Recently, we introduced our two-part video series on the 2021 Bronco’s B&O sound system. We want you to be well-equipped in understanding the system and what’s good about it, as well as hear from some of the engineers about what went into building it.
In the first video, professional car reviewer, audio expert, and Bronco owner Micah Muzio and HARMAN International senior mechanical integration engineer Kyle Gutowski cover the design of the B&O sound system, from speakers designed to take on the elements to the placement of them.
In our second video, Micah starts with HARMAN International senior engineer of acoustics Alec DeLeon to go over the tuning that went into the system –– and the challenges that came with doing so for a vehicle where the doors and top can come off.
Normally, Alec says, audio systems have a woofer in the lower door and a tweeter in the upper portion. One of the first things to do with the Bronco project was strategize where to put these, and once decided, the next thing to do was develop new speakers. These new speakers, in the corner of the dash near the A pillar, cover mid-range and tweeter frequencies, while the woofers near the floor cover bass. The center channel speaker stabilizes and solidifies the vocals. Measurements from each speaker and how they act in the Bronco were important to getting “more” for this premium option. Combined, the placement, frequencies, and angles of the system let you hear and pinpoint specific elements in the audio.
Putting the sound in the location it needs to be in is one of the benefits that the 10-speaker B&O sound system provides over the standard 6-speaker system. Audio becomes an immersive experience as it washes around you front, center, back, and below.
Micah and Alex next cover tuning from the infotainment screen. The system is optimized straight from the factory, but owners have flexibility to customize it to a degree. Under settings, locate the sound option to adjust tone, balance, fade, and speed compensated volume, as well as move between stereo and surround mode.
Moving on to lossless playback, Alec explains the system’s USB port will help you get to the best quality possible.
Next, Micah and Kyle move into the reference room, where trained listeners start before benchmarking a vehicle. Benchmarking is taking the sound you expect to hear, and the sound heard, and explaining what is good, how it ranks, and how to improve it.
Watch the full video to hear and see Micah, Alec, and Kyle explain additional details within tuning the system, lossless playback, and benchmarking –– and finally, watch Micah experience the B&O sound system in the 2021 Bronco for the very first time.
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