Easier to upgrade 7-speaker or B&O?

[Exhaust]

Just curious when taking into consideration building a new Bronco. Seems like neither configuration is gonna do it for me, so it seems smart to consider which one will be easier to upgrade. The 7-speaker already has an amp and sub that can be replaced, but the B&O has more speakers available for replacing/tuning. I know the B&O also has a DSP which people seem to have trouble replacing. Also seems like Lux may be forced on everyone MY24 if you want anything from the High package. In either scenario I've gathered that the upgrade step seem to be:

• Try tuning with ForScan
• Replace speakers
• Add bass-blockers
• Add amp for front speakers
• Replace sub/sub amp (which has another 100 options)

Does this seem about right? Thanks!

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[Exhaust]

7-Speaker is much easier and much cheaper to upgrade.

Even considering that it comes with fewer speakers/wiring?

 

[tater_70]

Waiting on some kick panel speakers and a powered JL subwoofer. Replaced the 4" front (with bass blockers) and rear which made an improvement. I believe the powered subwoofer is going to be the major difference. All in for around $1000. Wildtrac with high package.

 

[Exhaust]

Yes, it is an overall much simpler system. Easier to modify in Forscan, easier to install, and since there is only 4+1 channels it's much cheaper to upgrade.

On the B&O package, four of the speakers are powered by the DSP in the back of the vehicle, while three of the speakers are powered by the ACM in the front of the vehicle. So if you want to add an amplifier you're either going to have to install two amplifiers, or run wiring all over the place to get all of the speakers powered. In addition, there is no simple audio tweaks you can make in Forscan with the B&O package, which means your only option is to add an aftermarket DSP, and an 8 channel DSP starts around $750 and goes up from there.

Got it. I guess I was hoping it was possible that just upgrading the speakers and/or the sub+sub amp in the B&O plus maybe an amp in the front (without touching the 4 in the rear) was a viable option.

 

[Alassise]

I have a 22 Badlands Mid Package 6 speaker option (no sub). I use to be an audiophile in the 90's and wanted something with tight bass and clean sounding. I replaced all factory speakers with 4" Memphis Audio PRX4(dash and rear pods) and 6.5" JL Audio C3 Mid bass on the front panels. Added a JL Audio dual 8" speaker box on the 'trunk". For amplification, duties a JL Audio XD 700/5 runs the front speaker and the sub. The factory radio runs the rear pods, no for scan at all.

I am very happy with the overall result. Top down, 80MPH my volume level never gets past 12 (unless wifey hears a Barbie song and cranks it up). I think the key (aside budget) is great amplification and good speakers (unless you want to go all out.

Cons, lost some trunk space (maybe a 5th), lost fader to the rear pods (non issue as they are very good at adding fill). Added some Killmat from amazon to minimize vibration (does a great job on most frequencies) as I have the ford metal cage.

My recommendation is to search the forums. Everyone have different experiences and budgets. Crutchfield is a great starting point and they will make good recomendations. Do it right once.

Good luck, and enjoy the rig!

 

[Exhaust]

I suppose it depends on which speakers you want amplified.

For 2021-2023 it's wired like this:

• Back DSP
  • Front left dash
  • Front left kick panel
  • Front right dash
  • Front right kick panel
  • Subwoofer
• Front ACM
  • Center dash
  • Rear left pod
  • Rear right pod

Alright, hopefully the High package is still available for Badlands, I really don't wanna deal with the B&O (unless they improved something). Guess we'll find out tomorrow!

Is it heresy to say I'm actually considering a manual Rubicon partially because of the Alpine audio?

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Even considering that it comes with fewer speakers/wiring?

Think of it in these terms . . .

"Back in the day" upgrading the stock sound system meant (mostly) selecting the best head unit you could afford that easily fit into the existing dash aperture possibly accompanied by similar upgrades to the speakers.

Then automakers integrated much of the vehicle's functions with the head units (especially so with the advent of display panels) and replacing those units was no longer the primary option.

The simpler systems, like the Bronco's base audio, have the integrated head unit sending sound directly to the speakers. So, for this style of system, one of the upgrades is inserting a better quality sound reproduction capability in between the head unit and the speakers. This can be just an amplifier or an amp AND digital signal processing (DSP).

The more complex systems, like the Bronco's B&O system, have the integrated HU further integrated with downstream components that don't lend themselves easily to a rip and replace with bigger/better amps and dsp's. It's all doable, to be sure, but typically is more complex and expensive.

This is maybe a gross oversimplification on my part but an attempt to illustrate what's involved.
Old days - grab a Kraco at RatShack, swap out the AC/Delco and crank up the Sabbath!
Modern times, base system - get an aftermarket amp, insert between HU and speakers, and crank up the <whatever kids listen to these days>
Modern times, B&O system - get some specialized gear, some specialized harnesses, and wonder why you had to pay so much to upgrade your already more (and presumably better) expensive factory system

 

[Ninjak]

I have a 21 Lux, what I did was put sound deadening in the Subspace, replaced the kick panel with components, the tweeter going in the front dash location, and replace the pod speakers with higher sensitivity speakers. All were Alpine.

Made the system sound much much better. Even with the top-down, the system is so much cleaner. In the end, it depends on just how much you want to do. But yes, the 7-speaker setup is much cheaper to replace than the B&O.

 

[Exhaust]

Think of it in these terms . . .

"Back in the day" upgrading the stock sound system meant (mostly) selecting the best head unit you could afford that easily fit into the existing dash aperture possibly accompanied by similar upgrades to the speakers.

Then automakers integrated much of the vehicle's functions with the head units (especially so with the advent of display panels) and replacing those units was no longer the primary option.

