Improve your aftermarket audio build starting point!

[OEMRadio]

I am starting this thread because I see the difficulty people have with keeping the factory amp.. to be honest its a terrible way to start an aftermarket system. Ford employs so much processing and protection into the equipment you will never get all of it out with a processor. Even the best processors are meant to have the factory volume stay at a specific spot.. typically right before the point of clipping the factory out put.. and then use the Volume of the processor. This is ok but what about using the steering wheel controls.. things like that.. It isn't alway convenient finding a nice location for another know and plus we don't want to make the interior of our nice car look cheap.

I can reprogram the ACM so that if you have a Shaker system I can eliminate the annoying factory processing.. this basically gives you an aftermarket equivalent output to start with.

If you have a base stereo without the amp it still has processing built in.. I can eliminate the processing for you also. If you are going to add amps for all the channels lie your doors and such I can convert the high level output to a nice low level out without any extra parts like line out converters.

Also if you have a base stereo and are just replacing the speakers.. this is a great way to actually get the benefit of the money you just spent.. the processing is just debilitating when it comes to aftermarket equipment.

I am starting this thread because I just hate seeing people fight with the factory processing and just never getting the sound they paid for when they spend all that money on subs and amps and good door speakers..

Any questions just ask or PM me..

Thanks

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[Virtually Yours]

Can you elaborate on how we can uninstall the ACM (audio control module) or head unit and ship it to you to reprogram. My understanding of why we would want to do this is to eliminate the distortion from the factory head unit giving a super clean sound from the aftermarket add ons... I definitely want to do that when I get my car hopefully in July. I'll be placing an order for a 2017 GT Premiem PP Race Red/Red Line w/400a on the first day Ford will be accepting orders on April 4.

 

[jbailer]

What can you do with the Shaker Pro if we want to retain the factory head unit and amp? All I want to do is replace speakers.

Also, when you say reprogram, how do you do that?

 

[OEMRadio]

Can you elaborate on how we can uninstall the ACM (audio control module) or head unit and ship it to you to reprogram. My understanding of why we would want to do this is to eliminate the distortion from the factory head unit giving a super clean sound from the aftermarket add ons... I definitely want to do that when I get my car hopefully in July. I'll be placing an order for a 2017 GT Premiem PP Race Red/Red Line w/400a on the first day Ford will be accepting orders on April 4.

Ok.. the guys like yourself that will be having or do have the Shaker Pro or shaker with an amp the situation is that you have already a after market equivalent low level out put that you can currently grab a nice RCA signal from behind the ACM.. and you would need zero line out converters you just have to re pin a couple wires..

What I do is turn off the processing.. the processing being turned off is only recommended for those that are going all out and replacing at min the amp. I just want to offer this because I know you guys put a lot of money into the cars stereo and its almost impossible to get a great starting point on these cars

The distortion is really just the processing.. also you should always add some processor.. even if I take the factory processing out.. you need a processor though to boost the output voltage up though.. distortion comes from clipping.. so what ever you can do to prevent clipping is essential..

The best way to set up your stereo is to use an Oscope.. set a test tone of 60 hz for bass and 1k for kids and highs.. and turn your radio app until you get a clip.. that way you know the maximum radio volume you can use before clipping.

 

[OEMRadio]

What can you do with the Shaker Pro if we want to retain the factory head unit and amp? All I want to do is replace speakers.

Also, when you say reprogram, how do you do that?

I don't recommend this really.. I can turn off the ACM processing.. but you still have processing in the amp that has to be overcome.. I can disable that.. but I am not certain how the amp would behave.. I really recommend if you're replacing speakers.. just go ahead and replace the amp.. it would really be worth it..

 

[wildcatgoal]

You will not be happy replacing just the speakers. More often than not, this results in either a lack of bass (generally because the new speakers were not installed the way aftermarket speakers need to be for the best frequency response) and/or they are much quieter/distorted at louder volumes because they are not getting enough power.

Please, folks, if you replace the speakers, power them with an aftermarket amplifier. Aftermarket speakers are not efficient enough to be driven off of super low power OEM amplifiers, as are OEM speakers. Aftermarket speakers need aftermarket amps. There are rare exceptions, like super high efficiency Infinity Reference speakers that are 2-ohm which tend to do fine, but generally this is not the case, especially with OEM systems that use 1 and 2 ohm speakers.

You have to replace the amp. Every day someone returns to the shop I work at saying they don't like the sound of their new speakers and the reason is they told us against our advice to install speakers and power them with a factory radio/amplifier. It works sometimes (especially if it's an aftermarket radio powering the speakers), but mostly no.

 

[OEMRadio]

You will not be happy replacing just the speakers. More often than not, this results in either a lack of bass (generally because the new speakers were not installed the way aftermarket speakers need to be for the best frequency response) and/or they are much quieter/distorted at louder volumes because they are not getting enough power.

