Audio amplifier installation on base/select edition (non-BO)

[Nomad77888]

I replaced the speakers with Focals but the sound quality is still not great. I would like to install an amp to replace the standard amp. Has anyone done this? Would appreciate any info on how to do it?

Sponsored

 

[MannyG20]

I have not done this in the Mach E but I did do a complete audio upgrade in my Bronco.
reach out to https://plugnplaykits.com/
He does not have anything for the Mach E listed on his website but he is fairly helpful and may be able to help you out.
if so please post as i would like to know also.

 

[Nomad77888]

Thanks, he only has some B&O compatible kits. It's much easier to upgrade the B&O system because it already has an amp in the rear. The trick is going to be getting to the head unit and figuring out the wiring.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

@Nomad77888 I wish you the best of luck on your install.. When I set out to upgrade my B&O system there was no one who had done it themselves. A few people had some ideas of how to do it or had a professional installer complete the upgrade. My advise is to do the research.

PAC Audio may have the t-harness for the non-amplified system which taps in under the dash.

MOBridge also has audio pre-amp systems. I looked at them during my research but went with PAC Audio on my B&O fitup. I do not know them as well and not sure if they will work on the non-B&O.

 

[Nomad77888]

Thanks, I read your write up on your upgrade. It was insightful. I got the PAC harness you recommended. I am taking it to a pro installer this Friday. They said they had access to the wiring diagrams. Hopefully, they won't mess up anything in the car :/

Installing a Kicker key amp.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

Thanks, I read your write up on your upgrade. It was insightful. I got the PAC harness you recommended. I am taking it to a pro installer this Friday. They said they had access to the wiring diagrams. Hopefully, they won't mess up anything in the car :/

Installing a Kicker key amp.

The PAC harness plugs directly into the OEM harness. They cannot mess that part up.

In my upgrade post, I did mention that the factory equalizer on the B&O was tuned to the OEM speakers. When I did my speaker upgrade, they did not sound as good as they should due to the tuning. Not sure if the non-B&O system will be same. Just a heads up if your system does not sound like you were expecting. I know I was disappointed after my speaker upgrade. I knew that was a possibility going into the upgrade but was hoping for the best. The amp with DSP fixed that issue.

 

[Nomad77888]

Thanks, I was aware of the EQ setting issue. I removed the EQ (set it to flat) in Forscan and the speakers do sound better.

 

[Nomad77888]

Ok, I got the amp installed. I used Best Buy and went and met the installer before. I visited two different stores before selecting one based on meeting the installer. He did a really good job. This is the critical thing you have to find a someone that is meticulous and knows their stuff.

After running the Kicker Key amp auto EQ the system now sounds pretty good. How good? Way better than the Ford B&O system. I would venture to say that for 99% of the people out there will be happy with it. If you want a lot of bass, you will need to install a sub. I don't, so I have no plans to do that. What I will do, is apply some sound dampening material on the inside of the doors to tighten up the bass.

Speakers: Focal Integration Series 165. (This the lower end of Focal. If you buy the higher end series you should get better sound.)

Amp: Kicker 47Key2004, this is a 50W x 4 amp and it's definitely loud enough. But the real reason I got it was it's Auto DSP tuning functionality. It has a DSP built in. Tuning a DSP can be a lot of work and you need experience to do it right. (The PAC LPHFD31 worked in my 2024.) After auto tuning the DSP in the amp the overall sound quality improved significantly! Huge difference!

No high-pass filter was applied to the door speakers. If you have a sub then you can but if you don't then you will lose most of your bass if you do.

The auto shutdown wire out of the head unit did not work correctly, so they had to connect it directly to the fuse box to the mirror diming circuit.

PS For the audiophiles out there... My reference car audio system is the one in my Audi. BA reference speakers on sinfoni amp. The Focals + Kicker will get you about 80% of this one for 1/5 the price.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

@Nomad77888 Congratulations. What were some of your first songs to test your new system?

Glad you found a good installer. I second your criteria finding someone who knows what they are doing and make the effort to do a great installation is hard.

Focal speakers were my first choice for speakers. They have a great reputation for quality tweeters. Oh, 50 watts per channel will help you rock your daily drives. Glad you got a DSP so you could tune your systems. I am on round two of my tuning and will probably do one last tune. I may find someone in my area to see if someone has the ability to tune the DSP with a microphone.

Tell me more about the auto shutdown wire not working. My remote turn on seems to not shutdown sometimes and seems to be powered on when the car is off.

 

[Nomad77888]

haha, I listen to a lot of different music so I played a variety of stuff. I can already tell that while the system is decent, the 6.5 speakers are not as clear as they could be. They lack a bit of detail and clarity but this is what you pay for in the expensive speakers so I am not surprised. The Kicker key amps auto DSP is really good. My friend is the engineer at Kicker who designed it and he's a audio hardware genius.

This is the first time I am using Focal. I can tell that they have potential and are decent speakers, but, as always, you need to get the good (more expensive) ones to really get the good sound.

The installer said that the standard turn on/off wire from the PAC turns on the amp the moment your fab gets near the car and car comes awake not when you turn on the engine. He had to wire it directly to the fuse box to get it to work correctly.

 

[Nomad77888]

Playing with the tuning I found the Compressor (On) on the amp produced the best sound, interestingly enough. The bass is definitely tighter with it on.

In the future, I will replace the rear speakers with coaxials. The tweeter in the dash just doesn't reach the back seat. Some sound dampening in the doors would also help.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

@Nomad77888 Thanks for your reply about the OEM signal turning on when the car senses the FOB. That now makes sense. I put cooling fans to exhaust the enclosed area of my amplifier and to flow over the cooling fins. I can hear the fans running when I am charging. I did put a timer relay on them so they should only run a few minutes after start of the amp and few minutes after. Now I know they are running. I indicated that your installer pulled off the mirror dimming circuit. If you know the fuse number let me know. If not, I can research it and evaluate how it is working.

I put sound deadening in the doors, on the door panels and in the trunk area. Since I removed the back seats and the trunk side trim panels, I had access to that entire area. I put it on the large sections of the floor and interior fender wells to help mitigate the sound transmission.

What is Compress (on)? Not sure I know that or understand?

 

[Nomad77888]

Some amps have a builtin audio compressor, it's usually a on/off switch.

 

[mach searcy]

I replaced the speakers with Focals but the sound quality is still not great. I would like to install an amp to replace the standard amp. Has anyone done this? Would appreciate any info on how to do it?

yes i just had it done yesterday you need a 4 channel amp running to the facotry amp
that will. change the sound. i did have it installed

Sponsored