Amp suggestions after speaker upgrade

[Bronco21Maybe]

So I have purchased replacement speakers for my 2022 base 2 door bronco. Hertz CX 100 for dash and rears (probably unnecessary) and Hertz CX 165 for kick panels.

I went down the Kicker 200.4 rabbit hole and I've read more threads in the past 3 days than I cared to. Believe me, I HAVE used the search function - more than 100 times.

I do not want to do the kicker 200.4, as I'm concerned about the dash and kick panel speakers being wired together creating a 2 ohm issue for the kicker 200.4. So that's out, along with having to order some rare head unit harness. I don't mind spending money on a good amp or separating the dash and kick speakers.

I am not adding a sub or sub amp at this time - that's for later.

I went to two different audio shops and both recommended a LOC or similar device between the head and the amp to adjust the line out from the head unit. Past here, I am lost and need some help.

I don't mind running new speaker wire to separate the dash from the kick panels.
I just want an amp that will drive the speakers to get a bit more clarity and volume. Gosh, I listen to podcasts most frequently but I have older ears.


Before anyone posts "use the search function", I just want to say, I have, and I've read probably 2,000 posts/several 30+ page threads and still am no closer to arriving at a good solution that I understand.

I'm not an audiophile, and heck, listen to podcasts most often when on the weekly 4 hour trek I take to my job. So just want a bit more volume and much better voicing.

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[23OBX2.7]

Budget?

 

[toybox06]

I’m running a d-4.800 audio control amp. On the stock speakers and they suddenly sound good enough to keep for now.

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

Budget?

For the amp and related accessories to get it connected to the head unit, I'd like to stay under $1,000. I had one shop recommend a $400 line out control before even adding the amp. I sort of understand the need to clean up the signal coming from the head unit, but....

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

I’m running a d-4.800 audio control amp. On the stock speakers and they suddenly sound good enough to keep for now.

Did you rewire any of the speakers, or just add the amp?

 

[toybox06]

Did you rewire any of the speakers, or just add the amp?

I bought a t harness and 20ft of 9 wire and an amp install kit. This allowed me to add a proper subwoofer amp as well as the audio control sends its own remote out and rca out. It is a full DSP amp that allows you to defeat Fords equalizer settings, and also Fords bass roll off as well as full control over your own preferred EQ settings.


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541LPHFD31/PAC-LPHFD31-LocPro-Advanced-T-Harness.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_1209W91820/Install-Bay-MC918-20-9-wire.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_161D4800/AudioControl-D-4-800.html

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

I bought a t harness and 20ft of 9 wire and an amp install kit. This allowed me to add a proper subwoofer amp as well as the audio control sends its own remote out and rca out. It is a full DSP amp that allows you to defeat Fords equalizer settings, and also Fords bass roll off as well as full control over your own preferred EQ settings.


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541LPHFD31/PAC-LPHFD31-LocPro-Advanced-T-Harness.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_1209W91820/Install-Bay-MC918-20-9-wire.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_161D4800/AudioControl-D-4-800.html

Thank you. That's less parts than the folks at the shop were telling me I needed. I will read up on the amp!

 

[Area51BS]

Stop tossing money. Get something like the Helix V eight DSP amp. Install it yourself and learn the software. And be done. Infinite adjustments, no adapters.

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

For those putting in the DSP amps, are you rewiring all the speakers? Separating the dash from kick panel speakers?

 

[23OBX2.7]

Like @Area52B$ said....you dont need LOC for base system. I would persoanlly get a DSP amp and a sub amp with high level signal capability plus sub.

The DSP amp will just add volume which can probably wait and some SQ.

The sub with remote will have the biggest impact and the first thing Id do. $1K is a reasoable budget if can get the amp 1000W @2ohm on sale or at diymobileaudio, or classsified somewhere. There are a couple enclosures on classifieds here. Amplified AUDISON enclosures are good. Any shallow 10" will be fine. Hertz MPBX 250 and 300 are excellent.

 

[toybox06]

Thank you. That's less parts than the folks at the shop were telling me I needed. I will read up on the amp!

For the people following your response the D–4.800 is in fact a DSP amp. You will still need the nine wire and the T harness unless you wish to cut your original harness and splice into the factory speaker wires.

 

[toybox06]

For those putting in the DSP amps, are you rewiring all the speakers? Separating the dash from kick panel speakers?

For my set up, I did not separate the dash from the kick panel speakers. The T harness simply run signal to the amp, and the amp runs back to the T harness, which powers the speakers just as they were before I can’t say that there’s any kind of crossover built-in between the dash and kick panels, but I can say that no bass plays through my dash speakers and my door speakers play just as a mid range should. Only now they are amplified and their signal is clear.

 

[toybox06]

Thank you. That's less parts than the folks at the shop were telling me I needed. I will read up on the amp!

The only thing missing off of this would be your amplifier wiring kit, your ground, power, and fuse. Your original post didn’t speak to you wanting to add subs at this time however, if you decide to do so it’ll be a walk in the park as everything will basically run off of that DSP amp you’re just run a power block to feed power to a sub amp run your RCA’s from the DSP amp and the remote from the DSP amp and then your speaker wire from your sub amp to your subs.

 

[Area51BS]

For those putting in the DSP amps, are you rewiring all the speakers? Separating the dash from kick panel speakers?

I ran 6(or)new to the front. 2 for dash and two for the kicks. Ran 2 to the radio to pick up rear OEM wire. And ran 4pr from radio back to amp for inputs. Really only use 2 off front radio output to feed the amp. DSP amp allows mapping where each channel gets its input from. I don’t use the fader. Levels are all set in the DSP. My DSP amp(8channel)also runs the sub. Optional controller can be programmed to multiple functions. Sub level, pre programmed eq curves etc.

 

[Bronco21Maybe]

The only thing missing off of this would be your amplifier wiring kit, your ground, power, and fuse. Your original post didn’t speak to you wanting to add subs at this time however, if you decide to do so it’ll be a walk in the park as everything will basically run off of that DSP amp you’re just run a power block to feed power to a sub amp run your RCA’s from the DSP amp and the remote from the DSP amp and then your speaker wire from your sub amp to your subs.

This thread has been super helpful. I really appreciate all the simple recommendations.

If I'm understanding everyone so far, my current plan is to rewire the speakers to separate the dash and kick panels so they can be tuned separately, find a 6 channel DSP amp for the 6 current speakers that has an line out to a sub amp tbd at a later date. Sound about right? Or an 8 channel that can be bridged later for the sub... Easier to install one amp than two.

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