Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
So, if I have the 6 cd changer that isnt necessarily the alpine system correct? Even though I have the twelve speakers or whatever (at least I think I do. I have the center console speakers and rear subs with amps)?
Confused about stereo
- Thread starter Stopsign002
- Start date
kaball
Well-Known LVC Member
Alpine was only in Gen I's. If you had a "premium" system it would be THX.
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
Ah ok, well... How the hell do I figure out if I have that lol.
kaball
Well-Known LVC Member
window sticker? or go to crutchfield and put your VIN in there. It should tell you what you have. Or just look at your speakers. I believe that they were badged "THX"
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
Hmm, ok I dont have the THX badgeing so I guess not. Seems weird to put in a 12 speaker system and not have it be premium
jmtiseo
The Peanut Gallery
Didn't all THX have the nav. screen? If so that's the dead give away. I had a thread back when asking what they meant by 12 speaker. I think they include the tweeters of the 6x8's as speakers so there's 8, then the 2 center channel, and 2 mid woofer's in the deck.
kaball
Well-Known LVC Member
kaball
Well-Known LVC Member
If you had an Alpine unit it would look like this
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
Hmm yeah ok. I was just confused because in the other speaker thread going on right now (the refoaming one) someone said with Gen I if you have the 12 speakers it is alpine. Thought maybe it might be the same way with Gen II? Or someone could be wrong lol
edit: ah ok, well I guess I dont, disappointing lol
edit: ah ok, well I guess I dont, disappointing lol
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
Not true.
There was normal, premium, and THX nav.
Note that THX only came with the navigation unit.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
You have the gen II premium system.
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
Hmm ok. So THX is nav. I just have "premium", whatever the hell that means (meaning when I put in my new stereo system I should definitely upgrade the door speakers?)
kaball
Well-Known LVC Member
I stand corrected. I speak only from my experience with Gen I's since I own one 
jmtiseo
The Peanut Gallery
You have the SoundMark correct? Nothing wrong with the stock system, if I never had an a/m sub and amp I would have been content with it. Once you get a system though, you are left wanting more, and may never want a stock system ever again.
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
I stand corrected. I speak only from my experience with Gen I's since I own one
Lol understandable
and yes I do
kaball
Well-Known LVC Member
you should upgrade them anyways. It is probably the cheapest upgrade you can do and still get good sound output.
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
This thread seems to give some decent information(http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=76601). I guess Ford made them either way and just licensed the name from the company? They also appear to be pretty much the same speakers? I dont know. Im pretty happy with the sound at the moment, but being someone who has a nice home stereo, I get how you dont realize what your missing itll you hear it. Either way I'm definitely putting subs in (probably two 12" R types)
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
So if I upgrade the head unit and door speakers should I amp the door speakers? I want to get the pioneer x940bt which has a 50watt rms amp.
1CleanLs
Active LVC Member
Jmtiseo is correct, they did count all the speakers, so you hav
e an Alpine premium system
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
Hmm. Cant seem to find a guide on how to do the big 3 upgrade. Can anyone point me to a thread? Or is it that easy that you dont need one
1CleanLs
Active LVC Member
A guy did one on a mustang on youtube.....pretty easy. + of altenator to positive of batt, - of battery to chassis, and - of battery to engine block (all with 0-4 ga wire depending on wattage of system).....his capacitor went from 14.2 volts to 14.6, so im not sure if its worth the $ or time
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
start with the nav system, and get it working right with the factory subs, after a bit of adjusting to get it to sound as good as possible, then decide if its good enough of if you want to go bigger.
i would say if your going to go as far as have a high powered sub system, further upgrades are probably on the way. with a good headunit with an EQ and crossover, you can actually get pretty good sound of the the factory speakers, however with a lot of power in a sub system, there just isn't enough power for the full range speakers to keep up, and the bass will start to drown them out. if your satisfied with their quality of sound, then you could just amp them, giving them enough power to keep up (careful, to much power will end bad) but if you are not fully satisfied with the quality of sound, then replacing them with better speakers and amping them is the ticket!
personally, there is few factory sound systems i could have and not touch anything, but i cant afford any of those! lol. i have yet to own a car that has not had at least a headunit, speakers, sub/s, and an amp or two(sometimes three)
i would say if your going to go as far as have a high powered sub system, further upgrades are probably on the way. with a good headunit with an EQ and crossover, you can actually get pretty good sound of the the factory speakers, however with a lot of power in a sub system, there just isn't enough power for the full range speakers to keep up, and the bass will start to drown them out. if your satisfied with their quality of sound, then you could just amp them, giving them enough power to keep up (careful, to much power will end bad) but if you are not fully satisfied with the quality of sound, then replacing them with better speakers and amping them is the ticket!
personally, there is few factory sound systems i could have and not touch anything, but i cant afford any of those! lol. i have yet to own a car that has not had at least a headunit, speakers, sub/s, and an amp or two(sometimes three)
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
well that is a great comparison since the mustang's battery is under the hood and the big three can be done in less than five mins. while i wouldn't say the doing the big three is "hard" to do, there is quite a bit more work to be done on an LS, a lot more of the car needs to come apart, and the hardest part is wrestling around with a 0awg snake and getting it all under the carpet and trim.
well there are four types of people in the world, people with small enough sound systems (oem included) that dont need it, there are the people who have huge sound systems that do understand why it is necessary, and then there are the people who are just terrible with.math.
Stopsign002
Dedicated LVC Member
Yeah with my 2000 watt rms ambitions I definitely am going to be doing the big 3 and probably replacing the stock door speakers. And the voltage wont go up necessarily, but more whats important is it wont go down as much/at all under load.
1CleanLs
Active LVC Member
With 2000 watts rms, you will need the big 3 upgrade. And 1LoudLs is correct, with the Lincoln the big 3 upgrade would be more difficult as compared to a Mustang because of the battery placement. I was simply pointing that video out because it clearly explains where the wires are hooked up and how its done.