Adding a 7 Speaker Sub to a 2022 6 Speaker Base Radio

[VAtruck]

I am adding a factory 7 speaker subwoofer box (Bronco amplifier and 48CWRT674 subwoofer) to my 2022 6 speaker base system. I already installed a Kicker Key 200.4 amp by making my own harness (See This Post). The dash, kick panel and rear pop speakers are all factory original.

I am assuming that using Forscan to change the driver side rear pod speaker to "Speaker & Sub" will turn on pins 11 (Sub Positive), 12 (Shield), 22 (Sub Negative) and 23 (Amp Turn on Signal) at the radio to supply audio/turn on signals to the factory amp in the subwoofer assembly (See Picture). Any idea how I can add the extra pins to the radio connector? Worst case I'll buy another T harness and pull the pins from that for the audio and turn on signals.

I am going to the junkyard today to get the connector that plugs into the amp from a Fusion. The T harness I used for the system amp has a power breakout which I am assuming will be adequate for the factory subwoofer amp. Any help would be appreciated.

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[RagnarKon]

You can buy just the pins, but last I checked they had a minimum order quantity of 10,000 pins, which.... ya' know.... excessive unless you have plans to buy a lot of Broncos.

So it probably makes sense to buy another T-harness and either use it or rob it for parts.

I will warn you that the 2022 ACM may not have the necessary internal circuitry to have a subwoofer preamp output. All of the ACMs share the same enclosure, and share the same general connectors/pinouts, but the internal circuitry can be vastly different. I will fully admit I have no idea if it'll work on the 2022 Bronco, just never tried it myself. But don't be surprised if you get it all hooked up and the sub output doesn't work.

But if it does work, come back and let us know.

 

[VAtruck]

the 2022 ACM may not have the necessary internal circuitry to have a subwoofer preamp output.

Thank you for that. I didn't think to look any further after Forscan loaded the rear speaker/subwoofer configuration, and broke out an inspection mirror to look at the actual radio connector. As you suspected, the 2022 head unit doesn't even have pins 11, 12, 22 or 23 (See picture).

The 7 speaker wiring diagram shows the audio signal to the factory amp is shielded so I suspect it is unamplified, and I will need to install a line out converter (LOC) for the audio signal from the radio to the subwoofer amp. Do you happen to know what the factory Bronco subwoofer amp needs for a turn on signal? I've read the signal is 5V for other Ford amps. I plan to install the LOC next to the amp, so would be convenient to use the LOC's turn on signal. A 12V to 5V Step Down Converter will reduce the voltage and eliminate turn on pop.

 

[RagnarKon]

The 7 speaker wiring diagram shows the audio signal to the factory amp is shielded so I suspect it is unamplified, and I will need to install a line out converter (LOC) for the audio signal from the radio to the Kicker 200.4 amp. Do you happen to know what the factory subwoofer amp needs for a turn on signal? I've read the signal is 5V for other Ford amps. It would be convenient to use the Kicker Key 200.4 turn on signal.

You're correct, the factory subwoofer amp uses a remote turn-on signal, and it's not the standard 12 Volt turn-on voltage... but I forgot what it was. I want to say it's biased to either 7 volts or 9 volts, but 5 volts is probably enough to turn it on. I'll check my notes this weekend and see if I wrote down the details somewhere.

The 200.4 accepts both line-level and high-level (speaker-level) inputs, so no LOC needed. It'll just take the speaking signals straight from the factory ACM up front.

 

[VAtruck]

You're correct, the factory subwoofer amp uses a remote turn-on signal, and it's not the standard 12 Volt turn-on voltage... but I forgot what it was. I want to say it's biased to either 7 volts or 9 volts, but 5 volts is probably enough to turn it on. I'll check my notes this weekend and see if I wrote down the details somewhere.

The 200.4 accepts both line-level and high-level (speaker-level) inputs, so no LOC needed. It'll just take the speaking signals straight from the factory ACM up front.

Thank you. The LOC is for the signal to the factory Bronco subwoofer amp. I was planning to use the audio output from the radio/ACM going to the kicker 200.4 (Front left & right channels). Since the wiring diagram for the 7 speaker system shows the audio signal to the subwoofer amp is shielded, I assumed the signal from the radio/ACM would be too great and would require an LOC.

 

[RagnarKon]

Thank you. The LOC is for the signal to the factory subwoofer amp. I was planning to use the audio output from the radio/ACM before the kicker 200.4. Since the wiring diagram for the 7 speaker system shows the audio signal to the subwoofer amp is shielded, I assumed the signal from the radio/ACM would be too great and would require an LOC.

Ohhhhh I gotcha. Didn't realize you were using a factory subwoofer amp because I didn't read the first post carefully enough. Just assumed you were using an aftermarket amp since you were also using a 200.4.

Yes, you'll have to use a LOC if you are using a factory amp.

 

[VAtruck]

Ohhhhh I gotcha. Didn't realize you were using a factory subwoofer amp because I didn't read the first post carefully enough. Just assumed you were using an aftermarket amp since you were also using a 200.4.

