Upgrade Sony Audio System

[SailingSara]

Hi there, i'm new and have introduced myself on the newbies page.

My Focus comes with the standard Sony DAB radio CD/navigation system with bluetooth. The interface and connection to bluetooth etc is great and the Sat Nav works fine but I really miss having a top quality audio system.

I would like to improve the sound but not sure how I could go about this as the current audio and nav system is built in and is an all in one system. Can I get the audio part of the system replaced or is it best to have a completely separate audio system installed somewhere else in the car?

Alternatively would another option be to use my current system with better Speakers or an additional amplifier for better power output?

I know the sound I would like.... high volume with no distortion, good bass, treble and mid-range sounds with better clarity. I would still like to be able to play from my Samsung phone via bluetooth, USB, SD card etc plus have a good quality digital radio and CD sound.

I have found a car audio consultant via Google in Woodley, Berkshire but would like to go along armed with a bit of knowledge, a dangerous thing I know ;)

I'm not very technical so please reply presuming I know nothing and you will be on the right lines :D

Thanks in advance

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

The audio legend named Lenny is the man for this question Sara - no doubt he'll be along to answer you soon :)

[salsheikh]

Hi Sara

I'm no audio guru but i would upgrade the Speakers to components and possibly even add an amp and sub to make the sound a lot better. The audio specialist will probably advise something similar unless your willing to spend a lot of cash!

[SailingSara]

Hi Sal thanks for the advice I think the Speakers and amp will be my first option.

[SailingSara]

Thanks Mark, do you have the surname for Lenny? Perhaps I can search for him on here and ask him the question?

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

Simply search for Lenny in the members list - he's online now :)

[Lenny]

Thanks Mark, do you have the surname for Lenny? Perhaps I can search for him on here and ask him the question?

Hi Sara,

Sorry ive not saw this thread sooner,

I pick up a few threads every couple of days and tend to stick with them until complete then search for more.

Anyways,

Considering you have a high level headunit it would be a sin to tear it out for a pioneer double din,

Instead you can fit a 4 or 5 channel amp on an mdf carpeted cavity panel in the boot compartment,

A nice compact JL Audio class D efficent amp.

Perhaps two sets of JL Audio C3 650 Speakers,

Five channel if you want to fit a sub aswell but the class D range in a 4 channel amp is around tge size of an A4 page and 1 inch thick feeds 200watts to each door.

Your existing headunit wont have RCA outputs

But you can fit two hi level RCA output adaptors which convert your lines to rca which then feed the amp,

Amp will then feed the Speakers,

This way your stock equiliser and fader still work as they should.

Id encourage installing this setup yourself rather than a fitter,

Save yourself 200 pounds

A very good supplier of jl audio in the uk is soundevo.co.uk they also install if desired.

[SailingSara]

Hi Lenny thanks for the post and taking time to give me a detailed reply. I have no idea about car electrics (I just love great quality sound!) so I would struggle to install myself, wish I could but it would be a disaster! :D But now I am armed with a shopping list and I can get some prices.

Taken onboard what you say about not replacing the head unit, pleased its a good one and I only need amp and Speakers. I have loads of room in the boot so I can fit sub in there if I want.

What are RCA outputs?

I will speak to SoundEvo first, Watford is not that far from me. If they can't do it I could order the components from them and find someone local to fit.

Thanks very much for the help :)

[SailingSara]

I reckon the components will cost me around £700 ish? that's if I had one set of Speakers. Does that sound about right?

[Lenny]

Hi Lenny thanks for the post and taking time to give me a detailed reply. I have no idea about car electrics (I just love great quality sound!) so I would struggle to install myself, wish I could but it would be a disaster! :D But now I am armed with a shopping list and I can get some prices.

Taken onboard what you say about not replacing the head unit, pleased its a good one and I only need amp and speakers. I have loads of room in the boot so I can fit sub in there if I want.

What are RCA outputs?

I will speak to SoundEvo first, Watford is not that far from me. If they can't do it I could order the components from them and find someone local to fit.

