My new audio system ROCKS!!! Upgraded non B&O w/sub delete

[Big Lig]

So I finally got my 2023 Badlands (non B&O w/sub delete) audio system upgraded.

What I went with;
Alpine PXE-C80-88 8 channel amplifier w/DSP
Hertz CX 100 4" dash
Hertz C 165 F 6.5" kick
Hertz CX 165 6.5" in SSV Works PODS
JL Stealthbox 10" sub

After much research, I selected these for specific reasons;

Maintain stock look - maximize precious cargo space and minimize looky-loosers who would steal $1 from their mom...
Separate each speaker into their own channel. I really don't like the way the Bronco is wired for the front. Just personal preference.
Avoid using FORScan. Mostly because I don't own the scanned interface, but also don't want to flash it myself. If a dealer is going to charge $200-300 to flash, I'd rather pay for a DSP.
Complete control over the sound stage shape. I want audio that is clear at volume and loud enough with the top and doors off.

This is where I had the installer start with the cross over settings.

Channel 1 & 2 (Hertz CX 100): HPF @ 400Hz
Channel 3 & 4 (Hertz CX 165): HPF @ 100Hz - LPF @ 400Hz (bandpass)
Channel 5 & 6 (Hertz C 165 F): HPF @ 100Hz
Channel 7 (JL Audio Stealthbox®): LPF @ 100Hz

I want to give a special thanks to Eddie and Marcos at Car Stereo Plus in Houston, TX. They did a fantastic job on the install. I will say that they had suggested a couple of different items that would work, and save me money. It didn't align to what I was envisioning, so I stuck to my guns. I am glad I did. The stereo is AMAZING! I don't want bass that rattles my fillings out, but I do want to feel it... more specifically I want to feel like I did when I was at a live concert. This setup delivers, period.

Something I do want to note that I learned after the fact, and isn't mentioned anywhere that I can find....

The sub delete sub enclosure is ported. As much as I have searched that specific answer, when planning the system build, it was never answered outright that I could find.

I feel that going with the mid range woofer in the kick panel (Hertz C 165F) and the mid to high range speaker (Hertz CX 100) in the dash is a MUST! If someone doesn't have the money for a sub yet, but this stock system is making you regret buying your Bronco...consider putting the mid range 6.5" in the kick, and possibly swap out the dash and pods (even w/quality 4" speakers). Run everything through a LOC and into the Kicker Key.... that alone should make a difference on a reasonable budget. IMHO, most of the previous upgrades so far left out one important item.... the LOC. The Kicker Key has a DSP, but if you are not summing the whole into it first, you will suffer from the stock EQ..... that's like trying to run a marathon on your knees. Don't do it.

Sponsored

 

[Go Devils]

Very cool! And a nice write-up to help others. If I may ask, what does a system like that cost out the door with installation?

 

[Big Lig]

Very cool! And a nice write-up to help others. If I may ask, what does a system like that cost out the door with installation?

It was just under $4k. Installation was about half of it.

 

[HOSSMAN]

Nice build and write up. Hertz are the $hit man, that's what I have in my front half and then JL wakeboard tower speakers in the rear.

How are you liking the stealth box? I had it, sounded terrrrrrrrible in mine, no depth or punch, got the installer to credit me back for it and build a custom enclosure with 2 JL 10's down firing in the back.

 

[Big Lig]

Nice build and write up. Hertz are the $hit man, that's what I have in my front half and then JL wakeboard tower speakers in the rear.

How are you liking the stealth box? I had it, sounded terrrrrrrrible in mine, no depth or punch, got the installer to credit me back for it and build a custom enclosure with 2 JL 10's down firing in the back.

I will say it satisfies the basic need... but I am a little disappointed. I expected more from a 10" sub in the metal shoebox that the Bronco is.... That said, it does the job of adding lows where I didn't have them before.

