B&O System - Looking to Upgrade

[Ksjrb03]

Okay thank you. That adds another layer of complexity to the upgrade process.

Back to the OPs question then it does sound like this shop knows their shit. They sound familiar with modern ford systems.

It’s a shame that the B&O is so bad. Where is the value in the lux package?

I think what makes the B&O bad is the garbage paper speakers. 4 of them are the same speakers you get in the base system. I have high hopes a 7 speaker swap will make a world of difference. Sounds like a few guys have done that with great results. This is common in modern Fords, I knew what to expect having a couple other Ford B&O systems. The speaker locations in Bronco doesn't help, and the rattling the sub creates is an annoyance but fixable.

The value in Lux is extremely debatable, and I won't argue either way. The ancient version of ACC makes that value even less. But I am happy to have the guts of the B&O there, a fairly cheap speaker swap should make me satisfied. It would be more of a pain with the base system, finding an amp location, sub box, etc, but you could get an even better system. I wouldn't want to loose any more cargo space to these components personally.

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[VictoryLights]

I think what makes the B&O bad is the garbage paper speakers. 4 of them are the same speakers you get in the base system. I have high hopes a 7 speaker swap will make a world of difference. Sounds like a few guys have done that with great results. This is common in modern Fords, I knew what to expect having a couple other Ford B&O systems. The speaker locations in Bronco doesn't help, and the rattling the sub creates is an annoyance but fixable.

The value in Lux is extremely debatable, and I won't argue either way. The ancient version of ACC makes that value even less. But I am happy to have the guts of the B&O there, a fairly cheap speaker swap should make me satisfied. It would be more of a pain with the base system, finding an amp location, sub box, etc, but you could get an even better system. I wouldn't want to loose any more cargo space to these components personally.

Yeah, it was a pain finding the amp and sub locations. It’s nice that you have the 10 speakers as well. I think you can get to something awesome it’s just going to take some work if a simple speaker upgrade doesn’t help. It didn’t help on the base system, but maybe with the amp it will be better on the B&O.

 

[604Bronco]

Edit Look like they ship to Canada @604Bronco

You know me so well! lol - Thanks!

Definitely something to keep an eye open for. This is one of those mods that would be nice to have now, but not urgent.

 

[Brianstrange]

There is so much to consider here, but the response is spot on. There are ways to get around things, but I have not had a chance to confirm, as my LUX 2 door is waiting for a train.....
Before taking any step, I want to clarify a few things.
1) Most listeners do not have a "Tuned" ear. Because sound is to a point subjective, there is still a reasonable parameter of what good sound is to people with trained ears. "Cranks" "Crazy Bass" "Loud" and "Insane" are not terms used by people with trained ears.
2) Paper cone does not equal bad speaker. Some of the best speakers ever made have paper cones. Paper is less durable to moisture, but I've had paper cone speakers last 20+ years in a car without any issues.
3) Audio was developed to reproduce sound. Stereo was developed to give the listener a dimensional sound as if you were watching performers live, without any sound reinforcement (PA) across a stage that they are performing. Discovering the effect of stereo imaging is not for for special effects, but actually for realistic sound reproduction.
4) Rear speakers are generally useless. Although a subwoofer is often placed in the rear of a vehicle, it's done that way because they are (usually) omni-directional, and the rear offers the space to position it. Note - if you heard a Porsche 911 with a front sub, or a Lambo with a floor mounted one, you will know what I mean. A little rear fill is acceptable, but not needed.
5) Speakers in a stereo are like tires on a car. They can make a difference, but if the system behind them isn't robust, it won't matter.

 

[Snowdogyyz]

I have the B&O coming (at some point). I’m fully expecting to need to change to higher quality speakers to get what I’m looking for. I have the Alpine premium system in my Gladiator. It sounded ok. But swapping 4 speakers out with Infinity’s made a world of difference.

 

[Ig_bronco]

Thanks very much for your insights!

I was also considering the JBL sound bar, however it sounds like it will work on the B&O system (even though the manual says differently) but the improvement is very, very minimal. Not worth it, from what I was reading. Too bad as I thought that would be the simplest way to go.

