General Car A/V Discussion

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

dark cobra — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:41:41 GMT

I got the HU installed without any problems and everything is running ..

But somehow I gradually am hearing my front passenger side speaker (woofer) get worst and worst distortion like it's blown..

I can not find anything within the HU's settings that may have caused it, but now think the speaker was on it's way out and the higher quality of the HU has somehow destroyed the speaker...

But since the speaker still runs from the factory MACH460 amp (which was tapped into from the provided harness through the RCA jacks) I can not figure out what made it fail since I never increased or changed the wattage to the speaker or anything from the amp to the speakers .. Anyone know what may have caused this ???

And here is my new Problem..

I have researched replacing the speakers (all the woofers , 2x "5.75 x7.75" and 2x 5.25" ) and now found out the MACH amps are putting out an 8 ohm load and most speakers can not be used since they are 4 ohm and would load up the amp into overheating.. HELP

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

dark cobra — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:55:16 GMT

Thanks JP..

That's the answer I was looking for, and is what seemed to be my conclusion as well after the various solutions I've found on the net.

I'll let you guys know the final results.

-DC

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

J P — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:31:49 GMT

Hey dark cobra,

In your 2001 Mach 460 system there is no need install bass blockers or F-Mod crossovers. Crossovers are built into the subwoofers amplifiers, and the full range woofers can receive a full-range signal. The key here is that you plug your RCA connectors on the harness to the subwoofer output of the receiver you are installing, so that you can adjust your subwoofer level separately from the bass level of the full range speakers. If you want to add bass blockers to the full range speakers you can, but it is by no means necessary. You should be able to set the bass output of the full range speakers by ear then turn up the subwoofers to the desired level using the receiver’s subwoofer controls.

I hope that helps answer your questions.

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

dark cobra — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:37:01 GMT

That's the exact post that left me spiraling downwards after I was sure I needed all that FMOD and bass blocker stuff. But it's also the same post that made me research if I had built in crossovers in the HU I bought.

It was about as clear as mud at that point in the game.

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

TigerHeli — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:52:15 GMT

dark cobra:
I think the whole route of installing FMODs and bass blockers depends on the chosen HU's ability to do a HP and LP crossover. I def dodged a bullet I thinnk.

I would agree except that earlier in the this Rose69 commented that his HU did not have crossovers, was told he did not need them, and replied back that the install went fine without them (and he seems like he would notice if his woofers were trying to play highs or his mids were trying to play bass).

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

dark cobra — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:41:29 GMT

The research has proved correct I guess.. Thanks alot Heli.

The Harness Kit I have (and one's I've seen pics of on the Net, have no caps or inductors). They are straight up terminal blocks and wires only with the RCA cable. I think the whole route of installing FMODs and bass blockers depends on the chosen HU's ability to do a HP and LP crossover. I def dodged a bullet I thinnk.

I'll let you know my success once the car is back in the yard (which should be Thurs-Fri).. It's currently getting other major upgrades for the show season which is on the way. (cf hood, wing, speedster cover, cd/slotted rotors and more)

:-)

Later

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

TigerHeli — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:18:18 GMT

dark cobra:
My biggest hope now is that according to a big write up on the web, if I have a HU with crossovers built into the amp I will not need to put F-MODS or Bass Blockers into this harness.

Makes sense - I'm not sure you would anyway - more below.

Can anyone verify that the KW-AVX800 has built in high and low crossovers.. I know I bought the 810 , but it's just a step forward from the 800.

Verified - at least according to CF's HOR tab:

Crossover: The KW-AVX800 has an internal crossover that allows you to choose 80, 120, or 150 Hz. This crossover acts as a low-pass filter for the subwoofer preamp output and a high-pass filter for the other speakers (front, center, and rear) set to the Small setting.

Doesn't look like you can have different crossover points for LPF and HPF, but should be good enough for what you need, if you need it, which I doubt - below.

So, should I be using a Y Adaptor (rshack part# 274-501) to spilt off the radio's SUB output signal into both Metra harness male connectors to send the signal on it's way to both factory amps or does using a Y connector screw up the voltage load or something.. Since I am running the signal parallel, there is practically no voltage loss according to this link below.

Yep, shouldn't be a problem - Actually the way Metra (and Ford, I think) by default set it up, the left signal goes to the front subs and the right signal goes to the rear subs and you should use Y-adapters with a standard HU to send both channels to each sub (but it probably doesn't make a huge difference). Since you only have one pre-out - it is already a bridged mono output, so you are in essence a step ahead of the game and the Y-adapter should work with no problem.

I'm going to try to get an Administrator to comment on the need for F-mods and Bass Blockers in general with the Mach system. I know I have read before that they were required b/c the signals were crossed over in the HU that was being replaced, but J P commented in this very thread that they are not required for the '04 Stang and Rose69 confirmed that. The only things I can surmise are:

The '01-04 Stang crosses them over at the amp in the Mach 460 system, but they may be required for earlier or later versions or the Mach 1000 or Shaker 500 or Shaker 1000 systems. (If someone could list which models need them that would be helpful).
The Metra kit for the Mach systems is fairly recent (maybe 1-2 years old.). It is possible that Metra realized these were required and incorporated them in the kit (essentially we are talking about 4 capacitors and 4 inductors), but prior to the kit being released, if you were using a standard (non-Mach) wiring harness, you could make it work if you added the bass blockers and a LOC and F-mods and that info has carried forward on other forums (similar to how you read that Bose systems have individual amps on each speaker when only some Bose systems do this), but the info has not been updated.

