Had the same exact problem with my Alpine IDA-X001, replaced with a Sony CDXGT54UIW, then a Blaupunct.
I loved the clock display so much on the Alpine that I put it back in and this time used the speaker wires as described below instead of the plug-in pre amp outputs.
HUGE DIFFERENCE, now it will hurt your ears and you can also hear/feel the subs.

And Josh - it ain't junk, or at least mine is not.