I would advise to stay the heck away from the sou bar. Not only will you lose 80% rear viability out the back you will also lose the rear pods as well (I think, can't recall) imo sound bars are absolutely trash just take that 600-700 and use that to invest in better speakers. I upgraded my front dash and rear pods (poly fill and killmat) and so far so good. I wanna throw an amp and sub with kick speakers but waiting more options from Crutchfield

 

[Dirty Bronco]

Looks like there making one for the bronco. For 3k looks like the average price ill pick one up to try it way cheaper then most of the speaker upgrades. Thank you for the info
https://oemaudioplus.com/ford_/bronco/

Edit Look like they ship to Canada @604Bronco

Yeah I've been pestering them since the Bronco rollout to make one lol

 

[mpeugeot]

It’s a shame that the B&O is so bad. Where is the value in the lux package?

Adaptive Cruise Control... the only reason I went with the LUX package anyway.

As far as the B&O system, with the speakers upgraded, it does sound good (almost good enough to call premium).

 

[mpeugeot]

Yeah, it was a pain finding the amp and sub locations. It’s nice that you have the 10 speakers as well. I think you can get to something awesome it’s just going to take some work if a simple speaker upgrade doesn’t help. It didn’t help on the base system, but maybe with the amp it will be better on the B&O.

You don't have "10 speakers" in the B&O - it's 8 speakers.

L/R/C dash - 1,2,3
L/R kick panel - 4,5
L/R rear pods - 6,7
Sub-Woofer - 8

Ford math considers any 2 way speakers as two speakers. So by Ford Math, I have a 15 speaker system now... LOL.

 

[Brianstrange]

You don't have "10 speakers" in the B&O - it's 8 speakers.

L/R/C dash - 1,2,3
L/R kick panel - 4,5
L/R rear pods - 6,7
Sub-Woofer - 8

Ford math considers any 2 way speakers as two speakers. So by Ford Math, I have a 15 speaker system now... LOL.

The LH & RH dash has a tweeter with it's small midrange. They are the only coaxial drivers in the Bronco. That's how they come to 10.

 

[604Bronco]

Looks like there making one for the bronco. For 3k looks like the average price ill pick one up to try it way cheaper then most of the speaker upgrades. Thank you for the info
https://oemaudioplus.com/ford_/bronco/

Edit Look like they ship to Canada @604Bronco

Just a quick update - I emailed them for some additional info, and this is what they had to say:

 

[MrGreen55]

Just a quick update - I emailed them for some additional info, and this is what they had to say:

So I can have this before Ford gets me my bronco .

 

[MannyG20]

"Sounds" about right. I'm not an expert either but.I have one on tap who has helped me upgrade the audio in several of my vehicles over the years. It has gotten progressively harder to "plug and play" a bigger/better amp, speakers, etc. The only easy vehicle to upgrade the sound on was my Jeep (seen in the picture) which got a lot better from stock after a close-to-top-dollar upgrade but still doesn't sound great, not surprisingly. Some of the issues we're experiencing are the vehicle itself and where the speakers are placed. This has always been an issue in car audio.

I wanted to do an audio upgrade in my F-Type but ran into some of the same issues we're seeing here -- to use an aviation analogy, the entire "avionics suite" is integrated nowadays in the vehicle so you're not often able to simply swap things out like you could in the old days. The audio is digital, too, which changes the way the audio is delivered to the speaker in the first place.

I don't really love the audio quality of the B&O. Paid for the best offering Ford had with the Badlands "Lux" but it still sounds just "okay." Probably upgrading the Bronco's audio quality from here will be quite an ordeal so I'm just not going to bother. It doesn't seem to be worth the trouble. Acoustics aren't great in any vehicle, but when you're running something with a removable hard/soft top it gets even more challenging.

This may be an unpopular statement but I've taken to wearing AirPod Pros in the Jeep. I can still hear the road and drivers just fine, and the audio quality is much better than any sound system which could be installed. The Airpod Pros let ambient noise "pass through" the ear buds electronically.

Off-road it might be nice to consider that JBL (?) sound bar offering but I don't like the way it blocks visibility out the back.

-JC

I too am an Air Pod Pro wearer. It’s just easier all around.

 

[mpeugeot]

The LH & RH dash has a tweeter with it's small midrange. They are the only coaxial drivers in the Bronco. That's how they come to 10.

It's a 2-way speaker... otherwise show me the additional wiring for the tweeters in the wiring diagram.

Like I said, by Ford's math, my B&O system now has 15 speakers.

 

[murphtron]

IMO getting a JBL stereo pair of powered speakers will sound absolutely incredible sitting outside the car at camp or lunch. I don’t really care about the audio quality in this type of vehicle.

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