Thunderous Focus Coupe Cabriolet sound system

zetec · 21-08-2008, 04:06 PM

At the All Ford Day I don't think I was the only one blown away by the thunderous sound coming from the Focus Coupe Cabriolet. It really punched out some insane bass. It lead me to think it could be a good factory upgrade to get speakers that fit straight in, not sure how hard it is to find factory sized speakers.

I also seem to remember that high powered speakers of fa headunit can sound weak without correct amplification. So perhaps the factory head unit would do a much ebtter job on only 20W speakers and not trying to fill 120W or 200W speakers. It certainly hammered.

I looked up the part numbers for the speakers and I'm rpetty sure they're a polypropylene speaker and not a cardboard/paper cone like most normal factory speakers. Could be a potential mod for current LS/LT owners?

3M5T18808DD - Front Speaker, 20W 4 Ohms 222mm x 193mm
$47.47 each incl GST List Price

3M5T18808FD - Rear Speaker, 20W 4 Ohms 185mm x 185mm
$47.47 each incl GST List Price

Anyone reckon this would be a good mod?

Ives · 21-08-2008, 04:58 PM

I second this. The speakers in the Focus CC were brilliant... and those prices are insane. Focus owners should definitely consider them.

Mullett · 22-08-2008, 12:17 AM

That is pretty cheap...and a good mod. Does the coupe run the same head unit? On another note, while amlification will certainly fill a speaker better, a big speaker will still sound better than a small one on the same output, as a larger speaker is more efficient.

RM.

RJO89 · 22-08-2008, 08:36 AM

Nah the coupe head unit is the sony one out of the XR5's. Don't know if that makes any difference at all...

Velociraptor82 · 22-08-2008, 12:32 PM

I second that fact that the sound from the cc at teh afd was excellent. And i'd sure like to put the factory cc speakers in mine. for only $47e sounds like a bargin.

yet another mod to add to my long list of "i'm gonna...."

BlackLS · 22-08-2008, 12:37 PM

Could it possible it had better sound due to extra sound deadening used in the doors that seems to be standard on the euro built LS/LT's?

Velociraptor82 · 22-08-2008, 01:12 PM

Mines an LS Zetec and the cc sounded far better than mine....

Mullett · 22-08-2008, 01:46 PM

I'd hazard to guess that the sony HU had much better internal amplification, and that'd go a long way towards the extra quality...the speakers will still make a difference, but without the extra power they won't be as loud..

RM.

BlackLS · 22-08-2008, 02:02 PM

Incase anyone was interested the standard unit is made by Sanyo OEM devision- FMS (from what i remember reading on the unit)

zetec · 22-08-2008, 02:44 PM

The Sony HU should be better, I can't find the specs anywhere, but I do know that it shouldn't be hard to use these 4 speakers off a 4ch amp, you'd only need something modest.

The main difference should be the poly cones in lieu of the cardboard cones in the stock LS/LT. That alone gives better longevity and crisper sound (based on my understanding!!)

focusrally888 · 23-08-2008, 06:20 PM

if there is a bulk order im in

W.A

RJO89 · 23-08-2008, 08:12 PM

The sony head unit that ford use is a POS. I was gonna buy one a while back, before I did research on them. They look good, but that's about where it ends. Aftermarket offers much more in terms of, well, everything.
Plus, the sony head units will cost you at LEAST $400-500 as the only place you can really get them for cheaper is from the UK, and even then, good luck finding an ebay seller that wants to send it to Aus due to the weight.
Just save and spend the money on a decent aftermarket head unit. It's what I did, and have never looked back

zetec · 23-08-2008, 09:31 PM

The sony HU is not the part in question here though, I appreciate a good aftermarket unit will punch out more sound and better features like USB and DVD etc.

The speakers on the other hand are cheap, factory and guaranteed to fit. They're the good part!

RJO89 · 23-08-2008, 11:42 PM

Are you sure they're guaranteed to fit?
I pulled the doors off my car the other day and the speakers are held in a fibreglass mould that is pop riveted to the door. So I doubt it would be as simple as out with the old, in with the new. Unless they sell the speakers with the fibreglass pods, which I doubt they would :(

zetec · 24-08-2008, 03:03 AM

Hmm that explains the somewhat strange diagram in the Ford catalogue. It appears it may come with the mould.. I'll have to check and report back.