Stock SHO JBL Audio Q's

[FOMOCOTOSHO]

I have a '95 w/ the factory JBL system (Sub & Amp) but the previous owner installed a crappy Sony head unit. From how the system sounds, I have to assume that it was installed without the proper harness that allows you to utilize the factory sub & amp, and thus has bypassed it because the sound is very weak & has no bass.
I'm going to take it to my audio guys to have them diagnose first to make sure the sub & amp are still good & working, but assuming that I have some q's.

#1) How good is the factory system? I don't expect to shake the windows by any means but I just want a better than average sound w/ respectable bass. Will the factory JBL system give me that?
#2) If the factory sub/amp is not working or DOESN'T sound very good, can I replace one of the components & still be compatible with the other? For example, can I replace the amp & still work in conjunction with the sub & vice versa? If so, are there certain specs or features I should be looking for in the sub & amp when shopping (e.g. how many channels on the amp to power the sub & speakers, is it a 2,4 or 8 ohm, ..minumum # of continuous watts, etc.?)
#3) I will for SURE be replacing the head unit with a better aftermarket unit (Not sure on which one yet, but I've always liked my Pioneer units) My question here is if I am utilizing the factory sub & amp, does it matter how much RMS watts of power my head unit makes? Or does that get bypassed by using the factory amp anyway? Or does the factory amp only power the subwoofer and the head unit power the speakers? Again here, are there certain specs or features I should be looking for in a head unit? (minimum number of RCA preouts for sub/amp, etc.)
#4) Out of curiousity does the factory Ford/JBL CD player read burned discs w/ MP3, WMA formats? Maybe I should just put the factory deck back in if it would read them> (I have very few original CD's. LOL)

Any help & advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Phoenix]

#1 - Its descent , the bass is good , but some people needs more than others - it's really a matter of taste.

#2 - If you replace the amp or sub , you will need the exact same thing (ex: you factory amp is blown , replace with another one it will work) BUT if you mean to replace with aftermarket stuff , if you do the amp , you will need a sub and vice versa , aftermarket subs needs more power then the flimsy amp we got , and the aftermaket amp will blow the factory sub's socks off. You will also need to re-wire everything the power wire needs to be bigger with an aftermaket amp.

#3 Last time I did a swap with an aftermarket unit , it sounded like ass on the factory speakers , the ford unit is meant to be played with the factory stuff. Look for the CSVT cd player (the 1 BIN ford player) , this is a good replacement from your older player.

#4 no Mp3s , but it reads burned audio cds. I think Mr A pointed out that it reads better when they are burned in 1X.

 

[ctwrench]

I have a Sony GT 300 head w/ JBL amps and it sounds pretty good. I've got some cheap ($20) Clarion door speakers, cheap ($35) Sony deck speakers and a $0.99 Pyle sub in the original box. Look for the sub on ebay and after shipping I was only out about $16. Overall, I'm happy with it as it doesn't try to rattle all the trim off the car but does have some good seat vibrating effects. If anything is bad, hit a junk yard, I paid $60 for both amps and the box. The Sony I've got plays MP3 and WMA as well as an Aux input for MP3 players or satellite radio. I've got XM and hardly ever listen to anything else and other than having a loose / bad connection to the left door speaker somewhere in the circuit, the sound is clear up to the point of my wife and kids telling me to turn it down. I tell them that if its too loud, you're too old.