Kenwood

New Ford Bronco Wildtrack Full Audio System Upgrade

August 12, 2022 By JOey Knapp

When this client approached us about upgrading the audio system in his new Ford Bronco Wildtrack, we were very excited! We love the new Broncos and have not had the opportunity to work on one yet. After putting together some options for the client, we settled on a design that would give him everything he wanted. The result was a system that would sound and look great.

Ford Bronco Amplifier Upgrade

A mounting plate was laser cut to give us a base for mounting the electronics.

It was a tight fit, but we managed to fit two amps and the integration piece on the board.

The two amps and processor were hidden behind the factory side panel.

The large screen of the Bronco served as the media source.

Powering the audio system upgrades would be two Rockford Fosgate amplifiers. A 4-channel amplifier would power the front and rear speakers, while a 500 watt mono amplifier would power the subwoofer. Integration with the factory audio signals is handled by a Wavtech processor. Based on the popularity of the new Bronco, we took the opportunity of having one in our bays to create some Bronco-specific mounting pieces. For mounting the electronics in this Bronco we make a CAD drawing of a mounting board that would fit the spot behind the rear quarter panel on the passenger side. We then cut that pattern out in 1/2″ plywood with our CNC laser. By carefully positioning the amplifiers we were able to mount not only them, but also the Wavtech processor.

Ford Bronco Speaker Upgrade

We laser cut an acrylic adapter plate for the tweeters.

The tweeters we added fit under the factory grilles.

It is rare to find a vehicle these days with kick-panel mounted speakers.

The factory speakers would not be able to handle the power of the new amplifiers, so they had to be replaced. We chose as are replacement for the front speakers, Kenwood XR components. These speakers are very efficient and will ensure the client has audible tunes, even with the roof off. We cut a custom acrylic plate on our CNC laser to adapt the tweeter to the factory speaker location. The woofer from the Kenwood component set was installed in the factory kick panel location. The client wanted to keep the rear pods factory-looking, so we simply replaced the speakers in the pods with a JL Audio coaxial speaker.

Subwoofer Upgrade for Ford Bronco

The enclosure base was test-fit on the door to check the mounting points.

Additional contouring was added to the enclosure.

The enclosure was primed with high-build primer so we could sand it smooth.

Strips of foam were added to the back of the enclosure to limit vibrations.

The client can open the tailgate with pride, knowing he has the great-looking enclosure bolted to it!

The woofer was sunk into the front baffle to help reduce the space it takes up in the storage area.

This acrylic beauty panel is removable to access one of the mounting bolts.

The enclosure was kept as thin as possible so the client could retain his storage space.

The final piece of the puzzle for this Bronco was adding some bass. The client wanted to retain as much usable space in the rear of the vehicle as possible, so we decided on an enclosure that mounts to the rear door. To make sure the enclosure would hold up to any of the elements this Bronco might see, we built it out of marine plywood. The enclosure was designed to be attached to the back door with 5 bolts. The bolts attach to the rear door with rivetnut inserts. This lets the enclosure be removed and reinstalled without affecting the attachment integrity.

To complement the stylish interior of the new Bronco we decided the enclosure would be upholstered in a black vinyl. In order to have the vinyl be nice and smooth requires a bit of work. Once the enclosure was constructed, we sprayed it with a high-build primer to fill in any voids in the wood. The enclosure was then sanded and any remaining imperfections were repaired. The acrylic beauty panel on the front of the enclosure not only looks great, but it also serves as a cover for one of the bolts that secure the enclosure. Strong magnets attach the panel to the enclosure and allow for removal if the enclosure ever needs to be unbolted.

Radical Audio Transformation

When we were done installing all the gear it was time to setup the processor and amplifiers. We made sure the levels were matched properly and that the crossovers were set on the amplifiers. After giving the vehicle a quick wipe down, it was time to return it to the owner. The owner was very happy with the upgrades and glad he would now be able to enjoy his music with the top on or off. Give us a call or contact us if you would like to learn more about options for your vehicle.

Lake City Hyundai Santa Fe Gets CarPlay Radio Upgrade

October 28, 2020 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A client from Lake City recently contacted us at Pinnacle Autosound about upgrading his daughter’s Hyundai Santa Fe with an Apple CarPlay radio and a backup camera. We offer a number of radios that feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We hand pick radios from the top brands, Kenwood and Sony, for their excellent CarPlay options. After discussing different radio options with the client we settled on the Kenwood DDX5707S.

Safe and Handsfree Phone Access

The Kenwood DDX5707S offers many features that bring the technology in this first generation Santa Fe to the 2020’s. Most importantly the DDX5707S offers Apple CarPlay that gives the user handsfree control of their smartphone for safer driving. The client’s daughter will now be able to safely listen to music, navigate using numerous navigation apps, and even text with both hands on the steering wheel! Our technicians mounted the microphone above the rearview mirror, so it was sure to provide clear sound quality for those on phone calls with the client.

