Quiet Pioneer after bypassing factory amp.

[MaciekPL87]

So I have bypassed my stock amplifier with the Metra harness, speaker volume was greatly reduced to what I had with factory amp plugged in.

Before I couldn't listen above 30 on the volume level, now I can go full blast at 62 without distortion and what used to be 30 is now 45-50...

I have a feeling I'm supposed to be getting more sound because of the high signal-noise ratio I'm hearing, aka hissing sound when nothing is playing.

Also is it the Explorers nature to need the music loud to have cabin filling sound because of the very low mounted speakers? It seems I need to set it loud to have full sounding music but that quickly gets too loud.

I'm modifying my info at this time so you guys can know what setup I'm running. Thank you and maybe someone can have some input on quiet radio. I haven't grounded anything extra or did anything behind the radio, just inserted the bypass harness in the back.

Also, is there a way I might have soldered (+,-) wires to wrong poles at the speakers?

 

[Willard]

The reason it got quieter is because when the factory amp was hooked up, the sound was double amplified. If your HU isn't going loud enough, maybe it's not big enough for the speakers. Do you have stock speakers? And how many watts is the HU?

 

[MaciekPL87]

(Updated Sig) The HU pushes 50 watts x 4 channels, but it's all going through wimpy speaker wires just past the bypass. The wires going directly to speakers are not stock though... were stock clear?

 

[Willard]

No, stock had colored wires. Even thought the wires are small, it should still be alright. If I recall mine was fine with the same size HU when it was bypassed. What is the wattage rating for the speakers? I'm wondering if the 200watt HU is enough for them.

Edit: Looked at the ratings for your speakers, and it has a 60 watt RMS. The max is 180 watts. Maybe more juice is the answer.

 

[MaciekPL87]

If that's the case the 4-channel amp that is powering my subs will go for the speakers, and an Alpine MRP-M1000 will go take care of the subs. *looking for someone with Best Buy Employee Discount*

Anyone has any other ideas?

 

[aznboi3644]

(Updated Sig) The HU pushes 50 watts x 4 channels, but it's all going through wimpy speaker wires just past the bypass. The wires going directly to speakers are not stock though... were stock clear?

No HU in the world will put out 50 watts per channel...most you are seeing is 16-20watts per channel.

"wimpy wires" has nothing to do with it unless you are pushing over 100 watts through the factory wires.

Also deadening the doors will do a lot to keep the sound in. My speakers noticeably louder, clearer, and more dynamic after fully deadening my front doors...takes less power to get to the same volume level.

My soundstage is decently high in my Explorer. Where your soundstage is at depends on the install. I have 2 way Kenwood 6x8's from best buy and they sound excellent. Get damn loud for 20 REAL watts from a small amp.

 

[nismotunedgtr]

That head unit is more than enough.

It sounds like you have a wiring problem...

 

[MaciekPL87]

I will have to redo new wiring to the speakers avoiding the stock amp completely. The weird sound might also be the fact that only my left side windows open in the truck... messing up the balance I suppose. The loudness issue I'm still a a little worried about, I don't want to burn anything up, I have read that bypassing involves more then just putting a harness in, something that has to do with a ground from the harness where amp used to be?