2003/2004 Ford Escape, New Head Unit

I have 2003/04 Ford Escape. With the mach 300 system. I just replaced the head unit with Atoto a6 double din. Since my stock HU was acting funky and volume was going up and down.

Now after replacing the HU the stock speakers sound like doodie and the subwoofer is either too loud or too little. I've tried adjusting the HU eq. But doesn't change anything. the car has factory 7 speakers. 2 tweeters. 4 speakers. 1 subwoofer.    It used to sound decent with stock HU and now it sounds worse.

I used Metra 70-5521 harness plug

It's possible your problem is in the factory amp. Have you tried connecting speakers to the outputs of the aftermarket unit?

You can also download an RTA app to your smartphone and check for anomalies that way, too. You'll need to sacrifice a headset with a mic for the plug. Check signal both before and after the amp (at low volume levels of course).

If the speakers are 4 ohms or more, you could bypass the factory amp and add bass blockers for the tweeters. You'd need another amp to keep the sub though.

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My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.

Try a real radio before you go chasing your tail. The factory amplifier powers only the subwoofer in that vehicle.

If i remember correctly the factory Mach system has 8 ohm. My friend has an old alpine AMp that i can get for cheap.

i am an idiot wrote:

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Try a real radio before you go chasing your tail. The factory amplifier powers only the subwoofer in that vehicle.

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Any recommendations? It has to have bluetooth.   But like the above. I could maybe add an new AMP also. And run 2 amps. 1 speakers 1 sub

geepherder wrote:

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It's possible your problem is in the factory amp. Have you tried connecting speakers to the outputs of the aftermarket unit?

You can also download an RTA app to your smartphone and check for anomalies that way, too. You'll need to sacrifice a headset with a mic for the plug. Check signal both before and after the amp (at low volume levels of course).

If the speakers are 4 ohms or more, you could bypass the factory amp and add bass blockers for the tweeters. You'd need another amp to keep the sub though.

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The speakers are hooked with Metra 70-5521 harness then to the aftermarket unit.

My mistake. I thought the factory amp powered all the speakers and the sub. Many manufacturers have equalizer curves built into their equipment to make the cheap factory speakers sound better. You could play some pink noise and check with the RTA app yourself.

See what the difference is between the factory radio and your new radio. If you see a big difference, then listen to some speakers locally and buy what you like.

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My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.

Recommendation is either of the following, Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood/JVC. Not recommended: Atoto, Boss, Dual, Power Acoustik, Planet Audio, VR3 and that list goes on.