Backup Safety by Echomaster

To further enhance the safety of the vehicle the client requested the addition of an Echomaster backup camera. We exclusively sell Echomaster cameras because of their outstanding quality and value. Echomaster not only offers clients to the aftermarket segment but also to OEM manufacturers. We mounted the camera over the license plate, a location we determined would be perfect for the Santa Fe. The camera was adjusted to give the driver a rear view that includes a bit of the bumper to help judge closeness to objects while backing up.

CarPlay Available at Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City

If you are interested in adding Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to your vehicle, give us a call or email. To see Apple CarPlay in person, stop by our store. Make sure to check out our Echomaster backup camera display, too!

Flats Boat Audio System for Local Marine Repair Business Owner

February 15, 2019 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

The owner of a Lake City marine repair business recently stopped by to talk about upgrading the audio system in his flats boat. He currently had a radio and speakers in the boat, but their performance was anemic. We talked about possible speaker upgrades, a new radio and adding and amplifier. We always like to mention the benefits of adding a subwoofer too, which the client seemed open to. Happy with the discussion, the client setup a time to drop his boat off.

Radio Replacement

The Kenwood radio provides the clients with numerous audio sources.

The addition of the waterproof cover will ensure the radio lasts for years.

The first step to building a great audio system in this boat was to upgrade the radio. For this project we used a Kenwood marine radio. The radio will give the client the ability to not only play CD’s, listen to the radio, play audio from a USB drive but also to stream audio from his phone via Bluetooth. While the radio is a marine radio and designed to survive life on a boat, we added an additional bit of protection with installation of a waterproof radio cover.

Speaker Upgrades

The rings were machined in our fabrication room.

The stepped adapter rings look great and help fit the speakers into the larger holes.

A pair of JL speaker was installed in the rear of the boat.

The front of the boat receive a pair of speakers and a single subwoofer.

This boat is going to look and sound great day and night.

The most important part of this job was providing the client with crystal clear music and high volume levels. Our go-to speaker for this sort of project is the JL Audio MX marine coaxial speaker. Fulfilling a request for some lighting from the client’s wife was easy with the addition of the LED illuminated series of JL Audio MX speakers. These speakers have the great JL Audio sound and also feature blue LED lighting. Adding the lighting required a bit more work because we also have to run not only speaker wires, but also lighting wires, to each speaker. The lighting for the speakers was powered by an unused rocker switch that we repurposed for the lighting.

After the speaker and lighting wiring was done it was time to install the speakers. Unfortunately we found that the off-brand speakers the client previously had in the boat were a bit larger than the new JL Audio speakers. To fit the new speakers in the old holes we made custom adapters out of marine-grade HDPE plastic. The rings were machined to give the JL Audio speakers a larger lip. The center of the ring was recessed to allow for the speaker to fit down in it, for a cleaner look. Finally the outer edge of the ring was chamfered for a more finished shape. We mounted the speakers into the adapter rings using stainless steel hardware.

Subwoofer Addition

When the client dropped off the boat with us it was with the understanding that we would research options for a subwoofer. After looking around the boat while we were working on it, we found that a single 10″ JL Audio marine subwoofer would fit in the very center of the front storage area. The client agreed to this spot, so we began the work to mount it. Normally if the fiberglass is thin in the areas we plan on mounting subwoofers, we will make an additional support baffle. The fiberglass in this area of the boat, though, was plenty thick for mounting the subwoofer.

JL Audio Amplifier

Powering the whole system is a JL Audio MX series 4 channel amplifier. This little amp offers an impressive amount of power in a small package. We fabricated a mounting plate for the amplifier using the HDPE. This plate was attached to the side of the console using existing mounting holes for another piece.

Great-Sounding Boat Audio

Once the equipment was mounted and all the wiring was tidied up, it was time to set the level adjustments and crossovers on the amplifier. When we first powered on the system we were blown away. For the modest amount of equipment this boat had, it sounded incredible! When the client’s wife picked it up, she too thought it sounded great. If it is time to get that boat of yours ready for the water, give us here at Pinnacle Autosound a call or contact us here.

Nissan Altima Android Auto Upgrade for Lake City Car Audio Client

February 15, 2018 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A client recently came to us looking for a way to safely use his phone while driving his 2015 Nissan Altima. We talked with the client about the different ways that could be accomplished. After narrowing down the best radio for the client we scheduled the appointment for his Nissan Altima Android Auto upgrade.

Mitchell1 Software Saves The Day

Nissan Altima Android Auto — The factory radio had a small screen and no ability for Android Auto.

We have recently subscribed to the Mitchell1 ProDemand service for vehicle wiring and repair. This service gives us access to wiring diagrams and exploded views of 100’s of automobiles. For this Altima we were able to use the ProDemand service to determine the proper wiring for the steering wheel controls interface. Typically this wiring information is provided with the steering wheel interface, but this 2015 Altima was not listed. A quick look through the ProDemand software helped us verify the proper wiring.

