Help with integrating a sub and amp

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MattRobPhoto

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Hey all,

I have a kicker sub in a custom box and a power amp that was in my '17 Silverado. The box fires up and was under the seat in a wedge shape. It's a Kicker DXA500.1 Poweramp. It's been sitting and I desperately want to do some upgrades to this B&O situation in my 2019 Raptor.

Could I use that stuff? The box fits, but doesn't fit "well" in the raptor. I could easily modify it to fit, but will that mess things up???

I've read where changing out the door speakers makes a HUGE difference! I don't need competition quality speakers, but I'm sure just about anything is better than what's in there now. I've heard Changing those and that little center speaker makes worlds of difference.

I had some sort of processor in my Silverado, but I didn't get that out when I sold it. so....? I know that a processor really cleans up the signal.

What would you do with this stuff within a budget of $1500.00 or less?

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
 

smurfslayer

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check out the last 5 or 10 pages of the “under 500 dollar” thread in the audio forum
 
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MattRobPhoto

MattRobPhoto

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Thanks Smurf... I think I've read through that, but will check it out again for sure.

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Is what I have useful in a new install or is it useless and need to be sold? Can it be integrated into an upgrade for me now?
 
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MattRobPhoto

MattRobPhoto

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Ok... Thanks Smurf again for the direction on the other thread. I might just jump onto that thread and go from there.

From what I see I can start with the Zen purchase and see if that power amp I have will work. Get that set up and go from there. Thoughts?

From GoBlue38: if you are tight on cash now........buy the zen. buy a 5 channel amp. buy a sub box. keep the factory door speakers.

The B&O amp is the problem. It has too little power, like 12 watts a channel. And the bass management just sucks the life out of all the speakers. When i was building my system. I Did the Zen, the Amp, and the sub box one weekend. Hooked up the factory speakers to my new 600 watt amp, and it was great. Sounded 100x better then the B&O amp. The next weekend i replaced my factory door speakers with my components. but the point is.......to save $600 now, but get you some bass, you can leave the factory doors. they sound fine when you actually give them plenty of power.

The above is great info and makes sense
 

smurfslayer

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yeah, from what I understand, the zen is kind of the common thread on all the ‘18+ upgrades to audio.
 

Chris Mies

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I went the route of trying to make something I had work. I scrapped that and a few more half-assed attempts before I landed the system I was happy with. I would have saved a lot of time and money going there in the first place. $1500 is a good budget and could land you a ZEN, 5-channel amp, sub, and front components speakers. You can save money and go cheap with the rear speakers. They are just fill.
 
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MattRobPhoto

MattRobPhoto

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I went the route of trying to make something I had work. I scrapped that and a few more half-assed attempts before I landed the system I was happy with. I would have saved a lot of time and money going there in the first place. $1500 is a good budget and could land you a ZEN, 5-channel amp, sub, and front components speakers. You can save money and go cheap with the rear speakers. They are just fill.

YES! EXACTLY what I am afraid of and very hesitant about! I've been around the block a few times and don't want to get into a bunch of time, effort, self (non-professional) work complete with injuries, broken tabs, misplaces drilled holes, the wrong wire here and there, only to end up scrapping ALL of that work and then paying someone. ugh!

The more I read here the more I learn and the more I realize this IS a job for a professional. I'm pretty handy and can do a lot of sh$t! I CAN take a professional photo and I CAN sell a medical device... I would not list installing a high quality sound system into a 2019 80K vehicle anywhere near anything I CAN do professionally! LOL!

Thanks for the info... I'm off to find a good local shop that does quality work! :)
 
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MattRobPhoto

MattRobPhoto

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Ok... well, I'm back from my local shop research. Bottom line is right around 2800 bones. That will get me into a bad ass sounding system. I don't have the exact particulars next to me right now, but basically it's Focal components up front, Focals in the rear, nice hot amp to run them, NavTV Zen, Down firing sub in custom box under one side of seat, amp to run sub, all wires, parts, pieces, and full install.

I could shave off a few hundred bucks and save on a few things, but my goal is "quality" sound.
I don't need competition sound... just good, solid quality sound with a nice heavy bass that I can feel.
Keep in mind, I don't need to thump like the high school kid in his 16" lift with purple lights and 92" tires. I just want good solid, tight bottom end that I can feel when I want to feel it.

They are also price matching the NavTV with the coupon code listed in the forum here. (439 I think).

They get me on labor because well, that's just what they do.

I shopped it a few places and the bottom line is the stuff is NOT cheap. Period. I'm in for 2K regardless of what I do and what I skimp on given my desires and preferences.

I could do it cheaper at another place/s, but when no one in the shop knows what a Zen A2B is I get a little jumpy, and when I hear, "Haven't done a new Raptor yet"... I get even more jumpy! Well that "jumpy" lands me in over 2K. It was then that I stopped driving around and started calling and opening the conversation with, "what can you guys tell me about the NavTV Zen A2B for a Ford F150 Raptor?"
Yea... I stopped calling and went where I knew they would know and they did and here we are. At least they are willing to price match the NavTV discount.

That's my story today... I'm now digging around for stuff to sell and move some dollars around to get this done. ugh! I will keep you all posted.
 

Chris Mies

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I recommend that you post the components here and let the experts take a look. Maybe they can shave a few dollars off what the shop is proposing.
 

goblues38

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Ok... well, I'm back from my local shop research. Bottom line is right around 2800 bones. That will get me into a bad ass sounding system. I don't have the exact particulars next to me right now, but basically it's Focal components up front, Focals in the rear, nice hot amp to run them, NavTV Zen, Down firing sub in custom box under one side of seat, amp to run sub, all wires, parts, pieces, and full install.


$2,800 is about the bare minimum with having a local shop do the work. Bottom line....if you have the B&O stereo, you have to get the ZEN + 5 channel amp + sub woofer (and box). To save a little cash, you could keep the factory door speakers for a while. Believe it or not....they are not the weakest link in the B&O system. The amp is.


This is my build.
https://www.fordraptorforum.com/thr...y-b-o-replacement-stereo-install.68874/page-7


I did my install over 2 weekends. First weekend was the zen + amp + sub install. ran that with the factory in door speakers and it sounded pretty good. Installed my new door components the next weekend and it sound great.

You can never have too much power (from an amp)......but too little power is what fries speakers.

Speaker wattage rating really means nothing in regards to how the speaker will sound when it's all done. A 200 watt 6.5 inch component will not be louder then a 150 watt one if they are both using the same 75 watts per channel amp. Speaker efficiency is what matters.

@smurfslayer myself, and a few others have the most experience on here with changing out the these systems. We have a few different opinions, but generally reach the same conclusion. keep coming back with questions and we will all help you as best we can.
 
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