B&O 12-speaker system - speaker upgrade

[ChipG]

Hi all,

Not a huge audiophile here and not looking for a massive audio investment (most of my car money goes to track events and mods). However, it seems I've blown out the driver-side a-pillar tweeter, and if I'm going to replace it, I see no reason to put stock crap back in. That said, here's where I need some advice.

Current system: B&O 12-speaker

Current mods: Replaced the subwoofer speaker with a Pioneer TS-A250D4, added some polyfill, clipped the center speaker wire per this post. I've, of course, adjusted the 3-band OEM "equalizer" and the audio center point as well (typically center somewhere around the inboard passenger seatback bolster or so).

What I am looking to do:

Minimum - replace the a-pillar tweeters with something of better quality
Optional - replace the other speakers with similar quality (door 3.5s and 6.5s, rear deck 6.5s)
If necessary - inline crossovers and the like. I'd prefer not to need to do the amp but will consider it

Total budget: the lower the better. Prefer under $500 total, certainly under $1000

I'm pretty handy, have pulled interior trim off, installed speakers/subs/amps in vehicles before. I've not messed much with this one as with the new sub and removed center channel it was "fine" for my use. I wouldn't be doing anything if the tweeter wasn't blown, but if I'm going to start pulling things apart, I'm at least going to replace with better quality. Any collective advice from the audio braintrust here on approach?

Thanks for any and all input.

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[Evolvd]

The problem is the tweeters are in parallel with the 3.5s so unless you match the ohm rating you’ll significantly impact power output. If you’re going through the trouble of upgrading why would you feed a crap signal to better speakers? Your budget is unrealistic. I’m about to pull my stock tweets from my B&O setup, I’ll sell ya one.

 

[ChipG]

The problem is the tweeters are in parallel with the 3.5s so unless you match the ohm rating you’ll significantly impact power output. If you’re going through the trouble of upgrading why would you feed a crap signal to better speakers? Your budget is unrealistic. I’m about to pull my stock tweets from my B&O setup, I’ll sell ya one.

My budget is more than I *need* to spend, which is why I opened the way I did. I can get non OEM replacement tweeters for $30 -$50. I'd like to do better than that and don't at all believe there are no reasonable options between OEM and 4-figure complete replacements of the entire system.

 

[NGOT8R]

Hertz DSK 165 speaker kit comes with 6.5” mid bass woofers for doors and tweeters that fit in the factory locations, behind the factory grills. To do it right and easiest, get yourself a PAC Audio AmpPro fd-21 amp interface (with a Toslink port and a fiberoptic cable) and an AudioControl 300.4 micro amp. Run new speaker wires, straight from the new tweeters and you’re good to go. I used 2 pin Molex connectors crimped onto the new speaker wires, so that they could be plug and play.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/pics-tips-for-a-pillar-tweeter-install.147070/#post-3008236

 

[Evolvd]

My budget is more than I *need* to spend, which is why I opened the way I did. I can get non OEM replacement tweeters for $30 -$50. I'd like to do better than that and don't at all believe there are no reasonable options between OEM and 4-figure complete replacements of the entire system.

I get that but you did ask for opinions. I doubt you’re going to find an 8 ohm tweeter to do a simple tweeter swap upgrade. If you install a 4 ohm tweeter you’ll drop the circuit 2.66 ohms to which would create a higher load on your stock amp and could quite possibly damage it or at minimum overheat it.
So I’d still recommend swapping with an OEM tweeter if you really don’t care about audio, or spend a grand and have it done right with a marginal upgrade.

 

[ChipG]

I get that but you did ask for opinions. I doubt you’re going to find an 8 ohm tweeter to do a simple tweeter swap upgrade. If you install a 4 ohm tweeter you’ll drop the circuit 2.66 ohms to which would create a higher load on your stock amp and could quite possibly damage it or at minimum overheat it.
So I’d still recommend swapping with an OEM tweeter if you really don’t care about audio, or spend a grand and have it done right with a marginal upgrade.

Given that I haven't been *that* impressed with the system (and I don't gather others have either), I guess I'm just surprised to hear that for under $1k OEM is as good as it gets, and even $1k spend is only marginal improvement. Thanks for the input.

 

[Evolvd]

Given that I haven't been *that* impressed with the system (and I don't gather others have either), I guess I'm just surprised to hear that for under $1k OEM is as good as it gets, and even $1k spend is only marginal improvement. Thanks for the input.

Honestly if you want better sound for the money then install sound deadening. It will make your stock system sound so much better. Otherwise you could just install a 2-way set of 6.5 and tweets and still maintain the correct ohm load. But, our cars have pretty bad acoustics so if you throw money at moderately upgraded speakers you may be pretty disappointed in the minimal increase in sound quality.

 

[Emilbadal]

OP, You have the best sound system that ford has to offer on Mustangs right now. Trying to go aftermarket, with $1k budget and the hassle you’ll go through installing them, is truly not worth it. As others have mentioned earlier these cars have crap acoustics to begin with. Just take it to a dealership and let them replace the blown tweeter under warranty for you. Yes you can buy bunch of aftermarket speakers and maybe even an amplifier to drive them but the juice is not worth the squeeze… you may or may not improve it by max 5%…You mentioned that you updated the subwoofer….that task pales against what you’ll need to do to replace speakers and the amount of time and frustration you’ll have to spend. Again your main unsolvable issue is the bad acoustics of the cabin… the rear speakers are buried under the parcel shelf with a steep angled rear glass….the sound will never be focused between the rear and front speakers….they all hit at different heights….save yourself the hassle, money and time…truly

 

[m3incorp]

Sadly, what you have heard is true. Hard to make the audio in these cars sound good/better at a cheap price. I agree with having the OEM tweeter replaced for free. Going any other route opens a can of worms and often your wallet. I do believe that most that are giving advice, have gone down the road of initially wanting to do a slight/in-expensive upgrade and found out that is almost impossible......if you really want good audio in the car.

Given that I haven't been *that* impressed with the system (and I don't gather others have either), I guess I'm just surprised to hear that for under $1k OEM is as good as it gets, and even $1k spend is only marginal improvement. Thanks for the input.

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