Please, folks, if you replace the speakers, power them with an aftermarket amplifier. Aftermarket speakers are not efficient enough to be driven off of super low power OEM amplifiers, as are OEM speakers. Aftermarket speakers need aftermarket amps. There are rare exceptions, like super high efficiency Infinity Reference speakers that are 2-ohm which tend to do fine, but generally this is not the case, especially with OEM systems that use 1 and 2 ohm speakers.

You have to replace the amp. Every day someone returns to the shop I work at saying they don't like the sound of their new speakers and the reason is they told us against our advice to install speakers and power them with a factory radio/amplifier. It works sometimes (especially if it's an aftermarket radio powering the speakers), but mostly no.

This agree with.. except the base stereo uses 4 ohm speakers.. and if you do a basic set of speakers it isn't an issue.. I always recommend replacing the factory amp.. it is not a great idea to use the factory amp on the aftermarket speakers.. but if you replace the speakers and use the factory radio to drive them and turn off the processing.. it really is an acceptable way to go.. I have done it many times..

 

[Adam99SVT]

So what exactly do we have to do to receive your upgrade on the base model stereo?

 

[OEMRadio]

So what exactly do we have to do to receive your upgrade on the base model stereo?

You can do a core exchange.. I have a base mustang ACM.. I can send a file.. BUT a dealer would need to pull it in.. well a dealer or if you have IDS.. or you can pull the ACM send it.. and I can program it.. and send it back.. I do it the same day I get it..

 

[wildcatgoal]

This agree with.. except the base stereo uses 4 ohm speakers.. and if you do a basic set of speakers it isn't an issue.. I always recommend replacing the factory amp.. it is not a great idea to use the factory amp on the aftermarket speakers.. but if you replace the speakers and use the factory radio to drive them and turn off the processing.. it really is an acceptable way to go.. I have done it many times..

It works sometimes. But a lot of times people put in speakers with lofty expectations that only more power can provide + mount the speaker in flimsy metra speaker adapters or directly to the metal and wonder why they have no bass.

 

[OEMRadio]

It works sometimes. But a lot of times people put in speakers with lofty expectations that only more power can provide + mount the speaker in flimsy metra speaker adapters or directly to the metal and wonder why they have no bass.

I agree.. I like to recommend the processing elimination as a starting point.. people don't understand that factory speaks have nice response and when they replace them they lose the bass.. thats due to like you say mounting.. as well as the factory speakers being designed for the vehicle.. where aftermarket speakers actually work best in some type of an enclosure.. also they need a much better mounting surface. More speaker excursion leads to more bass.. but only if the speaker is mounted properly.. if you mount a speaker in a way that is not secure the door panel flexes.. and that causes a loss of flex.. think of it like a double bounce on a trampoline .. if I were to have the trampoline move at the same time as me jumping I wouldnt be able to get jump as high.. same with a speaker.. if the door panel flexes the woofer won't get as much effective excursion..

Like I say.. I recommend this as a starting point for a system.. it will help the base systems.. because you gin more usable volume from the factory radio. but is most noticeable with aftermarket systems that have amps speakers and subs..

 

[pumxee]

I agree.. I like to recommend the processing elimination as a starting point.. people don't understand that factory speaks have nice response and when they replace them they lose the bass.. thats due to like you say mounting.. as well as the factory speakers being designed for the vehicle.. where aftermarket speakers actually work best in some type of an enclosure.. also they need a much better mounting surface. More speaker excursion leads to more bass.. but only if the speaker is mounted properly.. if you mount a speaker in a way that is not secure the door panel flexes.. and that causes a loss of flex.. think of it like a double bounce on a trampoline .. if I were to have the trampoline move at the same time as me jumping I wouldnt be able to get jump as high.. same with a speaker.. if the door panel flexes the woofer won't get as much effective excursion..

Like I say.. I recommend this as a starting point for a system.. it will help the base systems.. because you gin more usable volume from the factory radio. but is most noticeable with aftermarket systems that have amps speakers and subs..

Would I still need this if I plan on installing an aftermarket amp anyway?

 

[vnzbd]

I am very surprised to hear that the base unit has processing built in. What does the processing do on the base unit? Can you please provide a good source for me to red up on this? My plan is to add an amp for the fronts, skip the backs and add a sub. Thanks.

 

[OEMRadio]

I am very surprised to hear that the base unit has processing built in. What does the processing do on the base unit? Can you please provide a good source for me to red up on this? My plan is to add an amp for the fronts, skip the backs and add a sub. Thanks.

There isn't a source.. its not something Ford advertises.. they do it to save money and prevent speaker damage.. the processing is variable and changes with the volume.. as the volume goes up.. they start to roll of highs and lows to prevent the speakers from blowing.. but this isn't good for those that want a good aftermarket system. because if you add the equipment you are behind the 8 ball as far as it isn't getting a flat signal.. frequencies are missing and attenuated..

 

[vnzbd]

I can see this being done in some of their "higher end" systems but not in the base unit. It sounds a little high tech for such a low fi entry level system. I can see Ford not having to warranty blown speakers based on miss-use. It sounds like you are very well versed in this but I am looking for more info. How did you find out about this. Of all of the audio threads I have read on this site it seems like you are the only one knowledgeable on this. Thank you fore the education!

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