Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

[Junk Parts]

My 98 Escort wagon has a queer ford indash four channel AM/FM/Cassette deck. It lacks power and the speakers were trash even when new. My plan is to replace the stock speakers with like sized after market stuff. Now the big question is: Does my existing head unit have pre-outs on the rear? I'd love to add a four channel amp with just a little power. 20 watts RMS per channel would be more than enough. Can anyone answer the "pre-out question for me so I don't have to take the car apart to check?

[Andrew F. Ali]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

Perhaps you could use the L & R Speaker Outputs. There is a jig called an IMPEDENCE CONVERTER that would take the Lo-Ohms speaker output and convert it to Hi-Ohms output which could go straight into the LINE INPUT of the Power Amp or Equaliser. So the Fader control on the Head Unit would be set to Front and the better speakers would be connected to the Power Amp.

[stj]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

probably not,
they are usually made by philips or visteon btw.

you can get adapters to feed an amp from a speaker output though.
i used them in the past.

[Junk Parts]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

I found this thing on Crutchfield. It looks cheap to me. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1209957...iring-Kit.html

I do have a Sony HiPower CD head unit but it needs repairs on its FM section. Water got into it from the AC vent above it while it was in my Suzuki wagon. If I got that thing fixed and installed it in the Escort it would be a fine unit for me. My Sony is the CDX-CA750X. KC has been waiting for me to ship it to him for repairs for a few years now.

[delaware74b]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

JP - that install kit looks like it will work for you. Most Ford speakers are decent as the head units have no a**.

My factory am/fm/single CD head unit in my '04 Ranger is actually built by Pioneer for Ford, complete with both Ford and Pioneer part numbers. I first replaced the head unit with a Pioneer unit and that made a huge difference in quality and power. No separate amp needed.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

My 98 Escort wagon has a queer ford indash four channel AM/FM/Cassette deck. It lacks power and the speakers were trash even when new. My plan is to replace the stock speakers with like sized after market stuff. Now the big question is: Does my existing head unit have pre-outs on the rear? I'd love to add a four channel amp with just a little power. 20 watts RMS per channel would be more than enough. Can anyone answer the "pre-out question for me so I don't have to take the car apart to check?

That proprietary-ness reminds me of Pontiac G6s. Ever seen those head units?

[Junk Parts]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

I think that I'll buy a new normal din head unit with four speakers and be done with it. From crutchfield the mounting kit comes for free if you buy all the other stuff.

[dmill89]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

That proprietary-ness reminds me of Pontiac G6s. Ever seen those head units?

I used to have one, they integrated the VIC (vehicle information center, trip odometers, fuel mileage, oil life monitor, etc.) into the head unit. If you ever want to replace it your options are either a half-assed aftermarket bezel adaption with the VIC readout/buttons built in (these are cheaply made and have a high failure rate, failure of this can lock up the security system and cause the vehicle not to start), or some head units that are specifically made for GM vehicles that cost $600+ and integrate all the functions that the factory head unit did (or if you just want to upgrade from the base factory head unit to the more featured ones in higher trims you can get one from the junk yard, but you may have ton pay the dealer to program it for your vehicle).

Apparently this is the case in most of not all newer GM vehicles (having the VIC integrated into the head unit).

My '95 Jeep Cherokee is real easy, it just has a regular DIN opening in the dash so no adaptors needed just bolt the head unit right in (it would be nice if auto manufactures went back to standard single or double DIN units, but they think they have to make them look "pretty" and integrate them into the dash).

[stj]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

you can get a nice head unit with fm tuner & mp3 playback from SD card with 4 channel output for about $30 from china.
who needs to pay for all that mechanical crap for tape/cd these days.

[Junk Parts]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

First I'm not doing a downgrade to china in order to upgrade my car. Good luck with your line of thinking.

[stj]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

good luck thinking anything isnt made in china now.
i just cut out the middleman & the sticker company.

[Junk Parts]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

You have a point.

[stj]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

o.k.
take a look at this,
http://www.dx.com/p/ca720-2-7-lcd-sc...ck-grey-181517

and tell me why i should pay $150+ for the same guts with a JVC or KENWOOD badge on it!

[Junk Parts]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

That is a lot of head unit for just $38.46! They used to sell and AM/FM tape deck unit at Luskins for $19.95. They also sold a pair of 6x9 three way speakers for $19.95. More or less $40 dollar bought you a working stereo. They didn't sound bad ether.

[stj]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

the way the chinese have kept the price down is because there is nothing mechanical, it has no tape or cd mechanism.
it's more like a pocket mp3 player with a power amp & front panel.

i dont know why all company's dont do this, who the hell needs tapes to unwind or dics to get messed up in the heat when you can just copy them to a memory card in the house.

[katzcaps]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

I wonder how good those really are. Kinda reminds me of the Pyramid/other brand radios/amps that were so popular years ago. The would advertise them at something like 500 watts (lol) and they all sounded like crap.

At any rate, I'm tempted by the cheap pricing. Too bad most of he models are sold out. For my needs I would need to have one w/ AM capability (gasp, I know). Guess I'll keep an eye on the site & order one when they become available.

[stj]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

there are plenty more on ebay.
i just like DX because it's all in one place, i have used them for years, and you can change the currency on the screen.

AM may be an issue, it's not used much anymore and the actual electronics are pretty complex.
you can do FM now with a single chip pretty much, but AM still needs the old coils & cans etc.


btw, look at this!!!!!
http://www.dx.com/p/lsqstar-8-touch-...d-focus-336428
amazing that they even make a custom frame for it!

[katzcaps]

Re: Escort Head Unit Pre-Outs

there are plenty more on ebay.
i just like DX because it's all in one place, i have used them for years, and you can change the currency on the screen.

AM may be an issue, it's not used much anymore and the actual electronics are pretty complex.
you can do FM now with a single chip pretty much, but AM still needs the old coils & cans etc.


btw, look at this!!!!!
http://www.dx.com/p/lsqstar-8-touch-...d-focus-336428
amazing that they even make a custom frame for it!

What do you search for on ebay? I tried putting in a few of the names of those dx units and I didn't come up with many results...