The stock audio system is great, actually. Here's why.

[Zardoz]

My stock radio sounds good, but certainly not like garbage. To be sure I've heard better but I'm overall happy with it.

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[colinl]

There's a lot to unpack here. I actually read the entire OP, and there is just too much to try to tackle it all.

The system is anemic and that's fine given it's a base model truck. It is in no way, shape or form "great."

Yes. It could be worse, but that doesn't mean it's great.

Audio preference is purely subjective.

No, but I could agree with "mostly" subjective if you'd written that. There are objective measurements you can make of a sound system with calibrated microphones and you can evaluate frequency response, time alignment and more. But, once you're at a certain level, frequency response can look similar and yet systems can sound very different, with different music. this is due to harmonics, distortion, time alignment and other things that aren't so easy to read on a chart, and yet you can hear differences even if you can't name exactly what you're perceiving.

This is where preference comes in.

Thus, most "premium" audio systems - particularly in cars - will overemphasize the lowest and highest frequencies, leading to a "mid-scooped" or "V-shape" sound (so named because the mids are "scooped" out of the frequency range, making a "v-shape" on a frequency analyzer). This is not necessarily a bad thing - "sub-bass" frequencies are ones that are often more felt than they are heard, and a crisp high treble can really bring out the subtleties in cymbals, horns, or high notes in a guitar solo, for instance.

No. Here's a short YouTube video that explains why tone controls and DSP aren't evil, but yet at the same time you definitely do not want the "U". He specifically makes that point which is too funny not to mention.

Ultimately, if I wanted a "big" audio experience, I would rather have it in my nice quiet living room with my relatively inexpensive 5.1 Vizio sound system. It's got a very pronounced V-shaped sound to it and sounds absolutely huge - which is particularly good for movies and games, as well. For a vehicle in motion creating wind, road, and engine noise, that mid-forward sound actually lets me better hear the vast majority of the frequency range where my music sits at a lower volume and still enjoy it. With the engine off and parked - yes, the Escape's B&O system is better. But how often do I sit perfectly still inside a vehicle and listen to music?

Ok. I will be polite and say that I agree that home audio is the place to experience better audio, but I think we would all agree that Vizio is not exactly audiophile reference material. A very good set of headphones are even better than most moderately priced home systems, although to me it's very fatiguing, compared to open-air. Even if it's not overly loud, the weight and pressure of headphones aren't comfortable to me after an hour or less, but I can listen to open-air music at 85-90 decibels all day, or much louder for a little while. My Maverick will hit 107ish decibels on real music, it's enough, and I've had other vehicles with far louder systems.

If you have experience with something other than Vizio, I'm honestly confused as to how you ended up there. I could name a variety of moderate priced bookshelves I'd rather have, including the ones I use now, a ~8 year old set of Paradigm Premier 200. In another room, but unfortunately banished from my main living room because of the size (and my love of a happy wife), are a set of B&W 604 S2 I bought in 1999 as a young man of considerably less means. My brother in law inherited a set of B&W Nautilus 804 of that same vintage from his father and I have listened to them for hours, and I heard them when I bought my 604s, but couldn't afford them.

My Maverick doesn't sound like those. The vocal and string instrument clarity is stunning. But my Maverick does sound pretty decent for having only taken the stock B&O system and replaced all the front speakers, and added a 8" sub.

The stock B&O is the most humble premium system Ford currently offers, but it's WAY better than one of Ford's first efforts in the 'factory aftermarket' space that I heard - a 1995 Mustang 'Mach 460' system. The stock B&O is enjoyable sitting still and while in motion, and it's an excellent platform to upgrade. I was very suspicious of the dash tweeters and center channel, but they work well. Which leads me to my final point and quote.

The sound engineer who set up the stock tune really did a good job of maximizing the performance of these cheap speakers. Not so much for speakers that are capable below 100Hz though.

Yes, a thousand times, yes. For all the complaining that people do about the Maverick sound systems (both base and B&O), they actually do well considering just how crappy the speakers are. Which means, obviously, that in both audio trim levels, you can get pretty nice returns by only changing the speakers.

