I thought I would share for those of you thinking about upgrading the stereo your 2013+ Sony system beyond just speaker replacement. I am now on my third try to be happy with it. First the DSR1 wasn't released and the PAC did not support the Taurus so I was taking signal after the Sony amp into a Helix DSP with high level inputs(you can use a Line Output Convertor as well but the DSP is what really makes the difference), then into an aftermarket 5 channel amp to tweeters and mids up front and subs in the trunk. This sounded better than stock but not good enough considering the time and money spent. I also had a slight turn off pop I could not get rid off and the navigation voice and button beeps were too loud.
Next the DSR1 was released and for $250 plus $40 for the correct wiring harness I decided to try it out. With the DSR1 you remove the Sony amp completely and use the harness to connect in it's place. It has connections to use the factory speaker wires if you want but I already had new wires run and use those instead. You have to flash it with firmware from RF and from idatalink as it seems to be two separate pieces in one housing. RF handle the DSP side and idatalink the factory integration. Plug and play after that to get it up and running. It sounded noticeable better but I had a bunch of issues, alternator whine, loud turn on and turn off pops, slow responding steering wheel controls(and the volume has to be pressed for each step louder of softer instead of holding it), and the navigation and button beeps for now painfully loud. idatalink did get me a new firmware that lowered it some but it was still unusably loud, and their tech support is in Canada and cost me $30 on international calling charges on my cell phone bill. I did not use the DSP as I already had the Helix which is mor powerful but did play with the app and it seemed to work fine although I would suggest a tablet as it was annoying to work on my smaller phone screen.
Finally PAC updated the AmpPRO to support the 2013+ Taurus. It doesn't have a DSP but I didn't need that anyway and includes the correct harness for $250, plus $50 to add optical out. For the PAC the Sony amp had to go back in and the unit is installed behind the dash so it is a more involved installation. You can set the navigation volume in the software and still have some adjustment in the sync menu. No alternator whine or pops... problems solved.
Now just waiting on a new amp to ship so I can have my trunk finished and it will finally be done.
TLDR: DSR1, no. PAC AmpPRO, yes.
Next the DSR1 was released and for $250 plus $40 for the correct wiring harness I decided to try it out. With the DSR1 you remove the Sony amp completely and use the harness to connect in it's place. It has connections to use the factory speaker wires if you want but I already had new wires run and use those instead. You have to flash it with firmware from RF and from idatalink as it seems to be two separate pieces in one housing. RF handle the DSP side and idatalink the factory integration. Plug and play after that to get it up and running. It sounded noticeable better but I had a bunch of issues, alternator whine, loud turn on and turn off pops, slow responding steering wheel controls(and the volume has to be pressed for each step louder of softer instead of holding it), and the navigation and button beeps for now painfully loud. idatalink did get me a new firmware that lowered it some but it was still unusably loud, and their tech support is in Canada and cost me $30 on international calling charges on my cell phone bill. I did not use the DSP as I already had the Helix which is mor powerful but did play with the app and it seemed to work fine although I would suggest a tablet as it was annoying to work on my smaller phone screen.
Finally PAC updated the AmpPRO to support the 2013+ Taurus. It doesn't have a DSP but I didn't need that anyway and includes the correct harness for $250, plus $50 to add optical out. For the PAC the Sony amp had to go back in and the unit is installed behind the dash so it is a more involved installation. You can set the navigation volume in the software and still have some adjustment in the sync menu. No alternator whine or pops... problems solved.
Now just waiting on a new amp to ship so I can have my trunk finished and it will finally be done.
TLDR: DSR1, no. PAC AmpPRO, yes.
