Has anyone upgraded audio?

[skyak]

Is that this product? It is listed as 5 1/8 deep. The fit was OK with no adjustment to the seat?

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-rcoK4ffU6DZ/p_13693331/JL-Audio-ACP208LG-W3v3.html?awcr=12166270714&awdv=c&awkw=jl audio 2x8 powered microsub&awmt=e&awnw=&awat=&awug=&msclkid=d1e710cb11a91f6258027387a0b0d61c

Yes that is it. And yes it fits, the only drawback is you can't bring your rear seat bottom up vertical.

However, does the amp behind the lightening rear seat also power other speakers in addition to the sub? That might make this too complicated?

Sponsored

 

[GDN]

Yes that is it. And yes it fits, the only drawback is you can't bring your rear seat bottom up vertical.

However, does the amp behind the lightening rear seat also power other speakers in addition to the sub? That might make this too complicated?

Thanks for that. Hadn't thought of not being able to completely raise the bottom seat up.

The amp does power all speakers except the tweeters I believe, so the amp would have to stay.

The reason for asking about depth is I'm considering this one - relocating the jack. Likely going to replace the amp however with other gear and new speakers on the other side.

The depth is about the same, so it should fit.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13693334/JL-Audio-ACS110LG-TW1.html

 

[tomjackbear]

I made the following changes so far to the stock B&O system (Lariat ER). Everything so far has been exactly the same as the ICE trucks. I used the ICE and MachE forums to research these changes.

Note: I am not an audiophile, this is the most I have ever upgraded a car stereo system and almost all of the music I listen to is rock produced between 1970-2000. YMMV.

Replaced subwoofer with a Kicker Hideaway (HS10). This upgrade makes a big difference over the stock setup IMO. The install was straightforward and the sub fits nicely in the spot where the stock subwoofer was. I am using the high level outputs from the stock amp which the HS10 supports but in theory a dedicated LOC is better. I will probably try a LC2i at some point to see how much of a difference it makes.

Removed center channel dash speaker. As others have noted this speaker just feels overpowering (i.e. it feels like all the music comes out of this speaker). A center speaker seems out of place in a setup used mostly for listening to music in stereo. This Dayton Audio speaker (DA 8ohm 3.5) was recommended as a replacement (the stock speaker is 8ohm). I bought it but haven't tried it out yet.

Replaced front door speakers with Kicker CS 6x9s (Kicker 46CS). These were originally going to be for the rear doors but I thought I would try them up front first. I think they are better but I'm not sure it was a huge improvement. With the tweeters on the A pillars I feel like a quality component mid-range speaker might be a better upgrade choice for the front doors.

I think eventually I will end up using a ZEN-A2B (or equivalent). This is probably the fastest path to getting the best quality audio since you have full control over amplification and remove any processing by the B&O DSP. I just wasn't ready to jump directly to that step and wanted to tinker a bit along the way.

 

[Pioneer74]

I made the following changes so far to the stock B&O system (Lariat ER). Everything so far has been exactly the same as the ICE trucks. I used the ICE and MachE forums to research these changes.

Note: I am not an audiophile, this is the most I have ever upgraded a car stereo system and almost all of the music I listen to is rock produced between 1970-2000. YMMV.

Replaced subwoofer with a Kicker Hideaway (HS10). This upgrade makes a big difference over the stock setup IMO. The install was straightforward and the sub fits nicely in the spot where the stock subwoofer was. I am using the high level outputs from the stock amp which the HS10 supports but in theory a dedicated LOC is better. I will probably try a LC2i at some point to see how much of a difference it makes.

Removed center channel dash speaker. As others have noted this speaker just feels overpowering (i.e. it feels like all the music comes out of this speaker). A center speaker seems out of place in a setup used mostly for listening to music in stereo. This Dayton Audio speaker (DA 8ohm 3.5) was recommended as a replacement (the stock speaker is 8ohm). I bought it but haven't tried it out yet.

Replaced front door speakers with Kicker CS 6x9s (Kicker 46CS). These were originally going to be for the rear doors but I thought I would try them up front first. I think they are better but I'm not sure it was a huge improvement. With the tweeters on the A pillars I feel like a quality component mid-range speaker might be a better upgrade choice for the front doors.

I think eventually I will end up using a ZEN-A2B (or equivalent). This is probably the fastest path to getting the best quality audio since you have full control over amplification and remove any processing by the B&O DSP. I just wasn't ready to jump directly to that step and wanted to tinker a bit along the way.

Will your rear seat latch in the up position with this speaker, and do you have any pictures of your instalation?

 

[skyak]

I had a few minutes to mess with the stock 8 speaker audio.

I unplugged the center speaker and moved the fade slightly to the rear. Still nothing like a proper stereo but meaningful improvement and will tide me over until I decide on what to do sub wise. I really don't get installing that center speaker without the ability to adjust it. Same issue on my F250.

 

[petemill]

I replaced the stock B&O in my Lariat ER with a stock B&O Unleashed system. The rear speakers swap made a big difference as they have much more bass. As did the Instrument panel left and right speakers which work to widen that main center channel output. I don't mind that most of the sound stage seems like it's coming from the dashboard area as it's very clear and crisp. The headliner and headrest speakers don't make that much difference apart from a little bit of immersion (and a lot of hassle to swap them over), but it had to be done...

