• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Bang and Olufsen opinion?

Blackssr

Active Member
Messages
646
Reactions
347
Points
182
Location
Florida
#61
Sounds like garbage in the SS sedan as well, I replaced all the Bose garbage with some Infinities and ran them off the stock amp and put a sub in the trunk, sounds infinitely better.
I think my 84 Corvette, worst Corvette I've ever owned by the way, also had the Bose system which sounded like ass...it was so freaking long ago I can't remember if it had a bose system or not. Lol... I know it had the z51 suspension package which felt like they removed the shocks completely and I was driving on a concrete cobblestone roadway without any absorption or vibration dampening.. It was freaking horrible. I hated that car.

I do remember I changed the head unit so maybe 84 Corvette didn't have the Bose system. I do remember paying $1,000 in 1983 for the Kenwood 999 head unit and CD add-on that went on the passenger side and I had to cut that cushion thing out. This was the coolest ever, even cooler than the Alpine 8 cube it had an add-on CD player that I cut the cushion thingy on the passenger side and stuck it in there. Looking back maybe I didn't hate the car that much.. it did have a really cool radio when I got done tearing the car apart. download.jpeg
 

Last edited:
Messages
168
Reactions
75
Points
27
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#62
I think my 84 Corvette, worst Corvette I've ever owned by the way, also had the Bose system which sounded like ass...it was so freaking long ago I can't remember if it had a bose system or not. Lol... I know it had the z51 suspension package which felt like they removed the shocks completely and I was driving on a concrete cobblestone roadway without any absorption or vibration dampening.. It was freaking horrible. I hated that car.

I do remember I changed the head unit so maybe 84 Corvette didn't have the Bose system. I do remember paying $1,000 in 1983 for the Kenwood 999 head unit and CD add-on that went on the passenger side and I had to cut that cushion thing out. This was the coolest ever, even cooler than the Alpine 8 cube it had an add-on CD player that I cut the cushion thingy on the passenger side and stuck it in there. Looking back maybe I didn't hate the car that much.. it did have a really cool radio when I got done tearing the car apart. View attachment 3492
It wouldn't surprise me if most manufactures had deals with audio companies to put their name on the door and "tune" the system for five minutes and call it good.

The B&W system that Jag had in the first gen XJ and XFRs was amazing and hands down the best factory system I have ever listened to. I have heard Lincolns Revel system is amazing as well.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,646
Reactions
5,545
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#63
It wouldn't surprise me if most manufactures had deals with audio companies to put their name on the door and "tune" the system for five minutes and call it good.

The B&W system that Jag had in the first gen XJ and XFRs was amazing and hands down the best factory system I have ever listened to. I have heard Lincolns Revel system is amazing as well.
That’s literally all it is. The oems work with different brands, get input on the tuning and maybe if they’re lucky some input on driver placement then the oems take it from there. Every B&O speaker in an ST is labeled Ford.
 

Blk_Ravn_ST

Member
Law Enforcement
Messages
88
Reactions
32
Points
17
Location
Surprise, AZ
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#64
How many do you want me to list? Many high end cars have oem systems that will destroy this fake B&O system. Pull any driver in the car and take a look at it...it’s standard Ford fare with a licensed name on it. Don’t let the name fool you...it’s no more B&O that the Sony system is Sony.
As an audiophile who has done many stereos it isn’t bad but to what they label it as - it is lacking. They should have had a better stand-alone sub rear mounted with more low end output and a bit more of a top end adjustability. The fact that the doors rattle at higher volume is further disappointing. I will most likely pull the stock sub and run and aftermarket down road. Since it’s the wife’s my motivation is lacking to move on that prior to performance mods when I get to make a grocery run.
 

Last edited:
Messages
52
Reactions
19
Points
7
Location
Virginia
#65
As an audiophile who has done many stereos it isn’t bad but to what they label it as - it is lacking. They should have had a stand-alone sub rear mounted with more low end output and a bit more of a top end. The fact that the doors rattle at higher volume is further disappointing.
I can deal with everything else but the door rattles are infuriating to me lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Messages
52
Reactions
19
Points
7
Location
Virginia
#66
I was working on my sound deadener project today and pulled the sub enclosure out so I figured I would slap some scrap CLD on it to see if it would improve things. The oem plastic enclosure is thin and sounds like an empty beer can when you tap on it. Deadening it, along with the rest of the stuff I’ve done with interior panel treatments, doors etc has actually made a noticeable improvement. I’m still gonna yank it all out but it’s at least a little better now. I can actually get some impact out of it now.

View attachment 3490 View attachment 3491
I’d be curious to get your input/opinion on what it might cost to have a shop replace the b&o system. I realize there is a huge range depending on the equipment chosen...but any thoughts? Maybe like a good/better/best scenario?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Nhdataguy

New Member
Messages
13
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
NH
#67
It wouldn't surprise me if most manufactures had deals with audio companies to put their name on the door and "tune" the system for five minutes and call it good.

The B&W system that Jag had in the first gen XJ and XFRs was amazing and hands down the best factory system I have ever listened to. I have heard Lincolns Revel system is amazing as well.
My 15 XFR B&W radio was awesome, but it had an etch a sketch for other tech ... CarPlay didn't really exist then, 18 Audi S3 stereo was louder but not as clear ...
 

Messages
168
Reactions
75
Points
27
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#68
My 15 XFR B&W radio was awesome, but it had an etch a sketch for other tech ... CarPlay didn't really exist then, 18 Audi S3 stereo was louder but not as clear ...
The "infotainment" on my 2011 was miserable, they added the ability to stream music over blue tooth in the 2013 refresh.....
 