Hopefully, we can get you a more definite answer ...

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

dark cobra — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:25 GMT

I have looked through your databse and it shows that the connector pin callouts have changed over the years. This is mentioned online as well.

My biggest hope now is that according to a big write up on the web, if I have a HU with crossovers built into the amp I will not need to put F-MODS or Bass Blockers into this harness.

Well, I just found out that the new Head Unit appears to have high pass and low pass crossover abilities in it. I'll keep my fingers crossed now and hope for the best when I install it this weekend.

Can anyone verify that the KW-AVX800 has built in high and low crossovers.. I know I bought the 810 , but it's just a step forward from the 800.

Also...

Knowing now that the HU itself may have a High and Low pass x-over built in. My Biggest question is ..

My New JVC's Sub Preout is a single RCA female connector.. The Metra Kit has 2 Male RCA connectors (which I understand go out to 2 different amps in the factory system)

So, should I be using a Y Adaptor (rshack part# 274-501) to spilt off the radio's SUB output signal into both Metra harness male connectors to send the signal on it's way to both factory amps or does using a Y connector screw up the voltage load or something.. Since I am running the signal parallel, there is practically no voltage loss according to this link below.

http://stason.org/TULARC/entertainment/audio/car/5-15-Can-I-split-the-single-pre-amp-output-from-my-head-unit.html

Anymore input or answers to these questions is welcome.

Can't wait to rock this unit with the top down.

Thanks guys for having this forum ..

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

TigerHeli — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:39:03 GMT

I don't see any different info on your car on CF than the 03-04 March 460 Stang's.

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

dark cobra — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:03:28 GMT

Hey Guys.

I just bought the "CR" Mach460 Harness and Metra Kit last week from you guys, and today I've started my research on putting my new JVC KW-AVX810 into my 2001 Cobra. I have seen alot of variations on the install which seems to vary upon the year of the mustang's radio. With mine being a 2001, it seems to be the red headed stepchild of the 460's.. Can someone (an admin I guess) verify that I DO need to install the FMOD's and BassStoppers when I do the install on a 2001 mustang. I plan to start my install next week and want to get all my ducks in a row for this job. Everything is on my bench in the basement waiting direction.

Any answers would be appreciated. And I do plan to get the 5V regulator as well to stop the pop I may encounter.

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

TigerHeli — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:09:50 GMT

No idea why it would be blinking fast - both of your suggestions sound like good ideas, but I don't know anything more ...

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

rose69 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:44:56 GMT

Thanks for the info on the blue wire. Glad I just capped it off.

Quick question: I noticed today that the theft light on my dash is now blinking very fast. I have no problem starting the car but thought you might know why this may have happened after the installation of the replacement head unit. Should I consider pulling the battery cable for 5 minutes (some threads talk about this) or maybe try the following (from the internet):

"But if it's the Ford factory alarm normally, you would insert the key in the drivers door, turn left, then right to disarm and reset it."

Thanks again,
Jeff

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

TigerHeli — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:22:35 GMT

Glad it worked out great!!!!

Thread on the wire here, oddly enough ...

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

rose69 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:59:56 GMT

Followup.....

The installation went flawlessly. The 5v regulator was installed without any incident. I will tell you that the Radio Shack 5V regulator can be inserted in the power cable connector for a computer's 3.5" floppy drive to make the whole cabling assembly much easier.

Also, the front preamp is the subwoofer and the rear preamp is the woofer for any interested. I made sure of this and tested the subwoofer and woofer functionality by pulling the RCA cables before completing the installation.

The sound quality is awesome particularly with the HD FM and AM. Despite things I have read, the quality greatly exceeds that of the Mach 460. Very impressive. No crossovers needed as you already described.

The only concern was the metra hardness has a blue wire not described adjacent to the orange dimmer cable on the large connector. Nowhere in the documentation was the purpose of this cable mentioned so I just capped it off. No harm, no foul but would like to know what it is for.

Thanks again for all your help. Crutchfield documentation is flawless and I will be certain to order from Crutchfield again in the future. As I said before....YOU GUYS ROCK !!!!

Thanks,
Jeff

Re: Mustang '04 Conv - Mach460 Premium Sound Head Unit replacement

TigerHeli — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:38:22 GMT

rose69:
You guys rock !!! I can see why people say to spend a little more but get it from Crutchfield.

Thanks ...

I think I am out of questions except for whether you still recommend the Y-adapter per your post http://community.crutchfield.com/forums/permalink/14315/14360/ShowThread.aspx#14360 since my head unit does have front and read preamp RCA outputs.

You've done some homework also - that was a pretty old post. The CF wiring info says the same for the 2003 and 2004 (in this respect) I think, so yes I would recommend this, it's optional though - low bass is omnidirectional, but if you don't do so you will only be getting left channel bass from the front and only right channel bass from the rear - (or vise-versa). It looks like Ford had it set up this way from the factory, though.

Do we know which of the plugs in the Metra harness go to the front or rear amps ? If not, I will post once I get it installed.

I don't but CF might - if you look at their harness instructions, they say the red plug is woofers and the white plug is subwoofers - been a while since I've been in a Mustang, and I'm going from killing time in the dealership and CF info, but I think there are 8" woofers in the door and 6x8's LPF'd in the rear, so I'm guessing subwoofer is front and woofer is rear.

You'd wire it up the same way either way, but curiosity would be bothering me, so I wouldn't mind getting official feedback.

Once again, I can't thanks you guys enough. Now for the fun part...

No - that's after the install (for most people) !!!