Upgrading to Quality Audio from Base System

[Crmsn18]

Recently purchased a 2018 GT with base sound system. The whole thing has to go. I've searched on this forum and others for ideas an now have enough knowledge to be totally confused. Synch 3 upgrade, aftermarket head unit, find OEM sub-woofer ...? I'm looking for mid-tier market system. My wife's car has a Marl Levinson system in it which sounds gorgeous. I want to be right under that level. Willing to spend a bit but not to just throw money for bragging rights or brand labeling. Right now I'm thinking Focal speakers up front, lower grade speakers for rear deck, mid-tier sub-woofer in an enclosure and an amplifier. The head unit is what's blocking me. I would like a semi-stock look but do not like the base system head at all. Would a Synch 3 upgrade fit my scheme or do I need to move towards a aftermarket solution from Kenwood/Panasonic etc? Right at this moment the vehicle is having sound dampening material while some upholstery work is being done.

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[Tycoon]

Forget about a Sync 3 upgrade. Not worth it. Did you watch my video on this subject?

 

[OldbutNew]

Hey Tony!! Looks like a Royal Crimson!! Manual base with PP1? Nice!
There are multiple threads dealing with audio upgrades.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/stereo-information-wiring-upgrades-etc.25501/
The information you need is IN THERE.

Mine has 400A with the 9 speaker, which I'm updating yet again. Shelf speakers, 12" Skar sub with 500W amp and DSP. But I did have the 8" screen. In my limited experience, you will need pretty much everything.

 

[exvette]

I am happy with upgrade to Hertz speakers, stock amp, JL sub in stock enclosure in trunk (nobody makes a enclosure that mounts in the stock location for a convertible, and a JL amp for the subwoofer

 

[exvette]

for reference, my home system is Bowers and Wilkins

 

[Crmsn18]

Just got car back from upholstery shop and I LOVE IT! It's crazy how big a difference this made. Like a totally different car. So happy ...

 

[Tycoon]

Just got car back from upholstery shop and I LOVE IT! It's crazy how big a difference this made. Like a totally different car. So happy ...

Looks nice.

 

[PVAMT]

Recently purchased a 2018 GT with base sound system. The whole thing has to go. I've searched on this forum and others for ideas an now have enough knowledge to be totally confused. Synch 3 upgrade, aftermarket head unit, find OEM sub-woofer ...? I'm looking for mid-tier market system. My wife's car has a Marl Levinson system in it which sounds gorgeous. I want to be right under that level. Willing to spend a bit but not to just throw money for bragging rights or brand labeling. Right now I'm thinking Focal speakers up front, lower grade speakers for rear deck, mid-tier sub-woofer in an enclosure and an amplifier. The head unit is what's blocking me. I would like a semi-stock look but do not like the base system head at all. Would a Synch 3 upgrade fit my scheme or do I need to move towards a aftermarket solution from Kenwood/Panasonic etc? Right at this moment the vehicle is having sound dampening material while some upholstery work is being done.

I went with the Harness by Hextall kit and Infinity speakers, yes they do fit. I think it sounds pretty good. If you’re into bass you might add a subwoofer.

 

[Crmsn18]

I went with the Harness by Hextall kit and Infinity speakers, yes they do fit. I think it sounds pretty good. If you’re into bass you might add a subwoofer.

How do you get the kit? The website appears to be down.

 

[Crmsn18]

Anyone have experience with the 4" to 8" conversion kits from Hellhorse Performance or Infotainment.com ? They seem similar and don't require much thinking which is right up my alley. I had way too many car projects where I try to be Macgyver and end up in the Twilight Zone.

 

[SMTCapeCod]

I'm still on the steep part of the learning curve, but it seems as if Ford may have built a lot of the Crimson cars at the base trim level. Maybe it goes with the '68 paint them, throwback in all respects with a fair number in MT and the gawdawful base radio.
That said, I'd like better -- reasonable -- sound, and have no need for additional bells/whistles. I sure wish I could locate a kit solution that simply allowed for substituting the factory signal processor/processing with an aftermarket DSP, preferably leveraging factory style connectors on the harness-end. Maybe with an option to insert additional amp(s). And one could then update the speakers to preference in terms of sound and pricepoint. I'm confident it's probably possible, but my days of getting into nests of wiring are in the past.

And congrats on the interior. Is it a Katzkin set?

 

[Evolvd]

Recently purchased a 2018 GT with base sound system. The whole thing has to go. I've searched on this forum and others for ideas an now have enough knowledge to be totally confused. Synch 3 upgrade, aftermarket head unit, find OEM sub-woofer ...? I'm looking for mid-tier market system. My wife's car has a Marl Levinson system in it which sounds gorgeous. I want to be right under that level. Willing to spend a bit but not to just throw money for bragging rights or brand labeling. Right now I'm thinking Focal speakers up front, lower grade speakers for rear deck, mid-tier sub-woofer in an enclosure and an amplifier. The head unit is what's blocking me. I would like a semi-stock look but do not like the base system head at all. Would a Synch 3 upgrade fit my scheme or do I need to move towards a aftermarket solution from Kenwood/Panasonic etc? Right at this moment the vehicle is having sound dampening material while some upholstery work is being done.

Honestly I’d skip the Sync conversion. Kenwood and JVC have direct-fit units that have way more functionality than Sync 3 does.

Here’s the model I’d recommend. It has a built in DSP so you can get better tuning out of the system instead of spending on an external DSP. And kits are available to connect everything to your car without hacking/splicing.

https://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon_reference/dax800xr/

I would then pair this with a good 6-channel amp and some quality 2-way components for the front and coax in the rear. You could even skip the rears as proper staging would keep the sound profile above your dash.

As for subs, there are few options. JL Audio has their stealth box which is a quality unit, and you also have Skar and Audio Design offering direct fit boxes.

 

[SMTCapeCod]

Thank you for the specific recommendations and advice! I took a few steps down the path, but tabled it when I couldn't decide between getting an aftermarket dashpanel that would fit a bigger head unit, or getting single-din where (in my opinion) the screen ends up looking tacked on and blocks the hvac vents. There's a little part of me that likes the nostalgia CD bit......It's all pros and cons.
The direct-replacement product line is interesting, especially if the camera function is retained. Some time ago when I was checking, I think the steering wheel controls might've required a separate adapter module/system, but maybe that's been overcome. Time to read the specs. ;-)
I haven't dug in but it appears that my car is stock with Focals installed. It's bad. They're probably under-driven, plus the factory bass reduction and whatever other processing.
Given that the suggested unit is 8" screen....any thoughts on the dash adapter Metra vs Maestro etc? Wish some retained factory HVAC controls.

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