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Where should the money go in audio upgrade?

marjen

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SO hearing how bad the bronco is in the SQ dept. I am starting to think about how to go about upgrading the stock base system. I will be getting a 2 door big bend. I have been reading through all the threads I can find on speaker and amp installs. Let’s say I have $1k-1500 to spend. Where should the bulk of the money go? AMp? DSP? Front speakers? Sub?

Its sounding like the speakers that have the most impact are the top 2 in the dash. Would 2 really good speakers and a sub be a good place to start? Should I start with a solid foundation in an amp and DSP?

So far my initial thought is something along these lines.

4 x 4” Audiofrog GS42
2 x 6” Audiofrog GS62
1 or 2 8” Audiofrog GS8ND2 subs in a box build under the front seats
(2) 4 channel JL amp (1 for the 4” speakers) (1 for the other 2 and subs)
Some kind of DSP, dont know much about these.

Does that seem like a solid plan? This would actually be a bit over budget, so might just do the 2 4”first and build on from there.
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mC.242

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I replaced the two dash 4" speakers with Infinity Reference (as another forum member did). Huge upgrade for $60 and an hour of my time. With your budget you should be able to add an amp/sub and better speakers all around though.
 

zombie

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IMO an amp and a decent line converter will make way more difference than high-end speakers.

I initially installed some crutchfield house brand speakers (Sound Ordnance 4" front/rears and 6.5" kick panels) and was mostly unimpressed with the difference they made.

After much humming and hawing and speaking with some friends who are into mobile audio I bought a kenwood 5 channel amp and an affordable (sub $100 CAD) line converter and it made SO much difference. I am super impressed with how these budget priced speakers sound (tbh I also added a rockford fosgate 12" sub, but even improved bass aside, these cheap little speakers sound awesome with an amp)

My grand total for everything was likely around $1,000 CAD (say $800 USD)
 
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marjen

marjen

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So joined a car audio forum to really start digging into this and been watching videos on wrangler audio installs as they probably face similar issues as the bronco will. I am thinking of first focusing on amp and dsp. I REALLY like the idea of a single unit that has both integrated. A couple suggestions I see are the kicker Key 200.4 and the JL Audio VX400/4i. Kicker also has the key 500.1 that can power a sub. JL Audio has different flavors of the VX line from mono block to 8 channel. The JL Audio is about 4x the price of the kicker.

Another advantage of the JL is the JL Audio DRC-205. It is a controller that lets you select from 6 different preset dsp configs. SO for example could have one for roof on and one for roof off amungst other things.

Does anyone have any background or experience with either line of these Products?

Also with the front speakers, is it basically a 3 way system in 2 boxes? Mid and tweeter in the dash and mid bass in the panel?
 
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threeonone

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Honestly don't even need an amp. I changed all 6 speakers to JL Audios and added a Kenwood powered downfiring sub in the back and it sounds phenomenonal now. Total cost was about $1600 CAD with professional install.
 

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marjen

marjen

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Honestly don't even need an amp. I changed all 6 speakers to JL Audios and added a Kenwood powered downfiring sub in the back and it sounds phenomenonal now. Total cost was about $1600 CAD with professional install.
What JL Audio speakers did you use?And how did you power the sub?
 

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I was always told to start with the amp.
 

Broncojy

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Honestly don't even need an amp. I changed all 6 speakers to JL Audios and added a Kenwood powered downfiring sub in the back and it sounds phenomenonal now. Total cost was about $1600 CAD with professional install.
ok I’m interested tell us more
 
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marjen

marjen

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I was always told to start with the amp.
yeah the advise I have been getting is starting with solid amp and dsp as they can make anything sound better.
 

rgwinn

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So, i suspect there must be a difference in the Amps between the two B&O systems, are the speakers any better in the upgraded B&O system?
 

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threeonone

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ok I’m interested tell us more
I had my speakers all swapped out to JL Audio C1's. There's two 4 inch in the dash and two in the rear roll bar. And two 6.5" in the kicker panels by your feet. I had them all swapped out and a Kenwood pa-w801b 8 powered subwoofer installed in the cargo area. It's a powered sub so you don't require an amp as well and save space. It's sturdy so you can stack anything on it or even stand on it. The sound quality difference is absolutely amazing now. I had the speakers for about a week before I had the sub installed, and the sub really brings it all together.

Keep in mind these prices are in Canadian dollars:
4 - JL Audio C1 4" speakers - $230
2 - JL Audio C1 6.5" speakers - $180
1 - Kenwood pa-w801b subwoofer - $400
Professional Installation - $700 (I originally had the speakers installed first just to see if that was enough difference, but decided I needed a sub too. So this was two trips to the shop for installation. Would have been cheaper if I did it all at once.)

Ford Bronco Where should the money go in audio upgrade? AD012653-4906-41B0-BE3D-6F3DC8252304
 

VictoryLights

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I had my speakers all swapped out to JL Audio C1's. There's two 4 inch in the dash and two in the rear roll bar. And two 6.5" in the kicker panels by your feet. I had them all swapped out and a Kenwood pa-w801b 8 powered subwoofer installed in the cargo area. It's a powered sub so you don't require an amp as well and save space. It's sturdy so you can stack anything on it or even stand on it. The sound quality difference is absolutely amazing now. I had the speakers for about a week before I had the sub installed, and the sub really brings it all together.

Keep in mind these prices are in Canadian dollars:
4 - JL Audio C1 4" speakers - $230
2 - JL Audio C1 6.5" speakers - $180
1 - Kenwood pa-w801b subwoofer - $400
Professional Installation - $700 (I originally had the speakers installed first just to see if that was enough difference, but decided I needed a sub too. So this was two trips to the shop for installation. Would have been cheaper if I did it all at once.)

Ford Bronco Where should the money go in audio upgrade? AD012653-4906-41B0-BE3D-6F3DC8252304
How is the subwoofer attached to the floor?
 

hozer

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Honestly don't even need an amp. I changed all 6 speakers to JL Audios and added a Kenwood powered downfiring sub in the back and it sounds phenomenonal now. Total cost was about $1600 CAD with professional install.
See you're in YYC.

Which shop?
 

threeonone

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See you're in YYC.

Which shop?
Visions did my speakers and ARA Automotive did my sub. I originally just did speakers to see if that would be enough. Decided a sub was needed and went to ARA for that. If I was to do it again I'd just go straight to ARA. They did a really good job.
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