Audio Upgrade for 2021 Base 6-speaker: add a center channel and get HD Radio? Detailing the ACM from a B&O Bronco

[djcwardog]

With reference to a good thread I read this evening:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/mobridge-amp-in-non-b-o-system-hd-radio-retrofit.82952/

I’ve done many neat car audio installations over the decades and I enjoy good sound at home as well as in any car or truck. Most recently I had a 2021 F150 and I swapped in an ACM from the top trim models to get center channel and HD radio. A few Forscan tweaks later I had it working - even added a DSP amp and sub to that truck before I was done. That was all well and good before Ford introduced the B&O system as their top trim audio. Because it uses an A2B protocol and the CAN it is no longer as simple as swapping out the ACM’s for my Bronco. However, I found a good deal on an ACM out of a Lux Bronco (B&O with HD Radio) so I want to see if this can work.

The first thing I did was to swap in the forward dash piece from a B&O Bronco to allow factory fit of a center channel speaker. I’m using the JL Audio 4” along with a pair for the rear pods. A set of MB Quart BS1-316 3-ways are up front as well. The subwoofer will be a 10” tailgate box.

The T-harness is a PAC LPHFD31. I note that they have a twisted wire pair nested in the harness marked “center channel” with no reference to it in the instructions. That harness will feed an AudioControl D 6.1200 DSP amp that has worked well for me in several cars. Because this is a hobby for me, I like to make a series of upgrades in order so I can try to hear the improvement as I go. The MB Quart (and rear 4” JL Audio coax) speakers are already a worthy upgrade for the base system’s sound. Now I need to hash out several questions as I go.

1) I’ve not yet found a true pin out diagram for both ACM’s (base and B&O) but the speaker diagrams I have seen seem to show pins 2,3 and 7,8 on connector C240A for the kick panel - front - speakers and 5,6 and 9,10 for the rears (base) and pins 2,3 and 7,8 for the rear speakers (B&O).

B&O center speaker output pins are 5,6 on C240A - so a direct swap will be a problem - which (along with rear speakers) is driven by the ACM and not by the B&O’s DSP amp out back. If this is so, a simple swap-out of ACMs won’t work. First if I want to retain my rear speakers and second the C240A harness pin out is different for the two models.. It seems that at best with a pin swap in the harness itself I would have a front 3-channel setup as the B&O ACM would be sending its “rear” speaker signal to the “front” speakers and I could add wires up from (freed up after pulling out the left rear base’s 5,6 pins) pins 5,6 to the new center channel speaker in my base Bronco. Anything more and an external amp might be required.

2) While there are many good threads showing Forscan options for the base ACM, I see fewer that break out how to code the B&O ACM. If my observations above bear out, then I might be able to feed my DSP amp with the stereo signal out (pins 2,3 and 7,8) from the B&O ACM. However, I need to be sure that signal is, or can be coded to be, a flat full range signal. My DSP amp can take it from there and send output signals back to the speakers via the PAC T-harness. I would also need to edit settings and turn off the A2B and CAN communications features in the B&O ACM.

I know that there are some fine options now for a complete package but I already have a very nice DSP amp and it would be nice to get that working in the Bronco.

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[WarthogJr]

There is no way in hell I would spend that much time and effort to add a center channel speaker (and I’ve done installs in my vehicles for decades). Your level of dedication to your passion is impressive - well done!

 

[djcwardog]

Thanks! The secret is to have such an infinitely adjustable amp as my D-6.1200. It allows me to adjust the center speaker output level to suit my ears and create a more robust front sound stage without obvious left to right imaging and without any of the speakers “poking out”. A car benefits from this whereas a high end home stereo can deliver the awesome soundstage required without need of a center channel.

 

[Iceman62]

There is no way in hell I would spend that much time and effort to add a center channel speaker (and I’ve done installs in my vehicles for decades). Your level of dedication to your passion is impressive - well done!

Agree - my 63-yr-old "tinnitus damaged" hearing doesn't deserve quality audio. Back in my pre-USAF days - no question, but now is a pass. Great job & enjoy the sweet audio enhancement.

 

[23OBX2.7]

I always replace dash center drivers with a quality mid range driver like Scanspeak 10M in Bronco or Hertz MP70.3 in Mustang.

The DSP tune i everything but few aftermarket DSP amps have capability to handle center corectly as true independant active signal VS same as oitboard mids.

Im my Mustang with Audison 8 channel it did work well but had to cut 8-12 db for good balance with outboards and play with polarity because DSP was inadequate for center. Was a pita to get it right.

