Ok, I settled on a Sony MEX-BP2600 for my XF. The guy doing the install says that I will have to have an amplifier bypass as he cannot get the new radio to work with the amp and speakers.

Is this true or is the guy clueless?

 

They were able to get my new radio hooked into the "system" and it sounds wonderful. I can now play MP3s and have hands free calling while zooming down the road.

 

Any more details?
I'm interested in a radio that has an auxiliary port for my mp3 player (non iPOD).

 

Here is the URL on Sony's site:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665329081

The bluetooth works perfectly with my phone with the microphone audio quality being ok for the person you are talking to. Their voice comes over the speakers quite well. You basically answer the phone by pushing the volume button. I love it! The radio also supports bluetooth integration with MP3 players as well. So if you have an MP3 player that has bluetooth, this radio will work with it.

The radio has built in "equalizer" settings and also allows you to manually set low, mid, and high ranges. It has also has the "Loudness" setting which really brings out the bass and the treble and maintains the same level of bass that the original radio has implemented (but better IMHO).

It also comes with a remote. I haven't found much use for it yet, but works well.

For $169, I cannot complain. This is the first aftermarket radio that I have purchased in some 20 years.

 

Your installer is wrong. Aftermarket radios work just fine with the factory amp, Just hook up the speaker wires. BTW the Crossfire is NOT a fiber optic system, Some installers think it is. Do a search on the forum and you will find a ton of info about stereo installs.

 

I have to agree with "marauderroy". Your installer is Wrong.

I sell Jensen and Eclipse head units and have yet to run into this problem. My 05 Roadster currently runs an HD5112 unit from Jensen and it was basically plug and play. (Used a wiring adapter plug from Metra (PN: 70-9401) and an antenna adapter (PN:40-EU10), but that was it; and it works fine.

 

Get another installer. He's wrong.

See my site for my install complete with wiring chart for the adapter plug you can use to connect your harness to your new head unit.


Click

plug shown goes to your car, wires to the head unit (color code is documented on my site)

If you remove your head unit later, the car is unchanged, just unplug and you're back to stock.

If your installer can't handle this they should not be installing stereos - this is entry-level stuff.

 

I'm new to this forum as I just got a crossfire for my daughter for Christmas, the radio works sometimes but lately not at all, it powers up, lights work, can change channels but no sound.
Previous owner says to un-hook the battery to reset the stero but it didn't work last time I tried that.
At this point I'm pretty sure that the amp. is bad from reading these forums.
What would you recomend?
An aftermarket stero with new amp or replace the factory amp?
I'm having problems finding a factory amp without paying factory prices.
Any advice would be appreciated

 

The thing is, and this is a personal viewpoint, tearing into the factory amp, takes you in both directions - up to the head unit; and down to the factory speakers. I guess you could look up the wiring diagram (its in one of the messages here), trace them to the respective speakers and head unit leads, then wire in a different amp leaving everything else in place. I think the only drivers you will find challenging will be the subs behind the seats because of their non-traditional circuitry. In the end it would be tedious but probably the cheapest option. Then you're just in for the price of the amp, some connectors, and a couple sessions with it.

From a level of effort point of view, it's super easy to swap out the amp. From a cost point of view, you're right - it's not cheap. But you might well spend the money anyway if you either have someone do it, or if you decide that "since you're in there already" you might as well upgrade speakers, etc. Don't forget though - if you go to a different amplifier, you're going to spend a couple dollars anyway.

You know I never thought to suggest it but another option would be to have your factory amp serviced... That might surprise you - for about $50 you can get an estimate with the cost applied to the work if you go forward. I bet for a couple hundred you could be back in business. Trick is who to send it to? I'd ask Becker America or check with customer service through the harman/kardon site and since it is marketed as an Infinity system you could try there for the heck of it. The Chrysler dealer might know but really, it's not in their best interest to tell you so don't be surprised if you get a shrugged shoulders treatment there. I've gone this repair route with a variety of things that some folks might consider disposable and was surprised how cheap repair sometimes can be. While you wait there's always iPod...

Since it wasn't my dime I took the factory amp option. Of course since then I have subscribed to several "tedious" sessions with my system though it has rewarded me with a very satisfying configuration, and a decent savings over the time and cost of a "professional" installer.

Also contact the eBay seller LKQ (?) who sells a lot of Crossfire parts - for as many Crossfires as they part out I am always surprised I don't see more factory amps listed - contact them and asked - I bet they can "harvest" one for you.

 

BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had a poineer 6000 which has usb input, installed, and the only problem was that they used an adapter for a different car. I want to say VW, ended up taking it back to the installer, so two of the wires could be switched. I believe it was a yellow wire, and a red wire. If I turned the car off, the headunit lost it's memory. chris