Backup Camera Interfacing

The client’s small factory screen served as not only the radio for the car but also the display for the factory backup camera. The client had asked us about possibly retaining the factory backup camera. Thanks again to our ProDemand software, we were able to determine the correct wires to us for interfacing the new radio with the factory backup camera. The ProDemand software also alerted us to a changing in voltage for the camera system. The client would now be able to see the view from his camera on the new, larger screen.

Nissan Altima Android Auto Features

The component of this installation that the client was most concerned about was the smartphone integration. Thanks to the new Kenwood radio, the client would now had handsfree control of his phone. And exciting new feature too is the addition of Waze to the Android Auto suite. Now the best smartphone navigation software would be at the control of the client’s voice. In addition to navigation, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify and hundreds of other apps are now available.

Find Out More About Android Auto

If you use and Android smartphone and would like to learn more about integrating it with your vehicle stop by today. We can plug your phone into one of the Android Auto radios on our display and you can see first hand the convenience it offers. If you need more information or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact us using our online contact form.

Smartphone Integration at its Best with Apple CarPlay

December 27, 2017 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

It seems our lives are getting busier and busier. Thankfully, there is a tool that can help make your time on the road a little more productive. Apple CarPlay can help you knock-out some of your workload while you drive. Is it after hours and time to relax on the drive home? Apple CarPlay has you covered for that as well!

What is Apple CarPlay?

Apple CarPlay is a software developed by Apple in March of 2014. The goal of the project was to integrate popular smartphone apps with the car radio and have them be voice-controlled. Using the powerful Siri voice engine, CarPlay can automate sending text messages, making phone calls, music listening and more.

SAFE Texting While Driving

Almost everyone has been in the situation where they have received potentially important text while driving. Maybe it was a change of plans for a dinner date, or possibly a few more things that need to be picked up from the market. Before CarPlay, your only safe choice was to wait until you got to your destination to read it, or pull over. Thanks to Apple CarPlay, texting while driving is now safe. If you receive a text while you are driving, you will be alerted on the radio screen and have the option of having the text read to you over the car audio system. Want to reply? No problem, you can verbally reply, using Siri as your personal assistant. Siri even reads the text back to you before it is sent, to make sure it is correct.

Integrated Navigation

One of the great things about CarPlay is being able to use the navigation from your phone on your car radio. Now, instead of a little 5″ screen that is unsafe to look at while driving, you have the option for a 6″, 7″ or even 8″ on which to see the maps. Thanks again to the Siri engine, you don’t even have to look at the screen if you don’t want to. Voice controls allow you to input a destination, and audible prompts are given for route guidance. CarPlay seamlessly handles muting your audio sources to let you know of an upcoming turn or lane change.

Numerous Audio Sources

It seems like almost everyone uses their smartphones for listening to music. Whether it is iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, or iHeartRadio, Apple CarPlay has you covered. Just recently, Tidal and SiriusXM were also added to the Apple CarPlay library of sources. We look forward to more and more audio source becoming available on CarPlay as time goes on.

Expert Integration

Apple CarPlay does a great job integrating your phone with your car. Let Pinnacle Autosound do a great job integrating a new Apple CarPlay radio into your car. We sell radios with CarPlay capability from Kenwood and Sony. Stop by today to see Apple CarPlay first hand. If you have other questions or need to make an appointment, feel free to use our online contact form.

Toyota Highlander Radio Upgrade for Lake City Dealership

December 8, 2017 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

Pinnacle Autosound was recently contacted by a local dealership requesting a Toyota Highlander radio upgrade. After finding out the features the vehicle had from the factory we put together a plan to upgrade the Highlander with the latest and greatest Kenwood eXcelon touchscreen navigation radio. The Highlander also had SiriusXM as a source so the dealership wanted to retain it as well as the factory backup camera.

Toyota Highlander Radio Installation

We started the installation by removing the factory radio and preparing the new dash kit for installation. After the radio was secured in the dash kit, we began to wire up the radio harness. The radio harness plugs into the factory radio and allows us to install the new radio without cutting the vehicle wiring. This installation would use an interface to not only keep the OEM steering wheel controls, but also the OEM backup camera as well as the vehicle controls that were available on the factory screen. We accomplished this integration with the help of the iDatalink Maestro interface. The Maestro is an incredible little box that communicates with the factory computer. The information the Maestro gets from the computer is displayed on the screen of the Kenwood radio. Things like tire pressure, battery voltage, vehicle speed and RPM are available for display.

Navigation and Backup Camera Integration

Making sure the vehicle’s owner gets safely to their destination is the job of the Kenwood navigation. The Kenwood radio uses navigation powered by Garmin, the world leader in GPS technology. Making the drive safer in reverse is accomplished by integrating the factory backup camera with the new radio. Our technicians accomplished this through the use of a voltage adapter that powers the factory camera with a specific voltage it requires. Now whenever the Highlander is placed in reverse, the backup camera image is displayed on the Kenwood screen, just like the factory radio.

Find Out More About Radio Upgrade Options

If you are interested in updating your Toyota Highlander radio with the latest technology, stop by Pinnacle Autosound today. Our technology experts will talk with you about your needs and come up with the perfect solution. Give us a call today or contact us using our online contact form.