In Bronco the Scanspeak 10M is perfect and makes a huge difference as I discoverd trying different drivers incl Hertz DCX100.3, Hertz MP70.3, and finally keeping Scanspeak 11M. I for one cannot match the B&O engineers DSP tuning haha.

 

[djcwardog]

Here’s the center speaker grille in its package. Notice that it comes with the “accessory ready” piece. Yes, that piece is different on a B&O Bronco.

 

[sLopeFx]

With reference to a good thread I read this evening:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/mobridge-amp-in-non-b-o-system-hd-radio-retrofit.82952/

I’ve done many neat car audio installations over the decades and I enjoy good sound at home as well as in any car or truck. Most recently I had a 2021 F150 and I swapped in an ACM from the top trim models to get center channel and HD radio. A few Forscan tweaks later I had it working - even added a DSP amp and sub to that truck before I was done. That was all well and good before Ford introduced the B&O system as their top trim audio. Because it uses an A2B protocol and the CAN it is no longer as simple as swapping out the ACM’s for my Bronco. However, I found a good deal on an ACM out of a Lux Bronco (B&O with HD Radio) so I want to see if this can work.

The first thing I did was to swap in the forward dash piece from a B&O Bronco to allow factory fit of a center channel speaker. I’m using the JL Audio 4” along with a pair for the rear pods. A set of MB Quart BS1-316 3-ways are up front as well. The subwoofer will be a 10” tailgate box.

The T-harness is a PAC LPHFD31. I note that they have a twisted wire pair nested in the harness marked “center channel” with no reference to it in the instructions. That harness will feed an AudioControl D 6.1200 DSP amp that has worked well for me in several cars. Because this is a hobby for me, I like to make a series of upgrades in order so I can try to hear the improvement as I go. The MB Quart (and rear 4” JL Audio coax) speakers are already a worthy upgrade for the base system’s sound. Now I need to hash out several questions as I go.

1) I’ve not yet found a true pin out diagram for both ACM’s (base and B&O) but the speaker diagrams I have seen seem to show pins 2,3 and 7,8 on connector C240A for the kick panel - front - speakers and 5,6 and 9,10 for the rears (base) and pins 2,3 and 7,8 for the rear speakers (B&O).

B&O center speaker output pins are 5,6 on C240A - so a direct swap will be a problem - which (along with rear speakers) is driven by the ACM and not by the B&O’s DSP amp out back. If this is so, a simple swap-out of ACMs won’t work. First if I want to retain my rear speakers and second the C240A harness pin out is different for the two models.. It seems that at best with a pin swap in the harness itself I would have a front 3-channel setup as the B&O ACM would be sending its “rear” speaker signal to the “front” speakers and I could add wires up from (freed up after pulling out the left rear base’s 5,6 pins) pins 5,6 to the new center channel speaker in my base Bronco. Anything more and an external amp might be required.

2) While there are many good threads showing Forscan options for the base ACM, I see fewer that break out how to code the B&O ACM. If my observations above bear out, then I might be able to feed my DSP amp with the stereo signal out (pins 2,3 and 7,8) from the B&O ACM. However, I need to be sure that signal is, or can be coded to be, a flat full range signal. My DSP amp can take it from there and send output signals back to the speakers via the PAC T-harness. I would also need to edit settings and turn off the A2B and CAN communications features in the B&O ACM.

I know that there are some fine options now for a complete package but I already have a very nice DSP amp and it would be nice to get that working in the Bronco.

So I have been acquiring the rest of the needed system for my 22 BD. I've already done the dash upgrade and changed the rear pods to 6.5" 2 ways. I would like to do the center channel upgrade for sure, but do you have to add the B&O ACM to get the center channel to work? I'll be using an Audio Control DM810. How do you like your MB's in the rear? Thanks for any advice!

 

[djcwardog]

If I understand you correctly, you are having an aftermarket DSP processor break out the speaker signals - same as I am working on. You don’t need the B&O ACM for that. In fact my project would be simpler if I stuck with the non B&O ACM and its stereo front and rear speaker level outputs. Those are easily summed by a good processor which would then give you front and rear outputs as well as a center channel. I am figuring out the B&O ACM simply because I want the HD Radio circuitry found only in it. Both ACMs have Sirius XM. The MB rears seem fine with just a touch of rear bias on the fader settings (stock ACM of course) but of course I have yet to do the DSP AND B&O ACM installation.

