[sai_iii]

I have been able to discover a fix for the low volume of the Sony stereo that some of us have been complaining about. At one point I noticed that my girlfriend's 2012 SEL radio was significantly louder than the radio in my ST, even though we both had the same Sony upgraded stereo. I was determined to find out why.

It all comes down to the amp.

Inexplicable to me, between 2012 and 2013, Ford decided to revise the amp that they were using in the Sony stereos.

Here is the part # for my ST's Sony amp:

And here is the part # for the amp in the SEL:

Both amps are identical physically with the same plugs, so I swapped them and boom volume in the ST's radio is louder! Music that I used to listen to at 50% before is now just as loud at 25%, so volume is effectively doubled with virtually no distortion! Music now sounds fuller and more crisp. At 75% volume it is LOUD.

I searched for an amp with the same part # (CT4T-18B849-AA) and found one relatively cheap on ebay. Plugged it in and now I am good to go.

Amps are VERY easy to uninstall/install, they are not even bolted in. Remove the cargo floor, pull the amp out of the styrofoam, unplug all three plugs and that's it!

Again the part# you need is: CT4T-18B849-AA.

In fact, here is the link to where I purchased mine: 2012 13 Ford Focus Taurus Explorer Edge Sony Amplifier CT4T 18B849 AA | eBay

They claim to have more than 10 at only $35!! Definitely money worth investing before you make a decision to go aftermarket.

I for one am now extremely pleased with the Sony system.:music:

 

[Fuxalt]

Hmmmm I feel this is worth looking into. However I wonder how much better the system would sound with a quality non sony amp.

 

[Burnboy]

Just bought one

 

[skizzo81]

huh... good work!!!

 

[ericST]

I want it but shipping is a lil cray! You think the dealer would do a swap? I bet i can get mine to

 

[sai_iii]

I want it but shipping is a lil cray! You think the dealer would do a swap? I bet i can get mine to

Even with shipping it is only $50, not too pricey. Plus you can make an offer, see how low they will go!:money:

Not sure if Ford even makes this version of the amp anymore since it was manufactured in 2012. Also, it appears they might have gone through multiple revisions to go from "AA to AF"

 

[Tangerinest13]

Thanks for looking into this! I always wondered why my sony system wasn't very loud as well, stock sub doesn't sound very good to me either. I'll definitely be considering getting this!

 

[sai_iii]

Thanks for looking into this! I always wondered why my sony system wasn't very loud as well, stock sub doesn't sound very good to me either. I'll definitely be considering getting this!

Also consider stuffing the subwoofer box with polyfill if you haven't already. I felt that this improved the sound of the sub.

 

[Tangerinest13]

Also consider stuffing the subwoofer box with polyfill if you haven't already. I felt that this improved the sound of the sub.

Yeah, can't hurt to try! Can't go wrong with the price

 

[Wicktek]

this is amazing.

 

[JDAM85]

That is awesome!!! Great job, this Forum is amazing. I need to come up with something awesome to contribute.

Was there a big difference in volume between the radio and iPod like we have now?

 

[sai_iii]

That is awesome!!! Great job, this Forum is amazing. I need to come up with something awesome to contribute.

Was there a big difference in volume between the radio and iPod like we have now?

Not sure, I don't really listen to the radio that much... Only iPod and Bluetooth really. I'll check in the morning if there is a difference in volume.

 

[lvthundercat]

Here's one:

Amplifier

 

[JDAM85]

Here's one: Amplifier

Lol I'll look into that after the amp upgrade.

 

[JDAM85]

Not sure, I don't really listen to the radio that much... Only iPod and Bluetooth really. I'll check in the morning if there is a difference in volume.

Thanks man.

 

[sai_iii]

Thanks man.

I didn't notice any difference in volume between the radio and iPod. But then again, I didn't really notice any difference before either.

 

[dianebrat]

Was there a big difference in volume between the radio and iPod like we have now?

You may want to dig deeper, the issue is usually the level of the file in the ipod, not the ipod itself, with over 700 albums on my ipod, some are low, some are high, and some are just right, the amp isn't the factor here, it's the source MP3 or AAC and how it was ripped/created.

 

[Burnboy]

You're wrong, the volume is just not loud. It doesn't matter if I play music from raio, I phone, cd, it's just simply lack luster and the op stated that he swapped amps and it is louder. That's all I needed to know that someone actually swapped the amp and voila it's louder. The sony upgrade is a joke as is in the st. For fifty bucks it's worth a shot

 

[Wing]

You may want to dig deeper, the issue is usually the level of the file in the ipod, not the ipod itself, with over 700 albums on my ipod, some are low, some are high, and some are just right, the amp isn't the factor here, it's the source MP3 or AAC and how it was ripped/created.

^This
Oddly enough, I also find differences between streaming services. Namely, Pandora plays at a much lower volume than Spotify, Jango, ...

 

[Milz328]

I ordered one for $50 doesn't hurt to try it out. I will update after i get it and swap.