Thanks very much for the help :)

No problem,

Tell em lenny in ireland recommend you to them on fordownersclub.com

I give em over a grand last january so he should remember me,

I got the best deal in uk though, they are cheapest.

See my guide here for an example of how a cavity panel can be built to house an amp in the boot compartment

Link: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/63695-guide-fitting-custom-amp-sub-enclosure-mk2-mk25-focus-2005-2011/

Ill create a shopping list including the RCA adaptors so you have an option of purchasing all items yourself

Then paying for labour rather than everything.

The amplifiers accept rca connection as an input,

Your stock headunit outputs are coaxil cable,

The hi level rca adaptor takes coaxil converts it to RCA form for connection to the amp.

The amp then boosts up the sound and send it on to the Speakers.

[SailingSara]

Brilliant! thanks Lenny

[Lenny]

Brilliant! thanks Lenny

No prob,

I've gotta edit to insert links below but this is how it will go if purchasing all items yourself no pressure to purchase anything this is just to give an idea of the install,

You could fit C2 Speakers in rear would reduce cost a bit or fit a pioneer amp,

Ive gone top spec on the list below.

The amplifier requires power directly from the battery,

So the first item is 7 metres power cable

If purchasing set quantity to 7 in order to recieve a seven metre length.

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251113035519

The amp then gets earthed to the body so 2 metres of earth feed is required

Purcase Qty: 2

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vibe-Flatlines-4AWG-Amplifier-Ground-Cable-Wire-4-Gauge-AWG-1M-black-Clear/261070670815?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29973%26meid%3D876ce036f9954bc28b253b9ef4c6e43b%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D251113035519

Followed by one pack of ring terminals

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vibe-RT4-4-AWG-Gauge-Gold-Crimp-Ring-Battery-Amplifier-Terminals-Connectors-/260795059516?hash=item3cb898cd3c

Next item is some speaker cable which will feed audio from the amp in the boot back to the rear of the head unit where it can be spliced in to the existing cables feeding to the door Speakers,

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10M-Vibe-Flatflex-16AWG-OFC-Car-Audio-Speaker-Wire-Cable-HIFI-/260901411441?hash=item3cbeef9a71

Next item is a 5 metre RCA cable, this cable brings audio from the headunit to the amplifier,

I recommend this compact six channel in one cable.

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vortex-V-507-5-Metre-6-Channel-Home-Car-Amplifier-Professional-RCA-Phono-Cable-/251569332924?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a92b362bc

If fitting a 5 channel amplifier then you have the extra two RCA's in the above cable.

Next item is an in line fuse adaptor,

you need a 40amp and these trip switch type are much better simple to reset if it ever trips.

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Audio-40A-60A-100A-Amp-Amplifier-AGU-Style-Circuit-Breaker-Fuse-Holder-12V-/221268770747?var=&hash=item3384a57fbb

Next you need "aftermarket speaker adaptors"

These plastic rings fit to the door replacing the shape of the stock Speakers while providing a 6.5" space to fit the new speaker.

Front kit:

Having Difficulty finding these Mk2 may be the same parts.

Rear kit:

The next item is optional but i highly recommend them,

Two sets of DEi Boom speaker baffles protect the speaker from moisture inside the door aswell as keep the bass inside the car,

2 sets required,

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DEI-Boom-Mat-Speaker-Baffles-6-5-Round-pair-/301545890957?hash=item463589248d

Next item is two high level RCA adaptors,

These units fit behind the dash,

They take the front and rear speaker outputs then convert them to RCA connections.

