A client from Califon, New Jersey, came to Mobile Edge in Lehighton for help with his new 2015 Ford F-150 audio system. He spends a lot of time in his truck and complained that the “stereo just falls flat.” We discussed how the client listens to his music and how he uses the truck. It quickly became apparent that storage space was important to him. We set out to design a system that would sound great and not use up all the free space in the truck.
Integrate
The Bit Ten processor has the necessary high level inputs for our integration installation.
During the interview process, we discovered that the customer owns a Mercedes Benz and likes the option it has to adjust the factory stereo for different seating positions. We know this adjustment alters the time alignment settings to the speakers in the car, so we suggested a similar capability for his Ford. The Audison bit Ten is an OEM integration processor that will connect to the factory radio and undo any equalization in it. We can set crossovers, time alignment, and equalization for each of its five output channels.
Speaker Selection
The client had a good listen to the different speaker systems we have on our display board. He decided on the Audison Prima APK 165 6-1/2” component set for the balance of price and performance. We created an adapter plate out of the HDPE that would allow the 6-1/2” driver to mount in the factory door speaker location. Wood, unlike HDPE, can swell up and rot when it gets wet. The use of plastic adapters ensures that the speaker will stay secure for the lifetime of the truck. We added a layer of Hushmat sound-damping material to the adapter plates to help provide a stable mounting surface for the speaker.
For a subwoofer, the client chose a Hertz Energy Series ES F25.5 Subwoofer. We constructed a compact enclosure for the sub that would fit behind the driver’s side rear seat. We finished the enclosure with black carpet.
Compact Power Package
We chose a Hertz HCP5D five-channel amplifier for its great sound quality and compact size. The amp is rated to produce 65 watts per channel for the front and rear speakers, and 200 watts for the subwoofer. We mounted the amplifier and the bit Ten on a steel amp rack that we created. The amp rack fits snugly against the rear wall of the truck and takes up almost no depth.
Configuration Is Key
One of our tuning experts sets the initial parameters on the Bit Ten software.
We used the bit Ten software to configure the front component set with a high-pass filter, then used the stock rear speakers with a band-pass filter to add some warmth to the system, without pulling sound into the back seat. Finally, we set the time alignment so the music appears to come from the windshield of the truck. We didn’t create multiple presets in the bit Ten, but we did include a remote sub level control in the center console so the client can fine-tune the bass level. We set all the gain controls with our oscilloscope to ensure the system would play loud, and without distortion.
The client was very anxious to return to Mobile Edge in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, to pick up his truck. He immediately remarked that it sounded better than his Mercedes system. He had a look at the installation and loved that we didn’t consume much space and kept it looking stock.
We Are Your F-150 Audio Upgrade Experts, Contact Us Today!
If you are looking for an audio upgrade for your vehicle, drop in and let us design something for you. For more information, contact us here.
I have an F-150 and I am very particular about who works on my truck. I will definitely consider driving the extra miles to your shop. It looks like you guys really do it right.
It’s good to get a fresh way of lokniog at it.