 

[sd25]

I replaced the stock B&O in my Lariat ER with a stock B&O Unleashed system. The rear speakers swap made a big difference as they have much more bass. As did the Instrument panel left and right speakers which work to widen that main center channel output. I don't mind that most of the sound stage seems like it's coming from the dashboard area as it's very clear and crisp. The headliner and headrest speakers don't make that much difference apart from a little bit of immersion (and a lot of hassle to swap them over), but it had to be done...

Nice work! Is the subwoofer from the B&O Unleashed system the same as the one in the regular B&O system?

 

[petemill]

Nice work! Is the subwoofer from the B&O Unleashed system the same as the one in the regular B&O system?

Yep subwoofer is exactly the same. It's all plenty bass-y for the type of music I listen to. I'm no audio expert, but I prefer a combination of clarity and bass and Unleashed seems to fill in that gap with the wider range coax rears and updated amp. Although funnily enough in Unleashed the rear speakers are powered from the ACM (Audio Control Module which is basically the radio unit, in your dashboard) but in regular B&O it's powered from the DSP (the amp). The ACM is the same in both systems, and just required a Forscan change to get the new rears powered from the ACM. Not sure if it sends a wider signal than the DSP was to support the improved coax speakers with more bass.

 

[gsquirrel02]

I replaced the stock B&O in my Lariat ER with a stock B&O Unleashed system.

Parts ordered thru Ford or elsewhere? Comes with directions or dealer assistance needed?

 

[sd25]

Yep subwoofer is exactly the same. It's all plenty bass-y for the type of music I listen to. I'm no audio expert, but I prefer a combination of clarity and bass and Unleashed seems to fill in that gap with the wider range coax rears and updated amp. Although funnily enough in Unleashed the rear speakers are powered from the ACM (Audio Control Module which is basically the radio unit, in your dashboard) but in regular B&O it's powered from the DSP (the amp). The ACM is the same in both systems, and just required a Forscan change to get the new rears powered from the ACM. Not sure if it sends a wider signal than the DSP was to support the improved coax speakers with more bass.

Great info, thank you!

 

[petemill]

Parts ordered thru Ford or elsewhere? Comes with directions or dealer assistance needed?

Elsewhere. There is no kit / directions as far as I know. It would be pretty expensive to do it through ford. You'd need new speakers for the IP and rears, new headrests, new headliner, different defroster grill and of course the different DSP and bracket which goes behind the rear seat. I very much doubt you'd find a dealer who'd help.

If you didn't care about headrests and headliner speakers and just wanted the extra instrument panel speakers and upgraded rears, then you could get any third party speakers, and order a new defroster grill so they fit. And you'd need to get a used Unleashed DSP from Ebay ($200) and do a fair amount of re-wiring and Forscan changes. SoundsGoodStereo have a harness that looks like it could be used differently to what they're intending in order to add the wiring to the dashboard ACM and provide audio to new rears. Regular B&O does not have the pins in the ACM harness connector to get signal to the rears like in Unleashed. Might end up cheaper than a completely new third-party system, and then you get the factory-looking IP speakers.

The effort might not be worth it to you though. I was feeling a bit crazy in a covid-isolation-induced-haze and did the full swap. If anyone's looking to do anything similar, I still have all my notes, wiring diagrams and photos and could do a post on it.

 

[gsquirrel02]

Elsewhere. There is no kit / directions as far as I know.
<snip>
The effort might not be worth it to you though. I was feeling a bit crazy in a covid-isolation-induced-haze and did the full swap. If anyone's looking to do anything similar, I still have all my notes, wiring diagrams and photos and could do a post on it.

I miss the premium sound system I had in my previous truck (2016 Tundra) and am looking to improve this one while maintaining a stock look/feel. Any notes, pix, etc. would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[GDN]

I replaced the stock B&O in my Lariat ER with a stock B&O Unleashed system. The rear speakers swap made a big difference as they have much more bass. As did the Instrument panel left and right speakers which work to widen that main center channel output. I don't mind that most of the sound stage seems like it's coming from the dashboard area as it's very clear and crisp. The headliner and headrest speakers don't make that much difference apart from a little bit of immersion (and a lot of hassle to swap them over), but it had to be done...

Congrats - that is a lot of work for headrest and headliner. Were the wires already there, just not used?

If you did it for a reasonable cost then it is all fun, but if it were costly, you're much better off going aftermarket and dumping the B&O stuff.

 

[petemill]

Congrats - that is a lot of work for headrest and headliner. Were the wires already there, just not used?

If you did it for a reasonable cost then it is all fun, but if it were costly, you're much better off going aftermarket and dumping the B&O stuff.

None of the wires or connectors were there, I'm afraid. Ford seem to really optimize their harnesses, even for the seats. I did it for free as I just, er, happened to have the parts...

 

[tomjackbear]

Will your rear seat latch in the up position with this speaker, and do you have any pictures of your instalation?

Yes. Rear seat latches with no problem. The space behind the seat is almost a perfect fit for the HS10. I put some corner brackets in to hold it tight but I'm not even sure they are really needed.