Is B&O option worth it? (for an XLT build)

[RuggedGoods]

Hey y'all,

Still finalizing my desired options for a new '23 XLT PB build. One that I'm currently hung up on is the B&O audio upgrade. $610 isn't a crazy fee to pay, but this build is already stretching my budget really far, so saving every penny helps.

I used to think of myself as an automotive audiophile, but that was back in the 2000s when all car stereos sucked a$$ and upgrading was nearly mandatory. Nowadays car interiors are super quiet, and the base radios all sound pretty decent to me. Plus as I get older, I tend not to crank the volume all that high anymore.

For those of you who have heard both the base sync audio vs the B&O option, what's the main difference? Obviously the B&O adds a subwoofer and a couple more speakers. But would adding an aftermarket subwoofer to the base stereo be essentially just as good? I'm currently leaning this route. I guess my main question is, is the base audio lacking in deep bass, and equalization options?

Thanks.

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[DrewMackin]

Just came from an '20 F150 with base audio to the B&O 8-speaker setup in my Tremor. The base audio speakers are garbage - all mids, no highs, no lows. I replaced the speakers with some efficient Infinity components and covered the door in dynamat. This made an incredible difference. The sound was great. Adding a sub would have made the system perfect.

The sound quality of the B&O speakers up front isn't quite as good as the Infinity components I had but it's close. The sub is there but you're not going to get deep pounding bass, it's more just a low end filler. I have no plans to replace anything in the B&O system yet since it's not offending my ears. It's good enough for most people I'd say. You will spend more than $610 on aftermarket gear on the base system if you include a sub and want it to sound better than the B&O.

 

[diambo4life]

Yes, the regular B&O is okay but the bass is garbage. I added a couple subs in mine. It sounds acceptable now. I would skip on the Unleashed.
Here is mine with the 8 speaker B&O and a couple subs added with them turned DOWN.

 

[RuggedGoods]

Thanks, this is very good feedback. I still might have to pass on the B&O just to keep the $ figure somewhere that obtains wife approval, lol.

My thought process was, to equalize the base audio system with more treble (does it at least have 3-way bass-mid-treble adjustments or better?), and add a powered 8" sub under the drivers seat (~$200) with adjustable crossover and a remote "level" knob. I have done this in other vehicles and ended up with pretty satisfactory sound overall.

But I should probably just go take another test drive in a 14th gen with base audio and crank it up.

 

[HammaMan]

My 8 channel B&O is in the process of being replaced. It's better than the base, but that's a low bar and it's certainly a step above, but it's probably okay if you don't listen to music. (unleashed 18 channel not optional on XLT)

The B&O uses an A2B digital bus (talks to the amp behind rear seat) to tap for upgrading later on, that fact adds $500 at a minimum for a device to tap it. W/ the B&O, the head unit powers the dash center and 2 tweeters, the amp in the rear powers the door 6x9s and the rear doors (screw).

You could probably upgrade it with efficient speakers to bring it up another level (B&O) and add a sub tapping the rear amp for line outputs for a sub, but I'm installing much better speakers and 1500 watts of amplification.

 

[Graygoose2021]

Usually the first thing people do is replace it, or upgrade it.

 

[RuggedGoods]

replace what, exactly?

 

[DrewMackin]

Thanks, this is very good feedback. I still might have to pass on the B&O just to keep the $ figure somewhere that obtains wife approval, lol.

My thought process was, to equalize the base audio system with more treble (does it at least have 3-way bass-mid-treble adjustments or better?), and add a powered 8" sub under the drivers seat (~$200) with adjustable crossover and a remote "level" knob. I have done this in other vehicles and ended up with pretty satisfactory sound overall.

But I should probably just go take another test drive in a 14th gen with base audio and crank it up.

Yes, it has basic adjustments for treble, mid, bass along with balance/fade and speed adjustment on the base audio. Adding the sub would be nice but it REALLY needs new speakers up front for the non existent highs. Even sub $150 components would be night and day improvement.

 

[Graygoose2021]

replace what, exactly?

speakers, amp, sub...etc

 

[FORDTEXAS]

long story short, don’t skip out on the $610 upgrade Lol

 

[diambo4life]

Thanks, this is very good feedback. I still might have to pass on the B&O just to keep the $ figure somewhere that obtains wife approval, lol.

My thought process was, to equalize the base audio system with more treble (does it at least have 3-way bass-mid-treble adjustments or better?), and add a powered 8" sub under the drivers seat (~$200) with adjustable crossover and a remote "level" knob. I have done this in other vehicles and ended up with pretty satisfactory sound overall.

But I should probably just go take another test drive in a 14th gen with base audio and crank it up.

The base B&O does have bass treble and mid controls. I typically crank down all my bass on the radio setting and use the amp bass knob control to adjust the bass where I want it. I just want comfortable bass where it's not rattling everything.....which it easily can since the subs are in the cab with the listener. I think the factory speakers do ok for mids. This is very dependent on your audio source. I use Deezer with HD "high fidelity" and it sounds crisp even through BT. I want to add highs to the truck. I am obviously comparing this with my Crown Vic which has very good highs and I find the truck being deficient.

I skipped on the Unleashed after test driving a truck that had one and it was mediocre. I used that $ instead to upgrade my sub. I enjoy the result.

 

[RuggedGoods]

long story short, don’t skip out on the $610 upgrade Lol

Lol ok, we'll see! It's so incredibly easy to just tick off boxes and add $10,000 more to the price.

 

[XLT22]

The 8 speaker B&O sounded “odd” to me at first until checking the setting to “surround” from the default “stereo.” Sounds fantastic now. Your audio source is going to matter more than you might think just keep that in mind. Listening to SiriusXM or the FM dial you aren’t going to notice much difference between the standard B&O and the uplevel.

 

[sippy2]

I cant talk about the stock system...or the basic B&O ...but the B&O unleashed aint much.

 

[Predator]

Hey y'all,

Still finalizing my desired options for a new '23 XLT PB build. One that I'm currently hung up on is the B&O audio upgrade. $610 isn't a crazy fee to pay, but this build is already stretching my budget really far, so saving every penny helps.

I used to think of myself as an automotive audiophile, but that was back in the 2000s when all car stereos sucked a$$ and upgrading was nearly mandatory. Nowadays car interiors are super quiet, and the base radios all sound pretty decent to me. Plus as I get older, I tend not to crank the volume all that high anymore.

For those of you who have heard both the base sync audio vs the B&O option, what's the main difference? Obviously the B&O adds a subwoofer and a couple more speakers. But would adding an aftermarket subwoofer to the base stereo be essentially just as good? I'm currently leaning this route. I guess my main question is, is the base audio lacking in deep bass, and equalization options?

Thanks.

A lot of owners complaining about the bass but if you look behind the rear seat its loaded with sound deadening insulation. I cut a chunk of it out on the backside of the rear seat were the sub sits and removed the insulation pad from the rear of the cab. It sound a lot better

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