'23MY Audio Upgrade

Griffinftw
Jun 06, 2023

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get a Bronco!

Jun 06, 2023

After driving my ‘23 Wildtrak for the past 6 months and 8500 miles, I’ve come to the conclusion that I just can’t live with the poor audio quality of the stock speakers and low-power system. Mind you, I was one of the lucky ones that got the 7 Speaker system (that included the Sub and amp) as my Bronco was built on 12/7/2022. I was hopeful but overall disappointed with the sound quality of the stock system. This decision sent me down a rabbit hole of watching YouTube videos and reading many articles/posts on the subject. By the way, thanks @RagnarKon for the extensive amount of information you have provided about the Bronco stock systems, the videos and helpful information about FORScan. Your contribution is invaluable!

After some contemplation, I finally decided I was going to take the simplest approach with the best potential payout, and go with Kicker KS Series speaker replacements and the Kicker Key 200.4 amp. Easy-peasy install under the steering wheel and just pop in replacement speakers and I’m done. Except, as usual, I’m a day late and a dollar short as the Kicker Key amp is nowhere to be found. . . sold out everywhere.

As I began to do more research I decided, since I’ll never sell the Bronco, I might as well go for a bit more of an upgrade in power and also replace the factory sub and amp. I even considered really doing it right and adding Focal component speakers and sub with a mega watt amp, but then my wife discovered my browsing history and brought me back down to earth! (I knew I should have used Incognito mode). So, after talking to Joe at plugnplaykits.com I decided to go with the following components in the audio upgrade:

  • Musway SIX100- 6 channel 110 watts per channel amp (bridging channels 5 and 6 for the sub)
  • Plug and Play harness by plugnplaykits.com
  • 2 Kicker KS 4” coaxial speakers in dash
  • 4 Kicker KS 6.5” coaxial speakers in front kick panels and rear pods
  • Mabett 6.5” rear speaker pods
  • 1 Kicker CompRT 8” Subwoofer
  • Stinger drivers-side under seat amp mount
  • Stinger amp power kit

I ordered everything above, except the Mabett speaker pods, from plugnplaykits.com. Prices were very reasonable and this company has been in the audio business a long time. However, be warned, their web page is stuck in the ‘90s. I couldn’t find everything I needed on the website so just gave them a call and found Joe (the owner) to be very helpful. He put together a package deal for me. It will be here on Friday, so I’ll start planning out the installation. Just for reference, the last audio upgrade I installed was replacing the factory head unit in my 1976 Ford Elite with a Pioneer Supertuner III Cassette deck with a Pioneer amp/equalizer and replacing the rear speakers with Jensen Triaxs. I was the envy of all my friends!

I’m not a Youtuber but my nephew, who does marketing videos for a living, said he will help me film and edit an install video. For those who might be interested, I’ll keep you updated.
'23 4D Widltrak, Velocity Blue, 2.7L, High PKG, MIC Hardtop, Tow, Mod bumper, HOSS 3.0 / 10/23/2020 Res, Built 12/07/2022, Shipped 01/03/2023, Delivered 01/17/2023 / Steel and Stirrups Traveling Lamp holder, 07/23 /
Love'n the Ride and the Bronco Nation Community!
Darrel, Big Lowery
Last edited by a moderator: Jun 06, 2023

Burrito Connoisseur

Jun 06, 2023

#1
I’m not a Youtuber but my nephew, who does marketing videos for a living, said he will help me film and edit an install video. For those who might be interested, I’ll keep you updated.

When you do let us know!

I've been documenting my own upgrade process on YouTube, and one of the questions I constantly get is how to do the installation with amplifiers other than the Kicker amps. I used entirely Kicker Key amps in my installation, but they are out of stock just about everywhere, so I would love to point them towards your install video.
2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon
Darrel, Big Lowery

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get a Bronco!

Jun 23, 2023

#2
Quick Update, I got the speakers and amp installed this week. My nephew wasn't able to help video, so I did the best I could with a GoPro and my phone. I'll try to edit something together this weekend but don't expect too much. I'll also try to get some pictures posted as well. After tweaking the gains and frequencies on the amp and resetting the speakers in ForScan, the systems sounds amazing. I'm rolling my windows down and cranking up the "stereo" to listen to Boston, Kansas, ACDC, and Molly Hatchet like I did when I was a teenager!
'23 4D Widltrak, Velocity Blue, 2.7L, High PKG, MIC Hardtop, Tow, Mod bumper, HOSS 3.0 / 10/23/2020 Res, Built 12/07/2022, Shipped 01/03/2023, Delivered 01/17/2023 / Steel and Stirrups Traveling Lamp holder, 07/23 /
Love'n the Ride and the Bronco Nation Community!
Cap12271, Sdakotabronco

Don't Follow Me ,I'm about to do something Stupid

Jun 23, 2023

#3
I haven't heard a 4dr sound system but is it that much different from the 2dr ? I just installed a Kicker 8" sub in the factory enclosure with probably the last Kicker Key 500.1 Amp that was in stocks (sorry but not really) and to me it sounds pretty darn good. Can it be better , sure but from a guy that used to compete in USAC,IASCA and even judged a few back in the day it sounds pretty good with just the sub upgrade and some fine tuning. I may add a couple swivel flush mount tweeters in the windshield pillers later but I'm happy with the outcome. I did KillMat the whole back end so that definitely helps.
2Dr Badlands - MIC - Area51 - 2.7 Auto - MGV - Headliner - High Pkg
Reserved 7/20/20 Delivered 5/6/23
"Ford said, hey we're gonna fulfill all reservations and pre-orders before we build stock units."
Griffinftw, Darrel

Burrito Connoisseur

Jun 24, 2023

#4
I haven't heard a 4dr sound system but is it that much different from the 2dr ? I just installed a Kicker 8" sub in the factory enclosure with probably the last Kicker Key 500.1 Amp that was in stocks (sorry but not really) and to me it sounds pretty darn good. Can it be better , sure but from a guy that used to compete in USAC,IASCA and even judged a few back in the day it sounds pretty good with just the sub upgrade and some fine tuning. I may add a couple swivel flush mount tweeters in the windshield pillers later but I'm happy with the outcome. I did KillMat the whole back end so that definitely helps.

