OEM Speaker Comparison

[Evolvd]

While installing sound treatment on my newly acquired 2017 EcoBoost the door speakers caught my eye because of their material. I own a 2021 GT500 as well which I’ve completely upgraded the audio so I had the OEM B&O speakers out to compare to my 2017 9-speaker units.

On the left is the 2021 B&O 6.5” midbass and on the right is the same speaker from the 2017. I find it interesting they’d use a paper cone on the “upgraded” audio speakers and a poly cone on the “mid grade”.

For the 3.5” midrange it’s the opposite. In this photo the right speaker is the B&O polypropylene cone unit and the left is the 2017 paper cone unit.

Now this post is by no means an all-inclusive comparison. Just some interesting changes I noticed between the years and audio packages. I have since installed the poly 3.5” mids into my 2017 as I’m more concerned with longevity of the poly over paper cones. I did not notice any appreciable sound difference between the two.

Thanks for reading!

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[TonyNJ]

Interesting. B&O kind of cheaped out in some areas. I noticed that of all the stereo in the S550s I've had, the Shaker 1000 in a 2018 was the best. Didn't take it apart to compare speakers though. It just sounded better when turned up louder.

 

[IPOGT]

Tony,
B&O was always more of a name that was associated with style and sound.
IMO, they never made anything that was sound quality wise truly excellent. No McIntosh if you will. Not even a JBL.
Probobly more like a result of a simple licensing agreement, and since most B&O stuff wasn’t that great anyway, a good revenue stream for them.
A smarter move for Ford IMO, would have been to skip paying the licensing for the “radio” and instead let JBL design a speaker for the Ford system we call “B&O”. I think that would’ve turned out much better.

 

[Evolvd]

B&O provided the tuning from what I’ve gathered. Everything else is just Ford OEM junk parts.

 

[IPOGT]

B&O provided the tuning from what I’ve gathered. Everything else is just Ford OEM junk parts.

Like trying to put whipped cream on a crap sundae and even the whipped cream isn’t that good.

 

[IPOGT]

While installing sound treatment on my newly acquired 2017 EcoBoost the door speakers caught my eye because of their material. I own a 2021 GT500 as well which I’ve completely upgraded the audio so I had the OEM B&O speakers out to compare to my 2017 9-speaker units.

On the left is the 2021 B&O 6.5” midbass and on the right is the same speaker from the 2017. I find it interesting they’d use a paper cone on the “upgraded” audio speakers and a poly cone on the “mid grade”.

For the 3.5” midrange it’s the opposite. In this photo the right speaker is the B&O polypropylene cone unit and the left is the 2017 paper cone unit.

Now this post is by no means an all-inclusive comparison. Just some interesting changes I noticed between the years and audio packages. I have since installed the poly 3.5” mids into my 2017 as I’m more concerned with longevity of the poly over paper cones. I did not notice any appreciable sound difference between the two.

Thanks for reading!

The speaker on the left looks like a bigger version of a speaker I took out of a Radio Shack scanner in 1986.

 

[Evolvd]

The speaker on the left looks like a bigger version of a speaker I took out of a Radio Shack scanner in 1986.

Probably the same stock number too

 

[S550HPP]

First Gen Audison Thesis 6.5 are legendary even today. They cost $2K +/- and pull $1500-2K on used market in perfect shape today usually sell within hours when authenticated somehow.

They were paper. Thesis changed to synthetic on current version.

I was tempted by a local guy who bought a storage container and unearthed some NOS thesis but would not
give me a straight price. That was months ago he's still trying to sell with out a price haha.

 

[PoCoBob]

While installing sound treatment on my newly acquired 2017 EcoBoost the door speakers caught my eye because of their material. I own a 2021 GT500 as well which I’ve completely upgraded the audio so I had the OEM B&O speakers out to compare to my 2017 9-speaker units.

On the left is the 2021 B&O 6.5” midbass and on the right is the same speaker from the 2017. I find it interesting they’d use a paper cone on the “upgraded” audio speakers and a poly cone on the “mid grade”.

For the 3.5” midrange it’s the opposite. In this photo the right speaker is the B&O polypropylene cone unit and the left is the 2017 paper cone unit.

Now this post is by no means an all-inclusive comparison. Just some interesting changes I noticed between the years and audio packages. I have since installed the poly 3.5” mids into my 2017 as I’m more concerned with longevity of the poly over paper cones. I did not notice any appreciable sound difference between the two.

Thanks for reading!

The difference in the top picture is the poly speaker on the right is a woofer. They are in the lower door on the 9 speaker systems. The B&O systems have a sub woofer so I don't think (but not positive) the lower door speaker is a woofer.

How big are the magnets on the back?

 

[Evolvd]

The difference in the top picture is the poly speaker on the right is a woofer. They are in the lower door on the 9 speaker systems. The B&O systems have a sub woofer so I don't think (but not positive) the lower door speaker is a woofer.

How big are the magnets on the back?

The subwoofer is in the trunk on B&O systems. Both are 6.5” in the lower doors and are mid-bass woofers that dont really start coming alive until around 80 hz. The magnet on the B&O is slightly larger which makes sense due to the increased power output by the amp in the B&O system.

 

[Dans18GT]

Being poly doesn't necessarily mean it's better. I had to replace a blown door speaker in my '18

 

[Jaymar]

Some of my favorite speakers have been paper, the material and magnet don't matter when it comes to sound. It's easy to see them but many other components go into making a sound from any particular speaker. Overall I'd rate the factory Mustang system solidly mediocre. It's the greige of audio systems. I'm not ever unhappy with it but it sure won't stand out against anything else you ever put it to. I have a full system meant for my last car to put in yet I can never manage to find the time to care that much about it.

 

[Bullit69]

What speakers is everyone using to update with. I’ve been checking out the Focals, they have some nice three way systems.

 

[Evolvd]

What speakers is everyone using to update with. I’ve been checking out the Focals, they have some nice three way systems.

Wrong thread for that question, please search the audio section or make your own post.

 

[Evolvd]

Being poly doesn't necessarily mean it's better. I had to replace a blown door speaker in my '18

Didn’t see anyone claim such. However, when exposed to the elements (as door speakers are) I’d rather have a poly cone than a pressed paper cone when it comes to garbage OEM speakers

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