2016 Sport Audio up-grade (plus some)

[DMG632]

I thought I would document the modes on my 2016 Explorer Sport (black of course.... I like a challenge). I picked it up on March 11 after totaling out my 2012 Honda Pilot. There it was on the dealers lot and it checked all the boxes for me, black, sport, the two sun roofs (that I never open, when its sunny my thinning hair gets way too hot with the sun beating down ion it) and the up-graded Sony Premium sound system. It did not have the rear entertainment system, that I would never use, I am a salesman and my road trips never included a passenger. Even if by chance I did have a rear passenger the heck with them it's my car and it's all about me!
The first 2 days was spent polishing out all the OPTIONAL DEALER SCRATCHS, I'm not sure how they wash a car but it does do a number on the paint. I used the Flex polisher (the best I have ever used) and a bunch of 3M products and was able to get out all the scratches, swirl marks and the black paint looked great!
After two days working on the paint I looked into a clear bra for the front end. A local trim shop that had great reviews uses Expel, after looking at their work I was sold. So here is the first mod, complete front end coverage, complete hood, front fenders, bumper and grille, door cups and side mirrors.
After seeing how big the factory front license plate holder is the was replaced with a smaller one from Auto-Zone.

The next 2 Modes are very simple and I hope they will save me some money... radar detector and dash camera. For the radar detector I went with the Escort Max 360 with the hardwire with LEDS, I'm still second guessing this choice. I keep wondering if the Valentine would have been better. The dash camera was used in my Pilot and caught the accident with plenty of detail. This was also hardwired in, with the power cable running underneath the headliner.

So now I've had the car for 5 days and my first road trip to Montana, just a quick 1150 round trip. During this trip I was very impressed with the ride and just how quite this car is. On the way home I started to think about a small stereo up-grade.... this is where I should have stopped thinking and just enjoy the ride, but no I kept thinking. By the time I got home I had it all planed out and a complete list of things I needed.

Audison Bit 1 with wired remote
Audison AV1.5 .1 K HD
Hertz ML 15603 (front)
Hertz Legend ML2803 (front tweeters)
Hertz ECX 165.5 (rear doors)
J.L. Audio 12TW3-D4 (thin subs rescued from my Pilot install)
Roadkill Bulk Pack
Roadkill Foam Damping Mat


My thinking is I would run the 4 front drivers off of the Audison amp (bi-amped) and the subs off of the Audison sub channel. This would leave the rear doors, center channel and the remaining factory speakers on factory amp power. I like my music like I'm at a concert, with the band playing on my dash board with a wide sound stage.

The Bit One interfaced with the Sony 12 speaker system and the Sync My Ford touch with no problems and all functions work as designed. The signal for the Bit One was grabbed after the ford amp Remember the Bit One is only controlling the front stage and subs.

While I am writing this I remember telling myself this will be the first car that will remain stock... well that's out the window now. So what's next for my stock Sport; lowering springs, rims and a tuner.

 

[DMG632]

More pictures

 

[DMG632]

Some more pictures

 

[DMG632]

More.. you guessed it pictures

 

[reserved50]

you do the install? its top notch, and did that foam come with the door speakers or was it added after?

 

[DMG632]

you do the install? its top notch, and did that foam come with the door speakers or was it added after?

Thank you.
The foam is a separate item, that helps to direct the sound.

 

[Cowboyinthejungl]

Nice choice of subs! I have a 2011 Base I just bought and have to start all over from the completed system in my 06 Frontier. C5-653s in the kick panels 2 8W3s under the rear passenger flip seat. I pillaged the subs and amps before trade. Your Explorer is beautiful. Thanks for the share.

 

[613GT500]

Thanks for sharing and great work.
Keep them coming...

 

[64tinc]

I like your idea for the front speakers. I removed the factory speaker from the plastic mount and screwed in 6x9 Kickers to utilize the factory wiring harness. No amps now just upgraded the speakers. How did you cover the spaces inside the door and what silver material did you use for that. Subs box is very creative. Next will add 6.5 for second row pleasure. Did you just get 6.5 subs? Did you upgrade tweeters? Thanks for the pictures.

 

[DMG632]

I like your idea for the front speakers. I removed the factory speaker from the plastic mount and screwed in 6x9 Kickers to utilize the factory wiring harness. No amps now just upgraded the speakers. How did you cover the spaces inside the door and what silver material did you use for that. Subs box is very creative. Next will add 6.5 for second row pleasure. Did you just get 6.5 subs? Did you upgrade tweeters? Thanks for the pictures.

For the fronts I used Hertz ML 15603 the tweeters are Hertz Legend ML 280.3. I went with these since I did not have to pay for the Hertz cross-overs and I got a good deal on them ($200.00 for the tweeters, new and delivered). The fronts are bi-amped with active cross-overs from the Bit 1.

The silver material is the sound deadener, just to keep any rattles at bay.

 

[TheCaptain]

This is quite helpful, thanks. I just bought a 2016 XLT last month and the audio isnt where I want it to be. Will be upgrading all the door speakers first. Two questions:

Do you have any pics of the tweeter install?

And did you cover the large hole in door with anything besides sound dampener? or is there a piece of sheet metal, etc behind it?

 

[DMG632]

This is quite helpful, thanks. I just bought a 2016 XLT last month and the audio isnt where I want it to be. Will be upgrading all the door speakers first. Two questions:

Do you have any pics of the tweeter install?

