B&O Unleashed

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sixshooter_45

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I will bet dollars to donuts the speakers will not change. For the record, the speakers are not the problem with the B&O system. The problem is the amp.

When I was doing my build, I did the speakers last, using stock speakers + a proper 75w a channel, and the stock speakers sounded pretty good.

The very low 12w a channel from the stock sony amp with B&O processing is what makes the stock B&O system sound like trash. Contrary to what most people think......too much power is not what kills speakers, too little power is what kills speakers.

In fact, you can almost never have too mch power (within reason).

So....."unleashed" will probably just be a new tune to the same ****** system. Yes you will need nav-tv and your own amp.

So if I wanted to upgrade my 2019 B&O sound system all I'd have to really do is change out my amp?
 

goblues38

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So if I wanted to upgrade my 2019 B&O sound system all I'd have to really do is change out my amp?

nope...not THAT simple. And THAT is the problem. But make no mistake, the AMP is the weakest part of the system. In order to replace the amp, you have to buy the $450 nav-tv to interface with the truck. then you have to buy the amp.

You have to replace the front tweeters, when you do nthat may as well replace the stock doors. You could use the stock sub but why?

Bottom line, just adding speakers is a waste of money. To fix the B&O stereo, it is a minimum $2,500 and that is if you can do labor. Add about $1,000 if you have to py someone to do it for you.
 

goblues38

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Interesting; all of the ones I have seen have the embossed B&O logo. Was the Sony sticker on the inside? The Sony branded amp looks much different.

it is the same amp. same hardware, connectors, same everything.
 
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melvimbe

melvimbe

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nope...not THAT simple. And THAT is the problem. But make no mistake, the AMP is the weakest part of the system. In order to replace the amp, you have to buy the $450 nav-tv to interface with the truck. then you have to buy the amp.

You have to replace the front tweeters, when you do that may as well replace the stock doors. You could use the stock sub but why?

Bottom line, just adding speakers is a waste of money. To fix the B&O stereo, it is a minimum $2,500 and that is if you can do labor. Add about $1,000 if you have to py someone to do it for you.

Assuming that the same predicament exists in the Gen 3, then any custom audio system will need to decide whether to stick with a normal system with front tweeter and door speakers, rear speakers, and sub....or get an amp that can utilize all or more of those speakers. It'll be interesting to see what options become available.
 

K223

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we havent had one come through the shop yet, but im guessing its just the added speakers and some "tuning" as well. definitely dont need that many speakers, however european manufacturers have been doing it for years. they have speakers everywhere. doesnt make the sound system necessarliy better, but give "more" of the sound. keep in mind the automotive industry is about 4-5 years behind when it comes to audio.

Lol wow they are finally closing the gap. Had to be double at least pre 2000.
 

FordTechOne

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it is the same amp. same hardware, connectors, same everything.

Do you have a photo of the amp you’re referring to with the Sony sticker? I’m just trying to understand what you’re seeing, since both my experience and the wiring is conflicting that. Many of the connector types are the same, but the pin outs are different; the B&O amp is even powered by a different fuse than the Sony. On the Sony system, the DSP (amp) drives the front tweeters, on the B&O the front tweeters are driven by the ACM. The audio circuits are also completely different; the Sony uses individual shielded circuits between the ACM and DSP, including separate circuits for ANC. The B&O uses the automotive audio bus (A2B) system, which replaces the 14 individual circuits between the ACM and DSP with a digital data bus consisting of 2 cables (positive and negative). Additionally, the Sony Sync Alert communication circuits were eliminated with the B&O system.
 

SVTTrooper

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Assuming that the Gen 3 Raptor will have the same audio options as the MY21 F150, was curious to know if of the forum member audio professionals and enthusiasts have a gotten a look and listen at both versions of B&O? The regular version and the unleashed version.

Is the speaker quality improved?

Is it possible/difficult to replace the speakers in the ceiling, head rest, etc?

Is a NAVTV still required if you add your own DSP and amp?

Do we know if the system is still setup to send less power to the sub at higher volumes?

Do all the additional speakers add value when the sources is still 2 channel?

i tested the new unleashed B&O yesterday.. it gets loud lol and it's rich sounding. my wife has a Jeep SRT with the Harmon kardon 19 speaker system and the B&O sounds just as good as Harmon.

I have the regular B&O in my 2020 Tremor and it's great... this coming from a Gen 1 owner with that crappy sony system haha.. but in a truck I'd think the unleashed isn't needed? but either way it's a nice system! and sync 4 is awesome.
 

goblues38

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Do you have a photo of the amp you’re referring to with the Sony sticker? I’m just trying to understand what you’re seeing, since both my experience and the wiring is conflicting that. Many of the connector types are the same, but the pin outs are different; the B&O amp is even powered by a different fuse than the Sony. On the Sony system, the DSP (amp) drives the front tweeters, on the B&O the front tweeters are driven by the ACM. The audio circuits are also completely different; the Sony uses individual shielded circuits between the ACM and DSP, including separate circuits for ANC. The B&O uses the automotive audio bus (A2B) system, which replaces the 14 individual circuits between the ACM and DSP with a digital data bus consisting of 2 cables (positive and negative). Additionally, the Sony Sync Alert communication circuits were eliminated with the B&O system.

it is up in the atic of my garage. maybe this weekend.

we covered this several times when many of us were doing our builds 2 years ago.
 

lawdog

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i tested the new unleashed B&O yesterday.. it gets loud lol and it's rich sounding. my wife has a Jeep SRT with the Harmon kardon 19 speaker system and the B&O sounds just as good as Harmon.

I have the regular B&O in my 2020 Tremor and it's great... this coming from a Gen 1 owner with that crappy sony system haha.. but in a truck I'd think the unleashed isn't needed? but either way it's a nice system! and sync 4 is awesome.

Harman owns B&O, along with JBL, Infinity, etc.
 

lateralis

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Hopefully NavTV has their A2B sorted for the new gen F150's by the time the 3Gen Raptors hit the streets. I also really don't like the idea of having speakers in the headrest and the over head. With that being said though once you put in a custom sound system it would be really cool if you could repurpose the overhead speakers as the HAM/CB/race radio external speaker.
 

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