i mean..and id like to do the most effective upgrades first..let me know, thanks

 

[jason8225]

I put 2 12" Phoenix Gold subs (500w RMS) in with a 2000w American Legacy amp first, that helped a TON. I got all that for about $500. I (actually just yesterday) then added 2 6x8 Infinity Reference speakers in the back - those helped out a TON, too! Now I just want to replace the front speakers with Infinitys. I did all this with my stock headunit and it sounds awesome. If you replace your speakers, I highly recommend that you go to Best buy or something (in the stereo install bay) and get the adaptors so you can plug the aftermarket speakers into the factory wiring harness. Destroying factory wiring is all bad - especially when you go to trade the car in.

 

[silvapain]

The first thing I did to my stereo setup was replace the two rear deack speakers with kenwood 6879ie 6x8" two ways. It made a HUGE difference. better clarity, and much better low end. If you replace just the four 6x8's, you would be suprised.

 

[Twilight]

Originally posted by jason8225@Dec 30 2003, 06:25 PM
I put 2 12" Phoenix Gold subs (500w RMS) in with a 2000w American Legacy amp first, that helped a TON. I got all that for about $500. I (actually just yesterday) then added 2 6x8 Infinity Reference speakers in the back - those helped out a TON, too! Now I just want to replace the front speakers with Infinitys. I did all this with my stock headunit and it sounds awesome. If you replace your speakers, I highly recommend that you go to Best buy or something (in the stereo install bay) and get the adaptors so you can plug the aftermarket speakers into the factory wiring harness. Destroying factory wiring is all bad - especially when you go to trade the car in.

Dude that is just an unneeded expense. Attaching wires to speakers is not very complicated and you can always reconnect the factory harness should you feel the need to trade the car in, though most times you can get more for your car if you have an upgraded sound system.

 

[silvapain]

When you buy from crutchfield, they send the harnesses free. I have to agree with Jason, I don't cut the factory harnesses, especially the HU harnesses.