Upgrades to the stock stereo?
#46
01-04-2017, 10:47 AM
#47
01-04-2017, 01:36 PM
Elder User
I'm holding out for Kicker to make a sub that replaces the stock speaker like in the F150.
Vehicle Specific Solutions (VSS) | KICKER®
Vehicle Specific Solutions (VSS) | KICKER®
#48
01-04-2017, 01:43 PM
It's not only expensive, but it's also not an upgrade to the Sony system. It's compatible but not an improvement. Lot's of F150 guys without the Sony system bought it and raved about it so Kicker came out with an amp relocation bracket to make it compatible with the Sony system. What they didn't say was it's basically equal to the sub that comes from Ford with the Sony system and make no real improvement. A few Sony system guys on the F150 forums tried it, pulled it, and sent it back.
#49
01-04-2017, 02:11 PM
Elder User
That's good to know. So in goofball terminology (me :-) ) that I may be able to comprehend, what is it that the new Rockford Fosgate gadget will do?
DSR1 - 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor w/ Integrated iDatalink Maestro Module | Rockford Fosgate®
What they are saying might as well be Mandarin Chinese. lol
DSR1 - 8-Channel Interactive Signal Processor w/ Integrated iDatalink Maestro Module | Rockford Fosgate®
What they are saying might as well be Mandarin Chinese. lol
#50
01-04-2017, 02:54 PM
OK, from what I've gleaned, the stock Sony amp is being fed it's signal from the stock audio system through a propitiatory digital CAN BUS signal. This means you can't just tap the low level unamplified signal between the head and the amp to feed your aftermarket amps with a nice clean signal. You have to tap the amp's high level output leads that run to your speakers. Now, normally, this wouldn't be a big deal. Many aftermarket amps accommodate high/speaker level input. Or, if your amp doesn't, you can get a line out converter that changes high/speaker level signal into low/RCA level signal.
Now, here's the issue with doing that with Ford's Sony system. Ford's Sony amp has a built in DSP. Digital Signal Processor. It plays with the EQ settings, timing between front and rear speakers, etc. based on volume level. It does this for a few reasons but mostly to protect the cheap OEM speakers. For example, it will cut the bass output as you increase volume to keep from overloading the stock woofers... and so on. So, if you grab that manipulated signal to feed your amp and new high end speakers, you're not able to run them at their full potential.
Now, what guys generally do is run their own DSP like the JL audio FIX86 shown earlier in this thread. It grabs the manipulated signal, sums all the channels together (tweeters, woofers, front, rear, etc.) and gives you a full range signal. It then has a calibration CD you play in your truck to allow it's DSP to know where you are as a starting point for tuning your system. After that, you can plug in your laptop and set all different bands of equalization to your liking. So, basically it's reversing the Sony amp/DSP's manipulation and getting you back to a nice clean signal to send to your aftermarket amp(s).
Now, the new Rockford unit is similar as it's still a DSP with all kinds of tuning ability. However, with it will come a vehicle specific harness that will plug in BEFORE the Sony amp. So, it won't have to go through all the signal summing etc to get you a clean signal. It will read Ford's CAN signal directly before it gets manipulated and then allow you to tune from there. So, bottom line is it's skipping the Sony's signal manipulation and thus doesn't have to manipulate it all back to get a clean signal. Cutting out the middle man as it were. Another great feature about it is it has built in bluetooth. So, you don't need your laptop and a cable to dial it in. You can link to it by BT through an app and make your adjustments. Even on the fly. Yet another great feature of the RF is it uses your OEM controls to adjust things. For example, you can use your OEM bass control to raise and lower your subwoofer amp level. Last thing about it is it's price. $250 retail and likely less when it hits the resellers. The FIX86 is $350 and options go up from there. I've seen fancy DSP's going for over 1k.