Honestly the 2-door sound system is a lot better from the factory. The rear pod speakers on the 2-door are actually part of the overall sound system.

On the 4-door they are basically just... back there... doing nothing.
2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon
Rydfree, Darrel

🐎Miss my Bronco Buddy🐎

Jun 24, 2023

#5
Honestly the 2-door sound system is a lot better from the factory. The rear pod speakers on the 2-door are actually part of the overall sound system.

On the 4-door they are basically just... back there... doing nothing.
I have a 4-door. I've adjusted mine a couple of times. I can't get any sound from the rear. I thought it was me. Lol! I may check out the Mabbet 6" pods. I've seen them recommended on another thread. I have had crappy radios, so my bar might be low. Just need something from the back. I will be checking out your YT vids @RagnarKan and Griffinftw.
Hi y'all, Lauri here and I am the proud owner of a MY21 Badlands, SAS, 2.7 auto, 4 door, soft top, Cactus Gray, no reservation, ordered 9/11/21, Took delivery 1/8/22!

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get a Bronco!

Jun 24, 2023

#6
Honestly the 2-door sound system is a lot better from the factory. The rear pod speakers on the 2-door are actually part of the overall sound system.

On the 4-door they are basically just... back there... doing nothing.
This is the difference between the sad 4" factory pods and the 6.5" Mabett pods and Kicker KS 6.5". They sound much better driven by an after market amp.

Pod comparison.jpg
'23 4D Widltrak, Velocity Blue, 2.7L, High PKG, MIC Hardtop, Tow, Mod bumper, HOSS 3.0 / 10/23/2020 Res, Built 12/07/2022, Shipped 01/03/2023, Delivered 01/17/2023 / Steel and Stirrups Traveling Lamp holder, 07/23 /
Love'n the Ride and the Bronco Nation Community!
Darrel

Burrito Connoisseur

Jun 24, 2023

#7
I have a 4-door. I've adjusted mine a couple of times. I can't get any sound from the rear. I thought it was me. Lol! I may check out the Mabbet 6" pods. I've seen them recommended on another thread. I have had crappy radios, so my bar might be low. Just need something from the back. I will be checking out your YT vids @RagnarKan and Griffinftw.

The 6.5" Mabett pods with some Forscan/FDRS tweaks are probably the best you can do without adding an amplifier. BUT adding an amplifier with a decent pair of aftermarket coaxials help a LOT.

The problem I had with the 6.5" Mabett pods is they would likely prevent me from loading my doors in the rear of the Bronco. So I personally stuck with the factory 4" pods and just added an amplifier, which helped a TON. I went with the Kicker Key 200.4, but they are out of stock everywhere for the foreseeable future (supply chain constraints). So if I were to do it again today I'd probably go with the AudioControl ACM-4.300, which I've used before in the past.

The Musway amps that @Griffinftw bought are very promising though. They are a well-known brand in Europe and southeast Asia, but relatively new to the Americas, so I know very little about them. But the Plugnplaykids.com owner is headquartered about an hour's drive from my house and he invited me to come down to check them out. I'll probably take him up on that offer at some point. I don't think they would work for me—I wanted to keep the amps off the floor to retain the ability to wash out my floor, and the Musway amps are too large. But I'm very keen to learn more about them for future projects anyway.
2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon
Darrel

Home, home on the range

Jun 24, 2023

#8
Thanks for all the info shared, and good to know about the 2dr sound being better than the 4dr from the factory. I'd like to upgrade the speakers to something better though cause my ears think it could be better.
2022 Bronco Black Diamond 2dr 2.3L manual Hot Pepper Red. Reserved 8/7/20. Ordered 1/23/21. Reordered 10/08/21. Scheduled week of January 24th 2022, delivered 2/24/2022
Darrel, Rydfree

Don't Follow Me ,I'm about to do something Stupid

Jun 24, 2023

#9
Thanks for all the info shared, and good to know about the 2dr sound being better than the 4dr from the factory. I'd like to upgrade the speakers to something better though cause my ears think it could be better.
Just be diligent in choosing the correct speakers or you may actually reduce the level and quality of the sound even though the replacement speakers are of better quality. Factory speakers are generally pretty efficient and matched to the power output of the stock system. Think of it as if you had a Maverick with a 2.0l engine and upgraded the chassis to a F-150 but kept the 2.0. The F-150 would then be greatly underpowered and would not perform well as it was designed for much more power.
2Dr Badlands - MIC - Area51 - 2.7 Auto - MGV - Headliner - High Pkg
Reserved 7/20/20 Delivered 5/6/23
"Ford said, hey we're gonna fulfill all reservations and pre-orders before we build stock units."
Griffinftw, Darrel

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