2023 Ford F150 Platinum B&O Unleashed (the leash broke) - System Upgrade - Here We Go Again!

[Sonnie Parker]

I know what I said... my wife and a few others have reminded me several times. "This will be my last one." "I'm not doing it again." "The factory system sounds fine... going to leave it in there." "Too lazy to do it any longer." Excuses and procrastination galore! I guess I just can't stand it and want to punish myself one more time (that's what you said last time).

I usually trade about every 18-24 months, but I had to wait a little longer this round because either nothing was available or there were $10K addendums added to the sticker prices. Prices finally got right recently, and I worked out a deal to trade in my 2020 Ram for this 2023 F150 Platinum. It has the B&O Unleashed system, which is literally going to get unleashed from the truck. It's really the best factory system I have heard in a vehicle, but that makes it no fun, right?

Factory display is very nice.

First things first... gotta get it all ordered up. Equipment and acoustical treatments.

Prompts to several who are taking my money.

Most everyone knows miniDSP, and I don't think there is a better way to tune a car audio system than with this processor. You may be the best tuner in the world, but I'll get very close to what you can do, and I'll use the C-DSP 8x12DL.

Nick over at Resonix is handling most of the sound deadening, decoupling, and absorption materials to help keep the rattles down and perhaps cure some noises.

Then there's a newcomer... Jon from All Things Aquatic in KC. https://www.allthingsaquatickc.com/ ... Jon started out installing systems on boats, and it filtered over into the auto side, so he now does both. He can work out some worthy package deals if you need a few items. He's handling the amps, speakers, amp rack, integration, and some of the wiring for me. It would be worth a phone call or email to him if you need something.

The mObridge DA-G2.ENTRY A2B FORD will handle integrating the B&O system to the miniDSP via Toslink (optical). This takes the factory outputs and cleans them up, and also allows adjustment of the mono sinks such as Phone, Navigation, PDC, and Voice recognition to compensate for OEM systems that may need adjustment.

Three of the Audison SR amps will provide power to the system. The SR 1.500 will provide 800 watts @ 2 ohms to the JL Audio Stealthbox SB-F-150-SCDBL/12TW3/BK.

I had the JL Stealthbox with dual 10TW3 subs in my 2020 Ram, and it was absolutely astounding. It has to be one of the cleanest subs that play as low as anything I've ever heard in a vehicle. I hope the dual 12s will be as good or better in the F150.

Then we have the SR 4.500 4-channel amp that will provide 220 watts @ 2 ohms to each of the BLAM Signature WS 8.100 8" woofers that will be mounted in the doors. This is my first time installing 8" drivers in the doors, but Jon has me a set of 6x9 to 8" adaptors coming that will do the job. The other two channels will handle the BLAM Signature MS 3.55 midrange dash speakers. They are 3-ohm speakers, so the amp should be rated at 175 watts to each of these. Not that I'll need that much power, but the headroom will be there.

The other Audison amp will be the SR 4.300 that is rated at 85 watts @ 4 ohms, and it will handle the BLAM Signature TSM 25 S 45 1" soft dome tweeter and the factory rear doors for differential rear fill.

BLAM was founded by one of the fellows that left Focal several years ago... all made in France. Supposedly on the high-end side... definitely on the expensive side.

All the electronics will be mounted on the amp rack behind the rear seat...

That pretty much wraps it up for the installation goods.

I'll take some pics along the way and post them up.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Equipment rack layout time.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Wired on the board... next is treating the truck as soon as it gets back from being wrapped.

 

[JStewart]

I’m not at all familiar with car audio these days, but curious. Can you tap into the audio system or do you have to replace it?
Are these touch screens connected to everything just that?
Do you use the factory software or replace it?

 

[Sonnie Parker]

This system integrates with the factory head unit via the mOBridge unit. The input connectors that attach to the factory DSP/amp that mounts on the rear wall behind the rear seat will attach to the mOBridge. It will then take that signal and flatten it and send it to the miniDSP, which does its thing and distributes signal to the amps. The speaker output of the amps are fed back into the output connector from the factory amp to power the speakers. All factory functions are still there. I will replace the sub, door speakers, and dash speakers as well.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Passenger side doors are done. I'm a fan of Resonix dampening, but I did use the Soundskin precut layer for the inside. It was so much easier being precut. Resonix CLD did go all on the inside of the outer skin, along with Guardian from Resonix, and the Resonix Fiber 45 on the door panel. The Guardian was a little more difficult to work with as it is very fragile. I found it easier to manage if cut up into smaller pieces.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Got a few more things done today.

Bass knob mounted below and to the left of the steering wheel column.

miniDSP remote mounted out of the way, but there when I need it.

After using Resonix CLD on the rear floor and rear wall, I also installed Resonix Fiber 45 on the back wall in any place it would fit. Mostly in the lower areas because it was already very tight up top. I was able to install it across the back seats and fill in the space underneath the carpet going across the back seat.

I added Fiber 45 anywhere there was extra space.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Got the BLAM tweeters installed today... another bit of a chore modifying the factory mounting bracket, and adding the capacitor. Had to trim down the top edge to get the BLAM to fit, but it was like a glove.

I crossed them over with the mids at 5kHz, but I like the mids reflecting off the windshield better, so I'll end up making these super tweeters at 10kHz and up.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I finally finished up with the install and the tuning... sounds really good thus far.

JL Stealth box installed... and where I moved my jack to after removing it for the amp board.

I added some light in the back to give it some bling.

And a view underneath the seat ...

 

[JStewart]

I’m fixing to do an upgrade for our horrible Honda CRV factory system and was wondering if a vehicle target response curve is similar to a typical room target or different?

By the way, how did your project turn out? You mentioned it was the best factory system you’d heard. Worth the upgrade?

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I’m fixing to do an upgrade for our horrible Honda CRV factory system and was wondering if a vehicle target response curve is similar to a typical room target or different?

By the way, how did your project turn out? You mentioned it was the best factory system you’d heard. Worth the upgrade?

I use a curve similar to the house... maybe a little more bass to drown out the road noise, although in this truck, it's not much because it is so quiet.

It turned out great... love it. No doubt better than factory, although factory was really good considering most are horrible.

 

[JStewart]

It turned out great... love it. No doubt better than factory,

Awesome!

And thank you for the target curve info.

I’m just waiting on the DSP to arrive for the install to begin. Audio Control DM 608. It won’t be miniDSP with Dirac but should be part of a nice step up from the factory system.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Cool... make sure you do a thread on it here so we can see it.