A modest audio upgrade - your thoughts?

[Hans Moleman]

I’m thinking of doing the same but also adding a Kicker Key amp. Does anyone know the best way to wire the Kicker Key amp with the stock stereo and new speakers?

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[Rinn69]

Here's a link to the no-splice harness-- https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541LPHFD31/PAC-LPHFD31-LocPro-Advanced-T-Harness.html

Link to front door (only) 6x9 speaker adapter-- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BTSVYGK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did have to do a little trimming to the adapter for my Kicker 6x9's, but it only took 10-15 minutes.

 

[Chili]

I have a regular cab truck.
I replaced the factory door speakers with some Focal RCX-690 6x9’s. Nothing fancy. They were like $120.
They sound fine. I added sound deadener to the doors at the same time.
BUT the biggest improvement so far has been using forscan to set the factory EQ to flat. Huge improvement to sound quality in my opinion.
Just put some name brand speakers in that fit your budget if you dont plan on going full audio system. Im telling you though…changing the EQ to flat will probably make you happy.

Does the factory EQ turn the bass and treble up? I have the graphic eq on flat with my aftermarket 6x9 fronts and it sounds pretty decent. I'd like to replace the rears but I hear they don't get any bass and you can barely hear them.

 

[Davidwnuc]

Does the factory EQ turn the bass and treble up? I have the graphic eq on flat with my aftermarket 6x9 fronts and it sounds pretty decent. I'd like to replace the rears but I hear they don't get any bass and you can barely hear them.

I am not sure what the factory eq is doing to be honest. Per forscan there are several options to choose from and I have read on this and other forums that setting it to flat provides better sound. So thats what i did. After i set it to flat i then went and tuned the treble, mid, and bass. Sounds way better now and I can turn the volume up without getting weird distortions.

 

[EcoB259]

Another vote for the Moral speakers. Worth the money. Have same tru k.

 

[tsvisser]

I have a ‘22 PB XL and have done the research on options and have basically narrowed it down to JL Audio C3-650 or Kicker Q-Class 41QSS674. Both are “convertible component” systems which allow for coaxial mount in the rear doors and also as a separate component tweeter mount for the front door + pillar. They are both at the top of their class in bass extension which hoping will subdue any desire for a separate subwoofer as I don’t want to give up cargo space at all. It is also important to dynamat the doors when you install, as the doors buzz already with the OEM speakers and will only get worse with more bass capable speakers added. They are not cheap but top of the game options keeping stock amps and not adding a sub.

 

[dmac]

This thread may be worth a peek -> https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/speakers-best-bang-for-the-buck.12532/

I've spent low $ and gotten great results without an amp on the 7 speaker non-b&o.

I summed up all my findings in this post.

 

[MikeCB]

As mentioned above. If you have a non-amplified system (no B&O 5, 6 or 7 speaker system), I would definitely flatten the EQ in Forscan, and then replace the speakers eventually. I think it will not blow you away, but would be a marked improvement.

I don't want to hijack, my issue is off topic, but can you point me towards a thread that dives deep into audio and EQ tweaks via Forscan?

 

[Zyvin]

There are lots of in-depth audio threads, but as far as setting the factory EQ to flat, all you do is change the fourth digit in the ACM 727-01-02 to "0". I don't know if anyone has done any extensive testing on just that mod, as most of the audio guys on here are way past this point in their madness, lol.

You can set it to flat, and then use the tone controls to suit your taste. It also is a good idea if you plan on adding amps or a DSP, so that they receive a non-eq'd signal.

Unfortunately this only works on the non-B&O systems where all the EQ is done in the ACM. It's easy enough to try in 5 min to see if it improves your sound (to your ears) or not.


EQ Selection (EQS)

727-01-02 xxx* xxxx xx--

0 = EQS Flat EQ 7 = EQS EQ #7
1 = EQS EQ #1 8 = EQS EQ #8
2 = EQS EQ #2 9 = EQS EQ #9
3 = EQS EQ #3 A = EQS EQ #10
4 = EQS EQ #4 B = EQS EQ #11
5 = EQS EQ #5 C = EQS EQ #12
6 = EQS EQ #6

 

[1Roger]

I have the B&O unleashed system and installed a MObridge DSP amp, changed the door speakers, and added a 10" sub. It now sounds great.

