A client from The Villages recently dropped into Ocala Car Audio to talk about a 2016 Ford F-150 stereo upgrade project. His wife wasn’t impressed with the sound of the factory stereo system. We discussed what she liked about the existing audio system and where they thought it could use improvement. After listening to their concerns, we proposed a fairly elaborate upgrade with a premium digital source unit interface, a high-quality DSP-equipped amplifier, new speakers and a subwoofer.
System Design Consultation
The client was surprised at the complexity of our proposal and showed us a quote from a shop in Tampa that was about a third of the cost. Unfortunately, they hadn’t considered the client’s goals for the system and we felt that the result wouldn’t be much of an improvement. Armed with a full understanding of how and why we designed the upgrade we did, he decided he would come back with his wife and audition a similar system we had installed.
His wife was very impressed with the sound in the truck as it addressed all of her concerns. They gave us the go-ahead to upgrade their Ford F-150 stereo.
Ford F-150 Stereo System Integration
We used a PAC AmpPro AP4-FD21 interface to connect a JL Audio VX1000/5i five-channel amplifier to the factory radio. We added an APA-TOS1 TOSLINK interface so we could use a fiber optic cable to connect to the JL Audio VXi amplifier for maximum performance. The amp is wired with Stinger Pro power wire and is protected by an SPD5801 fuse. We also installed a DRC-205 remote level control so the clients can fine-tune the bass level.
The 600-watt subwoofer channel of the amp drives a JL Audio SB-F-150-SCDBL/12TW3/BK StealthBox subwoofer system that fits perfectly under the rear bench seat of the trunk. The enclosure houses a pair of 12TW3 12-inch subwoofers.
Ford Trunk Front Speaker Upgrade
The next step was to apply roughly 40 square feet of Stinger RoadKill sound deadening to the front and rear doors. Our fabrication team created plastic mounting adapters for a set of JL Audio C3-600 woofers and we mounted the tweeters in the factory locations in the A-pillars. Another set of adapters allowed us to mount a second set of C3-600 speakers in the rear doors. The front and rear channels of the amp deliver 75 watts to each of the speakers.
System Tuning and Delivery
The clients returned from The Villages on a Saturday morning to pick up the system. They had a listen to the truck and were blown away at the quality of the sound. One of them said, “I want to cry, it sounds so good!” If you are in the Marion County area and are interested in upgrading the sound system in your car or truck, drop by Ocala Car Audio, give us a call or send us an e-mail.
