3200GT ASK Amplifier Replacement - Thoughts

[Oneball]

My factory fitted amp doesn't turn itself off so is draining the battery, there's continuity between the permanent live and switched live so something seems to have shorted internally, I can't see anything and no-one seems to want to look at it so I've come up with two options:

1. Fit a second hand factory amp at £240, straight fit but will already be 15 years old and well £250 is a little steep.

2. Fit a modern amp that'll take a speaker level input at £150 using the existing wiring and loom but replacing the factory connector, I've found an Alpine one that'll fit and with a proper plug will look like it could have come from the factory.

So question is what would you think if you were buying a 3200GT (yes I know you wouldn't!) and saw an aftermarket nicely installed amp?

 

[Navcorr]

When you say no one wants to take a look who are you referring to? Auto electricians? Perhaps try a local musical instrument repairer. Don't know where you're based but "Sickamps" of Harlow are very good. Maybe worth a phone call.

 

[Oneball]

When you say no one wants to take a look who are you referring to? Auto electricians? Perhaps try a local musical instrument repairer. Don't know where you're based but "Sickamps" of Harlow are very good. Maybe worth a phone call.

I've tried specialist automotive amp repair places and my local music amp place, they said they needed the plug off the wiring loom which doesn't make sense to me but what do I know, I even took a list of the pinouts to help them, guess they thought it wasn't worth their time. It's probably be £100 at least anyway

 

[FIFTY]

Nothing wrong with an after market system as long as it is of high quality and installed correctly.

 

[Navcorr]

they said they needed the plug off the wiring loom which doesn't make sense to me but what do I know

Hmmm, strange but you're probably right about their time. At least you've tried. If you go the new amp route, assuming you've got factory speakers, will they be up to it?

 

[Oneball]

Nothing wrong with an after market system as long as it is of high quality and installed correctly.

Alpine do a pretty compact 4 channel, class D amp, that'll take a speaker level input, so can use all the factory wiring and with slight modification to the existing bracket will fit in the factory location. I can't really see a down side except it's not original, plus it's new rather than something that's already past it's sell by date.

Thing is I don't actually give a monkeys about amazing sound, I used to have a BMW that the original owner had spec'd a £2k optional sound system, yes it sounded great but it wouldn't bother me if I had it or not.

 

[Oneball]

Hmmm, strange but you're probably right about their time. At least you've tried. If you go the new amp route, assuming you've got factory speakers, will they be up to it?

Yep factory ASK Auditorium speakers, probably won't be great for sound quality but I'm unlikely to do any damage to them as I never really have it turned up and I can always change at a later date.

 

[FIFTY]

Alpine do a pretty compact 4 channel, class D amp, that'll take a speaker level input, so can use all the factory wiring and with slight modification to the existing bracket will fit in the factory location. I can't really see a down side except it's not original, plus it's new rather than something that's already past it's sell by date.

Thing is I don't actually give a monkeys about amazing sound, I used to have a BMW that the original owner had spec'd a £2k optional sound system, yes it sounded great but it wouldn't bother me if I had it or not.

Ah I quite appreciate a good sound system and I regularly go to moooosic events so there you have it.

My f30 318d company car has the basic sound system and it's terrible but not as bad as the stock sound system on my 4200!

I agree go with a class D amp, can't see any reason not to and a full sized one will have some extra features such as bass boost.

I installed a class d clarion mini amp to boost the 10w rms from the 4200 NIT up to a more respectable 50w and ditched the circa 1998 fiat punto speakers for some JL Audio replacements which were the best I could afford, don't havw the bank balance for Focals... Finally a hid a mini sub inside the parcel shelf by the brake light.

It's not loud enough to help host a rave in a field but that's not what I was going for... Just a high quality crisp full sound to drown out the road noise!

 

[Oneball]

ditched the circa 1998 fiat punto speakers for some JL Audio replacements which were the best I could afford, don't havw the bank balance for Focals... Finally a hid a mini sub inside the parcel shelf by the brake light.

It's not loud enough to help host a rave in a field but that's not what I was going for... Just a high quality crisp full sound to drown out the road noise!

What did you fit in the front doors? I had to replace mine and couldn't find anything that'd fit so got a couple of S/H Maser ones for £20

 

[FIFTY]

What did you fit in the front doors? I had to replace mine and couldn't find anything that'd fit so got a couple of S/H Maser ones for £20

JL Audio Evolution C1-650 6.5-inch (165 mm) 2-Way Component

they are a perfect fit even the tweeter clipped into the original housing but I used a few blobs of hot glue to make sure it stays put.
Rear quarter panel has the same series but 5x7/6x8 inch which also fit but with the use of a frame spacer

I deleted the speakers on the rear shelf in favour of the Kenwood mini sub I hid back there.

Sound is now spot on for me but without the sub it would be not quite right as the coupe is inherently poor for bass... next step is to install the sound insulation I bought to make it even better. I plan to strip out both front door window regulators for maintenance so I will stick the sound insulation on then

 

[Oneball]

Thanks Fifty, I'll have a look at those

 

[Oneball]

Adapter plate made up.



Spaced the top out with a couple of washers to give it a bit more clearance to the wing. I’ve also backed it with some foam to stop any clumsiness when installing denting the rear wing.



But not quite, turns out the wiring diagram in the manual isn’t the same as in my car. So need to get a new 8 pin connector so front left and right are the right way round. Been through and correlated everything and there’s a couple of others that weren’t as per the diagram. Italians!!! I’m beginning to think this car is bad luck, every time I do something it throws up an issue, yesterday I found the reason the rear seat belt bolt was stiff to undo was that it had been cross threaded, today was this.

 

[RSM Masser]

Get underneath and replace those boxes with a straight section of 2” stainless steel tube - open windows and go for a drive

No stereo required!

On a serious note, I didn’t think there was an amp on the 3200. I have replaced the head unit and all the speakers as the OEM are made of cheese. But my £200 head unit has been fried by a leaky heater matrix. So until that is fixed it’s no music in the car.

 

[Oneball]

The Auditorium system with amplifier and updated speakers was an optional extra.

Exhaust is on and off the list depending on what mood I’m in.

 

[RSM Masser]

The Auditorium system with amplifier and updated speakers was an optional extra.

Exhaust is on and off the list depending on what mood I’m in.

I didn’t know that - are the cables also an optional extra? Sometimes it’s only the equipment that left out, the loom is one size fits all.

The rear boxes rot quickly unless they have been swapped in the past for stainless (quick silver, Tubi etc) then it’s just a question of how loud or not.

 

[Oneball]

Mine has stainless boxes by the look of it and they’re pretty new, they are quite quiet.

In the 4200 the extra wiring for the amp just plugs into the standard loom but with the 3200 the whole car loom is a different item for the Auditorium system.

 

[RSM Masser]

Mine has stainless boxes by the look of it and they’re pretty new, they are quite quiet.

In the 4200 the extra wiring for the amp just plugs into the standard loom but with the 3200 the whole car loom is a different item for the Auditorium system.

Mine was quiet with the Quicksilver boxes, the centre box is what makes the difference if removed (along with the rears) plenty of threads on the forum and choices if you decide to do it.

Shame about the loom, but with a winter todo list of new front brakes and discs, gearbox oil and filter change plus heater matrix replacement the stereo can wait!

 

[Oneball]

All fitted and now working.