The owner of this 2022 Ford Bronco recently visited Extreme Audio in Midlothian to discuss upgrading the stereo system. He liked the features of the radio but wasn’t impressed with how loudly the system played or how much bass it produced. So we listened to a few speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers on our display boards to give the client some options for making the SUV sound better. After a quick vehicle inspection and brainstorming with our fabrication team, we devised a superb audio upgrade solution that the client felt would meet his expectations.
Audiofrog Speaker Upgrade Delivers Clear Sound
Our technicians installed a set of Audiofrog coaxial 4-inch drivers in the dash speaker locations.
We also installed the woofers from a set of Audiofrog components in the Bronco’s kick panels.
Our technicians carefully replaced the speakers in the rear pods by the back hatch with another set of Audiofrog coaxial speakers.
The first step in making the audio system in this Ford Bronco sound good was to remove and replace the factory speakers with new drivers from Audiofrog. We started by installing a set of GS42 coaxial 4-inch drivers in the dash speaker locations. Having a relatively large midrange driver and a high-quality tweeter up high on the dash provides a solid foundation for the soundstage in the vehicle.
Next, we removed the speakers from the kick panels and installed the woofers from a set of Audiofrog GS60 components. These drivers will handle the reproduction of midbass frequencies. Finally, we replaced the speakers in the rear pods by the back hatch with a second set of Audiofrog GS42 coaxial speakers.
Custom Ford Bronco Subwoofer System
Our installation experts covered the metal panels surrounding where the subwoofer will be located with sound deadening material.
Our fabrication team created a sealed enclosure using some unique construction techniques.
The enclosure was finished with a durable black carpet.
Our fabrication team carefully reinstalled the rear paneling surrounding the new subwoofer enclosure.
The new, custom subwoofer enclosure was loaded with a JL Audio shallow-mount subwoofer.
The highlight of the audio system was to be the subwoofer enclosure we built in the rear side panel of the truck. While there are some bolt-in solutions, they look out of place and take away from the vehicle’s cargo-carrying ability. So instead, our team removed the trim panel on the vehicle’s passenger side and extracted the storage pocket. From there, our fabrication team created a sealed subwoofer enclosure using stack-fab and conventional MDF panel construction techniques. The goal was to maximize the available space to ensure that the subwoofer would reproduce low-frequency audio information with impressive clarity and impact.
Once the enclosure was together, we reinforced all the panel joints to make them airtight. Finally, we finished the enclosure with a durable black carpet so it wouldn’t rattle or buzz against the body or plastic panel. Speaking of noise, we applied SoundShield sound deadening material to the metal body panels around the enclosure to help minimize vibrations.
After we had the enclosure in the vehicle, our team installed a JL Audio 10TW3-D4 subwoofer and added an SGR-10TW3 grille to protect the driver from damage.
JL Audio DSP-Equipped System Amplifier
The JL Audio DSP-equipped amplifier was carefully mounted under the rear seat of the Bronco to provide adequate cooling.
If the subwoofer solution was the highlight of this upgrade, then the system’s amplifier is most certainly its heart. We chose to keep the factory radio as part of the system and feed audio signals from it to a JL Audio VX1000/5i five-channel amplifier. In addition, we added a set of AudioControl LGD20 load generation devices on the wires from the radio to the amp to ensure that there wouldn’t be any noise in the system.
The amplifier is mounted under the rear seat on the vehicle’s driver’s side. This location provides adequate cooling to keep the amplifier functioning reliably. We added a DRC-205 remote control to the amp so the client can adjust the subwoofer easily to suit the mood or the music that’s playing.
Regarding system configuration, the subwoofer channel of the VXi amp provides up to 600 watts of power to the 10TW3 driver to reproduce bass frequencies. In addition, the four main amplifier channels provide up to 75 watts of power to the new Audiofrog speakers.
An integrated digital signal processor is what separates this amplifier from most on the market. The DSP allowed our technicians to route signals to the appropriate channels on the amp, set crossovers to optimize driver performance and apply signal delays to optimize the arrival time of the sound from each speaker. Finally, we used the parametric equalizers on each channel to ensure that what the listeners hear is accurate and realistic. The DSP is the brain of this Ford Bronco audio system upgrade.
Excellent Sound That Looks Factory-Installed
With the system dialed in and the vehicle back together, it was time for the owner to return to Extreme Audio and pick up his SUV. He hopped in for a listen and was immediately blown away by the clarity and output capabilities of the system. The bass was deep, just like he wanted. He loved that all the speakers were concealed behind the factory grilles.
If you have a Ford Bronco and are tired of the lifeless audio system they come with, drop by Extreme Audio in Midlothian or Mechanicsville and speak with one of our product specialists. We’d be happy to design and install a sound system upgrade to deliver the performance you want. If you can’t get to one of our stores during regular business hours for a consultation, give us a call or send our team an email using our contact form.
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