'18 B&O Center Speaker Close Up Pic...

[ovrlnd]

Thank you Jonny Ive Jr. for your lecture on the inherent aesthetic travesty of raised speaker grilles. Perhaps tomorrow we will get to hear you speak on how Ford missed the boat by making their tailgate logo so small.

As an actual designer, I can tell you guys that the only reason you could absolutely rule out for the raised grille is that the new speaker 'wouldn't fit'. Karmann/JBL has literally thousands of speakers at their disposal and have the resources to manufacture pretty much anything they want, so to think that they just shoved in whatever speaker was on the discount shelf is pretty dumb.

Most likely, both Ford and Karmann wanted the speaker and the B&O logo to be more prominent, and so they lifted the grille with a reveal around it to subtly showcase the system in a way that didn't add cost. And maybe then they even decided that the extra space allowed for a better speaker. As a matter of fact, a design element that simultaneously solves two problems like that is what we in the deign world call an elegant solution.

I suspect that Crash has been frightened by the sudden intrusion of design into his pedestrian world. It has confused him terribly and someone needs to go rescue him - he's probably hiding from the speaker behind a bush or something.

 

[jaz13]

Thank you Jonny Ive Jr. for your lecture on the inherent aesthetic travesty of raised speaker grilles. Perhaps tomorrow we will get to hear you speak on how Ford missed the boat by making their tailgate logo so small.

As an actual designer, I can tell you guys that the only reason you could absolutely rule out for the raised grille is that the new speaker 'wouldn't fit'. Karmann/JBL has literally thousands of speakers at their disposal and have the resources to manufacture pretty much anything they want, so to think that they just shoved in whatever speaker was on the discount shelf is pretty dumb.

Most likely, both Ford and Karmann wanted the speaker and the B&O logo to be more prominent, and so they lifted the grille with a reveal around it to subtly showcase the system in a way that didn't add cost. And maybe then they even decided that the extra space allowed for a better speaker. As a matter of fact, a design element that simultaneously solves two problems like that is what we in the deign world call an elegant solution.

I suspect that Crash has been frightened by the sudden intrusion of design into his pedestrian world. It has confused him terribly and someone needs to go rescue him - he's probably hiding from the speaker behind a bush or something.

yep, Ford is quite proud of the center speaker design because that is what is hilighted on the truck buider on their website.

 

[crash457]

Thank you Jonny Ive Jr. for your lecture on the inherent aesthetic travesty of raised speaker grilles. Perhaps tomorrow we will get to hear you speak on how Ford missed the boat by making their tailgate logo so small.

As an actual designer, I can tell you guys that the only reason you could absolutely rule out for the raised grille is that the new speaker 'wouldn't fit'. Karmann/JBL has literally thousands of speakers at their disposal and have the resources to manufacture pretty much anything they want, so to think that they just shoved in whatever speaker was on the discount shelf is pretty dumb.

Most likely, both Ford and Karmann wanted the speaker and the B&O logo to be more prominent, and so they lifted the grille with a reveal around it to subtly showcase the system in a way that didn't add cost. And maybe then they even decided that the extra space allowed for a better speaker. As a matter of fact, a design element that simultaneously solves two problems like that is what we in the deign world call an elegant solution.

I suspect that Crash has been frightened by the sudden intrusion of design into his pedestrian world. It has confused him terribly and someone needs to go rescue him - he's probably hiding from the speaker behind a bush or something.

I really enjoy the part where you say they didn't raise the grill to fit the speaker, then go on to say the they put a bigger speaker in because they raised the grill.

Personally, I couldn't care why, it still looks like an afterthought. People need to stop thinking that this system is some fabulous upgrade. It's the same speaker size and location as the Sony system, not a B&O designed system.

 

[Judd McPherson]

There is a difference between a motorized speaker that rises from the dash to allow the speaker to use the windshield as a folded horn for better acoustics (like a true B&O system) and taking what is essentially the same speaker grille and raising it 1/4" for clearance. Nothing about this is design. These speakers are retrofited into the exact locations as the Sony. They are not specifically designed into the interior for acoustics like other true B&O systems. Everything about the B&O Play in the F150 is an afterthought. They changed suppliers for speakers. Nothing more. I shouldn't call it lazy engineering as that implies that they calculated the best size snd location of the speakers. That simply isn't the case. I'm not sure that much effort went into the Sony system to begin with and it definitely wasn't the case for the switch to B&O. Most likely, Ford looked for the simplest locations to put speakers that didn't disrupt the interior design thru came up with. Then they called Sony and struck a deal for speakers that fit these locations. Queue 2017 and Ford calls Harnan and says they're looking for a new speaker supplier. Harman throws together some speakers in the sizes Ford specs. Then they find the only 3.5" they have is too tall. Ford makes a new grill that sticks up so the speaker fits. Problem solved.

I'm not sure why you're so set on trying to defend the speaker grill. Is it because you dumped your 2017 for a 2018 and desperately want to justify the purchase?

If B&O "clearly designed" this system, then they would have had to do it when Ford was designing the F150 for 2015. Otherwise, as I stated they simply supplied speakers in the sizes Ford requested to fit the speaker openings that were already there. It's a lazy fix because the new speaker didn't fit. Nothing more.

I could really care less if you think it is designed for it or not. You might have a connection with Ford that told you that they just wanted to retrofit a different speaker. Or you are just guessing, which frankly makes more sense. Either way, this riveting conversation with you about a speaker sticking up 1/4 inch has run its course. Stick with the 2017 if the old Sony speaker design makes you sleep better at night.

As for "desperately wanting to justify my purchase", when my account says I need another write-off, I do it. One of them is always a new model year truck when they are released. Not a bad position to be in...

Take care.

 

[ovrlnd]

People need to stop thinking that this system is some fabulous upgrade.

No one does, nor ever has. Which is why unlike you we don't feel the need to criticize it as if were meant to be.

 

[BlackEvo]

Lol.... These forums have great comedic value. It's a factory system......meh

 

[crash457]

No one does, nor ever has. Which is why unlike you we don't feel the need to criticize it as if were meant to be.

So an "actual designer" calls it an "elegant solution" but it's not an upgrade? I also noticed that you omitted that fact that I called you out for contradicting yourself the first time in your post were you contradict yourself again.

 

[ovrlnd]

Gee, I love it when hillbillies try to go after me with their logics.

I'll address your two concerns - let's see if you can figure out what these refer to:

1. Intent
2. Adjectives

 

[crash457]

Gee, I love it when hillbillies try to go after me with their logics.

I'll address your two concerns - let's see if you can figure out what these refer to:

1. Intent
2. Adjectives

Hillbilly? Really? And you're basing this on what?
Name calling is the first sign that someone is angry because they're wrong.

I'm sorry that logic frightens you.

1. Intent- so you intended to cotradidict yourself? I get it now.
2. Adjectives- i would have thought an "actual" designer would know how to use them correctly.

Let's make this crystal clear. I have been nothing but polite here but you want to be a condescending ass. I understand that this is the way of the keyboard tough guy. To that I say, go **** yourself. You don't know me and I doubt you'd have the balls to speak to me that way face to face.

Let's see if you can figure out what this refers to :

 

[ovrlnd]

Lol, you angry.

Well when the yelling starts the fun is over for me. You win the race to the bottom.