OK need some IS people here HELP!!!!

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Sep 10, 2003 | 10:32 AM

amy011079

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Lexus Test Driver

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From: Georgia

OK need some IS people here HELP!!!!

OK are there any IS people that have upgraded their cd player and amp?? All I find are SC people by doing a search and that helps me absolutely NONE. My story: I have a new cd player that requires an external amp for power, now will the stock amp power it? If not, no problem I have an aftermarket one. Now my next question is, I have heard that people changing their factory amp to an aftermarket one don't like the sound. Well ok but I do not want the aftermarket one for reasons of making the factory speakers sound better, I just want the darn thing to power my cd player! HEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLP!!!!! The long of the short is that I want to replace my stock HU with an aftermarket one but in order to do so I have to power it with an amp. Do I have to change the stock amp and if not how do I add the new HU. If I do have to change the stock amp, how do I (or anyone that is installing it) go about doing so without the stock speakers sounding like crap and NOT changing the stock speakers. Geez never in my life has upgrading a radio so difficult. ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

Sep 10, 2003 | 02:06 PM

Pianoman72

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From: Texas

I know I am missing something, sorry. But it sounds like you are talking about power as in DC current to the stereo, not speaker power, correct? I guess someone told you that your new unit will draw more power than the old headunit?

I don't think that should matter, I think you should hook it up and if it draws too much power it will blow the ACC fuse. Worst case senario.

I don't see why you would have to even touch the stock amp. I'm assuming that the wiring harness you are using runs the pre-amp outs to the stock amp which is what you want.

I am totally confused by your prob so don't flame me if I'm way off.

Sep 10, 2003 | 02:41 PM

amy011079

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From: Georgia

lol well ok here we go, the new head unit will not power up by the stock amp nor the car it has to have an external power source for it to turn on ie an aftermarket amplifier. is that better?

Sep 10, 2003 | 03:42 PM

Pianoman72

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From: Texas

Ok that's crazy. How much juice does it need?

Sep 10, 2003 | 03:47 PM

amy011079

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From: Georgia

that is really irrevelant at this point i have found out that i DO need my other amp, i cannot use the stock one. but my question now is, i wonder if my stock speakers are going to sound like crap since a different amp is going to be on them. but i wonder if it will balance itself out since not ALL of the power from the amp will be powering the speakers, some of it will be going to the cd player.

Sep 10, 2003 | 03:56 PM

Pianoman72

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From: Texas

well i was going to say you could use a step-up transformer to boost power. glad you got it figured out.

Sep 10, 2003 | 06:24 PM

O. L. T.

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From: My little world

AMy, you can use the stock amp and use PAC hi to lo level adapters and reverse them. would be a pain in the butt though. Just slap a new amp in there.