Budget stock Audio upgrades (XL) - plan, research, options and experimentation

[BootXL76]

For the SUB install, where are you tapping for the power and audio feeds?

Power I ran through the firewall to the battery…. There’s easy access to a rubber grommet that you can just drill a hole sight it smaller than your lead wire and shove it through. For the audio feeds I tapped behind the climate controls (backside of the wiring harness coming out of the head unit)
I’ll link a few other threads that dive deeper into that with pictures (I leverages those figuring out where I wanted to run/tap)
**sorry the message board loves to flip my pics upside down when I try to reduce the size)

Sponsored

 

[Red Ryder]

Keep in mind the Sony speakers were part of an amplified system and they may not be very efficient with the base Mav's output.

 

[uh50]

I’ll start this out by saying I’m a cheapskate. If I can pay a fraction of the price for something that’s almost as good but not crap, I’m about it.
Like the vast majority of “us” (maverick owners and enthusiasts), I get the sound system just wasn’t good and HAD to upgrade (the stock speakers are pretty much junk). I’ve been following along with the other threads to get ideas of what people are doing to upgrade. My last vehicle was a ‘16 Toyota Camry SE and if I could get the Maverick to sound like that stock system for cheap, I’ll be happy. I went to a local shop that I’ve heard good things about, told em what I wanted to do and the dude told me the owner would spec it out and call me tomorrow…. A few weeks later, no call back and haven’t been able to get them to answer the phone and I don’t have time to go back there.
With that, they’ve lost their opportunity and I’m doing it myself. The plan is to upgrade all the factory speakers and add low end all for <$500. After digging and researching for almost 2 months I finally ordered components and a “sub” that will arrive mid-week.
After ruling a bunch of stuff out, below is basically the list of what was in consideration.
For the components, because of what I’m trying to budget, I narrowed it down to the following component sets:
Memphis Audio SRX60C
Hertz Uno K170/k165
Morel maximo 6

and ended up going with these because of the plug and play
Powerbass OE65C-FD
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_151OE65CFD/PowerBass-OE65C-FD.html - I couldn’t find them any cheaper than crutchfield and went with them for the free wiring harness which I may utilize on the rear speakers (had to put in a 2016 escape as the vehicle)

For the low end, I ended up deciding an under the seat set up would be best for what I’m wanting (probably mounting behind the seats, but we’ll see). The following were in consideration and the links are the cheapest I could find that particular unit for.

Jbl basspro SL and SL2 (link is for cheapest discontinued SL model)

KICKER HIDEAWAY HS8 and 46HS10 - link is for a refurb for >$190 for the 8”,

mb quart - RW-108A

Pioneer - TS-WX130DA Compact Active subwoofer

MTX terminator - TN8MS Terminator

Kenwood - looked at the KSC-pw8 and the KSC-SW11 (link for sw11)

Cerwin Vega VPAS10 - I love the size of this one for being a 10”, but they seem to be junk, def not the same cerwin Vega from the late 90’s (no link, cuz I wouldn’t buy this)

Rockford Fosgate PS-8

Planet Audio - P10AW

Alpine PWE-S8


At the end of the day I ended up going with the Kicker HS8, I didn’t buy the refurb I linked above, I found it NEW for $239.
For the hideaway, I’ll be following what others have done and tap the wiring harness using high level inputs so I don’t have to worry about the remote wire.
The powerbass components and kicker hideaway should be installed by the weekend.

Will be using this thread as a placeholder to update with pictures, lessons, review, etc…. I also ordered some Memphis 4x6 coaxials to try to retro/custom fit to the 4” speaker spots in the the C pillar speakers, but they’re back ordered meaning that will come later.
This will be my first car stereo system install in like 20 years after being heavy into the lowrider/car audio custom scene in the late 90s, so should be fun.

Figured I’d share what I’m doing to help those with research etc when trying to have the stock system sound decent.

**update on the 4x6s, they had no clue when the back order would be filled on the Memphis, so I cancelled. Ending up order these HERTZ Diego DCX460 the cheapest I could find them prior was $149, and got them for $110 from Australia

total costs:
Front components - $129
Hideaway - $239
Rear speakers - $110
Which brings me to $478 + wiring, etc…

I appreciate your thoughtful and deliberate research. Bottom line is that all of us are on some kind of budget and your information for me has been very helpful. Thanks for your willingness to share.

 

[uh50]

Yeah I worded that bad, and you’re probably right. Moreso meant the vast majority think the stock speakers are garbage.

I don't know about most new Maverick owners, but there is a lot of dissatisfaction expressed in various forums and chat rooms. Will that result in most people upgrading? I doubt it. None-the-less, I appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and they help those of us that may upgrade. Isn't that the purpose of a well balanced forum like MTC? TIA.

 

[uh50]

UPDATE: installed the door speakers Friday, did the drivers door first and then wasn’t careful enough on the passenger side and broke some wiring harness clips - be careful!!
The foam on the powerbass 6.5 speaker is too thick and you won’t be able to clip the door panel all the way back in without editing it. I took the foam DD, shaved it and re-glued it to the speaker housing. With this it makes it not quite so plug and play and if I had to do it over again I’d likely go with a slightly higher quality component set with actual crossovers. The sound is def an upgrade over stock.
Ran the wiring foe the hideaway and did the initial hookup and testing. All is good there, now just need to finalize the location and finish the custom mounting board/bracket. Part of me wants to get a second hideaway and mount them both behind the seat , but I’m going to play with this one for a week or so (and will likely just keep it at 1). I won’t make any decisions on that til I have the rear speakers mounted (and reminder, the stock speakers back there are 4”, but it’s an unconventional mount in the C pillar and you can retrofit the 4x6s which is what I’m doing - still waiting for the 4x6s to arrive)

Great information about the C-piller speakers. I didn't know they were 4". Can't wait to see how you handle installing the 6 x 9's in their place.

