I have a 2004 TL base auto non-nav, so the problem Ive been having is that my speakers little by little have lost power or volume, to the point where sometimes if the ac is on, or the windows are down I can not hear the radio. I just assumed my speakers were blown (one was) so i replaced them. (i got some kickers ds65 coaxials). To my disappointment they pretty much sounded the same after. I went to my local audio shop and they recommended I get an amp and that should fix my problem, so I had a Hifonix gex-1200 installed. I come to pick up my car and I put it up to ''full blast" 40 and it still sounds like it is at like 15-20. the guy just tells me i might want to get a new headunit and subwoofer later on.
So I just dropped $500 to get a less than mediocre improvement in sound, im not trying to shake the ground with it but I mean the music doesnt even sound satisfactory, my moms prius with factory speakers sounds 10x better than my car. I dont know if I should trust the audio guy he might just be trying to make a sale but I really wanna fix my sound. if anybody knows a thing or two about car audio, can you tell me if buying the headunit and or sub would fix my problem, or if there something else I am missing here?
Id like to at least have a decent sound like when I bought the car, but seeing as i have already installed a couple aftermarket parts I would kind of expect even a little better than that right?

 

thanks a lot for your time by the way

 

Jesus Christ? Volume 40? I can barely listen at level 9 without turning it down. I would take it to another shop. Something might be going on with the amp or you might have already blown the new speakers.

 

well, it sounds like you got taken for a ride....
sounds like the original factory amp is/was going out and instead of replacing that, you put in $500 of labor and equipment...only to have the same weak sound...
I would troubleshoot the factory amp...

 

thats the weird thing, I got the speakers installed at one shop, and he said I need an amp, so I went to another to get a second opinion and he recommended the same thing so I just got the amp there, and yeah Im really not exaggerating, I can have it at and hold a normal converation with a passenger, it also sounds sharp with no bass, even after adjusting treble and bass settings.
i really know nothing about this stuff so dont know what exactly to go in and ask for, I mean they are the experts so should just recommend something straight up right? Im sure this would be a common problem that they get.

 

it would behoove you to understand or get to know audio systems...
otherwise; they are going to get you everytime...
troubleshoot or replace the stock amp.

 

Based on what I have read it seems your factory amp has gone bad. You could fix it or bypass it altogether. I am guessing that they used high level inputs for the aftermarket amp which are not sending it high level and that is also due to tye factory amp being bad. Yes a new head unit would fix it or you could get an amp or other device which accepts differential balanced input from tye factory head unit, which is what I recommend.

btw, most guys selling audio stuff are not close to being experts. Our TL is a bit difficult for your average audio salesperson to work with.

 

@stevemk07 so assuming the problem is what you are thinking, woud i need Both a HU and to fix/replace stock amp, or just one or the other? because if its just one might as well get a cool new radio with blue tooth and apple carplay support right?

 

Based on what I have seen on the forums over the past 5 years it is your amp that needs fixing/replacing. (Likely some capacitors gone bad and relatively easy to fix if you can use a soldering iron). I do not recall any uead units just going bad without some mistake that fries it. Do what you want. If you want a new head unit get one.

 

like if that will fix it ill definitley get it but wouldnt want to spend on that if i still need the amp anyways, then ill have a nice radio but one that i cant even hear right

 

To be clear, I mean the factory amp is bad, not the aftermarket one. If you get the factory amp fixed it will LIKELY solve your volume issue.

 

thanks man, and sorry for all the questions lol, and yeah i understood that part, so what would the difference or benefits be to fixing it rather than just bypassing? and would an audio shop fix a stock amp or that something that i would take to acura? again apologies for the noob questions.

 

Do not take it to Acura because all they will do is send it out to get fixed anyway. Take it to an electronics or stereo REPAIR shop and let them know the problem with weak output.

 

GOTCHA, thanks man!

 

Steve is exactly correct. I would bet that you could correct your issue if you bypass the OEM amp and take the signal from the stock HU. Depending on your new amp and its ability to use the very low signal you may need a line driver. But I am sure they took the signal post OEM amp and the signal is terrible and that is what you are working with. No new amp can make that poor source any good.

 

Yes this is the route I would choose, and if you do this just know the stock head unit sends out a differential balanced signal (this eliminates noise that is picked up en route to the amp) so you need to make sure you have equipment that can use it. In my case I have a jl amp that has inputs for differential balanced signals. Another option (not my first choice but has worked for other members) is to install a line driver as close to the factory head unit as possible.

 

you could get an amp(for your model car) from a junkyard for 10 bucks and replace yours to see if the problem goes away. I would bet its an amp problem. speakers don't/shouldn't fade consecutively. I know my speakers are bad when I hear a popping sound from a torn cone oftentimes. Let me know if you need any more clarification.

 

Unless that amp is bad which will probably be the case considering the high rate of failure in these particular models. Your best bet is trade up for an amp that has balanced inputs and be done with it because no one should have to suffer through a LOC post stock amp install. I've done several over the years and they never really sound as good as you would think they should especially if you are asking it to take a distorted signal flatten it, and then regurgitate out to another amp or two... Garbage in garbage out. Just my opinion though.
If you need recommendations for an amp I can gladly give it.

 

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