I've had a pretty low opinion of the audio quality of the stock seven speaker Sync3 system since getting my 2016 and I've been considering some kind of upgrade to improve things.

Most of my listening thus far has been on FM, satellite radio and Bluetooth audio through Spotify (Extreme quality, locally saved playlists).

I put in a CD (an audio one, not a CD-ROM with MP3s, remember those?) over the weekend and was very pleasantly surprised with the audio.

CDs sound ***MUCH*** better than any of the other sources. If I could have all of my sources sound that good, I wouldn't feel compelled to upgrade.

I was expecting some improvement since CD is the highest quality of all the sources available, but what really surprised me is how much better it sounded.

I listen to Spotify on headphones through a DAC/amp all day long, and it sounds great. These are the same 'extreme quality' files I'm streaming from my phone to Sync3 in the truck, so I know there is quality audio in those files. But in my truck, they sound terrible.

I'm wondering why the Sync3 unit can't do that source justice?

 

I've wondered the same. Sirius sounds horrible; Pandora sounds much better, as well as FM. I am sure the quality issues from Sirius are due to some serious compression.

I'm surprised that Spotify sounds so much different. My guess would the EQ settings are causing the differences.

 

I agree... i notice big differences from Satellite radio to apple music files streamed bluetooth. I have yet to try a CD as they don't really exist in my house and would have to go looking for one. I should probably check the difference from bluetooth to phone being plugged into USB ports.

 

Are you using an iPhone or Android for Spotify? I have an iPhone and there is definitely a difference is quality between bluetooth and when I have the phone connected via USB. That being said, that is pretty much the norm with any system. Sound quality will vary depending on the source as well as the DA converter. I have the base Sync 3 (non sony) and with the stock speakers and no sub it was really noticeable. I added a Kicker Hideaway sub and replaced the factory speakers with Polk DB series. Whole system sounds WAY better and the difference in source is "less" noticeable but still there. I personally have never been blown away with audio quality from bluetooth, but that may be just me.

 

Android. Google Nexus 6 running whatever the latest version of Android is.

Interesting, are you saying the phone can be connected via USB to Sync3? I never tried that.

 

With an iPhone yes, not sure with an Android. I have a android tablet, but I have not tried to use it in the truck.

 

This in interesting to hear. On my current car I stream Slacker and Pandora through bluetooth and get CD quality sound. I assumed Sync would do about the same. I had fully intended on upgraded the speakers and adding a sub when I get my F150, but I assumed the factory head unit would stream through bluetooth well enough.

 

I have only streamed on bluetooth. I'll try usb and see if there is a difference.

 

Lossless (.flac) files on a USB stick sounds way better than Sirius, or mp3 over bluetooth...
Haven't tried a CD yet...

I have the seven speaker non amp stock system...pretty plain jane for sure...

 

I tried connecting my Google Nexus 6 via USB and it didn't recognize my Spotify app as a source, so unfortunately, that option doesn't work for me.

I did a bit of listening to some MP3s on a USB key on the way home from work today and they sound pretty darn good, provided they are ripped at a decent bitrate.

So, it seems like Bluetooth is what's really killing the sound quality.

@rritch: when you're connecting your iPhone via USB, you're using the Spotify app?