JL Audio Fix 86 - Base audio measured - Flat front/rear FORSCAN settings

[MOBRONCO]

Bought one to do a little analysis on why the base system sounds so awful, and beyond the speakers, there are some issues with the DSP module curve Ford has chosen for the Bronco. I don't have access to a Lux install with B&O to compare and contrast, and I am working on getting Forscan up and going for more measurements after tweaking the audio settings, but thought I'd start here.

Keep in mind this is the measurement of the Head Unit itself, having nothing to do with the speakers.

The top is the front channels, the bottom are the rears. We know Ford nerfed the rear channels, but some things of note, not only is the bass rolled off incredibly aggressively, the output is lower as well. Now, to be fair, if you are going for a proper soundstage the output from the rears should be lower. Both the front and rear also are missing significant high frequency information rolling off strongly above 16K Hz, the Ford speakers couldn't play up here anyway, but it makes getting great sound out of aftermarket systems a bit more challenging to get a feeling of openness or airy-ness that a high quality tweeter can apply.

Next up i'll be getting Forscan and checking settings and impact, maybe one night this week.

Fronts only zoomed

Rear zoomed

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[djn3400]

Following! Thanks for doing this!!

 

[djn3400]

@MOBRONCO are you able to tell if the factory signal changes as the volume is increased on the head unit? I’m curious if the bass to the fronts is rolled off as volume goes up to protect the factory speakers.

 

[MOBRONCO]

@MOBRONCO are you able to tell if the factory signal changes as the volume is increased on the head unit? I’m curious if the bass to the fronts is rolled off as volume goes up to protect the factory speakers.

It didn’t appear so, curves looked the same at 12 and 20, I didn’t go higher yet, but will check when I have some more time.

 

[djn3400]

Well, that is good news! Thanks again for your help. I’ve already replaced all the front speakers and added a Kicker Key 200.4. I’m planning on a JL ACP112LG-TW1 tapped into the front speakers to get some low end oomph. I was curious if the low end signal to the sub would be reduced at higher volumes, but it sounds like it won’t.

 

[MOBRONCO]

Okay, so here is what I was looking for.

First, the TLDR. It is possible to get almost completely flat audio signal from the 2022 base factory unit with ONLY using Forscan. This is great news, you won't hear a ton of difference in factory speakers, but this is the way to get flat audio to feed an amp or system of your choice.

My Forscan changes, 727-01-01 to 3800 and 727-01-02 to 0900

First, all 4 channels showing flat (or as close as you'll get) out of the system with only a FORSCAN change

Front channel showing essentially flat output, minus an odd peak then dip above 16K

And what everyone is searching for (maybe can help the B&O guys too, but no promises) unmolested rear channel output

 

[omg_bbq]

Coooooooool! Trying this tonight

 

[Slick85]

If I do a full system upgrade with amplifiers, new speakers, and a subwoofer do I need anything to integrate or get a flat signal besides an aftermarket DSP? I know the B&O systems need a special interface but not sure about the regular one.

 

[marjen]

I wish there was a Mac version of forsccan

 

[kevin.gt]

Okay, so here is what I was looking for.

First, the TLDR. It is possible to get almost completely flat audio signal from the 2022 base factory unit with ONLY using Forscan. This is great news, you won't hear a ton of difference in factory speakers, but this is the way to get flat audio to feed an amp or system of your choice.

My Forscan changes, 727-01-01 to 3800 and 727-01-02 to 0900

First, all 4 channels showing flat (or as close as you'll get) out of the system with only a FORSCAN change

Front channel showing essentially flat output, minus an odd peak then dip above 16K

And what everyone is searching for (maybe can help the B&O guys too, but no promises) unmolested rear channel output

Do you have graphs from before the forscan changes? Also the software shows “calibration successful”. Just to be clear, you aren’t using any aftermarket dsp to get the flat signals, correct? I was just reading about the keyloc which seems like a lot of work to try to produce what you are showing here with just forscan

 

[MOBRONCO]

Do you have graphs from before the forscan changes? Also the software shows “calibration successful”. Just to be clear, you aren’t using any aftermarket dsp to get the flat signals, correct? I was just reading about the keyloc which seems like a lot of work to try to produce what you are showing here with just forscan

Pre Forscan graphs are in the first post. Forscan removes the requirement to get a DSP for a flat signal for the base audio system.

 

[da_jokker]

I wish there was a Mac version of forsccan

Thought Macs can actually run Windows? Maybe try a VM?

 

[da_jokker]

Pre Forscan graphs are in the first post. Forscan removes the requirement to get a DSP for a flat signal for the base audio system.

So say I want to explain this to my 10 yr old ... Switch to a flat signal does what? I'm assuming we are not talking simply about Bass/Treble adjustments like you'd fine in your EQ setting?

 

[marjen]

Thought Macs can actually run Windows? Maybe try a VM?

they can it’s just a pain to setup and I have a pretty old Mac anyway it barely runs Mac OS as I either use my work Mac or iPad all the time. I am upgrading speakers and adding kicker amps so would like to unlock the rears.

 

[MOBRONCO]

So say I want to explain this to my 10 yr old ... Switch to a flat signal does what? I'm assuming we are not talking simply about Bass/Treble adjustments like you'd fine in your EQ setting?

So the factory base system has an EQ on the front and rear channels, along with an aggressive crossover on the rear channels. Currently if someone wants to add a sub, they have to get signal from the front speakers. This Forscan change would allow you to get that from the rear speaker wires.

Also, this allows you to get full range (bass) to the rear speaker pods, this will not help the OEM speakers much as they also have a built in high pass filter. However an aftermarket speaker may not, and with this you should get fuller sound even with the factory speakers. With that said, a good system does need some DSP work to deal with the oddities of the automotive listening environment.

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