Base Sound System Upgrade/Build

[Lazarus]

Greetings,

Historically, Kenwood has always been my go to, but have also included Alpine and Kicker into the mix as time has gone by. This time I wanted to try something different and decided to go with Infinity. I wanted to keep it simple at first, and build off of that if i feel i need to down the road. Here is what I went with:

1 x Infinity BassLink SM 2
2 x pair Infinity Reference 4032cfx
2 x Infinity Kappa 63XF

The total cost was $694, and I feel this was a pretty decent upgrade. With the base/stock system I felt it sounded ok, but it really needed some depth. there was no bass and it felt like all the sound was from the dash. However, between the Kappas and the Reference speakers, they really improved not only the clarity but they also fill the cabin very well. I can now hear solid stereo effect and sound depth as the rear pods also came to life. The SM2 does a pretty good job of filling in the bottom end.

I initially installed 300hz bass blockers, but I ended up taking them out since the Infinity's have pretty good response/sensitivity, and the SM2 operates @ 35-150hz. With them in place i felt there was a bit of a flat spot in the low range. I feel the overall sound was better without them in this case.

I did have a bit more of a challenge than expected trying to find a decent location for the SM2. I wanted to put it under the rear seats, but it just wasn't going to work out the way i envisioned. Under the fronts wasn't an option either, so I ended up mounting to the driver side of the cargo area (I'll post a pic when I get a chance). Not my first choice, but it seems to be working out fine there.

Overall the sound is pretty good and I'm happy with the upgrade, although down the road I may add some sort of EQ/DSP so I can fine tune the sound (possibly even an amp). However, it will definately keep me content for a while, allowing me to focus efforts, and funds, on other modifications. Overall it took me a few hours total to get it all done. None of it was hard, just a little time consuming.

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[b1lf]

Greetings,

Historically, Kenwood has always been my go to, but have also included Alpine and Kicker into the mix as time has gone by. This time I wanted to try something different and decided to go with Infinity. I wanted to keep it simple at first, and build off of that if i feel i need to down the road. Here is what I went with:

1 x Infinity BassLink SM 2
2 x pair Infinity Reference 4032cfx
2 x Infinity Kappa 63XF

The total cost was $694, and I feel this was a pretty decent upgrade. With the base/stock system I felt it sounded ok, but it really needed some depth. there was no bass and it felt like all the sound was from the dash. However, between the Kappas and the Reference speakers, they really improved not only the clarity but they also fill the cabin very well. I can now hear solid stereo effect and sound depth as the rear pods also came to life. The SM2 does a pretty good job of filling in the bottom end.

I initially installed 300hz bass blockers, but I ended up taking them out since the Infinity's have pretty good response/sensitivity, and the SM2 operates @ 35-150hz. With them in place i felt there was a bit of a flat spot in the low range. I feel the overall sound was better without them in this case.

I did have a bit more of a challenge than expected trying to find a decent location for the SM2. I wanted to put it under the rear seats, but it just wasn't going to work out the way i envisioned. Under the fronts wasn't an option either, so I ended up mounting to the driver side of the cargo area (I'll post a pic when I get a chance). Not my first choice, but it seems to be working out fine there.

Overall the sound is pretty good and I'm happy with the upgrade, although down the road I may add some sort of EQ/DSP so I can fine tune the sound (possibly even an amp). However, it will definately keep me content for a while, allowing me to focus efforts, and funds, on other modifications. Overall it took me a few hours total to get it all done. None of it was hard, just a little time consuming.

 

[4avor8ntfair]

Happy to report after 4 late nights working away in the driveway the Bronco now has a great sound system!!

I didn't go crazy with my speaker selection, using kicker CS Series for the 4" and 6.5". There are better speakers out there for sure, but for a sound stage that in my case is open air as often as I can have the top off and the windows down, they provide a plenty accurate and full listening experience!

For the rear speakers I took a page out of the Wrangler/UTV owners playbook and went with a pair of 6.5" marine wake tower speakers. Went back and forth on this one for a while because I'm someone that likes to keep things looking factory, but in the end I'm so happy I went this route! They are more than powerful enough to break through the wind noise and push crisp clear audio up to the front seats!

I 3D printed some mounting adapters so I could still take advantage of the factory brackets and so far it's working great. Working on finding a thread locker that plays nice with PLA for the bolts and then they'll be good for hopefully years to come.

Lastly I was going to mount the two amps where the factory B&O sub and DSP would be, but ended up going with the much easier to access cargo area. It was easy to mount everything and using some spacers for the "load floor" that's held down by the tie down points in the rear I had plants of room to run my wiring.

These 6.5" marine wake tower speakers seem like a better option for people who don’t want a sound bar to block the entire rear view. Once you finalize the design/material (if you haven’t already), have you thought about selling the adapter? I’d definitely buy that instead of rigging something up or paying a local shop to make it from scratch.

 

[philjmatt]

I've done alright with the PLA so far, printed a second version with more infill and just had to tighten them after some initial shrinking of the plastic! But I think I might still get them printed in ABS from one of the online print farms and test that out, but would be happy to "bring them to market" of the demand is there and the material holds up!

