Audio!
I can't drive this car at the moment, but I can sure talk about it!
Before getting started, I’ve always had a thing for audio systems. As a kid, I was given a JVC boom box that my father won in a competition. This was in the days where having dual cassette decks were the norm and CD’s were a luxury. I loved that thing to death. My father also had a killer NAD setup with Bose speakers and a giant ported subwoofer, this had a massive separate amplifier, a then extremely expensive CD player unit and finally a turntable for him to play his huge collection of vinyl from the 70’s and 80’s. At secondary school, my role in the yearly productions was centered around the sound department, so pro-level speakers, cables and microphones. Also in my teens, for my birthday I was then given a killer Panasonic system with dual positional speakers that had integrated subwoofers. That Panasonic was only recently replaced with a set of PSB AM5 powered bookshelf speakers and a SVS sealed subwoofer, driven from a Bluesound Node DAC.
In cars though, I’ve never really been into modifying audio systems. I guess I see it as quite invasive, removing door panels and poking around with wires never appealed to me. So, my car audio has always centered around what the car came with. Some of those have been excellent, some abysmal, more on that later.
It’s safe to say that every V8 Mustang comes with two audio systems. The first is fitted within the cabin, the second is thumping away under the hood and pumping out the back. In a car like this with such an enticing intake and exhaust note, it could be forgiven if Ford didn’t put any effort into the cabin audio system. And in actual fact, I rarely pump up the sound in my “fun” cars, the Ranger on the way to and from work is a different story. So, while I covered the audio system a little in a previous post, lets dive deeper here. The under-hood sound system, well, I’m saving that for later because it's one of the key driving factors for me staying with a Mustang.
In the early FM S550 Mustang’s, the Shaker sound system didn’t get the subwoofer in Australia. Up until now, I had no idea why, but it did later appear on the 2018+ FN models. The Shaker system was fitted to both EcoBoost and GT models and had 9 speakers driven by a separate amplifier. Adjustments were made via the 8-inch colour touchscreen, but Ford also included physical buttons below the touchscreen. Oh, and it had a CD player as well………….remember those?
Researching this post, it seems there were a few different systems offered on S550. There was a basic 9-speaker “Premium” system, a Shaker with 9-speakers and no sub, and Shaker Pro with 12-speakers and the subwoofer, which the later 2018+ FN models got.
In any case, the mid-spec Shaker system on my car had plenty of volume, but it didn’t really have the depth of sound you’d hope for, no doubt because of the missing subwoofer. As I said earlier, with a Borla exhaust fitted, I wasn’t pumping music in that car much, it was mostly windows down and my right foot controlling the volume.
One thing I noticed while playing around with the sound settings on that car was the following graphic………………
Not doing a specific RHD image here means some confusion. Do you adjust for the “driver” pictured on the screen, or the physical location of the driver on a RHD car? I never did figure that out.
For S650, there are again different audio levels. The base Premium system has 9-speakers and an amplifier. However, all Australian spec Mustang’s (EcoBoost, GT and Darkhorse) get the top spec system fitted as standard, it’s an otherwise $995 option in the US. Ford and Bang & Olufsen have been working together for several years now, from what I can gather, the Mustang got a B&O system at some point in 2020.
https://corporate.bang-olufsen.com/en/partners/automotive/ford/mustang
https://assets.ctfassets.net/8cd2cs...f99e9e12d8ff8b71f2/B_O_Mustang_English_US.pdf
Now, I’m under no illusion that this B&O system is the be all and end all. Quite often partnerships like this are only surface level, the car company ends up simply paying a license fee for some basic collaboration and to put a brand name audio in the brochures. So, read the following with a grain of salt. This information comes from B&O back in 2020, but I would be surprised if things have changed since then considering the amount of carry over on S650.
Pulse-raising performance, passionate precision -
Your heart beating in your ears won’t be the only thing you can hear over the roar of the engine with the B&O Sound System for the Ford Mustang. The exhilarating premium audio performance is tailor made for the track and specifically designed for the unique acoustic environment inside the Ford Mustang. A soul-stirring 12-speaker system powered by 900 watts delivers a passionate and powerful audio performance precisely engineered to match the Mustang’s unique sound profile. Feel every note as you tear up every mile with the B&O Sound System for Ford Mustang.
Sound that conquers the curves -
The racing-inspired profile and low driver and passenger positions inside the Ford Mustang create an acoustic environment as noteworthy and unique as the legendary muscle car itself. The B&O Sound System has been painstakingly built and expertly tuned to hug every subtle curve inside of the cabin. Unique 3-way speakers in the doors deliver even more nuanced and multi-dimensional sound, so whether on the road or racetrack your sound experience remains remarkable.
Heart-pounding harmony -
Some cars are made to be silent, and some cars are made to roar. Hearing and feeling the roar of the Ford Mustang is a critical part of every thrilling drive. The sophisticated tuning of the B&O Sound System doesn’t compete with the engine, it perfectly matches the acoustic signature of the Ford Mustang for precise and powerful audio reproduction. So having a premium sound system and a heart-pounding engine in the Ford Mustang isn’t an either/or, but a “yes, and yes.”
Seamless sound from 0-60mph, or standing still -
Serious speed and superior sound can sometimes be at odds. That’s why the tuning of the B&O Sound System has been put through its paces. Expert acousticians, many who are also practicing musicians, do hundreds of hours of static and dynamic testing to ensure that no matter the driving conditions, the audio performance remains purity in motion.
Serious Power -
The premium B&O Sound System features 12 speakers including 4 x 170mm woofers and a trunk mounted subwoofer delivering incredible low frequency performance powered by an impressive 900 watts. With 3-way speakers in the doors and audio tuning specific to the demands of the Ford Mustang, the B&O Sound System delivers unique power and passion
Sophisticated and seamless design -
Derived from the iconic product design of the Bang & Olufsen products for the home, the design of the B&O Sound System is a blend of sleek styling and Scandinavian minimalism. The linear pattern on speaker grilles supports acoustic transparency and the lateral fading helps the speaker grilles blend seamlessly with the interior of the Ford Mustang.
So, long story short, the Bang & Olufsen system in the Mustang has a separate amplifier, 12 speakers (which includes 4 small woofers) and larger separate subwoofer mounted in the boot.
Giving it a workout last week, I can confirm that this B&O system is very good and a marked improvement over the Shaker in my S550. There is plenty of volume headroom, the subwoofer adding some much-needed depth when things get thumping. Compared to the Shaker, there is no need to crank the bass settings either.
Other than volume knob and the audio controls on the steering wheel, all adjustments are made by the central display screen. To access adjustments, you can either tap the Sound tab from the audio page, or via the Settings tab accessed from the home page.
And look! They figured out RHD orientation!
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