Here goes;

needing some advice from the audiophiles-because I haven’t dealt with car audio since early 2014 and am a little lost. I have a 2016 Platinum, with Sony premium sound and factory sub. It really isn’t terrible-but not great either.

My goal improved overall sound quality at higher volume, and a little punch from the sub. Basically I wanna listen to the old man rock anthems of the 80’s and 90’s loud and clear-and trying to do it inexpensively as possible.

I don’t want an aftermarket head unit. From everything I’ve read, I’ll need at least a Pac Audio ampro4, and the Ford harness.

I’m not sure on:
What’s an appropriate amplifier for the 7 regular speakers?

Separate amp needed for the sub?

Is the Ford/Kicker VSS drop in sub/amp worth buying-is it better or worse than the Sony?

thanks in advance, I know this is likely a dead horse that’s been beaten repeatedly-which makes the forum search both fruitful and frustrating.

 

Sorry to inform you that "old man rock anthems" originate in the 60s & 70s.
Before you go whole hog on electronics have you thought of starting by upgrading the speakers first, after all that is what you are hearing and considered the first rule in high end audio. I've been doing this for over 25 years. I don't have the Sony audio but after a speaker up grade and adding a Kicker sub (which I needed to turn off because it rattles my dog) I found it a big improvement over the cheap Ford whizzers. I'm pretty sure those speakers you have are nothing to write home about either. Be sure to disconnect the center dash speaker too. I went to Crutchfield to get some input and pricing. Got a roll of sound deadner to put in the doors behind the speakers and I've been content for over 6 years. It doesn't compare to my home systems but was never intended to, yet I can go long distances listening to it without ear fatigue. Another tip, if you search the Forscan stickie at the top there is some info on changing the equalization. It is limited but might better suit you so worth a try.

 

@Wicked ace
Just curious about the center dash speaker disconnect. Why?

 

It's a tiinny crappy speaker that I don't think a replacement can be found. It doesn't add anything, I believe it is used for door chimes and buzzers. I'm going back.....after taking input from others did find things better without.

 

I'm not an audio guy by any stretch. However, recently I lost my front drivers door speaker and I lost the chimes in the truck and the annoying dinging is all I could hear. The chimes returned once I replaced the door speaker, so I'm not sure what the center dash speaker does, I can't really discern if it's doing anything.

 

I believe kicker makes speakers for the center dash

 

Doesn't any 3.5 speaker fit up there? I think it's a 3.5. Meh.

 

If your like me... and dont like un plugging things. kicker and couple other brands make a replacement for it.

 

I -don’t- care for unplugging things but if that’s what has to be then that’s what has to be.

there’s a fella with the Ford/Kicker sub setup locally for around $300- no clue if it’s better/worse than the Sony or if it’s plug/play as it says so I’m hesitant to drop the cash on it without having any clue. Lots of unknowns.

 

Whats your budget? Fox accoustics makes nice oem fit enclosures, ive boughten them before absolutely perfect box
drop a alpine or JL 10er in their probably bang the whole deal out for 1400$
my buddy just did a dual JL 10" setup with factory Head unit he bought this device so he didnt need a new head unit or fancy wiring. I texted him to get the name of the device for yah about 150$ he paid for it if i remember correctly he had all the work done end of 2023 and it sounds really good,