Mach 460 Question ...

I suggest the Metra adapters, thier plug and play with no adjustment needed.

jeffnoel said:

I suggest the Metra adapters, thier plug and play with no adjustment needed.

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Contact their tech support for the proper part number. The usually respond within a couple hours. They'll need to know year/make/model and it you have 460/1000 or neither.

http://www.metraonline.com/contact.aspx

I recently installed a Pioneer DEH-P7700MP in my 2000 GT with Mach 460. The Pioneer head unit is a 12 volt system while the stock head unit is a 5 volt system. The voltage mismatch is causing the popping sound. You need to wire in a voltage regulator. Radio Shack part number 276-1770 will do the trick. It is a small square with three prongs (input, ground, output). The blue/white wire from the Pioneer head unit will be the input into the regulator. The output will go to the power antenna/amp remote turn-on wire of your adapter. Make sure you ground it as well. Soldering can be tricky because the prongs are delicate and close to each other. The voltage regulators are cheap, so buy 2 in case you make a mistake the first time (because I did)! I hope this makes sense. Let me know if you need some tips.

If this is correct and it is just the remote turn on voltage it is a very easy fix. I would not just throw a resistor in line though. volage drop with a resister varies over curtent draw so it is not as static of a number if the current varies. I would use a 5v zener diode or voltage regulator.

I used a 1kohm resistor in my amp signal wire, and it works like a champ.

Some of the newer amps out there don't even use a remote wire anymore. They just power on when they detect signal.

Here's a harness that you need to wire the new aftermarket radio in without subs. If you plan on running subs, then you'll need to make sure either your new head unit has a low-pass crossover built in, or the amp has the option. Most newer amps have a switch that lets you select high ass, low pass, or full signal. If neither your radio or amplifier has a built in x-over, then you're running some old stuff, and need to get some in-line RCA low-pass crossovers. I saw them at Best Buy a while back.

Last thing you might need is bass blockers. If your new head unit doesn't have a built in crossover, then your tweeters will be getting full signal, and that sounds like butt. Get some of these and splice them in mid-line with the horns, and everything should sound awesome. You can choose whatever frequency you feel suits you best. Make sure you're blocking the bass to those tweeters! Good luck!

It worked like a champ for me. Cost less than a buck at Radio Shack, too.

I have to agree with hognutz on this one. Ohm's law is V=IR (Voltage = Current * Resistance). If you put in a resistor, and the current changes, the voltage will change as well. You have a slight chance of still getting a popping sound. I tried my setup without a voltage regulator, and I had a popping sound. I then wired the voltage regulator, and the popping was gone.

Shiroelex, did you only put bass blockers on the tweeters? My head unit has a built in cross over, but it will block bass to all four front speakers. I still want some bass out of the bottom fronts.

Just did the whole 1k ihm with a new Sony Xplod CDX-M8800 head unit and it works like a champ so far... The diode didn't work for me...