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2023 ST Weak Audio - Amp possibly not even working?

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jeg208

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Hi all, I have a 23 ST with the 14 speaker B&O stereo. Despite all my tuning, the audio is VERY weak. Distortion happens >23, and there is no volume increase above 25

I started to wonder if the amp was even working, as it just seems to be very underpowered. I pulled fuse 115 from under the hood, and there is NO noticable difference between fuse in and fuse out. The sub is barely moving in both scenarios.

Has anyone experienced this? Where is the amp located? I would like to do further testing to see if it is even doing anything.
 

Last edited:
UNBROKEN

UNBROKEN

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The amp is mounted to the sub enclosure. If it wasn’t working you’d have no audio at all.
 

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jeg208

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I forgot to add that it is the 14 speaker version. Perhaps it runs on a different fuse than 115 as the manual indicates?
 

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Cdubya

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Level 23!!! Good god man, it starts to distort at 14... can't imagine anyone turning it up even higher!
 

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jeg208

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I can still talk/mild shout (more like "dad voice" level) over it at 23 with ease. 14 is much closer to cruising with the family volume in mine. Leads me to believe something is wrong. Anyone else able to test pulling fuse 115 from under the hood to see if there is any change?
 

BrooseDaMoose

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Is this something that just started happening out of the blue? What your describing sounds normal for the OEM system. Fuse #127 is also for the amp. Fuse #32 in the passenger fuse panel is for the Audio Control Module. Try pulling that one to see what happens.
 

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jeg208

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Thanks for the info! I'll see what fuse 127 yields. It has been my wife's car, but I am taking it over. I have a 2018 raptor with the B&O, and it blows this thing out of the water. This is hands down the weakest "premium" sound system I've experienced, if functioning properly (2nd place would be the 2012 Nissan Xterra pro-4x i drove for a bit. Rockford Fosgate should be ashamed to put their label on that thing!). I've had 35w head units push harder than whatever they have going on in this thing
 

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jeg208

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Seems to function with just 1x of either fuse 115 or 127. I guess its working, just quite weak. Not sure why they went with 14 speakers to then power them so poorly. Thanks for the help!
 

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Cruising68

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jeg208 said:
Seems to function with just 1x of either fuse 115 or 127. I guess its working, just quite weak. Not sure why they went with 14 speakers to then power them so poorly. Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Fo what it’s worth I thought mine was far from good. Decent at low volume but max loudness was lacking for what it was imo. The head unit puts out pretty clean low level signals right up to 30. At least none that I could measure.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Flyman

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Are you experiencing this issue with all sources? I.e. Bluetooth vs Fm vs satellite.
 

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jeg208

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Yeah its across the board. FM is slightly better at lower levels just because of the EQ they put on it, but that just means it breaks up sooner. Having built many a car stereo, I'm pretty convinced this is just a lack of watts issue at this point
 

BrooseDaMoose

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It’s not only that! Even though it’s labeled B&O, all the speakers are just FOMOCO crap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Lewski

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Same problem brought my 2020 in early '22 , I have the 14 B&O system also and this is the weakest sound I ever had.
I have tried to adjust in ever way possible. I suspect the whole system is just playing in stereo on a low level
Nothing is crossed over right or adjusted
Example : Sub Amp should be crossed 125hz or lower ( I like mine at least 80hz ) and releasing nothing but bass and low notes.
Midrange should only push mid notes and signals
High speakers or tweeter combo only high notes and signals

You don't supposed to have stereo sound coming out a subwoofer only that bass or bottom of a song
If this was real high end all the signals would be separate and blend in and sound good together .
Last part would be a DSP ( Digital Sound Processor ) to change the playing field /sound if you want like Stadium, Concert ,and Etc.


jeg208 said:
Hi all, I have a 23 ST with the 14 speaker B&O stereo. Despite all my tuning, the audio is VERY weak. Distortion happens >23, and there is no volume increase above 25

I started to wonder if the amp was even working, as it just seems to be very underpowered. I pulled fuse 115 from under the hood, and there is NO noticable difference between fuse in and fuse out. The sub is barely moving in both scenarios.

Has anyone experienced this? Where is the amp located? I would like to do further testing to see if it is even doing anything.
Click to expand...
 

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jeg208

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BrooseDaMoose said:
It’s not only that! Even though it’s labeled B&O, all the speakers are just FOMOCO crap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Also a huge factor. Gotta love cheap paper cones.


Lewski said:
Same problem brought my 2020 in early '22 , I have the 14 B&O system also and this is the weakest sound I ever had.
I have tried to adjust in ever way possible. I suspect the whole system is just playing in stereo on a low level
Nothing is crossed over right or adjusted
Example : Sub Amp should be crossed 125hz or lower ( I like mine at least 80hz ) and releasing nothing but bass and low notes.
Midrange should only push mid notes and signals
High speakers or tweeter combo only high notes and signals

You don't supposed to have stereo sound coming out a subwoofer only that bass or bottom of a song
If this was real high end all the signals would be separate and blend in and sound good together .
Last part would be a DSP ( Digital Sound Processor ) to change the playing field /sound if you want like Stadium, Concert ,and Etc.
Click to expand...
Great point. Nothing appears to be filtered from what I hear, just full signal to the maximum response range of crappy speakers. Very disappointing
 

BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

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You have to tear it all out and start from scratch if you want quality sound. It’s not cheap, or easy, either!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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