I feel personally attacked! I spent pretty much my entire years 15-25 installing head units, amps, and subwoofers in my cars and my friends. Once I started buying vehicles with infotainment systems, it was just not worth the hassle so I always just bought the trim with the best audio and hoped for the best. Usually it's been OK, but the all the Bronco audio talk really has me spooked and worried about spending $55k+ on a vehicle that I have to upgrade the audio and spend time modifying. Audio is a huge thing for me, and while I didn't mind B&O on my test drive, I knew it would need to be upgraded in some way (definitely an amp since I was almost full volume on the highway), without realizing just how much work it would entail.

 

[Exhaust]

Depends how important audio is to you I suppose.

Neither the Bronco nor the Wrangler have particularly great sound systems. Since the doors are removable on both vehicles they took away the best location for speakers. BUT, Wrangler still has the cross-brace along the top of the roof where they were able to stick speakers. No such cross-brace in the Bronco.

Seems like something they were trying to address with the JBL soundbar for the base audio, but doesn't seem like anyone likes that much either.

 

[Exhaust]

And just when I thought we had a consensus @mObridge says the opposite!

The base system is significantly harder to upgrade though. There is no way to get a pre-amplifed clean signal out of it without converting the audio gateway to the B&O module (A2B). Then you still have to run lots of wires. Given the package comes with other goodies, I'd suggest do it and just prepare yourself to be disappointed in the system but atleast it's easy to upgrade!

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/shouting-out-to-bronco-music-fans.79290/post-2015951

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

And just when I thought we had a consensus @mObridge says the opposite!



https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/shouting-out-to-bronco-music-fans.79290/post-2015951

Within the quoted context, though, they are correct. There IS no way to get a *pre-amplified* clean signal out of the base head unit. For those chasing down a high end system that can be *very* important. For me, just trying to turn the volume up with minimal distortion in my noisy truck, not as much. Now, if Ford ever pulled their collective heads out of their butts and was willing to make the required gear available to the m0bridge's of the world for the base HU at a more reasonable cost than what has been relayed in their posts I'd seriously consider it.

 

[mObridge]

Within the quoted context, though, they are correct. There IS no way to get a *pre-amplified* clean signal out of the base head unit. For those chasing down a high end system that can be *very* important. For me, just trying to turn the volume up with minimal distortion in my noisy truck, not as much. Now, if Ford ever pulled their collective heads out of their butts and was willing to make the required gear available to the m0bridge's of the world for the base HU at a more reasonable cost than what has been relayed in their posts I'd seriously consider it.

Yes this is correct, it really depends on your goals and budget. Don't get me wrong, you can still upgrade the base system and get it sounding good but it will never be 'great' as you are grabbing the signal after it has been amplified by the cheapest D class chips Ford can get their hands on.

It is definitely easier to upgrade cars with the B&O if you buy an A2B interface or our all in one amp, for example our bronco kit includes everything you need to get a 1.2KW RMS system running and it can be installed in under 2 hours with no wires cut. If you don't have the budget for either of those, code the base system and then just high level in, that will be easier.

Converting the base system to A2B is possible too. While the B&O ACM module is not something we can source cheaply and in volume, they are readily available on ebay so a conversion from the base system to a B&O is cheap enough if you go down that path but it is definitely a little more painful but you will be able to get a clean signal out.

*A2B is the digital audio bus that ford send their audio from the headunit to the B&O amp on

 

[mpeugeot]

So having both a 2023 high package Bronco (with sub delete) and a 2021 lux Bronco, I can safely say that the high package was super easy and very affordable to upgrade using a Kicker Key 200.4 and a Kicker 46HS10 sub-woofer (~ $800) with a plugandplay harness. I did later install Infinity Reference 4032cfx and 6532ex speakers throughout and it sounds absolutely amazing now (~ $1100 total).

By contrast, I upgraded the speakers in my Lux package and did notice a significant improvement, but it isn't even close to the performance of the upgraded 2023 high package Bronco. I am sure that MoBridge's 1200w setup could fix this, but that's a $1700 solution (which hopefully sounds better than the 6 speaker setup in the high package Bronco I have), but I have not compared the two and the set up in the 2023 high package Bronco truly sounds amazing for the money spent.

I would love to have the MoBridge setup, but I really didn't want to spend that much without hearing it first. I might take that leap if they end up having a black Friday sale or something.

Edit: nevermind, found your discount code for Bronco6g, ordered it. It's going to be interesting to see if it is worth it.

 

[mObridge]

So having both a 2023 high package Bronco (with sub delete) and a 2021 lux Bronco, I can safely say that the high package was super easy and very affordable to upgrade using a Kicker Key 200.4 and a Kicker 46HS10 sub-woofer (~ $800) with a plugandplay harness. I did later install Infinity Reference 4032cfx and 6532ex speakers throughout and it sounds absolutely amazing now (~ $1100 total).

By contrast, I upgraded the speakers in my Lux package and did notice a significant improvement, but it isn't even close to the performance of the upgraded 2023 high package Bronco. I am sure that MoBridge's 1200w setup could fix this, but that's a $1700 solution (which hopefully sounds better than the 6 speaker setup in the high package Bronco I have), but I have not compared the two and the set up in the 2023 high package Bronco truly sounds amazing for the money spent.

I would love to have the MoBridge setup, but I really didn't want to spend that much without hearing it first. I might take that leap if they end up having a black Friday sale or something.

We do offer a 30 day money back guarantee for this reason, you're welcome to install it and if you aren't happy with the sound just send it back for a full refund. I am confident you will be more than happy with it!

I can't yet comment on if we will offer a black friday sale yet. Because we also sell through our brick and mortar dealer network we can't offer anything too crazy. In the meantime we did extend our bronco6g coupon for you guys on the forums for another couple weeks.

Also, anyone in the SoCal area is more than welcome to come listen to our demo car, just shoot me a PM.

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