Messages
79
Reactions
28
Points
17
Location
Philadelphia
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
#69
The moment I turned up the speakers in this car the instant I knew Ford payed B&O to license their name. I have massive B&O towers from the early 2000s that have more phonic potential than these.
 

Messages
34
Reactions
11
Points
2
Location
Richmond, VA, USA
#70
I’d be curious to get your input/opinion on what it might cost to have a shop replace the b&o system. I realize there is a huge range depending on the equipment chosen...but any thoughts? Maybe like a good/better/best scenario?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
5k for a full replace behind the head unit.

Just dropped mine at the shop to cut out the stock 8 and get a 10w6/JL Box Ported/1000xd. They had done an ST before and said it's all I would need, that's 1500 bucks if you can get a good deal on labor. They didn't want anything to do with replacing the door speakers without going premium, just 1500 for that.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,646
Reactions
5,545
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#71
5k for a full replace behind the head unit.

Just dropped mine at the shop to cut out the stock 8 and get a 10w6/JL Box Ported/1000xd. They had done an ST before and said it's all I would need, that's 1500 bucks if you can get a good deal on labor. They didn't want anything to do with replacing the door speakers without going premium, just 1500 for that.
Audio is where things can get outta hand fast. My tweeters were $1700. lol
 

Messages
34
Reactions
11
Points
2
Location
Richmond, VA, USA
#72
does anyone know the crossover range original woofer comes with? I've got the 10 pounding hard, but it's not transitioning between the OEM and sub (8 was disabled).... I'm at 120hz and still feel like it's missing some tones...

**Update - switched to slope 12db and all was well at 120hz. that 8 was carrying alot of higher end tones...
 

Last edited:

REO1378

New Member
Messages
8
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
Mont Belvieu, TX, USA
#73
5k for a full replace behind the head unit.

Just dropped mine at the shop to cut out the stock 8 and get a 10w6/JL Box Ported/1000xd. They had done an ST before and said it's all I would need, that's 1500 bucks if you can get a good deal on labor. They didn't want anything to do with replacing the door speakers without going premium, just 1500 for that.
How did it turn out? I bought the Crutchfield recommended JL sub to swap out the factory sub, I just need to find the time to put it in.
 

wycsailor

New Member
Messages
9
Reactions
5
Points
2
Location
Minneapolis, MN, USA
#74
Agree with those comparing to other B&O systems, the Audi flavor in my old 2010 Q5 absolutely slaughters this. However I'm happy with it, all things considered. Definitely want to put some Dynamat in the doors as there is huge rattling on the outside.

Also, if you use an iPhone - check your EQ in Music Settings to make sure you don't have something selected which affects the sound. I accidentally had Treble Booster still running from a different pairing and I just went back to None. Made a huge difference.
 

Last edited:

Norvgen

Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
31
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
Sun City West, AZ, USA
Vehicle
2020 EXPLORER ST
#75
Let's just say this ... this B&O 985-watt system in our Explorer is FAR superior to the Sony we had in our F-150 Platinum. No comparison at all!! I love the sound ... but then again I listen mostly to classical (non-opera), sound tracks, etc. Star Wars sounds awesome!! :geek:

Cheers!!

Ken
Grew up in Bellevue, WA retired to AZ. I enjoy the stereo in the ST. If I want good sound I come home and fire up the Klipsch.
 

Messages
15
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
Drazil415
#76
The B&O in the Audi flat out DESTROYS the system in my ST. That being said; the system in the ST is still a decent OEM sound system.
 

Messages
53
Reactions
19
Points
7
Location
Calgary, AB, Canada
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
#78
I think my 84 Corvette, worst Corvette I've ever owned by the way, also had the Bose system which sounded like ass...it was so freaking long ago I can't remember if it had a bose system or not. Lol... I know it had the z51 suspension package which felt like they removed the shocks completely and I was driving on a concrete cobblestone roadway without any absorption or vibration dampening.. It was freaking horrible. I hated that car.

I do remember I changed the head unit so maybe 84 Corvette didn't have the Bose system. I do remember paying $1,000 in 1983 for the Kenwood 999 head unit and CD add-on that went on the passenger side and I had to cut that cushion thing out. This was the coolest ever, even cooler than the Alpine 8 cube it had an add-on CD player that I cut the cushion thingy on the passenger side and stuck it in there. Looking back maybe I didn't hate the car that much.. it did have a really cool radio when I got done tearing the car apart. View attachment 3492

Had some nice aftermarket head units in past vehicles. Including what was Alpine's top of the line in 80's & 90's such as the 7390, 7618 and 7909.
But my favorite was the Pioneer FHP85, loved that head unit.
Alpine 7390.jpg Alpine 7618.jpg Pioneer-FH-P85-Double-din-Cd.jpg
 

Sgt1411

Member
Law Enforcement
Messages
239
Reactions
151
Points
37
Location
BC&AZ
Vehicle
2021 ST
#79
I had a lexus and a dodge before this and their sound system was better IMO. B&O is not loud enough even at max volume and the bass doesn't hit hard at all.
I agree with you, I like the B&O system sound but the sound in my other vehicle a 2021 Jeep GC Overland by Harman Kardon is significantly better. But then again U-Connect is significantly better than SYNC3.
 

Messages
65
Reactions
33
Points
17
Location
Elizabeth, NJ, USA
#80
For the money, not what I expected... Looking at options to make it sound like it's supposed to.
 

Explorer ST Posts



Top