Full OEM NAV Audio Integration Completed!

[cayenne]

I wasn't going to post up any build details becuase I didn't go all out, the majority of this install was focused quality and stealth, but my installers found out several key point of information that is important to anyone integrating with the factory system...

Background - When I purchased the truck I tried as hard as I could to convince myself that the system sounded fine. Having had many systems in the past ranging from mild to wild, this didn't last long and I decided I had to do a major upgrade. I had never had an installer do a system for me, I typically spec'd out everything and did most everything myself while working with an installer for custom fiberglass or fabrication needs. This time was different though because I simply didn't have the free time to think about tackling this project. So the hunt began for a reliable installer that could be trusted to do things correctly, and listen to my needs.

The Installer - After looking around locally, I knew that there were no shops that I would consider for this so I expanded my search. It took a couple of weeks and making several connections with people up and down the east coast, but I found an installer that was 2.5 hours away and more importantly were interested in working on the truck. There shop has been ranked Top 50 in the US by Mobile Electronics Maganize, and their head installer has been in the Top 100 in the country for the last 3 years in a row. I spent a couple weeks talking to Mike the owner and decided to pull the trigger.

Equipment -
Front Components: Hertz Hi-Energy HSK165XL
Rear Coaxs: Hertz ECX570
Subwoofer: Alpine SWRT-10 Shallow Mount
Amplifier: Alpine PDX-V9 5 Channel
Equalizer: Audiocontrol LCQ-1

I have had everything back for a week, so I feel I have a fairly good feel for things at this point. All and all, the tear out began on a Monday afternoon and they wrapped things up early on a Friday morning. I was lucky that they had several contacts within the industry that had faced some issues with Sony system and knew how to get around them. Below, some of the commentary is direct from the shop, they did a good right up on everything! There work was top notch, many of the pictures do not do the install justice and don't indicate the level of detail in which it was done.

Obligatory picture of the truck:

More details below...

---------- Post added at 02:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 PM ----------

Picture of the center console removed and a JL SSI installed downstream of the factory amp which then feeds the Audiocontrol EQU. Will explain later why the SSI is needed rather than just feeding the Audiocontrol unit directly.

All of wiring cleaned up and routed in TechFlex

In the interest of explaining the need for the JL Signal Summing Interface, see below. These comments are directly from the installer, I was lucky that he was in discussions with another shop as well as Audiocontrol.

"Some of you are likely wondering why we had the SSI, as well as the LCQ-1, when the LCQ-1 does summing as well? Thanks to some good intell from our friends at JML Audio, that have done one of these before, we knew that the factory Sony amp had some major issues with oscillating and just generally freaking out with no "load" present. They have been known to be just fine initially, but give problems later. The SSI presents a load to the factory system as well as summing, so we added it to the equation to play it safe."

I did not know this, and would have added the LCQ-1 in directly. This makes sense though, I am an Electrical Engineer, and have read on several forums where F150 owner have had blown speaker but couldn't find out why. If your impedance is varying, the load on the amp will take the punishment.

Picture of the LCQ1 installed in the center console with a false floor and plexi-glass cover.

---------- Post added at 02:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

The amp was installed behind the rear seat, and was simple, but clean install.

I won't bore anyone with installation pictures of Dynamat and the speakers, that is all normal stuff, but we did decide to run new speaker wire into the door rather than use the undersized OEM wiring. Pins were relocated and a new hole was drilled to run the wiring through.

Last but not least before we get to the tuning side of things, and some interesting information about the factory subwoofer outputs, we have the actual subwoofer enclosure. I regularly carry two large dogs in the rear of the truck and didn't want an enclosure that took up much more space than the factory box. It also had to be secure enough for the dogs to step on occasionally. This is what they came up with. I absolutely love the SVT logos.

 

[MrGreen33]

I like the SVT box

 

[cayenne]

So here are the details of the actual integration of the OEM amp. It turns out that the factory system isn't horribly EQ'd. There are many OEM systems that are much worse. My last install was in a Mercedes and the OEM EQ was crazy. I fought that one for awhile, and it was a deciding factor in taking this to a good shop with measurement equipment.

These initial RTA's show what I am talking about, I will also add commentary directly from the installers...

Initital RTA with a lossless pink noise track as reference:

After installing the JL SSI the signal was fed once again into Termlab at 1/4 volume:

3/4 Volume, the curve is close to 1/4 volume so there is evidence that there isn't much volume dependent equalization: (This is still only after summing the factory signal)

SO HERE COME THE WIERD PART... "One thing we did notice when testing signals and using a scope, is that the subwoofer end of things clipped BAD at anything past 1/3 volume on the radio. Needless to say this was NOT good at all. Anything high frequency was unclipped until just a tick or two under full volume, major difference.

We then disconnected the subwoofer output from the factory Sony amp, and the signal was clean as a whistle all the way past 3/4 volume. As it turns out, the signal on the sub outputs was flat out terrible. It didn't just clip a little, it clipped a LOT. Sorry we didn't save pictures of it, but it was a busy day.

Anyway, just using the door speaker and tweeter output to feed our audio into the SSI, we had a full range signal with no need to use the sub channel output at all. So if you're integrating into a Ford Sony system, and you or the installer aren't putting a scope on it, make sure you/them DON'T use the sub output!

Here's the audio RTA after removing the sub output from the equation. Not to bad a curve for a factory system output if you compare it to the plain old pink noise curve we had from before. The bands of the LCQ-1 should be adequate to tweak that out as needed."

---------- Post added at 02:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 PM ----------

Bottom line is, it looks like you are much better off tapping signals from anywhere except the factory sub output if you want to add an amplifier and sub. Most people wouldn't ever notice the clipping or limitations of the signal, but if you are sensitive to it you will hear the clipping, and it certainly isn't good for your equipment.

The other thing that I found interesting was that there wasn't much difference in frequency range being sent to the factory tweeter and the factory mids. They were both very broad frequencies, without any significant limitations. Summing the high and low signals from the Sony Amp made a little difference to the full range, but not as much as you would think.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

well you had it done the right way, it looks like. its a big jump in sound quality isnt it?

 

[cayenne]

well you had it done the right way, it looks like. its a big jump in sound quality isnt it?

Yea, it was nerve racking, I'm not one to hire things like this out or release total control but I trusted them. I travel full time and didn't even want to think about the time that it would have taken me to tackle this.

The sound quality is phenomenal, the Hertz were initially too bright for my tastes, but I attentuated them 2dB on the crossovers and cut a couple areas on the EQ and that made all the difference.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

where did they mount the crossovers?

 

[cayenne]

where did they mount the crossovers?

Crossovers are mounted under the dash on each side. Essentially they are tucked up into the dash just behind where you would remove the side vent covers.

Totally invisible without removing trim pieces, but easily gotten to. Making adjustments or removing them is a pretty easy 5 min job.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

good. some people will put them in the door panel, where it will get wet and rust

 

[Fred]

Cayenne, we're in Virginia are you located and what shop did you decide on?

 

[cayenne]

Cayenne, we're in Virginia are you located and what shop did you decide on?

I'm in Lynchburg. Extreme Audio is in Mechanicsville, feel free to PM me and I'll give you specific contact information.