New head unit question—by pass the factor amp or not (97 Avalon)?

[sickwilly]

I am looking to replace the head unit in my 97 Avalon. The sound is not good. I am looking at entry level CD players with 20 RMS up to 50 max X 4 (Sony or JVC, around $150 bucks).

The options that have been presented to me are to bypass the factory amp or wire right through it. The first option just uses the power on the head unit, and since the 97 only has opening for 4 inch speakers this should be enough.

The second option goes from the powered outputs on the new head unit to the factor amp, then to the speakers. This will get the most power of the two options.

The guy at Circuit City said the cons of going from a powered head unit through the amp are that it makes the volume control very sensitive and if the amp is showing wear and tear I will get crackling in my sound.

I guess I am seeking advice from those of you much more familial with Toyota factory amps.

Thanks

[Corollacrazy42]

wtf, I would say just bypass it. That amp isn't even worth the time anyways in my opinion. I personally have never heard of wiring through the factory amp either, that just seems like a big mess and some broken crap.

The wiring kit you will get will be for bypassing the amp anyways.

[sickwilly]

My understanding is that there is no wiring kit for my particular year of Avalon. The output from the new unit will have to be spliced in to the wires taken from the output side of the factory amp to bypass it.