 

[Dvcpro13]

There are lots of in-depth audio threads, but as far as setting the factory EQ to flat, all you do is change the fourth digit in the ACM 727-01-02 to "0". I don't know if anyone has done any extensive testing on just that mod, as most of the audio guys on here are way past this point in their madness, lol.

You can set it to flat, and then use the tone controls to suit your taste. It also is a good idea if you plan on adding amps or a DSP, so that they receive a non-eq'd signal.

Unfortunately this only works on the non-B&O systems where all the EQ is done in the ACM. It's easy enough to try in 5 min to see if it improves your sound (to your ears) or not.


EQ Selection (EQS)

727-01-02 xxx* xxxx xx--

0 = EQS Flat EQ 7 = EQS EQ #7
1 = EQS EQ #1 8 = EQS EQ #8
2 = EQS EQ #2 9 = EQS EQ #9
3 = EQS EQ #3 A = EQS EQ #10
4 = EQS EQ #4 B = EQS EQ #11
5 = EQS EQ #5 C = EQS EQ #12
6 = EQS EQ #6

Are there any options for those of us with the 7 speaker B&O system? I replaced my fronts and rears with JL Audio speakers and really have found very little difference. I can hear the backs a little better but not by much. I did upgrade the centre speaker as well to the one that @dmac suggested but as before, that's all I can really hear. When I go to the Balance and Fade controls, this is the position the "Reset" defaults too. I think there must be something up with that. When I move the circle to above the rear cupholders, I get nearly nothing. If you look closely (pic 1), the right horizontal line that comes off the centering circle extends out past the interior of the truck. It does that no matter where I move the circle to. I wonder if I got a bad update? Again following @dmac advice, using Forscan I went in to the ACM to change the values for the EQ but my numbers don't match up (see second pic), which I guess is because I have the B&O (which is total trash).

Thanks to all for any advice or suggestions.

 

[Zyvin]

Are there any options for those of us with the 7 speaker B&O system? I replaced my fronts and rears with JL Audio speakers and really have found very little difference. I can hear the backs a little better but not by much. I did upgrade the centre speaker as well to the one that @dmac suggested but as before, that's all I can really hear. When I go to the Balance and Fade controls, this is the position the "Reset" defaults too. I think there must be something up with that. When I move the circle to above the rear cupholders, I get nearly nothing. If you look closely (pic 1), the right horizontal line that comes off the centering circle extends out past the interior of the truck. It does that no matter where I move the circle to. I wonder if I got a bad update? Again following @dmac advice, using Forscan I went in to the ACM to change the values for the EQ but my numbers don't match up (see second pic), which I guess is because I have the B&O (which is total trash).

Thanks to all for any advice or suggestions.

It seems from reading on this forum, one of the over the air updates killed the sound of the rears in the B&O systems. They probably had a rash of blown speakers and just decided to lower the level, lol. That is odd for where your reset goes, seems like it would go to center.

As far as I know the lower level B&O is an 8 speaker set up. Do you have a factory sub? I just wanted to make sure we are talking about the same thing. In the 8 speaker B&O only the front tweeters run off of the ACM, so when you "flatten" the EQ in the ACM it only affects the tweeters.

Everything else is running off of the DSP. I have never tried to set the DSP to "unconfigured" to see if it wakes up the rear door speakers. Of course if it did work, you would lose the time delay etc. That setting is under 783-02-01 and it's the first two digits (for example mine is set to 07 which equates to a F-150 Crew Cab).

 

[dmac]

Are there any options for those of us with the 7 speaker B&O system? I replaced my fronts and rears with JL Audio speakers and really have found very little difference. I can hear the backs a little better but not by much. I did upgrade the centre speaker as well to the one that @dmac suggested but as before, that's all I can really hear. When I go to the Balance and Fade controls, this is the position the "Reset" defaults too. I think there must be something up with that. When I move the circle to above the rear cupholders, I get nearly nothing. If you look closely (pic 1), the right horizontal line that comes off the centering circle extends out past the interior of the truck. It does that no matter where I move the circle to. I wonder if I got a bad update? Again following @dmac advice, using Forscan I went in to the ACM to change the values for the EQ but my numbers don't match up (see second pic), which I guess is because I have the B&O (which is total trash).