 

[NH_XLMAV]

Power I ran through the firewall to the battery…. There’s easy access to a rubber grommet that you can just drill a hole sight it smaller than your lead wire and shove it through. For the audio feeds I tapped behind the climate controls (backside of the wiring harness coming out of the head unit)
I’ll link a few other threads that dive deeper into that with pictures (I leverages those figuring out where I wanted to run/tap)
**sorry the message board loves to flip my pics upside down when I try to reduce the size)

Is there a factory amp behind the seat on an XL? If yes can you use the factory wires for an aftermarket amp?

 

[uh50]

Still waiting on the 4x6s, may not be here til the end of the month (but I ordered from Australia, didn’t expect them quickly) -(also starting to question the fit of these particular 4x6s…. I’m confident in being able to custom mount 4x6s in there, but these magnets are a little bigger than I accounted for (though the hole in actual frame seems bigger than typical for 4” so we’ll see if I can make them work - may order some 4” as well as a backup)
Finished up my mounting board and configure/fit…. I still have some final touches to do on wiring but here’s what it’ll look like and some pics of the board. Wrapped a piece of mdf in sound deadening mat and then wrapped it in sub box carpet…. Put a lot of deadening behind and worked some mounting boards into the factory bracket (pushed in those clips that stick out on that bracket to make it as flat across as possible)

View attachment 31664

View attachment 31663

Very nice looking install of the kicker.

 

[volksnuts]

I think I am going to remove the center seat belt to free up space behind the seat when my order Maverick arrives
I noticed the seat belt screen doesn’t register the middle location so I assume it won’t notice if the belt is gone
I’ll NEVER have anyone sitting in that spot

Rarely will I even have anyone in the back seat so I’ll be fine there

Will create a decent amount of space for maybe subs or amp rack or whatever

 

[BenGalFan]

Power I ran through the firewall to the battery…. There’s easy access to a rubber grommet that you can just drill a hole sight it smaller than your lead wire and shove it through. For the audio feeds I tapped behind the climate controls (backside of the wiring harness coming out of the head unit)
I’ll link a few other threads that dive deeper into that with pictures (I leverages those figuring out where I wanted to run/tap)
**sorry the message board loves to flip my pics upside down when I try to reduce the size)

Thank you. Could you explain to me why you tapped into the wires so close to where the harness attaches to the radio and which speaker outputs you tapped? Without having a Mav of my own yet, in my mind, I'm thinking it would be easier to tap into the passenger rear speaker or something coming out of the amp behind the rear bench?

 

[Darnon]

Without having a Mav of my own yet, in my mind, I'm thinking it would be easier to tap into the passenger rear speaker or something coming out of the amp behind the rear bench?

Only the Lariat w/ Luxury Package has the rear amplifier as part of the B&O audio system. If you want to tap off the front audio channels then doing it at the radio is the most convenient point.

 

[BenGalFan]

Only the Lariat w/ Luxury Package has the rear amplifier as part of the B&O audio system. If you want to tap off the front audio channels then doing it at the radio is the most convenient point.

What is this "black box" behind the driver side rear bench area then? Hard for me to see what cables are coming in/out, but I just assumed it was something to do with the audio system.
Also, doesn't the B&O system already have a compact sub installed somewhere?

 

[BootXL76]

Thank you. Could you explain to me why you tapped into the wires so close to where the harness attaches to the radio and which speaker outputs you tapped? Without having a Mav of my own yet, in my mind, I'm thinking it would be easier to tap into the passenger rear speaker or something coming out of the amp behind the rear bench?

On the rear speakers, they appear to be on a common ground which makes using them for the signal tricky. (You also usually want to tap the largest speaker in the stock system, because they’re least likely to have signal processing to cut out the bass)…
I really didn’t want to use t taps, but this is as more “I want an immediate upgrade” while I wait for an actual t harness and more to be made specifically for the maverick and they did the job.
As for what wires, I just followed to the colors back from the actual speaker wiring harness after I took off the door panels

 

[BootXL76]

What is this "black box" behind the driver side rear bench area then? Hard for me to see what cables are coming in/out, but I just assumed it was something to do with the audio system.
Also, doesn't the B&O system already have a compact sub installed somewhere?

There been varying reports on what that actually is (I have an XL and don’t have that)…. The amp is only in the lariat (lux?) and is on the opposite side

 

[Big Kahuna]

I have a dash speaker that has a rattle blown sound when certain tones go through it, pretty disappointing to be dealing with that already.

please post pictures of your install, very interested to see hookup etc. and please show your wire routing! Everyone always shows final install pictures without showing how they did the wiring

 

[Allen King Jr]

I have a dash speaker that has a rattle blown sound when certain tones go through it, pretty disappointing to be dealing with that already.

please post pictures of your install, very interested to see hookup etc. and please show your wire routing! Everyone always shows final install pictures without showing how they did the wiring

People in the escape forums with the B&O have disconnected the front center speaker, they report that it sounds better after that, been thinking of trying that with the sony system in my C-Max

Sponsored