So I am almost finished the sound system upgrade. I started with a 2012 Focus SEL with the Sony Premium, Nav, and Sync. I have gone through many hours of installation and this forum has helped out incredibly so thanks to all of the people who have posted prior. I can now answer many of the questions that people might have as I went through a great amount of trial and error. The Premium Factory 10 speaker system was ok for about a month, but I like to have real quality sound.
So here is what I put in...
Front Polk Audio mm6501 Component 6.5s
Rear Alpine 60 R series Components 6.5
Sub Polk Audio 10" DXI 104
Rockford Fosgate R600 4D Amp Runs the Fronts and the Sub (Bridged rear Channel)
Older Rockford Fosgate 200 Watt Amp Runs the rear components
I also got the JBL ms-8 for sound processing (which is awesome)
UNPLUG THE CENTER CHANNEL!! IT HELPS!!
Unfortunately as others have said, you have to keep the Factory amp in
One note, I also got the Audio Control LCQ-1 first, but it didn't work so well. The LCQ-1 isn't a horrible product, it does what it says it does, but I found the signal from the Factory amp to be just terrible. I played around with the LCQ1 for many hours before deciding to upgrade to the MS-8, and I am sure glad I did. The MS-8 cleans up the signal so much and now my speakers sound great, the way they should.
I can see the LCQ1 working well for people who already have a decent signal, but the "Premium" factory eq is so jacked up, no amount of equalizing would fix it. It was so much treble and high end I couldn't get rid of it, distortion was all over too. The MS-8 takes care of all that and more. Hell of a product and worth the $500 bucks I paid. It also took care of a Hissing noise the LCQ1 left which was annoying the hell out of me.
I took the outputs of the amp and hooked them to the inputs of the MS-8 and then took the RCAs out of the MS-8 and ran them to the amps and then the amps to the speakers of course.
Ran 2 power wires (amps and one for the MS-8) 3 different grounds. Took the remote from under the steering wheel. I left the stock speaker wire in, but might deal with that later.
I am currently puting Fatmat and Dynamat in all of the doors as the mid bass from the speakers rattles the metal. The main rattle, that I have seen people talk about, is the door panel vibrating off the metal part of the door where they meet. I took care of that with some FATMAT putting it where the two parts meet.
The Polk Audo 10" is plenty of bass for the little Focus and I am feeding it 300 watts.
The front Components are getting 150 Watts each and the Rear Alpines are getting a 100 Watts.
Finally it is sounding really nice with the JBL MS-8 taking care of many issues I had. Clean and loud.
If anyone has questions about upgrading their Premium sound, or the other trims, let me know. I might be able to help. Trying to give back to all the people that helped me on here.
Aaron
So here is what I put in...
Front Polk Audio mm6501 Component 6.5s
Rear Alpine 60 R series Components 6.5
Sub Polk Audio 10" DXI 104
Rockford Fosgate R600 4D Amp Runs the Fronts and the Sub (Bridged rear Channel)
Older Rockford Fosgate 200 Watt Amp Runs the rear components
I also got the JBL ms-8 for sound processing (which is awesome)
UNPLUG THE CENTER CHANNEL!! IT HELPS!!
Unfortunately as others have said, you have to keep the Factory amp in
One note, I also got the Audio Control LCQ-1 first, but it didn't work so well. The LCQ-1 isn't a horrible product, it does what it says it does, but I found the signal from the Factory amp to be just terrible. I played around with the LCQ1 for many hours before deciding to upgrade to the MS-8, and I am sure glad I did. The MS-8 cleans up the signal so much and now my speakers sound great, the way they should.
I can see the LCQ1 working well for people who already have a decent signal, but the "Premium" factory eq is so jacked up, no amount of equalizing would fix it. It was so much treble and high end I couldn't get rid of it, distortion was all over too. The MS-8 takes care of all that and more. Hell of a product and worth the $500 bucks I paid. It also took care of a Hissing noise the LCQ1 left which was annoying the hell out of me.
I took the outputs of the amp and hooked them to the inputs of the MS-8 and then took the RCAs out of the MS-8 and ran them to the amps and then the amps to the speakers of course.
Ran 2 power wires (amps and one for the MS-8) 3 different grounds. Took the remote from under the steering wheel. I left the stock speaker wire in, but might deal with that later.
I am currently puting Fatmat and Dynamat in all of the doors as the mid bass from the speakers rattles the metal. The main rattle, that I have seen people talk about, is the door panel vibrating off the metal part of the door where they meet. I took care of that with some FATMAT putting it where the two parts meet.
The Polk Audo 10" is plenty of bass for the little Focus and I am feeding it 300 watts.
The front Components are getting 150 Watts each and the Rear Alpines are getting a 100 Watts.
Finally it is sounding really nice with the JBL MS-8 taking care of many issues I had. Clean and loud.
If anyone has questions about upgrading their Premium sound, or the other trims, let me know. I might be able to help. Trying to give back to all the people that helped me on here.
Aaron