Upgrading the factory 9 Speaker "Shaker" System?

Hi guys,

In the coming weeks I'm planning to replace the 9 speaker "Shaker" system in my '17 GT.

I'm looking at a complete Focal flax cone speaker setup with JLA AMP and JLA Subwoofer.

FRONT STAGE - PS165F3 3-Way Components
http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ps165f3-specification_sheet.pdf

REAR STAGE - PC165F 2-Way Coaxials
http://focalaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pc165f-specification_sheet.pdf

AMPLIFIER - JL AUDIO RD900/5
intl.jlaudio.com/rd900-5-car-audio-rd-amplifiers-98642

SUWOOFER - JL AUDIO STEALTHBOX (At a later date!)
http://intl.jlaudio.com/car-audio-stealthbox-ford-mustang


If anyone here has installed any of these components into their GT, I'd greatly appreciate some feedback (either positive or negative) on how they perform in their car.

Not looking at a high-end competition grade setup, but I'm looking for a significant step up from the underwhelming OEM Shaker system. I've been very happy with the Focal speakers as I'm running the Poly-Kevlar's in my 911 and they're pretty awesome speakers from my experience.

Feedback greatly appreciated ;)

I have not heard the Flax series Focals, but they are supposed to be pretty nice. Having said that, if I were going to put a $1k (US) set of speakers in my Mustang, I would recommend also investing in a DSP so you can get your monies worth out of them. I'm not trying to be a jerk, it's just that to me, $1k is a fair chunk of money to let the factory head unit and passive crossovers feed. If you are really not interested in a competition level system, and are happy with your previous experience with Focals, they also make this set; https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091165AS3/Focal-Performance-165AS3.html?tp=106 which is about half as much as the Flax series.

I personally run a couple of the JL HD 900/5 amps in my Camaro (yeah, booo, hiss, Camaro) and I can recommend their amps.

This is very similar to another recent post, so I'll be lazy and cut-and-paste part of my response to that post;

"I put together a couple of diagrams that attempt to show how the factory wiring is laid out (https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/sho...&postcount=310), and how you would integrate aftermarket components into the factory wiring (https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/sho...&postcount=315). The latter link has part numbers for the plugs you will need for the integration. @Racemaster also has a post where he built a module to plug the factory wiring into (https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77679).

The basic concept is;
- The factory amp is removed
- Custom cables are made to take the signals from the factory plugs to aftermarket components and then back to the factory plugs which drive the speakers."

Hi mumbles, thanks for your constructive feedback!

You're right, those flax cone Focals could do with a nice DSP to optimize the overall sound stage.

What are your thoughts on coupling this JLA DSP with the JLA HD 900/5 Amp?

http://intl.jlaudio.com/twk-88-car-audio-processors-system-tuning-98101

Thanks!

Type550 said:

Hi mumbles, thanks for your constructive feedback!

You're right, those flax cone Focals could do with a nice DSP to optimize the overall sound stage.

What are your thoughts on coupling this JLA DSP with the JLA HD 900/5 Amp?

http://intl.jlaudio.com/twk-88-car-audio-processors-system-tuning-98101

Thanks!

Click to expand...

The HD 900/5's are nice, well respected pieces.

I have not used the TwK-88 or its companion FiX 82, so I'll refer you to this thread at a specifically car audio site where both are discussed;

One of the JL reps briefly describes both units in this thread;
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/3732746-post26.html

The rest of the thread is typical forum banter... some correct information and some not... YMMV

The thing to remember with the TwK-88 is that it offers 8 channels of output... if you choose to go active with your system by ditching the passive crossovers, then you automatically use 6 channels for your front speakers and have to figure out how to divide the remaining 2 between your two rear speakers and your sub(s). It can be done, but requires some planning. Or, you can choose to not use the rear speakers which leaves 2 channels for you subs... it becomes a matter of how important "rear fill" is to you.

All in all, the JL's seem like well thought out pieces... with that one caveat. I would recommend that you download the software and play around with the interface. There are other DSP's out there from miniDSP, Audison, Mosconi, RF, Helix, etc... and I'd try out the software for as many as possible because, in my opinion, the interface can make or break the DSP.