So I’ve just upgraded from an Mk7 to an Mk8 Fiesta, it’s great! (Especially finally getting an Ecoboost engine)

 

The sound quality from the standard speakers is pretty good, as it was in the previous gen. One issue I have found however, is that once again, the sound quality on FM is very dull, severely lacking treble. I’m not sure why, one possibility I’ve thought of is that Ford maybe applies the USA 75us de-emphasis/treble cut, rather the correct 50us used here in Europe, resulting in a HF cut. 
 

So the question I have - is there a way to modify the tone controls/treble/EQ in the factory radio beyond the standard presets? Without having to add an AMP or DSP etc? Perhaps a software mod or an internal setting that could be changed, just a simple treble boost 😅

Standard FM on our Fiestas sounds awful... we use DAB instead which sounds a lot sharper, clearer and cleaner.

my fiesta is equipped with DAB radio capability, however there are no DAB stations in Egypt 😄 

On 11/12/2020 at 9:29 AM, Mavroz said:

Standard FM on our Fiestas sounds awful... we use DAB instead which sounds a lot sharper, clearer and cleaner.

Strange, I've always preferred FM. Has a decent frequency  range of about 30Hz to 15K Hz which is now beyond my hearing range.

Dab however is often limited in frequency response as they trade off bit rate to squeeze in more stations.

Dab has the potential to be better than FM but I've not heard a dab station yet that compares well to a decent FM signal.

I can only compare it to a TV. DAB to me is like watching a HD film, standard FM is like standard definition film.

The difference is very noticeable.

On 11/13/2020 at 10:40 PM, Blatto said:

Strange, I've always preferred FM. Has a decent frequency  range of about 30Hz to 15K Hz which is now beyond my hearing range.

Dab however is often limited in frequency response as they trade off bit rate to squeeze in more stations.

Dab has the potential to be better than FM but I've not heard a dab station yet that compares well to a decent FM signal.

Yeah I’d agree, I struggle to find any non BBC station that has a decent bit rate, FM is far better quality on a decent signal.

Out of interest, does anyone know if it would be possible to modify or disable the FM de-emphasis circuit using Forscan? (It’s essentially a treble reduction curve going down to -17db 15khz). I’d assume it’s software based these days

On 11/13/2020 at 10:40 PM, Blatto said:

Strange, I've always preferred FM. Has a decent frequency  range of about 30Hz to 15K Hz which is now beyond my hearing range.

Dab however is often limited in frequency response as they trade off bit rate to squeeze in more stations.

Dab has the potential to be better than FM but I've not heard a dab station yet that compares well to a decent FM signal.

Depends on the quality of your Dabs radio and antenna. In my other car my aerial is in the windscreen sound is very clear not like the hissing you occasionally get from FM also if you do a lot of distance driving you are always retuning FM.