A new client recently drove down from Emmitsburg to meet with the Westminster Speed and Sound team to discuss upgrading the stereo in her 2017 Ford Focus RS. The client has a nice home audio system, and, blessed with the knowledge of what music should sound like, wasn’t impressed with the factory-installed Sony stereo in her Focus. After a thorough discussion and a demonstration of the benefits of a high-end DSP-equipped upgrade, we picked out equipment and scheduled an appointment.
Ford Focus Speaker Upgrade
The first order of business was to remove the stock radio, speakers, and subwoofer from the car. We treated the door panels, cargo area, and hatch with a layer of Hushmat sound deadening material. We added a layer of SoundShield deadening to the door panels to prevent buzzing or rattling.
Our fabrication team printed a set of mounting adapters for the doors to house Helix i7 6.5-inch woofers. The adapters space the speakers forward so the magnets clear the windows. Next, we mounted a set of matching Helix i7 tweeters in the stock locations in the door sail panels. We finished the speaker portion of the upgrade by installing BLAM Live Series coaxial 6.5-inch speakers in the rear doors.
Sony Source Unit and Helix Amplification
You can’t create a premium audio system without a good source unit. We installed a Sony Mobile ES XAV-9000ES in place of the factory radio using an iDatalink Maestro dash kit and an RR2 interface module. The RR2 module allows the radio buttons on the steering wheel to control the Sony radio. The radio can communicate with the vehicle CAN bus network and, if the client chooses, display gauge cluster information on its screen.
The radio feeds output to a pair of Helix amplifiers that we mounted on the floor of the cargo area. The main amplifier is a Helix P SIX DSP Ultimate, which drives the tweeters, door woofers, and rear fill speakers. The amplifier has a built-in digital signal processor that we used to set crossovers, adjust delays, and equalize the output of each channel. We used a pair of preamp outputs on the amplifier to send a subwoofer signal to a Helix P ONE 1500-watt monoblock amplifier that powers the subwoofers. Stinger Xi2 interconnects ensure no noise would be added to the system.
We installed a Helix Conductor in the storage pocket under the radio. The rotary control is configured to act as a subwoofer level control. This allows the owner to turn the subwoofer level up or down to suit her music or mood.
Focus RS Subwoofer System
From a cosmetic perspective, the new sound system’s focus is the cargo area. The client wanted to keep the vehicle looking as original as possible. She wasn’t thrilled with the idea of a subwoofer enclosure sitting out of place in the middle of the trunk.
Our team created a custom subwoofer enclosure for a pair of Helix IQW 10-inch subwoofers. The subs have a floating two-piece trim panel in front of them, wrapped in carpet, with a blue accent piece to pick up on the Blue RS theme of the car. White LEDs make the Helix subwoofers really stand out. The amplifiers are trimmed in black vinyl, with the RS logo embossed between them. We created a cover for the amplifiers so the cargo area can be used without concern.
Baltimore’s Best Car Audio Upgrades
Overall, about 40 hours of work went into the audio system upgrade. Part of that includes the time to configure and calibrate the digital signal processor – a key element in making this new Ford Focus stereo sound amazing. When the client returned to the shop, our installer, David, showed her the work, helped her set up her phone, and ultimately, audition the new sound system. She was thrilled with the upgrade!
If the stereo in your car, SUV or truck doesn’t sound lifelike and detailed, we invite you to visit Westminster Speed and Sound. We would be honored to show you why we are the most-awarded mobile enhancement retailer in the Mid-Atlantic. If you can’t get here during regular business hours, give us a call or fill out our contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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