The first-generation Acura TSX, spanning the years 2004–2005, 2006–2007, and 2008, comes equipped with a factory amplifier located below the factory radio inside the dashboard. The factory audio system in the Acura TSX consists of 8 individual drivers, including the front speakers, the dashboard tweeters, the rear door speakers and the rear deck speakers.
When the factory amplifier is working with no issues, the factory audio system sounds rich and full. When your amplifier begins to fail or has failed, the system sounds tinny, and the volume output is very low. If you want to upgrade your sound system or if your factory amplifier has failed, this is a great option to consider. Our plug-and-play amplifier works with the factory radio or with an aftermarket radio if installed with our accessories. The plug-and-play amplifier will work with your factory speakers or aftermarket 4 ohm speakers. This is a four-channel amplifier that will retain all your speakers by bridging speakers together with a full range signal.
This upgrade is plug-and-play so it doesn’t require any new power or ground lines. When installing the amplifier, you don’t have to run any wires to the speakers or to the battery.
These are the amplifier power ratings.
- 4 OHM Speakers: 80 Watts per channel – 80 watts divided by 2 is 40 watts to each individual speaker.
Impedance is rated in ohms. Impedance changes in a speaker as it begins to play music. For the best results, you want speakers that have a resting impedance of 4 ohms. The amplifier will automatically send as much power as it can to each speaker, depending on the impedance of that speaker. There is no switch or setting on the amplifier for changing impedances; it is handled automatically by the electronics inside the amplifier. To take full advantage of this amplifier, we recommend installing new aftermarket 4 ohm speakers that are full range for the all the doors and deck. We sell 4 ohm Kicker and Pioneer speakers but you can use speakers from any brand you prefer.
The factory amplifier powers each speaker with roughly 15–30 watts, depending on the speaker; this results in a total power output of 140 watts. This amplifier has a total power output of 320 watts. The factory speakers are all 4 ohms in final impedance, so if your factory speakers are all in good condition, the amp will make them sound great. If some of your speakers are blown and you didn’t notice it before, this amplifier will make you notice it now.
When installing the amplifier, we highly recommend upgrading the rear deck speakers. The rear deck speaker are used as subwoofers from the factory. When the amplifier is upgraded the signal going to the speaker changes from a sub signal to a full range signal. This causes the rear deck speakers to distort easier at higher volumes. As for the factory door speakers, we have found they can handle the extra power as long as the high-pass filter is turned on. The amplifier is shipped pre-configured, so you don’t have to turn any knobs or flip any switches. We ship the amplifier configured based on the selections you make on this page. When shipped, the amplifier will have the proper level set along with the correct high-pass and low-pass filters selected for your application.
This amplifier combines the front tweeter and front door speaker into one channel and sends them a full range signal. This full range signal may damage your factory tweeter so make sure to upgrade the tweeters or protect them with a bass blocker. You can find our tweeter harness here. The rear door speakers and rear deck speakers are combined into channels three and four. This means your rear deck speakers will work as full range speakers and not just subwoofers. For the best results you will want to upgrade the rear deck speakers to full range coaxial speakers instead of just subwoofers.
A quick breakdown on the configuration of the amplifier and the speakers in your TSX.
Speakers
Channel 1 = Drivers Door Speaker + Drivers Tweeter
Channel 2 = Passenger Door Speaker + Passenger Tweeter
Channel 3 = Rear Left Door Speaker + Rear Left Deck Speaker
Channel 4 = Rear Right Door Speaker + Rear Right Deck Speaker
Impedance
Channel 1 = 4 ohms + 4ohms in parallel final impedance at amplifier is 2ohms
Channel 2 = 4 ohms + 4ohms in parallel final impedance at amplifier is 2ohms
Channel 3 = 4 ohms + 4ohms in parallel final impedance at amplifier is 2ohms
Channel 4 = 4 ohms + 4ohms in parallel final impedance at amplifier is 2ohms
Speaker Sizes
Channel 1 = 6.5 woofer + 1/2 tweeter
Channel 2 = 6.5 woofer + 1/2 tweeter
Channel 3 = 6.5 woofer + 6×9 woofer
Channel 4 = 6.5 woofer + 6×9 woofer
The amplifier is packaged with a plug-and-play harness and all the accessories you need to install it. To install this amplifier, you will need to remove the pocket below the factory radio and the bezel around the shifter. After that you can unbolt the two bolts that secure the amplifier and remove it. Then you can proceed to unplug it and connect our plug-and-play amp in its place. The amplifier shares the same connectors as the factory amplifier, so no wiring is necessary. To mount the amplifier you will use the supplied bracket so that it mounts in the factory location with no problem. The new amplifier will fit in the factory location. After securing the amplifier maneuver the wiring harness behind the amplifier so they are not pinched when you install everything back.
While this amplifier is louder than the factory amplifier, it does not shake the doors off your car or make your window flex from the bass output. This amplifier is a great choice for someone who has a failing amplifier or wants just a little bit more volume from their vehicle. If you are looking to make your car show stopping loud, you will want to check out our other high-power plug-and-play amplifier. This upgrade will make your car noticeably louder, and you will feel the bass, but you must have realistic expectations.
Please read this disclaimer. The loudness of sound can be subjective from person to person, along with the quality of sound. Almost all of our customers who have bought this amplifier have loved it, but there have been a select few who claimed it was not louder than the factory or that it did not sound better than the factory. We do not accept returns because you don’t like how it sounds or because the amplifier is not as loud as you expected. If you want loud and clear sound, check out some of our higher-end amplifier options.
If, after reading this description, you feel that this package does not have enough power, you can use our amplifier bypass kit to easily install your own amplifier. Please keep in mind that if you are going to power each speaker with more than 125 watts RMS, then we recommend running new speaker wires and suggest you do not use our amplifier bypass.
If you have questions regarding shipping or product availability, please check out our FAQ section.
- Can I use the factory radio and factory speakers with this amplifier?
Yes, you can use this amplifier with the factory radio and factory speakers. - Can I use an aftermarket radio with this amplifier?
Yes, but you must have installed that radio using our accessories. - Can I use aftermarket speakers with this amplifier?
Yes, we recommend using speakers from Pioneer or Kicker. - Does the Chinese Android radio work with this amplifier?
Yes, but you will not have fader and balance controls. And you must run new RCAs from the radio to the amplifier. - Can I run this amplifier and another amplifier for subwoofers?
Yes, you can split the RCA signal that is going to the amplifier and tap the blue wire to power your additional amplifier. - Is this amplifier louder than the factory amplifier?
Yes, this amplifier is louder than the factory amplifier. - If my factory amplifier has low audio, is it the amplifier or the factory radio?
If you are having audio volume issues, it’s almost always the amplifier. - How do I know if my speakers are blown?
If you turn your radio up and set the bass to +3, your speakers should not make any weird noises. If they do, they might be blown. - How do I mount this amplifier?
The amplifier comes with a mounting bracket that allows it to be installed in the factory location. - What speakers should I upgrade if I get this amplifier?
We recommend upgrading your rear deck speakers to full range speakers.
