[bwalker]

Ok, my wife bought me a aftermarket stereo to replace the Mach 6-CD unit. I had ABC warehouse to the installation. (To make a long story short) It's sounded very "thin". After a "arm-wrestling" match with them (they basically said that the "Mach premium sound" was not supported by after-market decks), I come to realize the tri-amp set-up of the Mach 460 system.

It looks like amps are by-passed, along with the 4 "super-speakers". Basically, the new deck is powering the tweeters in the door/dash and the tweeters in the rear combo speakers (None of the "woofers" are being used). Like I said, sounds very thin...

Since the deck that I got supports 4 sub-outs, I figured that I could just wire these RCA outs (stripping one end) to the factory amps (the 2 rear ones). However, according to the schematics at this link (Mach 460 Information), there are 3 wires going to each input (not 4). Can someone confim what I am saying and provide some guidance??? It seems that most of these postings are pre-installation questions. Mine is a post-installation (but sounds like crap) question.

Additionally, can anyone confirm the wire colors??? I'd like to do this in "one swoop". I have a 2002 V6 Convertible.

God Bless!!!
~Brian

[snowboarder7710]

you should just be able to get a harness to plug into it to feed the amps. ive done plenty of mach systems in mustangs. what i do is take rcas, cut them and then wire them in with the harness that goes to the amps. its easier if you use an aftermarket harness that plugs into the factory one. like a metra harness. most likely, the shop didnt have that harness so they monkey rigged it instead.

[mustangclaydog]

I had the same problem in my 02 when I replaced my head unit. You need the Schosche FDK9B wiring harness, and it has the RCA jacks built in. I believe that it hooks up only in mono, one jack feeds the rear and one feeds the doors. The 460 amp system requires an amplified and unamplified signal in order to operate. With this harness you can also run a pair of RCAs to an extra amp to power a 12" sub in the trunk.

here is a helpfull link for replacing your head unit
Replacing Your 2001 Mach 460 Head Unit - Ford Mustang | StangNet.com

[BigKevo]

Can you even hear your woofers(door&deck)? Sounds like they forgot to integrate the factory amps. The problem with replacing the Mach460 with aftermarket HU is the fact that the Mach460 HU powers your tweeters while external amps power the woofers. The two biggest problems are: 1=the factory amps can not power tweeters, 2=factory speakers are 6 ohms. Most install places wire the tweeters to your new aftermarket HU with some bass blockers and your door speakers are still powered by the factory amps. This causes a problem sound quality because the output of your aftermarket HU and the factory amps is not proportional. IMO the easiest fix is to replace the factory speakers with 4 ohm aftermarket and wire them all directly to the aftermarket HU.

[mustangclaydog]

Any and everything you need to know about the mach 460 and 1000.
Mach 460 Information

[BlackGT11222]

+1 bigkevo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!