Now, here's the issue with doing that with Ford's Sony system. Ford's Sony amp has a built in DSP. Digital Signal Processor. It plays with the EQ settings, timing between front and rear speakers, etc. based on volume level. It does this for a few reasons but mostly to protect the cheap OEM speakers. For example, it will cut the bass output as you increase volume to keep from overloading the stock woofers... and so on. So, if you grab that manipulated signal to feed your amp and new high end speakers, you're not able to run them at their full potential.
Now, what guys generally do is run their own DSP like the JL audio FIX86 shown earlier in this thread. It grabs the manipulated signal, sums all the channels together (tweeters, woofers, front, rear, etc.) and gives you a full range signal. It then has a calibration CD you play in your truck to allow it's DSP to know where you are as a starting point for tuning your system. After that, you can plug in your laptop and set all different bands of equalization to your liking. So, basically it's reversing the Sony amp/DSP's manipulation and getting you back to a nice clean signal to send to your aftermarket amp(s).
Now, the new Rockford unit is similar as it's still a DSP with all kinds of tuning ability. However, with it will come a vehicle specific harness that will plug in BEFORE the Sony amp. So, it won't have to go through all the signal summing etc to get you a clean signal. It will read Ford's CAN signal directly before it gets manipulated and then allow you to tune from there. So, bottom line is it's skipping the Sony's signal manipulation and thus doesn't have to manipulate it all back to get a clean signal. Cutting out the middle man as it were. Another great feature about it is it has built in bluetooth. So, you don't need your laptop and a cable to dial it in. You can link to it by BT through an app and make your adjustments. Even on the fly. Yet another great feature of the RF is it uses your OEM controls to adjust things. For example, you can use your OEM bass control to raise and lower your subwoofer amp level. Last thing about it is it's price. $250 retail and likely less when it hits the resellers. The FIX86 is $350 and options go up from there. I've seen fancy DSP's going for over 1k.
#51
01-04-2017, 03:08 PM
OK, from what I've gleaned, the stock Sony amp is being fed it's signal from the stock audio system through a propitiatory CAN BUS signal. This means you can't just tap the signal between the head and the amp to feed your aftermarket amps with a nice clean signal. You have to tap the amp's high level output leads that run to your speakers. Now, normally, this wouldn't be a big deal. Many aftermarket amps accommodate high/speaker level input. Or, if your amp doesn't, you can get a line out converter that changes high/speaker level signal into low/RCA level signal.
Now, here's the issue with doing that with Ford's Sony system. Ford's Sony amp has a built in DSP. Digital Signal Processor. It plays with the EQ settings, timing between front and rear speakers, etc. based on volume level. It does this for a few reasons but mostly to protect the cheap OEM speakers. For example, it will cut the bass output as you increase volume to keep from overloading the stock woofers... and so on. So, if you grab that manipulated signal to feed your amp and new high end speakers, you're not able to run them at their full potential.
Now, what guys generally do is run their own DSP like the JL audio FIX86 shown earlier in this thread. It grabs the manipulated signal, sums all the channels together (tweeters, woofers, front, rear, etc.) and gives you a full range signal. It then has a calibration CD you play in your truck to allow it's DSP to know where you are as a starting point for tuning your system. After that, you can plug in your laptop and set all different bands of equalization to your liking. So, basically it's reversing the Sony amp/DSP's manipulation and getting you back to a nice clean signal to send to your aftermarket amp(s).
Now, the new Rockford unit is similar as it's still a DSP with all kinds of tuning ability. However, with it will come a vehicle specific harness that will plug in BEFORE the Sony amp. So, it won't have to go through all the signal summing etc to get you a clean signal. It will read Ford's CAN signal directly before it gets manipulated and then allow you to tune from there. So, bottom line is it's skipping the Sony's signal manipulation and thus doesn't have to manipulate it all back to get a clean signal. Cutting out the middle man as it were. Another great feature about it is it has built in bluetooth. So, you don't need your laptop and a cable to dial it in. You can link to it by BT through an app and make your adjustments. Even on the fly. Yet another great feature of the RF is it uses your OEM controls to adjust things. For example, you can use your OEM bass control to raise and lower your subwoofer amp level. Last thing about it is it's price. $250 retail and likely less when it hits the resellers. The FIX86 is $350 and options go up from there. I've seen fancy DSP's going for over 1k.
