upgrade just speakers

[cirrus1ag]

Sub'd

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[plc268]

I have the 400a. Replaced my door speakers and rear shelf speakers (Didn't touch mids or tweeters) with kicker coaxials, and put that rockford 10" sub in the back. First impressions? Meh.

I probably need to fiddle around with the settings on the sub, but all the base is behind me. I get very little bass up front right now, as the bass setting on the head unit is at 0 (I was advised leave it there). It doesn't sound terrible, but not great.

I haven't had much chance to mess with it though. Weather has turned to shit the last few days here in texas.

 

[Redcruzer]

I have the 400a. Replaced my door speakers and rear shelf speakers (Didn't touch mids or tweeters) with kicker coaxials, and put that rockford 10" sub in the back. First impressions? Meh.

I probably need to fiddle around with the settings on the sub, but all the base is behind me. I get very little bass up front right now, as the bass setting on the head unit is at 0 (I was advised leave it there). It doesn't sound terrible, but not great.

I haven't had much chance to mess with it though. Weather has turned to shit the last few days here in texas.

Sorry to hear this, but this seems to be parr for the course with just speaker replacement. All the magic seems to happen in the amp, particularly in the ecoboost. It sums the center channel and the sub. Does weird stuff with the rear channels and noise reduction, plus who knows what with the front end. My feeling this is where the answer lies. My hope is that someone comes up with a direct replacement amp sometime soon.

P.S. I took my car to a local high end audio shop last week and basically they didn't want to touch it. I thought that was interesting.

Right now I'm in either wait mode or try to get the 2016 amp to work in the 15 (it's different), see where that gets me.

The few folks that have had success on this site have replaced everything but the head unit.

 

[plc268]

I've seen a few people do it "right," but that usually involves some expensive sound processor or basically ripping the entire system out and redoing it.

Although, I imagine something like this to sum up all the outputs:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATHBO86/

and a seperate 4 channel amp to redistribute the signal to the speakers would make a world of difference.

I dunno, I'm pretty good with electronics, but car audio always felt overly complicated to me.

 

[shahram72]

Yeah I'm thinking some similar processor and replacement of all the downstream components will be required to satisfy me. Factory sucks unless it's really high end.

 

[Tribefan]

Just picked it up. Sounds very good! Makes the 400A stereo tolerable. I'll post pics later.

So are you saying adding that sub is all you did to make the stereo tolerable? Or did you replace anything else in the system?

 

[Xantom]

So are you saying adding that sub is all you did to make the stereo tolerable? Or did you replace anything else in the system?

Yes that's all I've added so far. Adds some sorely missed low end. The unit and install was about $320. The car is in storage now and has been for 2 weeks. I haven't had much time with it, but the little bit I was able to use it it sounded fantastic for $320.

 

[Tribefan]

Yes that's all I've added so far. Adds some sorely missed low end. The unit and install was about $320. The car is in storage now and has been for 2 weeks. I haven't had much time with it, but the little bit I was able to use it it sounded fantastic for $320.

That's awesome. I'm going to have to look into this option. I hate how lacking the bass is. I like to be able to "feel" my music a little. The 9 speaker system in my car is so weak compared to the Shaker (not the 1000 or whatever it was called) that was in my 2014.

 

[jdoug]

I read that some people don't bother with the center channel speaker but I'd like to get more out of mine. Has anybody upgraded their center channel?

 

[TheDivaDanielle]

Any recommendations for the rear speakers for the convertible? with shaker pro system.

same as whatever you put in the doors. that's the nice easy thing about the vert. :-)

 

[jdoug]

Yes please let us know. I've been holding off buying a mat until this was known.

Second this-- I had a Stealthbox in my '03 Mach 1 and it was quite good.

 

[Blmrocker]

sub'd

 

[Gdyup50]

OK so I read through this whole thing, and I've come to the conclusion that just installing new rears won't really do much for the car, and I noticed that some of the more recent posts have stated that they installed a sub, but there wasn't any mention of adding an amp with it. So I'm still wondering if getting a P300-10, or P300-12 needs an amp? Also, is it better to buy 2 GTO 629's for the front and 2 GTO 638's for the rear, because of the 2ohm 3 ohm thing? (don't really understand this) Or should I just get 4 GTO 638's?? It seems for the price, there's no real reason not to upgrade these from stock. Thanks.....oh another thing, why hasn't anyone mentioned Infinity speakers. Are they not as good as JBL? Thanks

 

[Xantom]

...So I'm still wondering if getting a P300-10, or P300-12 needs an amp?...

They are both powered subs, no amp needed. The amp is built into the box.

 

[sandpiper]

I replaced the back deck speakers first with the hope it would add some bass and add volume from the rear to center the entire sound stage. The JBL GTO 629s helped, but could not overcome all of the weakness of the 9 speaker system. I then added the Rockford Fosgate P300-10 self powered sub. That did the trick. System sounds great. I did not touch the front door speakers and I am satisfied with the way everything sounds.

If you are looking to get most bang for your buck, I would add the sub first. Mine was $165 and that had the greatest effect on the overall sound quality. Once that is done, you may decide you don't need to replace the stock speakers. Now the stock speakers are paper and plastic crap. Ford should be embarrassed to call it a premium sound system with that junk installed. Once you give the system the low end it needs, you may be able to live with the junk. If not then replace the speakers

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