 

[sLopeFx]

Thanks for clarifying that and I was hoping that would be the case. I asked about the MB's as I use older 90's separates and 10" in my other car which still sound great and have not heard the new MB gear. I too am going with a separate 10" box in the bronco. I'll be installing a new L7S10 in a sealed box so I hope it's tight enough with the top down.. Thank you for sharing this!

 

[djcwardog]

I finally found some time and a nice day! I compared both ACMs and saw that they share identical pins in their harness recesses. All the fun here is in the black connector. I’ll be interested to see if I can code in the proper front and rear speaker outputs. This would change the B&O setup where the ACM sources just the center channel and the rear left and right speakers. It’s possible that I’ll need to swap some pins in my adapter harness to get just the stereo rear speaker outputs signal back to my DSP amp. That would also require me being sure that I can render those to be full range by coding. More to follow!

Non B&O ACM on top, replacement B&O ACM on the bottom. The pin layout is identical.

Note the use of an adapter harness on the black connector. I’ll try first to get the stock speaker layout to function - no center channel just front and rear stereo. Later I will disconnect those small connectors to insert the extension cables and route those to the right rear where the DSP amp is going.

The blue jack is not used and it will be coded out - turned off - in FORSCAN.

B&O ACM is in place. I also ran a length of speaker cable down from the center channel speaker and coiled it in this general area for when I do the DSP amp and want it to feed a center channel.

 

[djcwardog]

I did some Forscan work this evening. I learned a lot in this thread: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/how-to-forscan-audio-speaker-mods.71145/

When I first powered it up I had no sound and the volume control stayed at zero. However, now it appears that I got the Lux (B&O) ACM to operate like the non-B&O ACM by using coding choices for the non-B&O model - specifically by telling it to turn on the internal amp and send signals to speakers 1 -4. Becuase my Lux ACM is out of a 2024 Bronco I needed to turn off the ESE in Forscan just in case its trying to do that in my 2021.

How my ACM came to me - out of a 2024 Lux Bronco.

Note the changes made. This is now set up like the old ACM was. Changing the B&O ACM to XX2B - 14XX got the front and rear speakers to play. I may try out XXXX - 28XX to make the rear speakers full range. As 14XX the rears are tweeter only, a high pass signal. XXXX - XXX1 told the ACM not to “Enable A2B Output from the ACM“

 

[23OBX2.7]

Coax in center will make very harsh

 

[djcwardog]

I hope that my DSP tuning will let me tune and set all speaker levels to suit my ears as it’s been able to do in prior vehicles.

I just found another “compendium” ACM Forscan post here: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/forscan-rear-speaker-eq-findings.54999/

The OP was coding a 2021 Base 6-speaker 4-door Bronco.

He wrote that his ACM starting point was this:

(His) "as built" values in (a base, non B&O) ACM were:​

727-01-01 382B 14F1 0098​

727-01-02 0901 000D 0048​

Gives some more insight into all the possible choices for the ACM with regard to speakers and equalization. He decided that the 382B was good for fronts (leaving them as “speaker and tweeter”) and that changing the rears from 14F1 to 28F1 changed them from “speaker” to “speaker and tweeter” - seeming to achieve a full-range signal in the rears. I’ll examine that in more detail out in the Bronco when I do some Forscan.

 

[23OBX2.7]

I hope that my DSP tuning will let me tune and set all speaker levels to suit my ears as it’s been able to do in prior vehicles.

I just found another “compendium” ACM Forscan post here: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/forscan-rear-speaker-eq-findings.54999/

The OP was coding a 2021 Base 6-speaker 4-door Bronco.

He wrote that his ACM starting point was this:

(His) "as built" values in (a base, non B&O) ACM were:​

727-01-01 382B 14F1 0098​

727-01-02 0901 000D 0048​

Gives some more insight into all the possible choices for the ACM with regard to speakers and equalization. He decided that the 382B was good for fronts (leaving them as “speaker and tweeter”) and that changing the rears from 14F1 to 28F1 changed them from “speaker” to “speaker and tweeter” - seeming to achieve a full-range signal in the rears. I’ll examine that in more detail out in the Bronco when I do some Forscan.

With a good DSP that equalizes signal you dont have to touch and Fors settings other than HU equalizer set tones and balance to normal .

 

[Sluggz]

Thanks! The secret is to have such an infinitely adjustable amp as my D-6.1200. It allows me to adjust the center speaker output level to suit my ears and create a more robust front sound stage without obvious left to right imaging and without any of the speakers “poking out”. A car benefits from this whereas a high end home stereo can deliver the awesome soundstage required without need of a center channel.

where did you hide this d6-1200

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