One good thing about B&O Stereo System.... (sigh)

[TheGoatman]

What OTA update made your system come alive? Would I eventually get the update to the DSP over the air?

DSP and ACM.

really reduced the center channel. speakers in corner are much louder and a bit of a hall echo effect going on

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[JJSnell]

So no news to report, my 2 channel amp did not arrive in time for audio guy to install so now we are looking after the first of the year.
But I replaced my center 3.5" with this.... I think the magnets on old analog phone handsets were about the size of the FoMoCo magnets.
This really is embarrassing to sell as a "Premium" sound system...

 

[Los150]

What's the Ford speaker rated for?

So do all car speakers come from Vietnam these days?

 

[JJSnell]

I think everythig is nowadays; Vietnam, Korea, China or Mexico...
Wonder what percent of our total truck is made in other countries.
Big diff in quality though from FoMoCo to Kenwood or JL...

 

[Snakebitten]

Qobuz (thanks @trdtuner7)

Unplug center speaker (thanks several of you fine fellas)

I am one who wasn't too terribly disappointed in Unleashed, since I didn't expect a few $hundred option to be mind blowing.

But I also didn't expect the amazing jump in dynamic range and stage I enjoyed on the way into the office today. What was I waiting for? Lol

I'm sure that Hi-rez stream coming through the Ford LTE is going to get the attention of AT&T? ?
That's their problem though.

 

[m_bt54]

Qobuz (thanks @trdtuner7)

Unplug center speaker (thanks several of you fine fellas)

I am one who wasn't too terribly disappointed in Unleashed, since I didn't expect a few $hundred option to be mind blowing.

But I also didn't expect the amazing jump in dynamic range and stage I enjoyed on the way into the office today. What was I waiting for? Lol

I'm sure that Hi-rez stream coming through the Ford LTE is going to get the attention of AT&T? ?
That's their problem though.

This convinced me to finally give in and disconnect mine and I can’t believe the difference. Huge improvement.

 

[Snakebitten]

This convinced me to finally give in and disconnect mine and I can’t believe the difference. Huge improvement.

I was just as sceptical.
Not that it wouldn't have a positive impact, but I way underestimated the improvement for my audio preferences.

I did immediately notice the driver's side front stage having too much emphasis. So I went to the Sync balance control, put my finger on it, closed my eyes and moved right. I went TOO far much easier than I expected. So I opened my eyes, re-centered, and did it again. Much slower this time.

When it sounded just right, the center stage returned without the center speaker! And when I opened my eyes, I had moved the centerline just to the edge of the center console. Almost in perfect line of the graphic boundary itself.

Very happy with the FREE improvement. Free until the trial period for Qobuz ends anyway. ?

Honestly? Just the commute to the office this morning was worth a 1 month subscription co$t.

 

[mdomicolo]

I run QOBUZ and it my regular B&O sounds much better after some updates. One of these day I will unplug the center speaker I suppose.

 

[Snakebitten]

I run QOBUZ and it my regular B&O sounds much better after some updates. One of these day I will unplug the center speaker I suppose.

I didn't realize how little effort it would take. Almost tool-less. (7mm 1/4" socket)
Literally a couple of minutes.

I could plug it right back in if it wasn't to my liking.

Instead, now I want to see how easy it is to pry up the other 2 midrange covers and replace them with similarly efficient speakers but better quality.
I said I wasn't going to do this. But dang that was some low hanging fruit.

 

[mdomicolo]

I didn't realize how little effort it would take. Almost tool-less. (7mm 1/4" socket)
Literally a couple of minutes.

I could plug it right back in if it wasn't to my liking.

Instead, now I want to see how easy it is to pry up the other 2 midrange covers and replace them with similarly efficient speakers but better quality.
I said I wasn't going to do this. But dang that was some low hanging fruit.

I only have the regular B&O as my truck is a 501a, but I guess maybe I’ll try to unplug the center speaker this weekend and see how it sounds. Lol

 

[JJSnell]

This convinced me to finally give in and disconnect mine and I can’t believe the difference. Huge improvement.

@m_bt54 @mdomicolo

So I did this when I swapped out my center channeled speaker...
I disconnected the factory speaker drove the car to go get coffee and honestly it just kind of sounds like the 8 channel "Stereo" mode... when you switch off "Surround" (18 speakers mode).
Granted there are more tweeters than the standard stereo mode but stereo mode removes the center channel speaker.... Sooo.....?
If you prefer that, then just switch to "Stereo"?

 

[Snakebitten]

I was in stereo mode the majority of the time anyway. It'd probably be different if I was watching an action movie, but you know...... That's not happening while cruising to work.
But I was unaware that Stereo mode disabled the center speaker. It certainly didn't seem that way to my ears.

 

[JJSnell]

I was in stereo mode the majority of the time anyway. It'd probably be different if I was watching an action movie, but you know...... That's not happening while cruising to work.
But I was unaware that Stereo mode disabled the center speaker. It certainly didn't seem that way to my ears.

Maybe it doesn't, but I thought it did...

However the whole idea of removing an amplified speaker walks backwards my desire to have more power\louder speakers.
I really need to see if we can amp those rear door speakers to balance sound and increase it.
I agree we can remove things to balance the rear unpowered speakers but...... ?

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

Instead, now I want to see how easy it is to pry up the other 2 midrange covers and replace them with similarly efficient speakers but better quality.
I said I wasn't going to do this. But dang that was some low hanging fruit.

Your absolutely right about low hanging fruit. Just looking at the magnets and cones on the factory speakers you can see they leave alot of room for improvement. I swapped out all of the factory speakers in my last truck with Kenwood direct fit replacement speakers, without changing anything else. And it made a dramatic improvement to the sound quality in that truck.
You got me thinking now, and while I'm at it maybe I'll find whats making the noise in my passenger door.

 

[Snakebitten]

I openly admit to NOT intending to do anything physical to the system. I wasn't displeased enough to be bothered.
But I'm a sucker for the source material approach because it's so intriguing. Pure software, if you know what I mean.
I had already experienced the Ford B&O demo tracks and was well aware of the potential of much improved experience based on optimized software. So the post regarding the Qobuz app caught my eye.

Then when I jumped in the truck this morning to test drive the source material, I was suddenly inspired to give the disconnect a try as well.

Now I no longer have to limit my "best experience" to the demo Playlist. I've already listened to a few tracks that have me thrilled with the potential of the factory system.

Admittedly, not every hi-rez song has hit the mark. But the ones that have are so much better than what I've been listening to for more than a year and a half.
An app and a 7mm socket.

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