A lot of people do not know what the hell the adjustments in any audio system do, Maverick included, and they don't know how to correlate what they're adjusting to what they're hearing. Any time I see the bass tone control maxed on a system - of any kind - I cringe. And I listen to a range of music that includes hip hop, alternative, classic rock, electronica, but I don't listen to most pop, or any country, jazz and classical.

 

[Solo]

I hear a lot on these forums and reviews about the Maverick's stock 6-speaker sound system - rarely is any of it positive. So as a guy who is something of a frugal audiophile, I'm going to give some of my thoughts on the Mav's sound system.

A few caveats:
1. I never use Bluetooth. I'm not sure if it's the codec, but audio over Bluetooth has noticeable distortion and digital artifacts. I always run my audio from my iPhone 11 to the stereo using USB-C and through the Apple Music app over Apple CarPlay. I typically use mp3s and occasionally Apple encoded AAC files. YMMV if you're using a different audio source or file formats.
2. I'm a rock/alternative/metal fan, which are genres that are usually very mid-forward in instrumentation. My thoughts probably won't apply to some other, more bass-heavy genres.
3. Almost all of my 25,000 miles in my Mav have been spent listening to music, so the speakers should be broken in. Speakers are made from paper and glue - which are fibrous and adhesive, so play time can "wear in" a speaker by loosening those stiffer materials.
4. I don't have any scientific analysis to give you. Sure, I could get in a number of cars, run pink noise through the system and capture them in stereo using a high quality mic and pre-amp and then use a frequency analyzer to give you an exact reading of what frequency ranges are strongest and weakest at ear level in the driver's seat. And while that would be super cool and fun to do, it's also something I don't have the time for at the moment.

On with the background:

My Mav was just in the dealership for the air bag recall and they, surprisingly, handed me the keys to a brand new loaded 2023 Ford Escape ST with all the goodies to drive in the meantime. Nice car; glad to have my truck back. Anyway, it had the premium B&O sound system in it, so of course I spun some tunes in it.

This isn't the first time I've driven a car with an "upgraded" sound system in it. I've had Bose, Sony, and JBL systems, and the Escape's is definitely one of the better ones I've used. With that said, I think it's a toss-up between the Sony in my 2011 Ford Fusion and - surprisingly - the stock six-speaker system in my 2012 Toyota Camry as to which one is "best."

Crash course in audio: sound is caused by pressure waves in the air moving at different speeds, or frequencies. The head unit is supposed to deliver a pristine audio signal and the amplification power necessary for the speaker to move back and forth and create those pressure waves. Most systems are able to deliver audio frequencies between 20 hertz and 20,000 hertz (or 20khz), both values of which are usually well beyond the audible spectrum for almost everyone. The lower the frequency (the fewer hertz), the lower the note. The higher the frequency (the more hertz), the higher the note. Of course, music is rarely one single, pure note; but a combination of notes from multiple instruments and voices with many "harmonics" and "overtones" creating the sound ("overtones" are the reason why one note played on a violin will sound different from the same note played on a piano, for instance). Generally, a well-mixed song won't overemphasize any one frequency range over another unless a specific situation calls for it.

Audio systems, on the other hand, don't often play by those rules - "critical listening" devices like studio monitors or flat-response speakers give an accurate representation of the music played through them, but tend to sound "flat," "lifeless," or "boring" to most listeners. Thus, most "premium" audio systems - particularly in cars - will overemphasize the lowest and highest frequencies, leading to a "mid-scooped" or "V-shape" sound (so named because the mids are "scooped" out of the frequency range, making a "v-shape" on a frequency analyzer). This is not necessarily a bad thing - "sub-bass" frequencies are ones that are often more felt than they are heard, and a crisp high treble can really bring out the subtleties in cymbals, horns, or high notes in a guitar solo, for instance. A "mid-scooped" sound usually has the effect of making a recording sound "bigger" at the expense of the loss of midrange clarity. A "mid-boosted" sound, on the other hand, will typically highlight mid-forward instruments such as acoustic and electric guitars and most vocals at the expense of sounding "smaller," or "boxier." But let's face it - that V-shape sound profile is just plain fun. It's a quick way to feel like you're at a concert. Everything sounds big, distant, and you really can feel the bass.