Thanks to all for any advice or suggestions.

So the forscan EQ changes wont do much to the B&O system since most signal out of the ACM will still go through the B&O amp after. Factory tuning wins regardless. Honestly, aside from maybe some block off plates and nuking the center speaker, not alot of bang for the buck without an aftermarket amp if you have a B&O system.

 

[Gord0]

Are there any options for those of us with the 7 speaker B&O system? I replaced my fronts and rears with JL Audio speakers and really have found very little difference. I can hear the backs a little better but not by much. I did upgrade the centre speaker as well to the one that @dmac suggested but as before, that's all I can really hear. When I go to the Balance and Fade controls, this is the position the "Reset" defaults too. I think there must be something up with that. When I move the circle to above the rear cupholders, I get nearly nothing. If you look closely (pic 1), the right horizontal line that comes off the centering circle extends out past the interior of the truck. It does that no matter where I move the circle to. I wonder if I got a bad update? Again following @dmac advice, using Forscan I went in to the ACM to change the values for the EQ but my numbers don't match up (see second pic), which I guess is because I have the B&O (which is total trash).

Thanks to all for any advice or suggestions.

Your screen with the balance and fade being offset is because you have unreal enabled with FORScan. When you reset you get centered sound but the display is offset.
The B&O system got an update that killed the audio and base response, but there is an update that is rolling out that fixes it. https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...me-poor-audio-quality-no-bass-response.23184/
The B&O system sends everything through the amp for processing so FORScan changes for the standard system don't work for it. The rear speakers run through the amp, but they aren't actually amplified. People, myself included have installed the JL audio XD200 amp to power the rear speakers and you get a lot more sound out of them that way.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/jl-audio-amp-installed-on-8-speaker-b-o-non-unleashed.22562/

 

[Dvcpro13]

It seems from reading on this forum, one of the over the air updates killed the sound of the rears in the B&O systems. They probably had a rash of blown speakers and just decided to lower the level, lol. That is odd for where your reset goes, seems like it would go to center.

As far as I know the lower level B&O is an 8 speaker set up. Do you have a factory sub? I just wanted to make sure we are talking about the same thing. In the 8 speaker B&O only the front tweeters run off of the ACM, so when you "flatten" the EQ in the ACM it only affects the tweeters.

Everything else is running off of the DSP. I have never tried to set the DSP to "unconfigured" to see if it wakes up the rear door speakers. Of course if it did work, you would lose the time delay etc. That setting is under 783-02-01 and it's the first two digits (for example mine is set to 07 which equates to a F-150 Crew Cab).

Thanks for your reply. I read that too but wasn't sure if I was missing something. Any chance you know how I can find out if I received that update/how I can check? I see so many numbers about updates on here that quite frankly, I'm confused about which is which. Also now that you mention it, I think I do have a "sub" which is pathetic that I even have to wonder if its that bad lol.

 

[Dvcpro13]

So the forscan EQ changes wont do much to the B&O system since most signal out of the ACM will still go through the B&O amp after. Factory tuning wins regardless. Honestly, aside from maybe some block off plates and nuking the center speaker, not alot of bang for the buck without an aftermarket amp if you have a B&O system.

Thanks for your reply. You would remove the centre speaker all together?

 

[Dvcpro13]

Your screen with the balance and fade being offset is because you have unreal enabled with FORScan. When you reset you get centered sound but the display is offset.
The B&O system got an update that killed the audio and base response, but there is an update that is rolling out that fixes it. https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...me-poor-audio-quality-no-bass-response.23184/
The B&O system sends everything through the amp for processing so FORScan changes for the standard system don't work for it. The rear speakers run through the amp, but they aren't actually amplified. People, myself included have installed the JL audio XD200 amp to power the rear speakers and you get a lot more sound out of them that way.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/jl-audio-amp-installed-on-8-speaker-b-o-non-unleashed.22562/

Thank you for this. Off shopping I go Lol.

 

[dmac]

Thanks for your reply. You would remove the centre speaker all together?

You can try disconnecting it and see what you think. Some say it helps a little others say it helps alot (me). Very easy panel to pop off and you can just unclip the speaker connector.

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