Poor output quality from stock HU to Alpine MRP-f300

[acprkit]

Hi everyone,

I just installed an Alpine MRP-f300 4 channel amplifier in my 2007 Camry LE with the base stereo. I have replaced the speakers in the rear deck with Alpine type s 6x9's and the front doors with Infinity 6.5in references (from old Camry).

So far, I have only wired in the door speakers. I have run output wires from the back of the head unit to the amplifier, under the front passenger seat. I then ran the speaker output back to the dash and connected it back in with a wire harness. I used 16 gauge copper speaker wire, and I ran it under the center console (under the shifter). The 12v turn on lead runs close to the speaker wires, but the 12v power from the battery comes in behind the globe box, away from the speaker wires.

The amp has high level imputs, so I used those while I wait on a JL Cleansweep. The sound quality is mediocre - worse than before the installation of the amp. It is slightly noisy, but mostly very hollow, like listening to AM radio.

Does the stock Camry sound system have a small amp? Since I took the output right from the headunit, could the signal be too weak for the amp?


Thanks for any help!