2 required,

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Channel-RCA-Line-Input-Output-High-to-Low-level-converter-adaptor-lead-CTLOC15-/261278273918?hash=item3cd566117e

If fitting a 5 channel amp,

You will need a third one of these set to 60hertz

All of the above items bridge the way to aftermarket life,

Now were on to the good stuff :)

Two sets of JL Audio C3 650 speakers

Front: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JL-Audio-JL-C3-650-300-watts-6-5-16-5cm-Car-Component-Coaxial-Speaker-Pair-/181097504699?hash=item2a2a409fbb

Rear: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JL-Audio-JL-C3-650-300-watts-6-5-16-5cm-Car-Component-Coaxial-Speaker-Pair-/181097504699?hash=item2a2a409fbb

Final item,

Choice of amplifier either

4 channel

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JL-Audio-JL-XD400-4-JL-XD400-4-Class-D-4-Channel-400-Watt-Car-Amplifier-Amp-/181234217201?hash=item2a3266b0f1

5 channel

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JL-Audio-XD700-5-v2-5-Multi-Channel-Class-D-Car-Amp-Amplifier-4x75W-1x300W-/231300109592?hash=item35da8f9518

That's the overall shopping list of required items,

Other items required and available locally would be:

9mm MDF for building cavity panel,

Can of spray glue,

Black carpet to cover panel,

Wood glue,

14 M6x20 self tapping wood screws to build cavity panel,

14 M6x20 bolts to fit speaker brackets,

14 M6 x 15mm washers to grip bolts

14 nylon lock nuts for bolts,

Four M5 x 40 bolts to grip amp to panel,

Four M5 x 30 penny washers,

Four M5 lock nuts,

Estimated 50 quid for all that between Halfords and B&Q

Fitting shouldn't take more than one day with the amp panel pre built.

If fitting 5 channel amp then you can fit a 300 watt sub and enclosure at later date if desired.

Just needs some speaker cable, sub and box,

When the amp is installed it will need to have the gains set correctly to match the speakers,

I can loan the kit required to do this using a sound cd, volt metre and flat head screwdriver see guide:

Car audio specialist may charge more for this i don't know, if they do,

I can loan for cost of shipping and here's how to do it:

See page: 82 of my build regarding tuning the amplifier

Link: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/41443-taking-oval-to-blue-horizon-lennys-build-thread-2010-2015/?p=477925

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

Sounds like a re - mortgage is needed !

[SailingSara]

Wow! Thanks so much for all that. When you have finished the links I'm going to put everything in a document first so I have it all together then start working through and costing it. Amazed you have managed to list every washer and nut too!

I probably won't be able to go for the highest spec :( but I do want decent stuff... better start saving a bit more!!

The housing you made for the amp in the boot looks like a really neat job.

Thanks again Lenny for all your help, I will update when I start making progress.

[Incontro]

Lenny - it sounds like you have a university degree on this topic!

You must be quite the audiophile to be considering all this Sara! :o

[Lenny]

Sounds like a re - mortgage is needed !

a set of Bose audio headphones would be cheaper and easier to transfer to the next vehicle ;)

Wow! Thanks so much for all that. When you have finished the links I'm going to put everything in a document first so I have it all together then start working through and costing it. Amazed you have managed to list every washer and nut too!

I probably won't be able to go for the highest spec :( but I do want decent stuff... better start saving a bit more!!

The housing you made for the amp in the boot looks like a really neat job.

Thanks again Lenny for all your help, I will update when I start making progress.

Ive finished the list there now,

Ive listed bolts and stuff as I've gone through the build process in my head as I've just done my own between November and March

Lenny - it sounds like you have a university degree on this topic!

You must be quite the audiophile to be considering all this Sara! :o

lol nah I've never gone to collage i was too busy chasing fast cars and fast well yeah

although my dad now retired but was a teacher,

Im only speaking from experience i know a few things about a few modifications

Heres my first build back in 2004

And now the focus:

[Lenny]

[SailingSara]

Thanks for putting rest of the links in Lenny, I really appreciate all your input. Your enthusiasm for great sounds comes through :)

[Lenny]

Thanks for putting rest of the links in Lenny, I really appreciate all your input. Your enthusiasm for great sounds comes through :)

No prob thanks,

I hope it gives a good idea of each part involved,

The cables and converters cant really be avoided when going aftermarket there like a toll fee,

But the Speakers and amps can be shopped around for,

However i fear recommending somthing that i havent used or heard myself for fear that it wouldnt be an upgrade.

Soundevo would be able to advise on alternative upgrades better than myself.