Premium Ford Explorer Stereo Upgrade for North Chesterfield Client

A client from North Chesterfield recently dropped by Extreme Audio to ask about upgrading the stereo system in his 2022 Ford Explorer. The client wanted the sound system to play louder, sound clearer and reproduce bass frequencies with more authority and extension. After inspecting the SUV and demonstrating a few of the available speaker, subwoofer and amplifier options, we designed a custom upgrade to deliver the sound he wanted.

Ford Explorer Radio Integration

Our technicians carefully ran 0 AWG wire from underneath the hood back to where the amplifiers are housed.

As with all our installations, big or small, we take the time to make sure all wiring is safely run.

The amplifiers, integration module and Stinger battery are all mounted in the storage area under the floor in the rear of the vehicle.

The factory-installed sound system in this 2022 Ford Explorer comes with an amplifier. The signal from the radio to the amplifier uses a digital communication system called A2B. We started the upgrade with a NAV TV ZEN A2B interface to provide full-range analog audio outputs that we can feed into the JL Audio VX800/8i amplifier that powers the front and rear speakers. We installed the interface on the right side of the cargo area and ran Stinger 4000 Series connectors to the amplifier.

The new stereo system is powered by the aforementioned eight-channel JL Audio VX800/8i amplifier and an RD1500/1 monoblock amp to power the subwoofers. The VXi amplifier can provide up to 75 watts of power from each channel to the speakers in the vehicle. More importantly, the amp includes a powerful digital signal processor that we used to filter audio signals for the speakers in the front and rear doors, the dash and the subwoofers. We also used the processor to apply delays to each channel to ensure that the sound from each speaker arrives at the listening position simultaneously. Finally, we adjusted the equalizer on each channel to establish a smooth and natural frequency response.

The amplifiers are mounted in the storage area under the floor in the rear of the Explorer. We added a Stinger SPP1200 battery to the system to increase playtime when the engine is off and reserve current delivery. As you can see, all of the connections to the battery are protected with circuit breakers and fuses. We ran 0 AWG cables to the battery under the hood to give the system all the power it needs to function reliably.

Alpine Speaker Upgrade

We used SoundShield sound deadening material to help reduce sound transfer in the vehicle cabin.

The vehicle’s front speakers were replaced with Alpine 6X9 component speakers.

The rear speakers were replaced with Alpine 6.5-inch component speakers, similar to the ones replaced in the front.

Our technicians fabricated mounting brackets for the Alpine tweeters at the top of the doors near the door handles.

A separate set of 2.5-inch Alpine midrange drivers were installed in the middle of the front doors.

We replaced the front speakers with Alpine S-X69C 6×9 component speakers. The woofers are mounted in the stock locations at the bottom of the door, and we made steel mounting brackets to secure the tweeters into the tops of the doors near the door handles. We added a set of Alpine 30MC 2.5-inch midrange drivers to the system to upgrade the speakers in the middle of the doors. As there are eight amplification channels, each driver is connected directly to the amplifier with no passive crossovers.

We installed a set of Alpine S-X65C 6.5-inch component speakers in the doors. While the doors were apart, we treated the door skins and panels with Soundshield sound deadening. We added four rolls of deadening to the vehicle to help reduce sound transfer into the cabin.

Custom JL Audio Subwoofer

The two JL Audio flagship subwoofers are suspended in a ported enclosure, which sits just above the amplifiers and other equipment.

Because the JL Audio W7 subwoofers are so powerful, our expert fabricators added bracing to the custom enclosure built to house the drivers.

As we mentioned, the client was particularly interested in the system delivering excellent bass performance. He chose a pair of JL Audio 12W7AE 12-inch subwoofers for the system. We designed and constructed a custom vented enclosure to serve as a home for the drivers and finished it in a black carpet that matched the cargo area. You’ll note that we added a brace to the center of the enclosure to keep the panels from flexing and vibrating.

Custom Ford Explorer Stereo Upgrade

After finishing the integration process, we used our real-time audio analyzer and calibrated microphone to verify the settings in the JL Audio VXi processor. We also performed a listening test to ensure that there are no buzzes or rattles in the vehicle and that the system sounds the way the client wants.

The client returned to Extreme Audio and hopped into the truck for a listen. He loved the impact that the large door speakers and JL Audio subwoofers delivered. The system was clear and detailed, and the soundstage spanned the vehicle’s width and offered excellent imaging. In short, he was thrilled!

If you’re interested in upgrading the sound system in your vehicle, drop by Extreme Audio in Mechanicsville or Midlothian and speak with one of our product experts. If you can’t get to one of our stores during regular business hours, give us a call or send our team an email using our contact form.
[82199]