A long-time client from Frederick recently contacted the Westminster Speed and Sound team to let us know he’d bought a 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and wanted a stereo upgrade. We have done two significant audio systems for the client in the past, so we had an idea of the goals for the new upgrade. After some back-and-forth on the phone and via email, we designed a system worthy of this amazing vehicle.
Stage 3 Sound Deadening for the Mustang Dark Horse
Once the car was at our shop, we removed the trunk and door trim panels so we could treat it with our Stage 3 sound deadening upgrade. We started with a layer of Hushmat on the trunk floor, the trunk lid and the outer door skins. Next, we applied SoundShield deadening to the inner door skin. SoundShield has a foam top layer that helps prevent buzzes and rattles from wire harnesses. Finally, we treated the back side of the door trim panel with Hushmat.
Helix and BLAM Speaker Upgrade
Next, we upgraded the Mustang’s speakers. We installed a set of Helix Compose i3 6.5-inch woofers on 3D-printed adapters in the lower portion of the doors. We printed another set of adapters to let us mount BLAM Live LM80 midrange speakers in the upper portion of the doors. We added a third LM80 to the center speaker location on the dash. The final step for the front stage was installing a set of Compose i3 tweeters in the stock locations.
We finished the speaker upgrade with a set of 6.5-inch Compose i3 coaxial speakers for rear fill.
Match DSP Amplifiers and Factory Radio Integration
The new audio system integrates with the factory touchscreen infotainment system using a PAC AmpPRO AP4-FD32 interface. This module lets us extract a full-bandwidth, unprocessed signal from the radio, as if it were an aftermarket unit. We connected the AmpPRO output to the digital input of a Match UP 10DSP 10-channel amplifier using a fiber-optic Toslink cable to keep the system noise-free.
The 10-channel amp powers the three speakers on each side of the car, the center channel and the rear fill drivers. We added a matching UP 1FX mono amp to drive the system’s subwoofers. We mounted the amps, along with the factory air compressor, to a custom rack we built into the recessed storage well in the trunk. We added a plaque with the Dark Horse and our Artistry by WSS logos for a little flair.
Custom JL Audio Subwoofer Enclosure
A key goal for the system was to ensure that it produced a good amount of bass. We constructed a custom sealed enclosure to house a pair of JL Audio 12W3v3 12-inch subwoofers. The subwoofers face rearward into the trunk and are protected by a custom grille. As you can see, our team spent time designing the custom Dark Horse emblem and even added blue LEDs to the eyes and nostrils. White LED lighting around the subwoofers makes them stand out from behind the grilles. We also added a trim panel to the rear of the enclosure and embossed the Dark Horse logo on it.
DSP Configuration and System Calibration
The key to the new audio system’s performance is configuring and calibrating the digital signal processor in the UP 10DSP amplifier. We started with signal routing, filter configuration and path length delay setup. Then we used our RTA microphone to equalize each speaker’s output, producing a balanced but impactful overall response. The music now spans the dash of the car and offers impressive imaging across the soundstage. The bass blends nicely with the woofers in the doors while remaining a lot of fun.
Maryland’s Car Audio Upgrade Experts
After a few days of work, we wrapped up the Mustang Dark Horse stereo system and were ready to deliver it back to the client. When he hopped in for a listen, he was immediately blown away by the clarity and impact. He was smiling from ear to ear.
If your car’s sound system doesn’t put a smile on your face, we invite you to visit Westminster Speed and Sound and talk to one of our audio upgrade specialists. We’d be honored to design a custom audio system upgrade that matches your listening expectations. If you can’t get to the store during regular business hours, call us or click HERE to email our team.
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