The stock Maverick system doesn't do that - at least not well. I had to add just a touch of treble and bass to the mix from the audio settings to make audio sound a bit more open. Note: it also helps to fade the music back towards the back just a touch - since the speakers are mounted so high, they project more directly towards the driver's ears. Yes, your listening position relative to a speaker has a dramatic effect on what you hear - ask anyone who's ever tried to mic up a guitar speaker and they'll tell you that a 5-degree angle will fundamentally change the tonality of the recording. Still, the stock Maverick system just doesn't really do a good "V-shape" profile without sounding compressed and fake (and likewise, most premium car audio systems won't do a flatter, more neutral sound without sounding artificial). Nothing can replace having multiple speakers of different sizes and crossovers feeding each of them the specific frequency range that they're able to best replicate. But what the stock Mav system does so well is that mid-forward, "boxy" sound.

Having listened to some particularly gnarly metalcore in the Escape, I was immediately struck by just how much punchier and "heavy" the rhythm guitars sounded in the Mav. I could feel every kick drum beat in the Escape and hear that satisfying treble "click" of the drum pedal connecting with the bass drum, but the guitars and vocals were kind of a blur that felt distant and indistinct. Again - cool sound; it definitely sounds more "live" that way. But the Mav was much better at reproducing the pick attack and "crackle" of the distorted guitars, even if the cymbals were a little soft in the treble range and I couldn't feel the kick drum and bass. Additionally, with the moonroof open, I felt like the "boxy" sound of the Mav's system made it a lot easier to hear over the wind noise than the Escape's. Is the stock Maverick system "better," then? Well, it depends on your taste, but I'd argue that for driving, then yes. It is.

Ultimately, if I wanted a "big" audio experience, I would rather have it in my nice quiet living room with my relatively inexpensive 5.1 Vizio sound system. It's got a very pronounced V-shaped sound to it and sounds absolutely huge - which is particularly good for movies and games, as well. For a vehicle in motion creating wind, road, and engine noise, that mid-forward sound actually lets me better hear the vast majority of the frequency range where my music sits at a lower volume and still enjoy it. With the engine off and parked - yes, the Escape's B&O system is better. But how often do I sit perfectly still inside a vehicle and listen to music?

So with a little tweaking and some care as to what to source to use with the stock system, I think the Maverick actually sounds great, if not fantastic. Certainly better than the stock system in many other cars I've driven. I still think other cars can offer a happier medium between the two extremes (That 2011 Ford Fusion's Sony system, though!). So before you go try to find a way to change that system, give the Mav's stock system a chance, and over time, you might come to enjoy its sound too.

So... In the case of the Maverick, a higher quality amp and speakers should result in richer sound, right?

 

[commadorebob]

I have the B&O system. Sounds decent enough in a small truck.

 

[WJOHNM]

I hear a lot on these forums and reviews about the Maverick's stock 6-speaker sound system - rarely is any of it positive. So as a guy who is something of a frugal audiophile, I'm going to give some of my thoughts on the Mav's sound system.

A few caveats:
1. I never use Bluetooth. I'm not sure if it's the codec, but audio over Bluetooth has noticeable distortion and digital artifacts. I always run my audio from my iPhone 11 to the stereo using USB-C and through the Apple Music app over Apple CarPlay. I typically use mp3s and occasionally Apple encoded AAC files. YMMV if you're using a different audio source or file formats.
2. I'm a rock/alternative/metal fan, which are genres that are usually very mid-forward in instrumentation. My thoughts probably won't apply to some other, more bass-heavy genres.
3. Almost all of my 25,000 miles in my Mav have been spent listening to music, so the speakers should be broken in. Speakers are made from paper and glue - which are fibrous and adhesive, so play time can "wear in" a speaker by loosening those stiffer materials.
4. I don't have any scientific analysis to give you. Sure, I could get in a number of cars, run pink noise through the system and capture them in stereo using a high quality mic and pre-amp and then use a frequency analyzer to give you an exact reading of what frequency ranges are strongest and weakest at ear level in the driver's seat. And while that would be super cool and fun to do, it's also something I don't have the time for at the moment.