And did you cover the large hole in door with anything besides sound dampener? or is there a piece of sheet metal, etc behind it?

No pictures of the tweeter install, you have to cut out the OEM. To attach the new you can fabricate a metal bracket to hold it in place.

The BIG GAPPING holes in the doors you can use some ABS plastic, metal or MDF with bed liner then cover your "fill" piece with the road kill. It's a big enough hole that just using road kill would not be good enough.

 

[Sgt1411]

Thats very clean, neat, and tidy work, well done!

Looks very OEM.

 

[DMG632]

Thats very clean, neat, and tidy work, well done!

Looks very OEM.

Thank you.
I just looked at your avatar: BC & Goodyear, AZ. I live about 120 miles south of you and just sold my house in Oro Valley, AZ 120 miles south of you again. We must have some type of restraining order... keeping us 120 miles part.

 

[Sgt1411]

Thank you.
I just looked at your avatar: BC & Goodyear, AZ. I live about 120 miles south of you and just sold my house in Oro Valley, AZ 120 miles south of you again. We must have some type of restraining order... keeping us 120 miles part.

LMAO!....it will be worse when I get my 2017 Black Sport and I'm behind you in the lineup for the new Chic Fil A in Lynnwood!

 

[DMG632]

LMAO!....it will be worse when I get my 2017 Black Sport and I'm behind you in the lineup for the new Chic Fil A in Lynnwood!

If I want Chic-Fil-A I get it in California, since I head down twice a month at least.

I want a In-and-Out in Lynwood..... then we will have a back-up to the Canadian Boarder and no you can not export In and Out to Canada. That would be like trying to take Cuban Cigars from Canada to the USA

 

[GeoGeek]

Very nice install. Sounds like you went active on the front stage & used the crossovers in the Audison amp? Did you leave the 3rd row speakers and center channel connected to the factory amp? Just wondering about processing using the Bit One and if/how you matched up the aftermarket amplified speakers with any factory ones you left intact.
Any noise issues or weirdness with levels matching? What are your thoughts playing music through the USB using Sync? My flash drive and iPod classic (both with 120+ Gigs of music) are a total PITA to work with via Sync.

 

[DMG632]

Very nice install. Sounds like you went active on the front stage & used the crossovers in the Audison amp? Did you leave the 3rd row speakers and center channel connected to the factory amp? Just wondering about processing using the Bit One and if/how you matched up the aftermarket amplified speakers with any factory ones you left intact.
Any noise issues or weirdness with levels matching? What are your thoughts playing music through the USB using Sync? My flash drive and iPod classic (both with 120+ Gigs of music) are a total PITA to work with via Sync.

Yes the fronts are active (bi-amped) and the Audison Bit-1 is used for the front crossovers, adjusting the power to each speaker and time alignment.

All but the factory front speakers are still used. I am not a big fan of rear fill so I can use the factory fader or the Bit-1 to adjust or turn off the rear fill (factory speakers).

I kept the factory amp and also pulled the Highs, Mid and Sub from the factory amp (Bit-1 inputs). The Bit-1 allows or so much adjustment you can tune front, rear or Subs any way you want. No noise or any weirdness at all. I was concerned about engine noise (ANC) playing through the speakers like in the F-100's, mine has none at all. Several people have listened (installers and one judge) to the system and they are very impressed with the sound stage and overall SQ of the system.

SYNC: after my up-grades I am very happy overall for a factory head-unit. Using the USB: I use a BUNCH of 32 gig USB's and it indexes faster than my old Kenwood DD 990 or 890. Even using a couple of 64 gig's it still indexes them fairly fast, but I'm still getting used to finding the track I want.... I have only had the Explorer or about 6 or 7 weeks so I am still on the learning cure.

I hope this answers your questions, if not or you have more just let me know.

http://www.f150forum.com/f118/active-noise-control-fake-engine-disable-how-312261/

 

[champco]

The minimalist in me cannot fathom the mods in a brand new Ex but I figure you must be almost living in yours so make it what you want.
How many miles will you be putting on this year?

Compared to what you are doing my little speaker upgrade is minor. Would love to hear yours.
Enjoy.

 

[613GT500]

Yes the fronts are active (bi-amped) and the Audison Bit-1 is used for the front crossovers, adjusting the power to each speaker and time alignment.

All but the factory front speakers are still used. I am not a big fan of rear fill so I can use the factory fader or the Bit-1 to adjust or turn off the rear fill (factory speakers).

I kept the factory amp and also pulled the Highs, Mid and Sub from the factory amp (Bit-1 inputs). The Bit-1 allows or so much adjustment you can tune front, rear or Subs any way you want. No noise or any weirdness at all. I was concerned about engine noise (ANC) playing through the speakers like in the F-100's, mine has none at all. Several people have listened (installers and one judge) to the system and they are very impressed with the sound stage and overall SQ of the system.

SYNC: after my up-grades I am very happy overall for a factory head-unit. Using the USB: I use a BUNCH of 32 gig USB's and it indexes faster than my old Kenwood DD 990 or 890. Even using a couple of 64 gig's it still indexes them fairly fast, but I'm still getting used to finding the track I want.... I have only had the Explorer or about 6 or 7 weeks so I am still on the learning cure.

I hope this answers your questions, if not or you have more just let me know.

http://www.f150forum.com/f118/active-noise-control-fake-engine-disable-how-312261/

I'm I reading correctly that the Explorer does not produce "enhanced" engine noise through the speakers?
What I here while driving is "waht I get"?