Hi,

looks like my timing is perfect.
I'll get a new car in october and my MK2 just a few weeks before that.

Now I have a few questions, so that I can start rightaway when it all arrives.

1. Can I use my empeg with the Ford radio that comes with the car ?
Or do I really need an external/additional amp ?
(I'll buy it anyway, but would like to do it later, since I the car itself was quite expensive ...)

2. If I'd buy an amp now I think it would be a Kenwood KAC-848 (or maybe a 748).
Is that a good choice ?
Does it work "perfectly" with the empeg ?

3. What else do I need ?
I (will) have:
- The car
- The Ford radio
- The empeg MK2
- The ISO2Ford adapter
- A trained mechanic to do the work ;-)

Thanks for your help ....

ciao
Anti

You'd better read the FAQ-section, then you should know if you need an external amp or not. (If the factory installed radio has a line in (eg. for a CD-unit) then you can use it as an amplifier with all advantages/disadvantages discussed already)

The type and brand of amp doesn't depend on the unit that gives the input but should somehow fit to the speakers. (Watch out for good speakers - they are the most important thing for sound quality - as you can read somewhere else in this BBS)

The only thing you will need is some money..

TeeMcBee

sorry,

that happens if you try to solve these things at work ....

I was looking more for someone with a similar setup and not some general hints.
I can't find any information on the factory supplied radio, so I don't know if they have line in :(

And I'm not an audio expert ... I'm just a geek ... so even if you gavae me all the specs I wouldn't have a clue.

I will go for an external amp ... but I'm still not sure if the KAC will be alright ...

I will choose the speakers after I decided on the amp, but thanks for reminding me ... I would have just forgotten them at all ....

Money:
Well, after buying a $25K car and a $1K "radio" money is the only thing that is sparse ... and I still don't have any seats :(

thanks anyway
ciao
Anti

You could get some information for your radio from a ford-trading-center or you take a look at some general informiation-material. If there is an extra cd-changer available to the exact type of radio you have then there will be something like a line-input (whatever connector-type it has).

If you get an amp then I'd throw away the factory radio (maybe you could leave it at your Ford-shop and save a few $). Then you won't have any problems with the connection and wiring. Just connect the Mk2's output to the amp's input and everything will be fine. The only thing you'd have to think if you uninstall the factory radio is that you'll have to get a car mounting kit from ford. Every manufactorer provides mounting kits for their cars so you shouldn't have any problems with that.

The only thing is that this "roundy" dash from the puma will have the not really best fitting Mk2. (I've got a similar problem with my new Peugeot 406) But who cares. The functionality, geek and coolness of this thing is what counts for me.
And if you don't install it directly in the dash - where else would you put it?


TeeMcBee

The Ford radio is probably a 5000 or 6000 series head unit, which has an ACP bus. It doesn't have line in & as far as I know there aren't any line in adaptors available :(

You could try asking autoleads (www.autoleads.co.uk) who supply mounting plasticwork for the Puma, and also a Sony bus adaptor - it may be possible to use this adaptor as a line in unit, as Sony changers have RCA outs. There's not room to fit both head units in the dash, though!

Hugo

That's what I feared :(

I contacted autoleads anyway, but ford is well known for their "special" plugs :(

Since it's a "non-smoking" car I assume I'll be able to use that gained space for something usefull :(

Anti
ps:
I'll give you an update on the plug ....

Well, my Ford Fiesta had 2 connectors, one with speakers, the other with power... I got a Ford to ISO adaptor without any trouble.

I think the Din and a Half stereos had the same plugs on (Last time I looked was a couple years ago though)
I might speak to my mate at a hire car place, and get him to pull one of the 5000's out of a Fiesta... =)

Jazz
(List 112, Mk2 12 gig #40. Mk1 for sale 4 gig #30, apply within)

If you can't get a plug you could also cut of the Ford's plug and wire the ISO-connector that is coming with the Mk2 to your car's cables. (Some good aftermarket car radio installers can do that without any problems). The only thing about this is that you don't have the original Ford plugs if you sell your car. But who cares? (nearly) all aftermarket stereos have ISO-connectors.

I'd seriously think about removing the factory installed radio and installing the Mk2 instead.

TeeMcBee

I just got an answer form autoleads:
"The protocol differences between Ford and Sony mean that the two are
incompatible without an adaptor lead, which incorporates a programmed chip
to handle this difference."

There is a company called ICD which has this lead in their program, but I couldn't find the website so far...

Looks like I'm going to throw away the Ford Radio :-(
I didn't want it in the first place, but it came for "free" and they couldn't even take it out ....

Anti

Looks like I'm going to throw away the Ford Radio :-(

I'll have to remove my factory-installed radio, too. It has a nice display on the center of the dash which is displaying eg. door open, temperature etc, too.
But if you take a look on the empeg video (some visuals of the empeg are shown there) you'll see that it'll look better in your dash - even if the form will not fit the dash exactly.


I didn't want it in the first place, but it came for "free" and they couldn't even take it out ....

They couldn't take it out? Isn't that just a unit you can take out? A friend of mine has a puma and as far as I can remember it's just a simple unit with a spezial form and size. (like mine, too) And usually you CAN take it out. (Maybe ask a different Ford trading center) Maybe they need some special key or something like that. But I can't believe that you can't take it out.


TeeMcBee

He probably means it comes with the car, and the dealer cannot supply it without...

All Ford stereos I've seen can be easily removed (with the correct tool).

Quick tip though...
Spend the extra time and money to find wiring adaptors, don't be tempted to just butcher the wires for a quick fit. If you sell your car second hand, people will normally want the standard stereo fitted (it looks better that way)

Besides, you won't want to sell it with the empeg in... =)

Jazz
(List 112, Mk2 12 gig #40. Mk1 for sale 4 gig #30, apply within)

"They couldn't take it out?"

Yep, Ford (germany) doesn't allow the dealer to deliver the car without the radio :-(
After I "received" the car and "returned" it to the dealer (without moving one inch) the dealer can remove the radio.

It wasn't my idea, but crazy like it is it could be ;-)

So if anyone want a brand new never used Ford Radio 5000 in october and lives in germany -> mail me...

ciao
Anti
ps:
Removing the Radio is a matter of 10 seconds ... push handle in, pull it out, voila ...

Yes, autoleads will sell you a ford>ISO adaptor which will work with the Puma - I think it's less than $10.

Hugo

Haven't installed my Mk2 but had my Mk1 wired up to a Kenwood KAC-848 amp, sounded wonderful.

- Reed S.