Yes, you'll have to use a LOC if you are using a factory amp.

Thank you for confirming the need for an LOC with the factory subwoofer amp. There are a couple pluses to the 2022 base 6 speaker system radio/ACM not having a subwoofer output. The Scosche LOC2SL will provide a way to adjust the subwoofer volume; a feature the factory 7 speaker system doesn't have. And it won't be necessary to shield the small signal audio output of a 2023 and up radio/ACM. I can run regular wire from the 2022's front speaker signals to the LOC mounted next to the amp on the subwoofer box.

Taking a closer look at the Fusion connector, the shielded signal pair from the radio/ACM is 22G. As the signal to the subwoofer preamp/LOC will now be coming from the Bronco radio's output to the front speakers, I'll use an 18G Trailer Harness to run the subwoofer signal from the T harness to the LOC. That will provide a connector for the long harness run from the dash to the subwoofer.

Ford used 18G wire to power the stock amp for the Fusion's rear speakers/subwoofer. The radio/ACM power lead from the Pak T harness is only 22G, so I am going to run a 14G power lead with a 20A fuse from the battery to supply the subwoofer amp and LOC.

Something to Consider for Anyone Installing a Fusion Amp in a 2023 Subwoofer Delete Truck:

The Fusion connector pinout shows a Black/Green GROUND lead in Pin 11 and a Gray/Red POWER lead in Pin 14.

The Bronco diagram shows a Black/Green GROUND lead in PIN 14 and a Yellow/Red POWER lead in Pin 11. Unless the amp's Ground and Power leads can be reversed, this will need to be addressed. Not sure what's going on there as the pictures I have of the Bronco's amp connector shown it is wired like the Fusion...

 

[RagnarKon]

By the way checked my notes and the "turn on" voltage for the remote lead needs to be between 3.5 and 7 volts. So 5 volts should work fine.

 

[VAtruck]

By the way checked my notes and the "turn on" voltage for the remote lead needs to be between 3.5 and 7 volts. So 5 volts should work fine.

I appreciate your checking your notes for the amp turn on voltage. Any thoughts on the reverse pinout I noticed in the Fusion and Bronco amp's Power/Ground leads in my last post? I posted about this in the 2023MY Standard Audio (6-speaker) Subwoofer Delete Mandatory and Functional Amps Removed.

 

[VAtruck]

For anyone following along, here is the diagram for the subwoofer install:

 

[Brian_B]

I don’t know the answer to the fusion amp wiring but I have a Bronco amp sitting in a closet if you wanted to pick that up and try it out instead

 

[RagnarKon]

I appreciate your checking your notes for the amp turn on voltage. Any thoughts on the reverse pinout I noticed in the Fusion and Bronco amp's Power/Ground leads in my last post? I posted about this in the 2023MY Standard Audio (6-speaker) Subwoofer Delete Mandatory and Functional Amps Removed.

On the Bronco 11 is ground, 14 is power.

No idea on the Fusion, never even sat in a Fusion before. But I know from others on this forum that the Fusion amp is plug-n-play, so I would assume it's the same.

 

[VAtruck]

On the Bronco 11 is ground, 14 is power.

No idea on the Fusion, never even sat in a Fusion before. But I know from others on this forum that the Fusion amp is plug-n-play, so I would assume it's the same.

Thank you for confirming. It's an error in the Ford wiring diagram for the 7 Speaker system:

 

[VAtruck]

I don’t know the answer to the fusion amp wiring but I have a Bronco amp sitting in a closet if you wanted to pick that up and try it out instead

Thank you for the offer. I actually have a complete Ford subwoofer assembly (Ford amp with a 6 1/2" Kicker 4 Ohm speaker). I discovered the difference when I picked up a Fusion input connector for the amp at the junkyard to make the harness.

 

[VAtruck]

It turns out using a Line Out Converter to supply the audio signal to the subwoofer amplifier has another advantage over the 2023 7 speaker system. In addition to having a volume knob, the Scosche LOC2SL has a gain adjustment for the output to the amplifier. With the gain turned up, the Kicker 48CWRT674 puts out more bass than you can get from the factory 7 speaker system.

A note on the 12V to 5V Step Down Converter. The instructions are pretty vague. The BLACK wire is Ground. The BLUE wire connects to the LOC's 12V turn on sign. The RED wire provides a 5V turn on signal to the Ford amplifier.

I removed the storage box and the lower edge to the opening to match the size of the grille for the 7 speaker system.

I am going to attach a piece of wire mesh to the backside of the panel with silicone caulk as a speaker grille. I was going to add sound deadener to the panel around the opening, but noticed Ford had already reinforced the panel with stiffing ribs.

I'm really happy with the installation. The entire install was less than $250. With the Kicker Key 200.4 and subwoofer, the system sounds good enough that I don't plan on replacing the dash, kickpanel or rear pod speakers.

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