If I had the talent and knowledge I would have tried to design and make my own box. I know there are folks who have made a few, but they are all for specific subs like the Kicker. I would probably go with a different sub, and I've been pretty happy with quality 8" in the past... just wanted more options than Kicker (not hating on them.... (jtbc)

 

[buzpro]

So I finally got my 2023 Badlands (non B&O w/sub delete) audio system upgraded.

What I went with;
Alpine PXE-C80-88 8 channel amplifier w/DSP
Hertz CX 100 4" dash
Hertz C 165 F 6.5" kick
Hertz CX 165 6.5" in SSV Works PODS
JL Stealthbox 10" sub

After much research, I selected these for specific reasons;

Maintain stock look - maximize precious cargo space and minimize looky-loosers who would steal $1 from their mom...
Separate each speaker into their own channel. I really don't like the way the Bronco is wired for the front. Just personal preference.
Avoid using FORScan. Mostly because I don't own the scanned interface, but also don't want to flash it myself. If a dealer is going to charge $200-300 to flash, I'd rather pay for a DSP.
Complete control over the sound stage shape. I want audio that is clear at volume and loud enough with the top and doors off.

This is where I had the installer start with the cross over settings.

Channel 1 & 2 (Hertz CX 100): HPF @ 400Hz
Channel 3 & 4 (Hertz CX 165): HPF @ 100Hz - LPF @ 400Hz (bandpass)
Channel 5 & 6 (Hertz C 165 F): HPF @ 100Hz
Channel 7 (JL Audio Stealthbox®): LPF @ 100Hz

I want to give a special thanks to Eddie and Marcos at Car Stereo Plus in Houston, TX. They did a fantastic job on the install. I will say that they had suggested a couple of different items that would work, and save me money. It didn't align to what I was envisioning, so I stuck to my guns. I am glad I did. The stereo is AMAZING! I don't want bass that rattles my fillings out, but I do want to feel it... more specifically I want to feel like I did when I was at a live concert. This setup delivers, period.

Something I do want to note that I learned after the fact, and isn't mentioned anywhere that I can find....

The sub delete sub enclosure is ported. As much as I have searched that specific answer, when planning the system build, it was never answered outright that I could find.

I feel that going with the mid range woofer in the kick panel (Hertz C 165F) and the mid to high range speaker (Hertz CX 100) in the dash is a MUST! If someone doesn't have the money for a sub yet, but this stock system is making you regret buying your Bronco...consider putting the mid range 6.5" in the kick, and possibly swap out the dash and pods (even w/quality 4" speakers). Run everything through a LOC and into the Kicker Key.... that alone should make a difference on a reasonable budget. IMHO, most of the previous upgrades so far left out one important item.... the LOC. The Kicker Key has a DSP, but if you are not summing the whole into it first, you will suffer from the stock EQ..... that's like trying to run a marathon on your knees. Don't do it.

Besides my Sub, I also have Hertz speakers thru out. Its my first experience with Hertz and I gotta say I friggin' LOVE 'EM. True quality speakers at a reasonable price.

 

[Techun]

Man don't you just love that shot of the under seat ducting lol.

 

[Big Lig]

Besides my Sub, I also have Hertz speakers thru out. Its my first experience with Hertz and I gotta say I friggin' LOVE 'EM. True quality speakers at a reasonable price.

Truly amazing clarity! Which line do you have? I'm running the Centos. I based my decision on sensitivity, RMS, cone material and their included freq charts. It's where I go the idea to look at the C 165 F... the limited range of that speaker made me realize a lot of the other 2 way speakers did not go as low, as clear.... because it makes all the other frequencies also. So, put that power to work on a limited area of responsibility and allow it to focus intently on doing it's job....and WOW!

 

[FreddieLee]

Very nice system layout.

Interesting choice of crossover settings in channels 3-7...

 

[Big Lig]

Very nice system layout.

Interesting choice of crossover settings in channels 3-7...

Well I am new, so I figured I would start somewhere. With the C 165 F only going 65-4.5, I figured tighten that and let the power get used better. I could be wrong of course, but it sounds amazing!!

