B&O - Center channel speaker

[Alkaiser702]

Good day!

I took delivery of my 2023 Lariat Lux on Monday last week and I've been fiddling with settings before I go and replace the speakers. The first 2 settings I found to be the most useful were enabling surround and pushing the fade toward the rear (3 ticks from the bottom) and these have made the sound quite a bit better. However, no matter how far back the fade is, the center channel speaker seems to be very prominent.

Has anyone found this to be similar in their Mav, and what have you done about it?

Thanks!

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[Darnon]

Yes and it drove me somewhat crazy trying to work around. I have it mostly acceptable with a Kicker Key 200.4 bumping up the gain on the JBL components I replaced the front woofer/tweeters with and replacing the center speaker itself with anything aftermarket (currently an Infinity Reference) markedly improves its quality. I prefer Stereo mode to Surround. I found surround boosted the center channel more and, rather than really expand the audio stage, mostly just made the sound from the right-rear override the right-front.

The audio processing seems to intrinsically be cutting out the center field (particularly vocals) to route to that center speaker so removing it isn't an easy fix. Installing an A2B interface device and reconstructing from there is probably the most ideal approach, but no one has reported on trying it.

 

[Alkaiser702]

Yes and it drove me somewhat crazy trying to work around. I have it mostly acceptable with a Kicker Key 200.4 bumping up the gain on the JBL components I replaced the front woofer/tweeters with and replacing the center speaker itself with anything aftermarket (currently an Infinity Reference) markedly improves its quality. I prefer Stereo mode to Surround. I found surround boosted the center channel more and, rather than really expand the audio stage, mostly just made the sound from the right-rear override the right-front.

The audio processing seems to intrinsically be cutting out the center field (particularly vocals) to route to that center speaker so removing it isn't an easy fix. Installing an A2B interface device and reconstructing from there is probably the most ideal approach, but no one has reported on trying it.

Interesting, I'll take a look at my settings again. I noticed clearer and more distinct audio from the rear once I turned on surround while using XM, but I wasn't quite paying attention to the center channel being quite so prominent until a couple of days later.

I did buy an RF Prime R2-300X4 and some speakers for front and back when my order was originally scheduled for September but once I rolled to a '23 I added the Lux package so the additional amp seemed redundant. Guess I'll be revisiting that.

I'm definitely no audiophile and car audio is definitely not one of my strong suits (yet!) but I'm willing to put in the time to learn.

 

[colinl]

I agree with Darnon that you should use stereo mode. Surround mode might sound interesting, or at least different, but the quality is really poor and the sound stage is confusing. The rear speakers are small, poor quality and seem to have a bandpass filter on them so I don't understand why anyone driving would want to hear more of them. Rear passengers have no choice but to hear them because if you fade forward more than a little you get a LOT of center channel even in stereo mode.

Upgraded B&O system here: Focal RSE 165 components in doors and dash, 3khz bass blockers on the tweeters, added on a Key 500.1 amp fed from the 6x9 'sub' output, removed the 6x9 and using an Alpine R series 8" sub under the driver's side rear seat.

I tried disconnecting the center channel and noticed the vocal issue Darnon mentioned. So I'm probably upgrading the center eventually. I am still debating whether I want to experiment with resistors to tame the level.

You will get a whole lot of bang for your buck installing components and using the B&O amp. If I had to do it again I might try Kicker - I put a few of their KS series in my wife's Bronco and I'm honestly impressed.

 

[Gullzway]

I replaced my rear speakers with some Morel Maximo Coax 4" soon after getting my Maverick.
Made quite a difference.

Even the B&O rears were atrocious.

 

[Alkaiser702]

I agree with Darnon that you should use stereo mode. Surround mode might sound interesting, or at least different, but the quality is really poor and the sound stage is confusing. The rear speakers are small, poor quality and seem to have a bandpass filter on them so I don't understand why anyone driving would want to hear more of them. Rear passengers have no choice but to hear them because if you fade forward more than a little you get a LOT of center channel even in stereo mode.

Upgraded B&O system here: Focal RSE 165 components in doors and dash, 3khz bass blockers on the tweeters, added on a Key 500.1 amp fed from the 6x9 'sub' output, removed the 6x9 and using an Alpine R series 8" sub under the driver's side rear seat.

I tried disconnecting the center channel and noticed the vocal issue Darnon mentioned. So I'm probably upgrading the center eventually. I am still debating whether I want to experiment with resistors to tame the level.

You will get a whole lot of bang for your buck installing components and using the B&O amp. If I had to do it again I might try Kicker - I put a few of their KS series in my wife's Bronco and I'm honestly impressed.

I replaced my rear speakers with some Morel Maximo Coax 4" soon after getting my Maverick.
Made quite a difference.

Even the B&O rears were atrocious.

Thanks, I'll play with settings and look at dropping in the replacement speakers I bought months ago. The only ones I'm a little wary of are the tweeters, has anyone confirmed the correct adapter so I don't have to cut and solder in? I'd like to be able to easily go back to factory if necessary.

 

[Shakesbear]

Was able to get my sound set just right for drivers seat. Pretty much by chance in reality by adjusting the equalizer and fade/balance. Sounds perfect to me. If you were stranded on a remote island, what could you not live without?? That would be music for me

 

[colinl]

Thanks, I'll play with settings and look at dropping in the replacement speakers I bought months ago. The only ones I'm a little wary of are the tweeters, has anyone confirmed the correct adapter so I don't have to cut and solder in? I'd like to be able to easily go back to factory if necessary.

I can tell you that the Hoel speaker wire adapters for Bronco and Maverick do not have the right connectors for the dash tweeter. I got the adapters for the rear speakers and saw they were not listed as compatible for the dash and sure enough, it isn't the same, even though it's very similar. I should have rotated the Hoel adapter on the left to make it the same orientation as the B&O tweeter, but trust me, it's different.

I just cut & spliced.

Crutchfield has a metra adapter that fits the 6.5 in the doors.

 

[Alkaiser702]

I can tell you that the Hoel speaker wire adapters for Bronco and Maverick do not have the right connectors for the dash tweeter. I got the adapters for the rear speakers and saw they were not listed as compatible for the dash and sure enough, it isn't the same, even though it's very similar. I should have rotated the Hoel adapter on the left to make it the same orientation as the B&O tweeter, but trust me, it's different.

I just cut & spliced.

Crutchfield has a metra adapter that fits the 6.5 in the doors.

I think I can see the difference, the tooth slot on the bottom of the tweeter plug looks to be offset to the right while the Hoel one is to the left or closer to center. Wonder if I can find a guide showing all of the Metra adapters and their shape.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Its been awhile and I still haven't done the center/Infinity upgrade but need to- How hard is it to remove the dash grill cover ?

 

[Darnon]

Its been awhile and I still haven't done the center/Infinity upgrade but need to- How hard is it to remove the dash grill cover ?

It's just held in by plastic clips so it pops right upwards.

 

[Nw_adventure]

It's just held in by plastic clips so it pops right upwards.

Cool- What's the PN for the infinity Center folks are using ?

 

[Darnon]

Cool- What's the PN for the infinity Center folks are using ?

Infinity Reference 3-1/2" 2-way REF-3032CFX

 

[Nw_adventure]

Infinity Reference 3-1/2" 2-way REF-3032CFX

Awesome. Thx

 

[Nw_adventure]

Anyone have a single infinity for sale ?

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