Factory stereo amplifier location?

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Jacobs Exhaust Break

Leaving the tailgate off?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Shortly after buying my truck, (a 2001. 5), I replaced the factory AM/FM cassett 4-speaker stereo with a pioneer CD 45 watt by 4 channel stereo using the factory speakers. I have heard that the factory system has amplifiers located on each of the speakers. Does anybody know how this system works?, as in how do I properly hook up my pioneer head to the factory speakers and utilize it's built in amplifier. I am thinking that I need to remove or bypass the factory amps if there are any.



Thanks in advance, MH
 
The amps are right on each speaker. I took each speaker out and removed the amps and rewired it so that the speaker is directly to the stereo.
 
If you don't have the Infinity Sound System, you won't have the built-in amps. If you do have the system, they are located behind the 6x9s in the doors. If you have a head unit that puts out any kind of wattage like the one you want to use, it's better to disable the amps and run off of the head unit's amp. The factory amps are pretty cheesy.
 
Amplifier location

My guess is: if you have the standard system, the amp is the radio 'head unit' fed through 4 audio pair to the speakers and any good head should suffice (I just dropped in a 160 W 4ch Jensen and was surprised the OEM speakers could keep up!) If you have the Infinity or premium system, the rears are fed direct from the head unit. The front main speakers take audio from the head and have integral (hybrid chip) 30W amps and crossover networks that feed the A-pillar tweeters—so that's where it gets messy, mebbe feed a low-level output to the fron speakers? Hope this helps!
 
After looking at the 2001 options sheet. I figure I have the base 4 speaker stereo system option. Only the 6 speaker systems use the word " Infinity " in the description. Thanks for the input..... MH
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top