Yet another Audio Upgrade

[AzGrayHeritage]

Looking for some advice. I can't find an Audio Frog installer near me. The place I got the best vibe from suggested this set up for my 24 4 door HE. Suggestion was coax to battle when the roof is off. I am trying to keep the stock look as much as possible but I wonder would I be better served with a 3 way in the front and 6.5 on the rollbar? Should I push to go Audio Frog or will this be a good system? Not looking to win a show, just clear, tight music top on or off.

Front Dash Audison APX 4
Roll Bar Audison APX 4
Kick Panel Audison APX 6.5
Amp Audison SR6.600
Stinger Audio Control 12 inch Tailgate Sub
Amp Audison SR1.500
Axxess DSP

Thank you in advance for the feedback, suggestions welcomed. This quote was 3700 installed

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[FreddieLee]

DSP without tweeters and midbass drivers? Coaxial drivers in the kickpanels?

Personally, hard pass.

 

[RagnarKon]

Sticking in a DSP without dedicated mid/tweeter drivers is a bit strange, but I understand where they are coming from with the removable top. So... sure... I can roll with it I guess.

The price is insanity, but I also have absolutely zero clue what the going rate is on audio installs is these days... so... it maybe it's perfectly normal? No idea. For all I know it could be a great price.

BUT, you are looking at ~$2000 in parts and then another $1700 in labor?!? Probably take 6-7 hours to install, so... around $270/hr. Damn, guess I should start charging people when I help them with their audio installs.

 

[voxel]

Sticking in a DSP without dedicated mid/tweeters drivers is a bit strange, but I understand where they are coming from with the removable top. So... sure... I can roll with it I guess.

The price is insanity, but I also have absolutely zero clue what the going rate is on audio installs is these days... so... it maybe it's perfectly normal? No idea. For all I know it could be a great price.

BUT, you are looking at ~$2000 in parts and then another $1700 in labor?!? Probably take 6-7 hours to install, so... around $270/hr. Damn, guess I should start charging people when I help them with their audio installs.

I was quoted $150-160/hr in Orlando at a reputable installer but the time was just an estimate. I had bought all the parts but due to work trips + vacation + deadlines I had parts sit for almost 3 months before a friend offered to help install everything.

In the end, I'm not sure it was really worth it. I have ear ringing pain from the clearer high pitch sounds (like hit hats and cymbals) from the Hertz speakers and had to trash the Kicker's EQ tune and lower my treble/mids. I can jack the bass all the way until the windows rattle - without pain.

 

[Flying Skunks]

@voxel , next time we all get together i would Like to look at your set up . I have started collecting equipment for my Audio Upgrade . I will be running a DSP , but with amps dedicated for each component piece .
Mmats amps
6150 front stage
4250 rear fill
M3000.1 subs

just something SMALL ..lol

 

[AzGrayHeritage]

I was quoted $150-160/hr in Orlando at a reputable installer but the time was just an estimate. I had bought all the parts but due to work trips + vacation + deadlines I had parts sit for almost 3 months before a friend offered to help install everything.

In the end, I'm not sure it was really worth it. I have ear ringing pain from the clearer high pitch sounds (like hit hats and cymbals) from the Hertz speakers and had to trash the Kicker's EQ tune and lower my treble/mids. I can jack the bass all the way until the windows rattle - without pain.

Can I ask what you are running in your Bronco?

 

[voxel]

Can I ask what you are running in your Bronco?

Dash speakers - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_301DCX1003/Hertz-DCX-100-3.html
Bass blockers https://www.crutchfield.com/p_007BB600/Crutchfield-Bass-Blockers-600-Hz-cut-off.html
6 speaker amp (for dash, kick panel, and two rear pods) - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20647KEY20/Kicker-47KEY200-4.html
Amp wiring - https://hoelwiring.com/products/kicker-key-200-4-plug-play-harness
6.5” rear pod speakers https://ssvworks.com/products/2021-2023-ford-bronco-rear-speaker-pod-add-ons?variant=42022280855736

I ran the Kicker "Artificial Intelligence" based EQ a few times and the high frequencies are too sharp for my ears.

The stock "7-speaker" amp and sub are intact as are the stock kick panel speakers.

 

[Bob LaBlah]

If it were me, I would want an active three way set up for the fronts with the JL VX I dsp/ amp with a custom tune from Jeff Hald at Total Tuning/ MTI. He can tune remotely if you are not in Texas. For the rears, you are really only going to get fill, so you don’t necessarily need to go crazy there. Almost all of your sound detail will come from the front stage, so I would prioritize that and get good tweeters, 3.5 mids, and 6.5 kicks. Center channel is basically worthless with the right tune, I only use mine for phone calls and left the factory speaker in there.
Jim at MTI can guide you if you give him a call.
I went a little nuts with my HE build and went Focal Flax 3 way up front, Focal Flax 6.5 coax in the rear, tailgate sub, and the JL VXi dsp amp to power it all.
I have a 23 HEL and it sounds fantastic.