 

[JediMcMuffin]

So a single amplifier for everything including the sub? That does sound simple, I dig it. It looks like in all the photos you had it staged for install under the passenger seat. What did you do with the under seat air duct down there or does it not interfere at all?

 

[Big Lig]

So a single amplifier for everything including the sub? That does sound simple, I dig it. It looks like in all the photos you had it staged for install under the passenger seat. What did you do with the under seat air duct down there or does it not interfere at all?

It was removed. It's sitting in a box in my garage now.

I wanted to mount it with the JL Stealthbox, but the amp is actually too tall...by the slightest bit. Figures

 

[topnotch2023]

So I finally got my 2023 Badlands (non B&O w/sub delete) audio system upgraded.

What I went with;
Alpine PXE-C80-88 8 channel amplifier w/DSP
Hertz CX 100 4" dash
Hertz C 165 F 6.5" kick
Hertz CX 165 6.5" in SSV Works PODS
JL Stealthbox 10" sub

After much research, I selected these for specific reasons;

Maintain stock look - maximize precious cargo space and minimize looky-loosers who would steal $1 from their mom...
Separate each speaker into their own channel. I really don't like the way the Bronco is wired for the front. Just personal preference.
Avoid using FORScan. Mostly because I don't own the scanned interface, but also don't want to flash it myself. If a dealer is going to charge $200-300 to flash, I'd rather pay for a DSP.
Complete control over the sound stage shape. I want audio that is clear at volume and loud enough with the top and doors off.

This is where I had the installer start with the cross over settings.

Channel 1 & 2 (Hertz CX 100): HPF @ 400Hz
Channel 3 & 4 (Hertz CX 165): HPF @ 100Hz - LPF @ 400Hz (bandpass)
Channel 5 & 6 (Hertz C 165 F): HPF @ 100Hz
Channel 7 (JL Audio Stealthbox®): LPF @ 100Hz

I want to give a special thanks to Eddie and Marcos at Car Stereo Plus in Houston, TX. They did a fantastic job on the install. I will say that they had suggested a couple of different items that would work, and save me money. It didn't align to what I was envisioning, so I stuck to my guns. I am glad I did. The stereo is AMAZING! I don't want bass that rattles my fillings out, but I do want to feel it... more specifically I want to feel like I did when I was at a live concert. This setup delivers, period.

Something I do want to note that I learned after the fact, and isn't mentioned anywhere that I can find....

The sub delete sub enclosure is ported. As much as I have searched that specific answer, when planning the system build, it was never answered outright that I could find.

I feel that going with the mid range woofer in the kick panel (Hertz C 165F) and the mid to high range speaker (Hertz CX 100) in the dash is a MUST! If someone doesn't have the money for a sub yet, but this stock system is making you regret buying your Bronco...consider putting the mid range 6.5" in the kick, and possibly swap out the dash and pods (even w/quality 4" speakers). Run everything through a LOC and into the Kicker Key.... that alone should make a difference on a reasonable budget. IMHO, most of the previous upgrades so far left out one important item.... the LOC. The Kicker Key has a DSP, but if you are not summing the whole into it first, you will suffer from the stock EQ..... that's like trying to run a marathon on your knees. Don't do it.

I believe you still need to change some sound settings in FORScan.

 

[Big Lig]

I believe you still need to change some sound settings in FORScan.

I don't think it is necessary, but it may make a difference in the bass signal...which would provide a lot more.

Something to think about at least.

 

[buzpro]

Truly amazing clarity! Which line do you have? I'm running the Centos. I based my decision on sensitivity, RMS, cone material and their included freq charts. It's where I go the idea to look at the C 165 F... the limited range of that speaker made me realize a lot of the other 2 way speakers did not go as low, as clear.... because it makes all the other frequencies also. So, put that power to work on a limited area of responsibility and allow it to focus intently on doing it's job....and WOW!

I got the Cento line as well and researched everything like you did. The crispy clarity draws so many compliments I just tend to ignore them now. lol.

Sponsored