• 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!


Stock Speakers.

BillBeau

Member
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Messages
52
Reactions
27
Points
17
Location
Paradise, Ca.
Vehicle
21 ST
#1
Anyone upgraded the stock speakers with direct replacements?
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,637
Reactions
5,542
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#2
Sound deadening treatments and adding a properly tuned DSP will pay bigger dividends than just swapping drivers.
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,671
Reactions
1,225
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#3
Have to agree with @UNBROKEN. I did stock replacements in my Yukon Denali a few years back. Was underimpressed by the improvement just replacing speakers. Then I did sound deadening and it sounded like I spent another two grand on the sound system. Made a huge difference. Since then it is mandatory for me with any type of audio upgrade.
 

Messages
85
Reactions
34
Points
17
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
#4
Any advice on areas to work on first? What materials are best?
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,637
Reactions
5,542
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#5
Any advice on areas to work on first? What materials are best?
The doors would obviously be first but for the best results it’s a whole-car scenario.
Read this link and treat it like your sound deadening Bible.

https://resonixsoundsolutions.com/reference-information/

And if anyone messages me again asking if peel and seal from Home Depot is just as good just because it looks “similar“ I will drive to your house and kick you in the shin with a steel toed boot. lol
 

Messages
85
Reactions
34
Points
17
Location
Detroit, MI, USA
#6
Thank you for the reply, and sharing the amazing work you have done!
 

CareerFiremanGuy

1000 Post Club
Firefighter/EMT
Messages
1,083
Reactions
813
Points
262
Location
USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#7
You audiophiles put me to shame.

I've got the base ST sound system and I think it sounds pretty darn good. haha
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,671
Reactions
1,225
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#8
Regarding sound deadening, I did a pretty though job on the doors. Not only does the stereo sound better but when you close the door it no longer sounds like a cheap subcompact. Used to be real tinny when closing and sounded super cheap. Now they are much quieter with more of a thud than a ringing tinny sound. Not really surprising after I found out how little sound deadening Ford really uses on the Explorer.

As I get older, I get more deaf. I need a better stereo just to hear :)
 

Messages
53
Reactions
19
Points
7
Location
Calgary, AB, Canada
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
#9
The doors would obviously be first but for the best results it’s a whole-car scenario.
Read this link and treat it like your sound deadening Bible.

https://resonixsoundsolutions.com/reference-information/

And if anyone messages me again asking if peel and seal from Home Depot is just as good just because it looks “similar“ I will drive to your house and kick you in the shin with a steel toed boot. lol

Thanks for the link, an interesting read.

Most people will want to take a simple and cheap approach to sound "improvement".
And if they follow the link and read it, they will see that: "Attempting to reduce road noise by only doing a few areas (like just the doors) is usually a waste of time, effort, and money. The significant gains come the closer you get to 100% coverage."
I didn't realize that sealing the outer skin from inner with ABS plastic was something that is done. Makes sense why it should be done, just never seen it done before on any install.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,637
Reactions
5,542
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#10
Thanks for the link, an interesting read.

Most people will want to take a simple and cheap approach to sound "improvement".
And if they follow the link and read it, they will see that: "Attempting to reduce road noise by only doing a few areas (like just the doors) is usually a waste of time, effort, and money. The significant gains come the closer you get to 100% coverage."
I didn't realize that sealing the outer skin from inner with ABS plastic was something that is done. Makes sense why it should be done, just never seen it done before on any install.
Closing any large holes to separate the front and rear waves of the speaker to prevent cancellations has been done for decades.
Fortunately our inner doors are 100% sealed from the start.
People think just dropping in new speakers fixes things when in reality it usually just causes a new set of problems without making anything better anyway.
Proper sound treatments change everything…and most people would be happy just doing that alone. After that finding a shop to integrate a DSP and tune it will suffice for I’d bet 90% of people looking to upgrade. Add in a better sub and that goes to 95%.
 

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,729
Reactions
865
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#11
I'm assuming the OP is looking for the budget alternative to upgrading. You can certainly get direct fit upgrades to the cheap paper woofers. I only did the front doors with inexpensive but much better sounding 3" and 6x9" in place of the stock drivers. A 3" is not a direct fit but there is plastic there to mount them too. Doing some budget sound insulation is worthwhile--shoot for 30% coverage with Al-butyl peel-and-stick to the inside of the door and to strategic areas of the inner door panel. Closed cell foam between the metal door and inner door panel. No, you will still get exterior noises but your door speakers will sound a lot better. Add a powered sub to fill in the low end below about 70Hz. Set it to stereo and fade forward. No, not the quality of a custom install but much better than stock IMHO and for a modest outlay of funds and time.
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,671
Reactions
1,225
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#12
Good advice above if you are on a budget. You pretty good results with 30-40% coverage. Sticking to the bigger flatter panels will make a big difference. Something behind the door speakers like black hole tile or closed cell foam makes a big difference in keeping reflections down as well. I'd say the first 50% of coverage has a bigger improvement from stock than the difference between 50% and near 100% coverage.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,637
Reactions
5,542
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#13
Good advice above if you are on a budget. You pretty good results with 30-40% coverage. Sticking to the bigger flatter panels will make a big difference. Something behind the door speakers like black hole tile or closed cell foam makes a big difference in keeping reflections down as well. I'd say the first 50% of coverage has a bigger improvement from stock than the difference between 50% and near 100% coverage.
A box of Blackhole Tiles costs more than the budget speaker upgrade. lol
I have about 30 in each front door. lol
 

Messages
376
Reactions
235
Points
37
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#16
Replace the 6 factory speaker with Focal Inside. The speaker are a direct replacement.
Used Hushmat inside and around the speaker and door panel.
Really happy with the new speaker.

Front Speaker Focal Inside IS FORD 690
Rear Speaker Focal Inside IC FORD 165

My cat was a big helper too.
 

Attachments

CareerFiremanGuy

1000 Post Club
Firefighter/EMT
Messages
1,083
Reactions
813
Points
262
Location
USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#17
Aww, kitty cat's always like to help out!
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,671
Reactions
1,225
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#18
I love when the animal family members help out! I just haven’t figured out how to get them to hand me tools


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

CareerFiremanGuy

1000 Post Club
Firefighter/EMT
Messages
1,083
Reactions
813
Points
262
Location
USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#19
Hand me tools? I'm usually waiting on them hand and foot!

But I don't mind at all. :)
 



Top