Need help not sure whether to bypass factory amp or leave it

[Jeepsandbass]

Hey guys i just recently bought a Sony Mex-100bt, it has a amp built into the radio which puts out 40 watts per channel. Little did i know my 2002 jeep grand Cherokee has a stupid factory amp, i'm wondering if i need to bypass the amp or not. If i install the Sony radio will it use the 40 watts from the built in amp and the factory amp power also? If not whats my best route as far as trying to bypass the amp? There is a blue remote wire sending a signal to the amp if i cut out that wire and not use it wouldn't it use the radio amp then? I'm not really sure what to do at this point i haven't received the radio yet but i will in 2 days any help would be appreciated thanks.

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[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

That Sony doesn't provide 40 watts as it says. Your lucky to get 18 at most. A lot of HU rate them higher than needed. But in your situation, bypassing the factory amp and snatching up a good quality 2 or 4 ch amp might be your best bet.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

That Sony doesn't provide 40 watts as it says. Your lucky to get 18 at most. A lot of HU rate them higher than needed. But in your situation, bypassing the factory amp and snatching up a good quality 2 or 4 ch amp might be your best bet.

actually that unit does provide 40 watts. its the only unit on the market that actually functions as a mini amp at the same time. does 68 watts at 2 ohms as well.



Bypass the factory amp. They wont work together you need to choose between one or the other. More than likely your factory amp is weaker than the head unit.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

actually that unit does provide 40 watts. its the only unit on the market that actually functions as a mini amp at the same time.

Oh snap....I had no idea/didn't know.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Oh snap....I had no idea/didn't know.

best head unit for average joes that want to do a stealth or lightweight or stealth setup especially in a sedan. You can install 6x9 subwoofers in the rear deck and use the unit's RBE function to turn the rear speakers into subwoofer duty which works really well. In my buddy's setup with tang band 6x9s on head unit power, it Feels like a pair of 10s on 500 watts and fronts are decently loud, no amp install, no sub box at all plays down to 35hz loudly, he listens to techno so everything under 40hz is useless to him.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

best head unit for average joes that want to do a stealth or lightweight or stealth setup especially in a sedan. You can install 6x9 subwoofers in the rear deck and use the unit's RBE function to turn the rear speakers into subwoofer duty which works really well. In my buddy's setup with tang band 6x9s on head unit power, it Feels like a pair of 10s on 500 watts and fronts are decently loud, no amp install, no sub box at all plays down to 35hz loudly, he listens to techno so everything under 40hz is useless to him.

What's the cost? 150 or so...?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

What's the cost? 150 or so...?

200

for cost and performance wise for a car audio guy's point of view then a cheap head unit and a small ppi class D amp would have gotten you more power but you'll need to include in a wiring kit as well.. However convenience and stealth wise its actually worth it to a lot of people.

 

[Jeepsandbass]

Yeah the main reason i went with this setup was so i didnt have to wire up another amp my buddy traded me an rockford fosgate 4 channel amp for a old radio of mine but i will be using it for 2 speakers in the back of my jeep custom box. The only problem i see with bypassing the amp is not being able to use the tweeters at the dash which would really ****. I plan on putting 4 new aftermarket speakers in the doors of course i currently have 2 rockford fosgate 6x8s i only need the 6.5 in speakers for the rear doors. So my best route is to bypass the amp right? Basically i just disconnect the harnesses on the amp and basically strip them and connect them together using a wire diagram?

 

[Jeepsandbass]

I had the choice of getting this radio or a pyle touchscreen flip out android radio. I chose this because Pyle is basically a pyle of **** LOL. I just dont see my self using a pyle radio so i stuck with sony. Sony has a whole lot of more features in this radio so i stuck with sony.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Yeah the main reason i went with this setup was so i didnt have to wire up another amp my buddy traded me an rockford fosgate 4 channel amp for a old radio of mine but i will be using it for 2 speakers in the back of my jeep custom box. The only problem i see with bypassing the amp is not being able to use the tweeters at the dash which would really ****. I plan on putting 4 new aftermarket speakers in the doors of course i currently have 2 rockford fosgate 6x8s i only need the 6.5 in speakers for the rear doors. So my best route is to bypass the amp right? Basically i just disconnect the harnesses on the amp and basically strip them and connect them together using a wire diagram?

Why wouldnt you be able to use the tweeters on the dash? bypassing would require doing separate speaker wire runs from the head unit to the speakers which is wired together through the amp.

 

[Jeepsandbass]

Why wouldnt you be able to use the tweeters on the dash? bypassing would require doing separate speaker wire runs from the head unit to the speakers which is wired together through the amp.

I saw a youtube video it said i wouldnt be able to use the tweeters for some reason. And on the amp there is 2 wire harnesses with all the speaker wires on the 2 harnesses why cant i just strip the 2 harnesses and connect them together? Technically thats the same thing as you said just easier.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Unless the tweeters are not powered by that factory amp, should be by the HU.. Look into it before you start cutting things and wind up a bigger mess. My Tahoe had a factory amp and it was only powering the rear door speakers. Found out where it was located, found the wires were going to the speakers then ran some spkr wire from the removed harness to factory amp to my SS amp to power them. Pretty simple...

 

[Jeepsandbass]

Unless the tweeters are not powered by that factory amp, should be by the HU.. Look into it before you start cutting things and wind up a bigger mess. My Tahoe had a factory amp and it was only powering the rear door speakers. Found out where it was located, found the wires were going to the speakers then ran some spkr wire from the removed harness to factory amp to my SS amp to power them. Pretty simple...

I added an attachment to a picture of the amp wires it says left and right instrument panel speaker which im guessing is the tweeters =/ Couldnt i somehow combine the tweeters with the front door speakers somehow?

 

[Jeepsandbass]

But i think that that Infinity Systems like this are 2 ohm i read that somewhere so if i did connect the 2 together i would completely screw up the independence right?

 

[Jeepsandbass]

It seems like a lot of trouble to hook up this radio im actually considering that pyle android radio now lol