Nakamichi Amp - Do They Fail?

[PabloCruise]

What are the options for replacing the amp with aftermarket? Does an Infinity/Alpine etc just drop in connector wise... I know I will have to secure it somehow. Just wanted to know if it can be made plug-n-play.

AFAIK there’s a bit of work to change the connections.
Is your amplifier dying or dead?

 

[katit]

Duh. I am in the same camp now, not sure which way to go with Nakamichi amp.
First of all, I think it worked at beginning, but I am not so sure now. Anyways, I am in a process of replacing stereo and it works nice and all, but FR channel just gives hum/pops. I re-triple-checked my wiring - all is good. And stereo is good because I send same stereo channel to let's say FL and it works.

Reading this topic sounds like a pattern, AND, someone mentioned that they could do electric drain as well which I suspect my truck has.

Now, repairing also seem like not an option.
What amp would work if I wanted to keep speakers and wires? Speakers in a good shape and I'd like to keep factory wiring if possible, so may need nakamichi plug to make connection..

 

[sunfic]

I used Kenwood Excelon X802-5/XM802-5 to replace the factory amp. it can re-use the Nav computer mounting.

you have to make the connectors or cut the wires to connect the speaker wires.

 

[katit]

I used Kenwood Excelon X802-5/XM802-5 to replace the factory amp. it can re-use the Nav computer mounting.

you have to make the connectors or cut the wires to connect the speaker wires.

Did you cut wires? If not, where did you get connectors? I'd rather not cut factory wires.

Did you have to do any wiring or reused all factory power/speaker wires? (I prefer this) and for sub as well?

 

[sunfic]

Did you cut wires? If not, where did you get connectors? I'd rather not cut factory wires.

Did you have to do any wiring or reused all factory power/speaker wires? (I prefer this) and for sub as well?

I made the female connectors to existing factory connectors. make it clean and easy. but you need some basic electronics capability including making wire harness, crimping tools, hunting for connectors, soldering, etc.

for example, for 06 LX, the majority of speaker wires comes from these two connectors:

two front door speakers, however are from mayday ecu connector and Nav computer connector:

depending on your years/model/configuration, you may need to check all those connectors. the common speaker wire connectors (S18,S19 for example) are toyota standard ones and easy to find the female connector for them. the Mayday and Nav connectors are not easy to find if you have them. you can remove the whole mayday system and reuse one of the female connector. I can source most of the connector from Japan or China.

again, YMMV.

 

[katit]

I made the female connectors to existing factory connectors. make it clean and easy. but you need some basic electronics capability including make wire harness, crimping tools, hunting for connectors.

for example, for 06 LX, the majority of speaker wires comes from these two connectors:
View attachment 3579569

two front door speakers, however are from mayday ecu connector and Nav computer connector:

View attachment 3579571 View attachment 3579573

View attachment 3579574

depending on your years/model/configuration, you may need to check all those connectors. the common speaker wire connectors (S18,S19 for example) are toyota standard ones and easy to find the female connector for them. the Mayday and Nav connectors are not easy to find if you have them. you can remove the whole mayday system and reuse one of the female connector. I can source most of the connector from Japan or China.

again, YMMV.

Thanks! Yes, I can do all that, sourcing all of the connectors is a bigger question. Mine is 2000, it's got Nakamichi with 4 connectors (power/ins/outs/sub) AFAIK.

I have basic system with no Nav

 

[sunfic]

Thanks! Yes, I can do all that, sourcing all of the connectors is a bigger question. Mine is 2000, it's got Nakamichi with 4 connectors (power/ins/outs/sub) AFAIK.

I have basic system with no Nav

That will make things really easy. I think you may try ebay or some aftermaket car audio website for those connectors in US.

Not all the connectors from the factory amp are needed. however you can reuse the factory connectors for amp-on signal, battery positive (B+) and ground.

 

[katit]

That will make things really easy. I think you may try ebay or some aftermaket car audio website for those connectors in US.

Not all the connectors from the factory amp are needed. however you can reuse the factory connectors for amp-on signal, battery positive (B+) and ground.

Not really. I will need all of this. Because power to HU taken from amp, so I will need that connector to bypass power/GND.
I will need connector for signal to pass into new amp
And connector for outputs to drive speakers...

Basically all of them. Such a PITA. I wish I had or known of good working factory amp. Sound is OK. I just need good working one.

 

[PabloCruise]

Duh. I am in the same camp now, not sure which way to go with Nakamichi amp.
First of all, I think it worked at beginning, but I am not so sure now. Anyways, I am in a process of replacing stereo and it works nice and all, but FR channel just gives hum/pops. I re-triple-checked my wiring - all is good. And stereo is good because I send same stereo channel to let's say FL and it works.

Reading this topic sounds like a pattern, AND, someone mentioned that they could do electric drain as well which I suspect my truck has.

Now, repairing also seem like not an option.
What amp would work if I wanted to keep speakers and wires? Speakers in a good shape and I'd like to keep factory wiring if possible, so may need nakamichi plug to make connection..

I had a friend who is pretty good at electronics take a look at my original failed amp.
He thought we could replace the capacitors - we even got some - but they weren't coming loose. He thought the amp must have lead-free solder which runs a little hotter. He thought we could get them loose if we have to, but he was worried about de-laminating the trace from the board.

If we have to, I am guessing we can find the companion connectors to bypass the Nak amp. I found a big PDF of connectors in one of my stereo threads. I can try to find it and post it in here.

 

[PabloCruise]

Not really. I will need all of this. Because power to HU taken from amp, so I will need that connector to bypass power/GND.
I will need connector for signal to pass into new amp
And connector for outputs to drive speakers...

Basically all of them. Such a PITA. I wish I had or known of good working factory amp. Sound is OK. I just need good working one.

Here is what I found for connectors: How To Find A Companion Connector - Electrical/Stereo/Nakamichi - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-find-a-companion-connector-electrical-stereo-nakamichi.1054926/#post-11629059

 

[katit]

Here is what I found for connectors: How To Find A Companion Connector - Electrical/Stereo/Nakamichi - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-find-a-companion-connector-electrical-stereo-nakamichi.1054926/#post-11629059

Basically, there is no source for amp connectors? (All 4 of them)?

Sounds like I will be cutting into factory wiring here. Now I just need to figure out if there is aftermarket amplifier which will do stock speakers 4+SUB on oem power. I really don't want to run any wires.