2012 System Upgrade DIY: Speakers + LOC + Amp + Sub

[Focussed2012]

Hi All, I've upgraded my stock 6 speaker (non-Sony) Sync system on my 2012 SE hatchback and hope this DIY thread helps future owners. If you have any questions at all, just ask and maybe I took a picture of it and can post it for you. I had to fight through some of it as there isn't a ton of info on our cars out there yet.

I kept the head unit as I really like the voice activated Sync features, blue tooth integration, USB port, etc. but added an amp to the hatch floor, single 10" sub in a small sealed box to give it some kick but take up minimal space (and be removable for loading stuff), replace all door speakers, and install a LOC in the glove box for easy access and sound control.

Here's the stuff I picked (I was on a tight budget and had roughly $500 of Crutchfield credits so I bought everything through them):
AudioControl LC6i 6-channel line output converter
Sound Ordnance M-4075 4-channel car amplifier
Kicker DS6.2 6-1/2" component speaker system
Kicker DS60 6-1/2" 2-way car speakers
Rockford Fosgate R1S410 Prime Series 10" 4-ohm subwoofer
Sound Ordnance Bass Bunker Sealed single 10" subwoofer enclosure

Amplifier fused power cable to the battery from the engine bay:


Amplifier fused power cable to the battery from the driver-side firewall. It took hours to find a spot to get through the firewall -- it's really congested back there. I think this pre-cut hole is where a clutch would go on the manual transmission cars.


Drilled firewall cover plate to pass the power cable:


Here is where I grabbed the 4 speaker outputs and power antenna feeding the LOC on the passenger side console wall. I found how to get the head unit out of the dash REALLY easily, but it's still easier getting the speaker-level wires up here than behind the head unit.
I used the 4 speaker wires and the power antenna to the LOC as follows:
Power Antenna YELLOW/ORANGE (+)
Left Front + WHITE
Left Front - WHITE/BROWN
Right Front + WHITE/PURPLE
Right Front - WHITE/ORANGE
Left Rear + BROWN/GREEN out of the HU, WHITE/GREEN back to the speaker (color changes at this connector)
Left Rear - BROWN/YELLOW
Right Rear + BROWN/WHITE
Right Rear - BROWN/BLUE


Where I grounded the LOC on the passenger front door sill:


The LC6i LOC in the glove box. I velcro taped it down so it can be pulled out and adjusted if necessary:


Note the exact arrow spot for where to press down to pry the little bolt cover off the door pull cover. It's the same on all 4 -- toward the back of the car. I pressed straight into the door pretty hard with a very small flat screw driver and they popped right out. I scraped the first one trying to find a good pry location, so lesson learned.


Front door handle trim piece pried off. After this trim piece is off, pry up the door switch unit to expose the bolts:


How to get the driver door panel off the car. Shows the bolt locations:


Here is the bolt on the outside door jamb of the front doors not shown in the above picture:


Here is a shot of the Kicker tweeter mounted PERFECTLY into the stock tweeter housing. I did snap off one of the plastic stems, and if you compare this picture you'll see what you would need to cut off. Snapped right in place with no trouble at all.


Here is what my Kicker components look mounted in the car. I put the crossover unit in a handy hollow location shown:


Here is the bolt locations for the rear doors (no side panel and bolt on the rears):


Here is the hatch with everything installed:


There is no visible equipment change except the sub in the hatch and the LOC in the glove box. Everything else looks exactly stock -- which was important to me -- and I have a toddler in the car a lot and didn't want him to accidentally grab a power wire to an amp under the seat, etc.

I ran power and power antenna to the hatch area along the driver floor, and the low-level RCA signals along the passenger floor. I grounded the amp by grinding off a nice clean patch of metal on the floor of the hatch and screwing an eye-connector to it with a couple of metal screws. I used the head unit power antenna to the LOC in the glove box, and the LOC "amp on" signal to the amp itself in the hatch area.

The system sounds vastly improved over stock. I'm still adjusting the sub cross-over point, amp gains, head unit settings, etc. but very pleased overall with the quality and it'll only get better when the speakers break in.