Now, here's the issue with doing that with Ford's Sony system. Ford's Sony amp has a built in DSP. Digital Signal Processor. It plays with the EQ settings, timing between front and rear speakers, etc. based on volume level. It does this for a few reasons but mostly to protect the cheap OEM speakers. For example, it will cut the bass output as you increase volume to keep from overloading the stock woofers... and so on. So, if you grab that manipulated signal to feed your amp and new high end speakers, you're not able to run them at their full potential.
Now, what guys generally do is run their own DSP like the JL audio FIX86 shown earlier in this thread. It grabs the manipulated signal, sums all the channels together (tweeters, woofers, front, rear, etc.) and gives you a full range signal. It then has a calibration CD you play in your truck to allow it's DSP to know where you are as a starting point for tuning your system. After that, you can plug in your laptop and set all different bands of equalization to your liking. So, basically it's reversing the Sony amp/DSP's manipulation and getting you back to a nice clean signal to send to your aftermarket amp(s).
Now, the new Rockford unit is similar as it's still a DSP with all kinds of tuning ability. However, with it will come a vehicle specific harness that will plug in BEFORE the Sony amp. So, it won't have to go through all the signal summing etc to get you a clean signal. It will read Ford's CAN signal directly before it gets manipulated and then allow you to tune from there. So, bottom line is it's skipping the Sony's signal manipulation and thus doesn't have to manipulate it all back to get a clean signal. Cutting out the middle man as it were. Another great feature about it is it has built in bluetooth. So, you don't need your laptop and a cable to dial it in. You can link to it by BT through an app and make your adjustments. Even on the fly. Yet another great feature of the RF is it uses your OEM controls to adjust things. For example, you can use your OEM bass control to raise and lower your subwoofer amp level. Last thing about it is it's price. $250 retail and likely less when it hits the resellers. The FIX86 is $350 and options go up from there. I've seen fancy DSP's going for over 1k.
#52
01-04-2017, 03:16 PM
#53
01-04-2017, 03:20 PM
The Sony amp is no longer in play. The Rockford DSP also serves as your line out converter and has RCA outputs that feed your new amp(s) directly. What I'm curious about is if the Sony amp can just be removed from the truck. It's just taking up space at that point.
In the past you couldn't eliminate the Sony amp/dsp completely as it also sent out your navigation directions etc. But now that the RF unit is getting the CAN signal, it's really not needed as far as I can see?
#54
01-04-2017, 03:36 PM
#55
01-04-2017, 03:40 PM
Elder User
#57
01-04-2017, 07:17 PM
#58
01-05-2017, 12:19 AM
#59
01-05-2017, 06:14 AM
Kind of OT, but not completely.
Do the back seats fold DOWN on a '17 Crew Cab?
I know they fold up, but mine look like they'd fold down without too much effort? But it was raining and I was late so I thought I'd not force the issue and ruin a seat - and just ask,
Thnks,
ysgi
Do the back seats fold DOWN on a '17 Crew Cab?
I know they fold up, but mine look like they'd fold down without too much effort? But it was raining and I was late so I thought I'd not force the issue and ruin a seat - and just ask,
Thnks,
ysgi
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...side-seat.html
#60
01-09-2017, 09:53 AM
Hi guys, been so dam sick the last two weeks have not been able to keep up. But year the RF 360 might be the way to go. I will continue with my JL fix86, but at least I know there is something on the way if I'm not satisfied. One thing the 360 seem to also have is active EQ and possibly controllable by a mobile device, this is a game changer.