A client from Sykesville contacted Westminster Speed and Sound about upgrading the sound system in his beautiful 2018 Ford Mustang GT350. One of our team members set up an audio consultation appointment so we could go over the vehicle with him. We had previously worked on a similar car, so we were familiar with its audio layout. After listening to the sound quality of the existing system and listening as the client expressed his needs, we worked up a few proposals that we thought would get him the sound he always wanted with this Mustang. He liked our ideas, so time was set to begin working on the car.
It All Starts with a Powered DSP
This particular GT350 had the premium sound system with a whole bunch of speakers, yet everything sounded lifeless and dull. There was no real bass, and the overall volume left a lot to be desired. So the first step in the upgrade was to install an Audison AP8.9BIT powered DSP. It allowed us to give significantly more power to the six front speakers as well as the rear ones. The center channel speaker was disabled in this build since we knew the DSP would allow us to get a great center image without using it. The secret sauce is truly the digital signal processor (or DSP), which lets us manipulate the sound to dramatically improve the overall quality. We began by removing any of the equalization that Ford had added into the music, so we could properly analyze the audio signal in the Ford. Next, we set the digital delay for the speakers, which in simple terms allows the music to all arrive at the same time in each ear. The end result is music sounding as though it’s staged beautifully across the dash instead of emanating from the driver’s door. We create unique equalization settings for each speaker to maximize the clarity. The end result is music that has noticeably more output, better sound quality and staging that reminds you of a beautiful concert hall.
JL Stealthbox Makes the Music Come Alive
The next step in the journey to better sound led us to a JL Audio Stealthbox, part number SB-F-MUSCPE/12TW3. It combines one of their 12TW3 subwoofers in a custom-fitted fiberglass enclosure that perfectly molds into the passenger-side cubbyhole in the trunk. It gets securely bolted in place and has a protective grille for the speaker itself. Powering this subwoofer is a Helix M1 amplifier that supplies over 400 watts of clean power, enough to immerse you in the music. Both this amplifier and the Audison model are neatly hidden down in the spare tire well, completely out of view yet easily accessible if service work ever needs to be done.
A Happy Client Makes a Happy Team
When the client came to pick up his vehicle, he was blown away by the improvement in sound quality. He marveled at the increase in output, the authority from the bass and the way the sound was staged across the dash. As we showed him the trunk, he loved the fit and finish of our installation work. And his positive reaction brought smiles to our team. If you would like to upgrade the sound system in your vehicle, we invite you to contact Westminster Speed and Sound by simply clicking HERE, or you can drive over to our facility. A member of our team will work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Let us show you why we are the Mid-Atlantic’s most-awarded vehicle customization facility.
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