One last note: if you're thinking about upgrading the speakers using the stock non-Sony head unit, forget about it. The head unit is incredibly underpowered and the sound will get worse, not better. Keep the stock speakers if you don't add some power or swap head units. Hope that saves someone some time!

I can't think of anything else interesting to note. Hope this thread helps someone in the future!

Dan

[FordBass]

excellent! Nicely done for $500!

my build will cost over $1000 and thats LOC, Amp, Sub, Box, Wire and maybe extra battery :(

[Focussed2012]

Originally Posted by FordBass

excellent! Nicely done for $500!

my build will cost over $1000 and thats LOC, Amp, Sub, Box, Wire and maybe extra battery :(

Thanks!

The only non-budget item I chose was the LOC, as I thought it was really important to clean up the speaker level signal before passing it along. Crap in = crap out kind of thing. I could have grabbed a $20 device instead of $150 and MAYBE had the same results, but the AudioControl unit is really solid and gets good reviews. There is no hissing, popping, noise, etc. in the sound -- just good strong music.

[FordBass]

Originally Posted by Focussed2012

Thanks!

The only non-budget item I chose was the LOC, as I thought it was really important to clean up the speaker level signal before passing it along. Crap in = crap out kind of thing. I could have grabbed a $20 device instead of $150 and MAYBE had the same results, but the AudioControl unit is really solid and gets good reviews. There is no hissing, popping, noise, etc. in the sound -- just good strong music.

Yea it def is a nice piece of equipment.
I am back and forth between a LOC and aftermarket head unit.
I am waiting until a dash kit comes out and see if it looks passable.
Don't want to have it look crappy

[RaiderBonez]

Originally Posted by Focussed2012

Thanks!

The only non-budget item I chose was the LOC, as I thought it was really important to clean up the speaker level signal before passing it along. Crap in = crap out kind of thing. I could have grabbed a $20 device instead of $150 and MAYBE had the same results, but the AudioControl unit is really solid and gets good reviews. There is no hissing, popping, noise, etc. in the sound -- just good strong music.

To each their own looks great and dont forget 5 year warranty on the Audio Control and yes superior reviews not had a problem with mine yet.

[eyeballeater]

Nice! Almost the same setup I've bought but have yet to install! I bought the Kicker components for the exact reason of how the tweeters fit. I'll be running a Soundstream PX5.580 5 channel amp, and a Kicker 10C104 Comp 10-Inch Sub.

Mind if I ask what settings on the LC6i have been working for you?

Thanks for the pics and all the info!

[Focussed2012]

Originally Posted by eyeballeater

Nice! Almost the same setup I've bought but have yet to install! I bought the Kicker components for the exact reason of how the tweeters fit. I'll be running a Soundstream PX5.580 5 channel amp, and a Kicker 10C104 Comp 10-Inch Sub.

Mind if I ask what settings on the LC6i have been working for you?

Thanks for the pics and all the info!

I did the level matching procedure spelled out in the LC6i manual. Set the HU at 75% volume and turn up the dials until the maximized light turns on repeatedly. I left it at that level. It had the knobs at just past 50%.
Hope that helps!

[eyeballeater]

Did you reuse the mounting ring or did you buy a new one? Almost going to guess you bought them with your Crutchfid credits.

[Focussed2012]

Originally Posted by eyeballeater

Did you reuse the mounting ring or did you buy a new one? Almost going to guess you bought them with your Crutchfid credits.

The stock speakers didn't provide any reusable mounting rings. The 6.5" Kicker woofers weren't big enough to fill in the holes (the larger 6.75" drivers would probably have fit well), so I bought these mounting adapters off Sonic Electronix:

Xscorpion USPA-5060: 2 @ $2.99

They worked well and were really easy and cheap. If you rotate them just right, they line up pretty tightly over the existing cut-out. I did drill a couple of holes in each door to match the brackets, but that took seconds and didn't bother me to do.

[eyeballeater]

This is what I meant about the stock rings, but you answered it. http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276050 I also guessing that when you said 2x $2.99 that means you need an adapter for all 4 doors?

DO you have any pictures of where you put the amp? You said in the hatch floor, so did you take your spare tire out or cut a section out of the styrofoam subfloor?