Miata Mailing List: May 1996, Message #183
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   From: Tony Schreiber 
Subject: Re: Adding Amp to Factory Stereo
   Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 12:43:13 -0400

> I had a couple of questions, so maybe you all can help me out (the 
> rec.audio.car FAQ didn't):
> 
> 1.  Does the factory head unit have line level outputs?

No. Just speaker level.

> 2.  How much impact will a line level converter have on sound 
>     quality? (Assuming the factory head unit does not have line level 
>     outputs)

Lots. It will suck. At least that's my experience. There is no comparison
between the amplified signal and the padded and reamp signal you'd get. I
just finished installing some new stuff in my brothers car and we had
assumed he had front and rear preamp outs. Unfortunately his was an older
model headunit than the one I had (and assumed was the same) so we were
stuck with the front amp. I ran home and picked up a converter I had
pulled out of my old car. It's just too easy to distort. Their may be
better units than the one I have but I don't know.

> 3.  How much power do I need?  The factory head unit is almost loud 
>     enough.

The factory door speakers which I just took out are rated at 25w. It
doesn't say if this is peak or RMS, but I will assume it's peak.

> I am looking at a Pioneer amplifier (don't remember the model number
> though).  It is 18 watts x 2 channels (35 watts peak).  Is that
> going to blow the factory speakers?  Pioneer amps don't suck do they?
> 
> I can buy this amplifier for $65 + $13 for the line level converter.  
> It seems like a very economical way to boost the power of my stereo a 
> little.
 
I think you should pop for a new head unit.

> Can I connect the headphone jack from a portable CD player to the 
> inputs of the amplifier or will that cause problems?

I tried this in my old car, but it didn't work. I believe it's because the
outputs of your cd player share a common ground. But the amp wants
separate for each input/output. (I think) I just remember it didn't work.

> While I have the dash disassembled to connect the amp, is it
> possible to hook up mini-plug headphone jack to the factory head
> unit's CD input lines?  That way I could hook up my portable CD 
> player to the head unit rather than the amp (I was concerned that 
> this might degrade the sound quality of the CD though).

That might work. I think the pinouts for the plug show + and - for each
input.

> Can anybody recommend a line level converter?

No.
 
> Should I just bite the bullet and buy a better head unit?  I hate to 
> do that.  The factory head unit is a good radio.  Will it fit into a 
> Ford Probe (they were made by Mazda, right?)?

First, you may get better results just upgrading your door speakers. Also
look into getting an amp with speaker level inputs. Some amps have both.



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