 

[TXscooterguy]

Here's my setup:

Kicker Key 200.4 amp and installation - $560.00
(4) Kicker KSC40 for dash and pods - 172.04
(2) Kicker CSC67 for kick panels - 77.90
Kicker 11HS8 Subwoofer - 183.97
Bass Blockers for dash - 14.02
Labor to install kicker speakers - 70.00
Labor to install sub under driver's seat - 150.00
FORScan ACM programing - 20.00

Total (includes Texas sales tax) $1,247.93

So for under $1,250 I've got a sweet sounding setup. My audio guy wants me to replace the stock 4 inch pods on the roll bar with 6 inch ones by Mabett. Maybe next year.

 

[Huntsetter1]

If it were me, I would want an active three way set up for the fronts with the JL VX I dsp/ amp with a custom tune from Jeff Hald at Total Tuning/ MTI. He can tune remotely if you are not in Texas. For the rears, you are really only going to get fill, so you don’t necessarily need to go crazy there. Almost all of your sound detail will come from the front stage, so I would prioritize that and get good tweeters, 3.5 mids, and 6.5 kicks. Center channel is basically worthless with the right tune, I only use mine for phone calls and left the factory speaker in there.
Jim at MTI can guide you if you give him a call.
I went a little nuts with my HE build and went Focal Flax 3 way up front, Focal Flax 6.5 coax in the rear, tailgate sub, and the JL VXi dsp amp to power it all.
I have a 23 HEL and it sounds fantastic.

 

[Huntsetter1]

Where did you mount your amp? I’m doing a very similar system

 

[NatureMan]

I'm running mojos in the kicks and hertz coax in the dash on the stock "head unit" or whatever you want to call it these days. I have the audiocontrol 4 channel dsp amp but I haven't installed it yet. Might try to put it where the trailering package stuff would go. I'm not really concerned with the rear pods. I might need to remove them for subwoofer clearance when the next phase of the addiction progresses.

How do they sound with the stock head unit? I replaced all 4 4” speakers with hertz and am happy with the results. I’m not sure if mojos are worth replacing without an amp.

 

[AzGrayHeritage]

Looking for some advice. I can't find an Audio Frog installer near me. The place I got the best vibe from suggested this set up for my 24 4 door HE. Suggestion was coax to battle when the roof is off. I am trying to keep the stock look as much as possible but I wonder would I be better served with a 3 way in the front and 6.5 on the rollbar? Should I push to go Audio Frog or will this be a good system? Not looking to win a show, just clear, tight music top on or off.

Front Dash Audison APX 4
Roll Bar Audison APX 4
Kick Panel Audison APX 6.5
Amp Audison SR6.600
Stinger Audio Control 12 inch Tailgate Sub
Amp Audison SR1.500
Axxess DSP

Thank you in advance for the feedback, suggestions welcomed. This quote was 3700 installed

Plan B

Front
Audison APK 163 Prima Series 6.5" 3-Way run as separate channels with SR6.600 or as 2 channels with AF-C4D

Roll Bar
Audison APX 4


Amp Audison SR6.600 @4Ω: 85 x 4 + 110 x 2 or Audison AF-C4D Class D 4 Channel 90W X 4 @ 4 Ohms Amplifier or Audison SR5.600.2 1000W 75 W x 4 + 330 W x 1 @ 4Ω
Stinger Audio Control 12 inch Tailgate Sub
Amp Audison SR1.500(only with SR6.600)
Axxess DSP

Ordered the stinger to see if it fits with the pullout cargo tray in the HE. Should arrive today. Thank you Amazon . Free returns if it doesn't.

 

[Jorvin]

Please let me know how this goes. After eyeballing every possible set of speakers on the market I am leaning towards Audison. High sensitivity, decent power handling, the 2-ways have a great concentric design, proper 3-way options, installer friendly mounting, and water resistant materials!

I'm not certain I'd even go 3 way, but the option is there... Think I'll start with the APK165P in front, then see how the soundstage is. In theory putting the 4" midrange in the dash with some tweets mounted to the A-pillar "should" work well. Plenty of time to decide while I wait for my factory order...

 

[AzGrayHeritage]

Please let me know how this goes. After eyeballing every possible set of speakers on the market I am leaning towards Audison. High sensitivity, decent power handling, the 2-ways have a great concentric design, proper 3-way options, installer friendly mounting, and water resistant materials!

I'm not certain I'd even go 3 way, but the option is there... Think I'll start with the APK165P in front, then see how the soundstage is. In theory putting the 4" midrange in the dash with some tweets mounted to the A-pillar "should" work well. Plenty of time to decide while I wait for my factory order...

Update...

Apx 4 in dash and roll (4)
Apx 6.5 in kick (2)
Stinger 12 Sub tailgate (1)
Audison 5.600
Access DSP interface
Lost fade control in setup.


Review , don't miss the fader at all
Could I wish for more mid? I think so, the throaty sound I had in my FJ with MB quarts components.

With that said OMG. Top off 80 mph all I hear is music. Not just music but freaking clear music. And that is at 15. System is set to go to 25, the highest I have been is 17 on a lower tier Amazon song. Most songs sit at 15.

Best sounding songs so far, music tade mat vary.

Sex is on fire kings of Leon
Bad guy the interruptions
Kids In America The Muffs
Very first lie Material Issue
Any AC DC song
Any Foo Fighters Song
Any Beastie Boys song especially Pass the mic

I'm happy. Next test is doors off but that won't come till spring. Have to save up for Tube Doors or hope Santa has an extra pair.

I fully endorse Audison, never had their equipment until now. Zero complaints.

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