On with the background:

My Mav was just in the dealership for the air bag recall and they, surprisingly, handed me the keys to a brand new loaded 2023 Ford Escape ST with all the goodies to drive in the meantime. Nice car; glad to have my truck back. Anyway, it had the premium B&O sound system in it, so of course I spun some tunes in it.

This isn't the first time I've driven a car with an "upgraded" sound system in it. I've had Bose, Sony, and JBL systems, and the Escape's is definitely one of the better ones I've used. With that said, I think it's a toss-up between the Sony in my 2011 Ford Fusion and - surprisingly - the stock six-speaker system in my 2012 Toyota Camry as to which one is "best."

Crash course in audio: sound is caused by pressure waves in the air moving at different speeds, or frequencies. The head unit is supposed to deliver a pristine audio signal and the amplification power necessary for the speaker to move back and forth and create those pressure waves. Most systems are able to deliver audio frequencies between 20 hertz and 20,000 hertz (or 20khz), both values of which are usually well beyond the audible spectrum for almost everyone. The lower the frequency (the fewer hertz), the lower the note. The higher the frequency (the more hertz), the higher the note. Of course, music is rarely one single, pure note; but a combination of notes from multiple instruments and voices with many "harmonics" and "overtones" creating the sound ("overtones" are the reason why one note played on a violin will sound different from the same note played on a piano, for instance). Generally, a well-mixed song won't overemphasize any one frequency range over another unless a specific situation calls for it.

Audio systems, on the other hand, don't often play by those rules - "critical listening" devices like studio monitors or flat-response speakers give an accurate representation of the music played through them, but tend to sound "flat," "lifeless," or "boring" to most listeners. Thus, most "premium" audio systems - particularly in cars - will overemphasize the lowest and highest frequencies, leading to a "mid-scooped" or "V-shape" sound (so named because the mids are "scooped" out of the frequency range, making a "v-shape" on a frequency analyzer). This is not necessarily a bad thing - "sub-bass" frequencies are ones that are often more felt than they are heard, and a crisp high treble can really bring out the subtleties in cymbals, horns, or high notes in a guitar solo, for instance. A "mid-scooped" sound usually has the effect of making a recording sound "bigger" at the expense of the loss of midrange clarity. A "mid-boosted" sound, on the other hand, will typically highlight mid-forward instruments such as acoustic and electric guitars and most vocals at the expense of sounding "smaller," or "boxier." But let's face it - that V-shape sound profile is just plain fun. It's a quick way to feel like you're at a concert. Everything sounds big, distant, and you really can feel the bass.

The stock Maverick system doesn't do that - at least not well. I had to add just a touch of treble and bass to the mix from the audio settings to make audio sound a bit more open. Note: it also helps to fade the music back towards the back just a touch - since the speakers are mounted so high, they project more directly towards the driver's ears. Yes, your listening position relative to a speaker has a dramatic effect on what you hear - ask anyone who's ever tried to mic up a guitar speaker and they'll tell you that a 5-degree angle will fundamentally change the tonality of the recording. Still, the stock Maverick system just doesn't really do a good "V-shape" profile without sounding compressed and fake (and likewise, most premium car audio systems won't do a flatter, more neutral sound without sounding artificial). Nothing can replace having multiple speakers of different sizes and crossovers feeding each of them the specific frequency range that they're able to best replicate. But what the stock Mav system does so well is that mid-forward, "boxy" sound.

Having listened to some particularly gnarly metalcore in the Escape, I was immediately struck by just how much punchier and "heavy" the rhythm guitars sounded in the Mav. I could feel every kick drum beat in the Escape and hear that satisfying treble "click" of the drum pedal connecting with the bass drum, but the guitars and vocals were kind of a blur that felt distant and indistinct. Again - cool sound; it definitely sounds more "live" that way. But the Mav was much better at reproducing the pick attack and "crackle" of the distorted guitars, even if the cymbals were a little soft in the treble range and I couldn't feel the kick drum and bass. Additionally, with the moonroof open, I felt like the "boxy" sound of the Mav's system made it a lot easier to hear over the wind noise than the Escape's. Is the stock Maverick system "better," then? Well, it depends on your taste, but I'd argue that for driving, then yes. It is.

