A client from Summit Hill came to Mobile Edge in Lehighton, looking to upgrade his 2014 Ford F150 audio system. We spent time looking over the truck with him, listening to the factory stereo system and exploring ideas. When we were done, we brought the client inside and started listening to equipment together. Once he saw how good he could make his truck sound, it became pretty obvious that the vehicle would be built in stages. Our team worked up a proposal that he liked, so we set a time for him to drop off the vehicle.
Amplified And Digitized
The Audison AP8.9Bit on the custom-built amp rack
In this truck, we decided to start the upgrades by adding an Audison AP8.9Bit amplifier. Quite simply, this amplifier is amazing. It is smaller than most paperback books, yet has more than 500 watts of power combined with a sophisticated internal DSP processor, known as a Bit. For the first stage of the upgrades, we would power all of the factory speakers with dedicated amplifier channels, giving us lots of flexibility in fine-tuning the sound of each and every speaker.
No Good Option? Make One!
First things first – we had to find a good spot to mount the amplifier. The team at Mobile Edge built a custom metal amp rack to hold the amplifier securely underneath the front passenger seat. We made the rack strategically so it could use the factory seat bolts to hold it in place, eliminating the need to drill any holes in the floor.
If you have ever listened to the stereo system in an F150, you already know the sound is lifeless and anemic. It needs serious help. One of the major problems with the audio systems in these trucks is the equalization that Ford engineers add to the music. While they might have had good intentions, what they ended up with was lousy. Fortunately, the Audison amplifier gives us the ability to “detune” the stereo system, eliminating the factory equalization added to the music.
If you look at the picture of the laptop screen, you can see the response curve of the front left speaker. To give you an idea what you are seeing, that blue line with lots of ups and downs is the visual equalization curve. That blue line should be flat if the Ford stereo was delivering the music in the way the sound engineer recorded it. When our installers were done with the first step, that blue line was flat.
Amazing Realism Post-Tuning
Now that we had a good musical signal to use, our highly trained staff set out to maximize the sound quality of the existing speakers. We started by picking the crossover points that best suit each individual speaker, and then we adjusted the output level of every speaker to make sure they match. Next, we adjusted the digital delay on each speaker so all of the sound arrives at the driver’s ears at the same time. Doing this eliminates the heavy bias to the driver’s door that happens in a truck. When the delay is done properly, the sound stages across the dash, making the music sound much more realistic.
Finally, we adjust the nine-band parametric equalizer for every speaker in the vehicle. Having this kind of control allows us to bring the factory speakers to life, making them enjoyable to listen to. When you add in the extra power supplied by the amplifier, the client can now listen to his music at louder levels without straining.
Keeping The Heat Out Too!
While in the bay, our 3M Color Stable window tint in 35% was also installed
For the final touch, we applied 3M Color Stable window tint on the front two windows at a 35% darkness level. The client gained increased privacy, reduced interior heat and protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Ford F150 Audio And Tint Installation Delivery
When the client came to pick up his F150, he couldn’t believe the improvement in the sound quality and output. He immediately knew he made the right choice and is already looking forward to the next round of improvements.
Give Us A Call Today
If you would like to upgrade the audio system in your vehicle, we invite you to stop by Mobile Edge in Lehighton. Let us show you why we are Pennsylvania’s most-awarded mobile electronics retailer.
You can also contact us here for more information about any of our products and services.
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