Sound system question and advice needed

[jmann.arch]

I have an '87 300 TD wagon that has had the original stereo replaced with a Kenwood CD player unit, and I know very little about car stereo's other than having to replace old speakers in the past.

I am planning to replace this system with something that allow me to add auxiliary components and play mp3's - but I am also concerned that the sound right now sort of fluctuates in quality, and I don't know what causes that.

It varies between sounding okay, and sort of sounding hollow - maybe like the high end of the scale dropping out. Is this caused by the stereo, the amp, the speakers, or the wiring? And if I am planning to replace this unit - do I need to replace the amp as well? I am assuming there is an amp unit somewhere behind the stereo because it shows up in the descriptions of the original audio system for this car. Also - I have looked at the speakers - and they "look" okay - but they might not be.

Since I have limited knowledge on this - any advice is appreciated.

[tbomachines]

Honestly it depends on the previous install. Have they run new wires to the existing speakers? How many speakers are hooked up? Is the fader bypassed? The easiest way to wire these up is to run brand new wires to brand new speakers, so the previous install (possible hack job?) is pertinent,

[jmann.arch]

I haven't looked at all the wiring - but the fader still works - so they just connected the existing speaker inputs to the new head unit at that time.

I saw on the forum where someone had pulled the wiring at the fader to the head unit to go to a true four channel stereo. Can't you splice those?

I am thinking I will get a new head unit and pull the wires back to it from the fader, and probably get four new speakers.

I am assuming I have an amp in this car - but does anyone know where it is? This is an estate wagon - so no trunk to put the amp in.