Ultimately, if I wanted a "big" audio experience, I would rather have it in my nice quiet living room with my relatively inexpensive 5.1 Vizio sound system. It's got a very pronounced V-shaped sound to it and sounds absolutely huge - which is particularly good for movies and games, as well. For a vehicle in motion creating wind, road, and engine noise, that mid-forward sound actually lets me better hear the vast majority of the frequency range where my music sits at a lower volume and still enjoy it. With the engine off and parked - yes, the Escape's B&O system is better. But how often do I sit perfectly still inside a vehicle and listen to music?

So with a little tweaking and some care as to what to source to use with the stock system, I think the Maverick actually sounds great, if not fantastic. Certainly better than the stock system in many other cars I've driven. I still think other cars can offer a happier medium between the two extremes (That 2011 Ford Fusion's Sony system, though!). So before you go try to find a way to change that system, give the Mav's stock system a chance, and over time, you might come to enjoy its sound too.

Am sorry maybe you can shorten it to a few sentences.

 

[HushCarAudio]

Not a single one of my customer thought this. They all love what I've sold them way better than the factory system.

 

[Bob The Builder]

Given the fact I wear hearing aids and that I am deaf in one ear and cannot hear out of the other the stock system is fine and dandy. Anything better would be wasted on me and a waste of money.

Apple CarPlay now works flawless once I broke down and bought a good quality Native Union USB-C to Firewire cable and round filed my 3 for 10 dollar Amazon specials.

 

[Bob The Builder]

Not a single one of my customer thought this. They all love what I've sold them way better than the factory system.

Of course all your customers will say that. That is why they made a special trip in the first place to come to your store and spend their money. 50 years ago I most likely would have been one of them. Good luck.

 

[colinl]

Not a single one of my customer thought this. They all love what I've sold them way better than the factory system.

Well, yes, of course. I'd be rather concerned if that wasn't the case!

Care to offer your opinion on where the stock Maverick base and B&O systems stack up compared to other stock systems?

 

[commadorebob]

Not a single one of my customer thought this. They all love what I've sold them way better than the factory system.

The problem is the "good enough" standard most consumers have. That's what leads them to hold up a cookie sheet to record school plays or use an iPhone to capture a wedding despite professional photographers/videographers being objectively better.

For most consumers, the Maverick audio system will simply be good enough. You will get those with golden ears.

 

[HushCarAudio]

Well, yes, of course. I'd be rather concerned if that wasn't the case!

Care to offer your opinion on where the stock Maverick base and B&O systems stack up compared to other stock systems?

I've heard many systems and the factory F150/Maverick systems are some of the worst in my opinion. Even open air Jeep factory systems sound significantly better. Kia, Infinity, Nissan, Mazda, VW, Toyota, GMC, and many others offer way better factory sounding systems. This is why I mainly only work on Ford platforms.

 

[colinl]

I've heard many systems and the factory F150/Maverick systems are some of the worst in my opinion. Even open air Jeep factory systems sound significantly better. Kia, Infinity, Nissan, Mazda, VW, Toyota, GMC, and many others offer way better factory sounding systems. This is why I mainly only work on Ford platforms.

that's logical. you would starve trying to replace Volvo factory B&W systems, whereas you have a lot to gain upgrading a base Maverick system or even B&O. (I did have a Bose system in my last vehicle, a 2016 Mazda CX-9, and it was not very good. But I haven't listened to their current products.)

Ford does a lot of things the same way, so knowing the F150 gives you a significant head start on knowing a Maverick, and so on.

 

[HushCarAudio]

So far I'm finding the only thing different is how the rear speakers are setup. All of the connectors are the same as the F150 so my harnesses should work fine. I'm waiting on my 24 model so when that happens I'll be making my own power/signal/sub kits in the near future.

 

[BlastSite]

It’s good enough for the girls I go out with.

What an awesome post! Someone might be inclined to tease you about the quality of value that with but I would just ignore them and move forward. I hope you love your mavic as much as I do and and keep moving forward with them girls too!!! Doc

 

[BlastSite]

I see a lot of complaining on here and also a lot of compliments. However, it does not seem that anyone is upgraded their system and provide details on what seem to work best for them. Lots of opinions, but no actual helpful information. Has anyone done a reasonably priced upgrade to their mavericks system? That they are happy with? If so, could you please post some information on it?

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