A client from Richmond recently returned to Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading his 1994 Ford F-150 Lightning with a new stereo system. This client loves these hot rod trucks and has owned several of them. We upgraded his 2002 Lightning a while back with a full custom audio system installation. For this truck, he wanted a simpler system that would still get loud. After inspecting the vehicle, we put together a system that would deliver great sound.
Alpine Halo Radio Upgrade
Older vehicles typically have a single-DIN radio. This 2-by-7-inch design usually means that they’re limited in terms of their upgrade options. Just as we did with his previous project, we installed an Alpine iLX-F309 in the dash of this F-150. This new radio features a single-DIN chassis with a massive 9-inch touchscreen that mounts in front. The unit includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity so that he can communicate and choose his entertainment options using voice commands while driving.
ARC Audio Ford Lighting Stereo
The output of the Alpine radio feeds a pair of ARC Audio X2-Series amplifiers that are mounted on the floor of the truck behind the center console. An X2 450.4 four-channel amp provides 85 watts to each of the front and rear speakers. A matching X2 650.1 monoblock produces an effortless 650 watts of power to drive the system’s subwoofers.
Next, we installed two sets of ARC Audio ARC 6.2 components in the truck. The second set of woofers is mounted in the rear speaker location using a set of adapters that our fabrication team created.
Pickup Truck Subwoofer System
The icing on the cake for this 1994 Ford Lightning audio upgrade was the installation of the pair of JL Audio CS110TG-TW3 subwoofer enclosures. Each of these compact sealed cabinets comes with a 10-inch 10TW3-D4 subwoofer. We wired the subwoofer enclosures in parallel to present a 1-ohm load to the amp and allow it to make its rated 650 watts of power.
Upgrade Your Mobile Audio System at Extreme Audio
Once we had all the equipment installed, we used our RTA and oscilloscope to set the crossovers and level controls on the amplifiers so that the system would produce crystal-clear sound and lots of output. The client loved the new system and had it cranked as he drove off. If you are interested in upgrading your car stereo, drop by Extreme Audio in Midlothian or Mechanicsville and speak to a member of our team. You can also reach us by e-mail using our contact page here on our website.
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