[Sonnie]

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). At 61 you would seriously think I've grown out of it... nope!

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? Don't get me wrong, it's not even remotely close to any aftermarket upgrade, yet for a factory system, it is on the better side, which I understand is not saying much. Even with it being the best factory system I've heard, it's not up to par for the car audio guru (which most would say that it is horrible)... and even though I said it would be fine, I'm still cutting the leash.

Factory display is very nice... like a mini TV, and thankfully it won't play video discs.

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

Prompts to several who are taking my money.

Most everyone in the car audio world knows the miniDSP C-DSP with Dirac Live by now, and I personally 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.. unless you some sort of voodoo witch doctor. FULLY my OPINION ... you have a right to suggest otherwise. miniDSP C-DSP 8x12 DL Tuning Step by Step Guide

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. Home | All Things Aquatic KC ... (met him on one of the F150 forums). Jon started out installing systems on boats, and it filtered over into car audio, 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. I realize these might not be considered by some as elite enough to match up to the speakers, but having conducted blind testing with several high-end amps in a group of guys of which none could hear a difference, is pretty telling of differences in amps. Sure, there are features to consider, and obviously, some are quieter than others, some may have exaggerated ratings, but I suspect these will be just as good as most any others out there, especially for a vehicle driving down the road that will introduce more noise than any amp ever will.

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. No doubt there are some that have more SPL, but this one hits plenty hard for my liking.

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 for 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 the 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 think.

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

Let me know if I'm missing something.

 

[slowride]

Nice list of components. I have to agree on the screen in the dash. I rented a new expedition for a week and that thing was the bees knees. Keep us updated

 

[BobTheBirdTurd]

I wanted a Platinum lor KR ast year, but with the dealership gouging and Ford jacking prices, it didn't happen. Super nice trucks, good luck with the build.

 

[mumbles]

Hey Sonnie, nice to see someone else in my age bracket (60+)
Question about your rear fill... any reason you are using a tweeter? Differential rear fill is typically handled by a midrange speaker alone that is band-passed in the neighborhood of 300Hz to 5kHz. Reason being is that high frequencies are easier to localize and they can draw the stage backwards...

 

[UNBROKEN]

I’ve “known” Jon for a decade or more through various automotive things we’ve done at the same time from high performance diesels to Ford Explorers to car audio. He’s aight I guess. lol

 

[Sonnie]

Hey Sonnie, nice to see someone else in my age bracket (60+)
Question about your rear fill... any reason you are using a tweeter? Differential rear fill is typically handled by a midrange speaker alone that is band-passed in the neighborhood of 300Hz to 5kHz. Reason being is that high frequencies are easier to localize and they can draw the stage backwards...

I'm using the factory rear doors on the rear fill from about 300Hz up to 3500Hz. That amp is just going to power the front pillar BLAM tweeters and the rear fill. 4-channel amp. I may not have worded that clearly enough.

Glad I'm not the only old fart still doing this. I don't feel so alone now.. heehee

I’ve “known” Jon for a decade or more through various automotive things we’ve done at the same time from high performance diesels to Ford Explorers to car audio. He’s aight I guess. lol

I agree... he is indeed an "aight" fella... at least he has been thus far.

 

[jbcaindo]

Loving this build!

 

[saltyone]

... at least he has been thus far.

Spoken like a true old fart. Always leave an opening for a change of opinion. 😂

I’m not far from old fart territory, and I can only pray I never lose interest in mobile audio. Looking forward to following your build!

 

[Flash69]

Nice build. Where did you get the amp rack or are you building it yourself? When I checked with SGS a few months ago they would not make a full length amp rack. I need it to mount my (2) Mosconi 5/30s and 1 Mosconi 4/10 in my 2022 Platinum.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Nice build. Where did you get the amp rack or are you building it yourself? When I checked with SGS a few months ago they would not make a full length amp rack. I need it to mount my (2) Mosconi 5/30s and 1 Mosconi 4/10 in my 2022 Platinum.

Have you tried MTI?

 

[Flash69]

Have you tried MTI?

I didn't think MTI sold the Ten87 stuff. I will check their website now.

 

[UNBROKEN]

I didn't think MTI sold the Ten87 stuff. I will check their website now.

They make their own amp racks and do more F series trucks than anyone in the country probably. They’re a great source for everything F series related.

 

[Sonnie]

Nice build. Where did you get the amp rack or are you building it yourself? When I checked with SGS a few months ago they would not make a full length amp rack. I need it to mount my (2) Mosconi 5/30s and 1 Mosconi 4/10 in my 2022 Platinum.

SGS has them now, but I ordered it thru Jon at All Things Aquatic since he was handling most everything for me. I'd give him a shout at his phone number on his website.

 

[Flash69]

SGS has them now, but I ordered it thru Jon at All Things Aquatic since he was handling most everything for me. I'd give him a shout at his phone number on his website.

Thank you!! Just purchased off the SGS website. I was not looking forward to tons of time making an amp rack.

 

[Sonnie]

Yeah... too much for me to do... let someone else do some of the work. Been thinking about asking Jon to drive down from KS to help out an old man. I would buy his gas and feed him.

 

[ovrtrainr]

I'm very curious to see how well modbridge works in comparison to the NavTV Zen unit. The amp panel from SGS does fit but it leaves out some real estate that could be utilized for the 2021+. I re-cut a 1/4 abs to fill the area under the rear window motor better. I also used their door speaker adapters & baffle plates which saved me a lot of time.

 

[jbcaindo]

I'm very curious to see how well modbridge works in comparison to the NavTV Zen unit. The amp panel from SGS does fit but it leaves out some real estate that could be utilized for the 2021+. I re-cut a 1/4 abs to fill the area under the rear window motor better. I also used their door speaker adapters & baffle plates which saved me a lot of time.

The mObridge does everything the zen does. I have them in many new ford b&o trucks.
They even have one that has a DSP built directly into it, and that has been a great upgrade for quite a few people that were previously just an lci7 equipped system.

 

[mumbles]

Glad I'm not the only old fart still doing this. I don't feel so alone now.. heehee

Nope, there are a few of us still out here... I'm 62 but feel physically 85 and mentally 25... figure I have a few miles left in me

 

[Promodmerc]

Yeah... too much for me to do... let someone else do some of the work. Been thinking about asking Jon to drive down from KS to help out an old man. I would buy his gas and feed him. View attachment 367295

You 2009 to current F150 owners have it made on pre-maid amp racks and door block-off plates as well
as much more options for building sub enclosures.

Us 2004-2008 have to make our own amp racks and that God-forsaken right rear passenger side seat bracket
makes it impossible to build a ported box. Then there is the driveshaft tunnel that limits the height of the box.

 

[BobTheBirdTurd]

You 2009 to current F150 owners have it made on pre-maid amp racks and door block-off plates as well
as much more options for building sub enclosures.

Us 2004-2008 have to make our own amp racks and that God-forsaken right rear passenger side seat bracket
makes it impossible to build a ported box. Then there is the driveshaft tunnel that limits the height of the box.

Had an 04' F150. No room in the back and trying to get the back seat out was a *****.