They definitely alot for good visibility out the back too!

 

[Ig_bronco]

Before you go spending money on after market speakers do this old trick.

The speakers (especially the kick panel speakers) aren't that bad.

Just some generic butyl sound deadening. I would say it doubled the bass response of the OEM units.

ehh, Doubt. I had a 14 JKU with mopar kickers (soundbar, kick panels and 46KST tweets) 10 inch alpine sub, Poly filled all the speakers except tweeters and sub. Then I got 4 cases of Killmat (dynamat)… did the entire vehicle floor, doors, speaker pods and that didn't do a whole lot. Tbh, it wasn't hard but I never want to do it again.

 

[rutherk1]

ehh, Doubt. I had a 14 JKU with mopar kickers (soundbar, kick panels and 46KST tweets) 10 inch alpine sub, Poly filled all the speakers except tweeters and sub. Then I got 4 cases of Killmat (dynamat)… did the entire vehicle floor, doors, speaker pods and that didn't do a whole lot. Tbh, it wasn't hard but I never want to do it again.

Give it a try on the bronco!

The kick panel speakers are plastic on metal with a gap. Definitely helps. Most other trucks I have had there is at least some kind of gasket.

 

[Ig_bronco]

Give it a try on the bronco!

The kick panel speakers are plastic on metal with a gap. Definitely helps. Most other trucks I have had there is at least some kind of gasket.

Maybe... I think the best improvement was the poly fill

 

[Petey]

I've done alright with the PLA so far, printed a second version with more infill and just had to tighten them after some initial shrinking of the plastic! But I think I might still get them printed in ABS from one of the online print farms and test that out, but would be happy to "being then to market" of the demand is there and the material holds up!

They definitely alot for good visibility out the back too!

I need more photos of this setup!

 

[rutherk1]

Maybe... I think the best improvement was the poly fill

Ideally, if you can get all the enclosures/speaker pods sealed up, then poly fill may help too but they would have to be completely sealed. Most components are designed to work in an infinite baffle, though.

I’ve decided to go simple on this stereo. Just clean up the factory stuff and I added a small amp/sub. Installing and tweaking with everything is all the fun anyway. My old truck I spent so much time on getting everything “perfect”. I had so much equipment in there that I needed a truck just to haul it.

 

[mikey_photo]

I’ve been going down the audio path and plan on doing everything in a few steps.

So far I’ve done the following:

Changed dash speakers to Kicker KS 4” with PAC BB-1PR Bass Blockers

Dynamat in the kick panels and replaced speakers with Sony XS 6.5”

I didn’t even bother with the pod speakers because I plan on switching to wakeboard speakers (once a viable mounting option exists) and really want at least 6.5” speakers on the roll bar.

It’s made a huge difference in clarity and a bit more mid-bass, but still totally needs an amp.

I’ll be adding the Kicker 47key200.4 to run the fronts and rear wakeboard speakers.

I’m trying to hold out until after I do my seat delete, but will also be adding a sub with a amp as well.

 

[rutherk1]

Since we are on the topic. RF power series amps fit great under the seat.
Built a harness so no cutting into factory speaker wires

 

[Ig_bronco]

I’ve been going down the audio path and plan on doing everything in a few steps.

So far I’ve done the following:

Changed dash speakers to Kicker KS 4” with PAC BB-1PR Bass Blockers

Dynamat in the kick panels and replaced speakers with Sony XS 6.5”

I didn’t even bother with the pod speakers because I plan on switching to wakeboard speakers (once a viable mounting option exists) and really want at least 6.5” speakers on the roll bar.

It’s made a huge difference in clarity and a bit more mid-bass, but still totally needs an amp.

I’ll be adding the Kicker 47key200.4 to run the fronts and rear wakeboard speakers.

I’m trying to hold out until after I do my seat delete, but will also be adding a sub with a amp as well.

Honestly.. I like the pod idea, I'm waiting for a company to come out with a new sound bar for the bronco.. Those back speakers are a joke... Company called American sound bar makes them for jeeps I asked about the bronco they said nah fam...

 

[Ig_bronco]

There was a video of someone removing the front dash and they accessed the stereo face.. If I recall correctly that face is a half inch deep I'm not aware of any aftermarket stereo that is that shallow.. In my jku I have the alpine 650 and that's not nearly as shallow.

 

[palley6]

There was a video of someone removing the front dash and they accessed the stereo face.. If I recall correctly that face is a half inch deep I'm not aware of any aftermarket stereo that is that shallow.. In my jku I have the alpine 650 and that's not nearly as shallow.

 

[mikey_photo]

Honestly.. I like the pod idea, I'm waiting for a company to come out with a new sound bar for the bronco.. Those back speakers are a joke... Company called American sound bar makes them for jeeps I asked about the bronco they said nah fam...

I’d think that someone in the aftermarket has to come up with something. It seems like it’d be a no brainer to offer slightly larger pod enclosures that work with the existing mounting options while offering the ability for 6.5” or even 6x9’s.

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