Upgraded B&O System Sound Quality...

[Ruz]

Has anyone found any way to adjust the sound quality on the upgraded system? My specific complaints are with the mid-levels...they are way too muddled for my liking. In the stereo settings, I have the Mid setting all the way down, and by Bass setting is just one click above the minimum and it still drives me nuts listening to it with any sort of volume, I think it sounds horrible.

I think the highs are crisp and clean, and the low bass is definitely solid with a clean punch...but the mid's just suck. This stereo is nowhere near the quality I had from the Sony system in my 2017 Sport.

I find it pathetic with what is supposed to be a higher-end system we are stuck with "Treble-Mid-Bass" settings...

I have turned off Surround and went with just Stereo, thinking it may take out some phony processing...but it didn't seem to help at all.

 

[Ruz]

An additional question would be, does anyone know the location of the amplifiers? At almost 1000 watts of rated power, I'm wondering if there may be a separate one for the subs that may have an adjustment for the crossover frequency...

 

[themishmosh]

An additional question would be, does anyone know the location of the amplifiers? At almost 1000 watts of rated power, I'm wondering if there may be a separate one for the subs that may have an adjustment for the crossover frequency...

The sub is in the left side rear cargo area. I doubt there is any adjustment as these are all bespoke components. That said, you are right, it is a shame there are only treble-mid-bass digital adjusters. I'm sure they could implement an 8 band equilizer as an update since it's all digital. The main issue for me is a peak/resonance in the midbass that sounds terrible as you tick up the bass adjustment looking for a little bit more low end.

 

[Mikey*TX]

Interestingly, mine sounds better with the surround turned on. Everyone's hearing is different. My guess is FoMoCo went with the middle ground.

 

[Ruz]

Interestingly, mine sounds better with the surround turned on. Everyone's hearing is different. My guess is FoMoCo went with the middle ground.

I have gone back to the Surround setting as well. It really just sounds like the crossover is set too high...at least to me. I wish there was some way to adjust that. Maybe more options will become available after the vehicle has been out longer and a bit more is known about the system.

 

[themishmosh]

I have gone back to the Surround setting as well. It really just sounds like the crossover is set too high...at least to me. I wish there was some way to adjust that. Maybe more options will become available after the vehicle has been out longer and a bit more is known about the system.

Well, Parts Express has a speaker-level 80Hz low pass filter but I'm not sure that the subwoofer is the problem and then there's the issue of level adjustment.

 

[MrHyde]

I agree completely. I am somewhat of an audiophile and when you turn the volume halfway it just distorts the mids completely. I can hear the middle/mid speaker in the door distorting. Any piano music played louder than 10-11 on the sync scale using surround or stereo produces distortion. I have plenty of bass and treble/tweeter to handle louder volumes. I’m curious if it is the speaker or the crossover or the digital processing? I really want to get to bottom of this because I love everything else about the vehicle and expected better from B&O and ford. I have already priced out a fully custom setup but want to iron out the factory setup. I hope it is just with the software first but if not I will pull the midrange speakers out and test with higher end units then I’ll completely go my own path and install amps, piggy back processors and the like.

 

[themishmosh]

I listen to SoundCloud alot and noticed there's an aftermarket app called Soundy that has a 10 band equalizer. still playing with it, but getting decent results by attenuating the 125Hz by 4dB and 500Hz by 1.5dB. Tried boosting the 30Hz and 60Hz but only got positive results from a modest boost at 60. Kept car levels flat. i know other apps have built-in equalizer like Apple Music so if you are playing music from your phone, give it a try. This is how I like it so far:

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum MrHyde.
I don't know how high the volume settings go but I have mine set at 5. I find anything higher to be too loud.

Peter

 

[MrHyde]

Welcome to the Forum MrHyde.
I don't know how high the volume settings go but I have mine set at 5. I find anything higher to be too loud.

Peter

Too many years in the service and firearms have ruined my ears to some degree but I can still sort out wrong mids

 

[Ruz]

I agree completely. I am somewhat of an audiophile and when you turn the volume halfway it just distorts the mids completely. I can hear the middle/mid speaker in the door distorting. Any piano music played louder than 10-11 on the sync scale using surround or stereo produces distortion. I have plenty of bass and treble/tweeter to handle louder volumes. I’m curious if it is the speaker or the crossover or the digital processing? I really want to get to bottom of this because I love everything else about the vehicle and expected better from B&O and ford. I have already priced out a fully custom setup but want to iron out the factory setup. I hope it is just with the software first but if not I will pull the midrange speakers out and test with higher end units then I’ll completely go my own path and install amps, piggy back processors and the like.

Exact same for me...once you get to about 10 on the volume the mids are just garbled. It not the sub either (unless there is a sub hidden in front somewhere). To get to their 980 watts of rated power, there has to be amps somewhere that have some sort of adjustment available on them.

 

[Mikey*TX]

Too many years in the service and firearms have ruined my ears to some degree but I can still sort out wrong mids

Welcome back to the world my brother. Proud alum of Uncle Sams Misguided Children '63-'68

 

[Mikey*TX]

I can see this could get expensive replacing the paper cone speakers in the ST. Gah ........

 

[Mikey*TX]

Welcome to the Forum MrHyde.
I don't know how high the volume settings go but I have mine set at 5. I find anything higher to be too loud.

Peter

Peter, would the powers that be agree to a separate audio-related subforum for the 6th gen ? Way too many great suggestions and ideas that could get lost amongst the general chatter I fear.
Mike

 

[Mikey*TX]

Exact same for me...once you get to about 10 on the volume the mids are just garbled. It not the sub either (unless there is a sub hidden in front somewhere). To get to their 980 watts of rated power, there has to be amps somewhere that have some sort of adjustment available on them.

I've been all over the Sync3 looking for additional settings under the sound section. Damn settings are dismal to say the least. Be nice if there were a graphic equalizer. Ford truly needs to step up their game.

 

[Mikey*TX]

Also, has anyone looked at the F-150 forums? Isn't the B&O system on the high-end trucks?

 

[Ruz]

This makes no sense, but my stereo sounds better now. It’s not that I am just getting used to the sound, especially since I have hardly driven the vehicle in the last few weeks.

Can’t explain it, but I’m not going to complain!

 

[MrHyde]

This makes no sense, but my stereo sounds better now. It’s not that I am just getting used to the sound, especially since I have hardly driven the vehicle in the last few weeks.

Can’t explain it, but I’m not going to complain!

Is there a new update I missed?

 

[Mbrooks420]

This makes no sense, but my stereo sounds better now. It’s not that I am just getting used to the sound, especially since I have hardly driven the vehicle in the last few weeks.

Can’t explain it, but I’m not going to complain!

Speakers take weeks to months to break in sometimes. My factory Kia speakers took 2 months to really break in and sound not terrible. Of course, like anyone who really enjoys music, I yanked them out and replaced them with real speakers.

 

[911jason]

Peter, would the powers that be agree to a separate audio-related subforum for the 6th gen ? Way too many great suggestions and ideas that could get lost amongst the general chatter I fear.
Mike

I second this request! Would love to discuss audio upgrades to my 2020 XLT!