Zaph
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Ok, let's get to the bottom of this. My discussions so far have been buried in other people's threads.
The goal of this post is to make it a team effort to figure out if the Ranger has this effect that other Fords have, and if it does, how to disable it so we can have subwoofers that don't amplify engine sounds. First some background about what it is - Audio system enhancement through your speakers to make your little engine sound like a big engine.
Did you have your subwoofer system installed by a "professional"? This is a first year truck with very little information and there's a very good chance they did not address this issue. Ask them where they got their signal from. Nobody even knows what's available for outputs on the OEM amp, if they are level controlled, if the sound is pre-processing or what. And if they took speaker level outputs you get what you get - and that could be engine enhanced sound.
TFL Truck showing how the 3.5 L F150 has it.
Talk about disabling it in a 2.3 L Mustang. Focus on technicals, not the cute blonde.
I've looked for a mic in the same rough area of Ranger and I don't see one. Maybe there's a mic elsewhere. But - See the 2019 Direct Wire Information Chart I have attached. I don't see a specific wire listed for a mic. That doesn't mean there isn't one and the Ranger doesn't have this feature - because to me, it sounds like it does. Maybe there is no wire because the mic is mounted directly to the amp unit or something.
So some work needs to be done here. I request the help of the Ranger5G team so we can have good subwoofer systems. Questions that need to be answered:
These questions need to be answered to have a truly decent external amplified subwoofer system. I am working on answering these questions myself and will post up as soon as I know them, but if anyone has anything, sound off.
After these are answered, I get started on a custom box fit to every nook and cranny behind the rear seat like I did on my last '99 std cab ranger. 20 band parametric eq on the inside with full cab calibrated mic measurement for smooth contoured response.
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April 2020 Update
Over time we have some answers. I wanted to post an update to post #1 so people don't have to dig through this whole thread to find answers. Particularly when the first few pages are just discussing if the enhanced engine sound is even there.
Does the Ranger use audio system enhanced sound?
Yes, confirmed by several Ford engineers, engine sound enhancement is there. It varies according to throttle position, engine RPMs and other factors. The Forscan crew as of now has not figured out how to disable it, although there have been rumblings about it here and here.
If yes, where is the mic for it?
Can it be disabled by unplugging it when we find it?
Ok here's where there was some confusion. The mic is not for enhanced engine sound. It is for ANC, the Active Noise Cancellation system. Not all Rangers have this, only those with a particular options package, usually Lariats and potentially overseas Raptors. And this it seems is potentially a bigger problem than enhanced engine sound. It can cause a feedback issue with your subwoofer and it is what the cute blonde is trying to solve in the 2.3L Mustang video above. My 301a XLT does not have a mic for ANC, only for Sync commands. The ANC mic location is not clear yet, but we have a person in this thread with some info on an overseas Raptor. But there are significant differences in that vehicle.
Are there any RCA line level volume controlled outputs on the OEM head unit?
No. We are stuck splicing into speaker lines to get signal, or if you have a B&O system, the Zen Audio is a pricey but good solution, reference fusseli's installation.
If not RCA line level, perhaps wires we can splice into between the head the separate amp?
Yes. Use the FOR-11CK harness from Safewireless. It has been confirmed to work with the ranger non- B&O system.
If none of this, is our only option for subwoofer inputs the rear speaker line levels?
For non-B&O systems, line level is all we have, and in general rear speakers seem to be the best and most common option used.
The wiring diagram has wire colors from the amp to the speakers. Same from head unit to amp?
Yes. Reference that to work out where to tie into the FOR-11CK harness. Thanks to Ed Venture for being the first and figuring out that this harness works.
--------------------------------------------------
February 2021 Update
The Forscan guys did it. Fake engine noise can now be toggled off through forscan.
The goal of this post is to make it a team effort to figure out if the Ranger has this effect that other Fords have, and if it does, how to disable it so we can have subwoofers that don't amplify engine sounds. First some background about what it is - Audio system enhancement through your speakers to make your little engine sound like a big engine.
Did you have your subwoofer system installed by a "professional"? This is a first year truck with very little information and there's a very good chance they did not address this issue. Ask them where they got their signal from. Nobody even knows what's available for outputs on the OEM amp, if they are level controlled, if the sound is pre-processing or what. And if they took speaker level outputs you get what you get - and that could be engine enhanced sound.
TFL Truck showing how the 3.5 L F150 has it.
Talk about disabling it in a 2.3 L Mustang. Focus on technicals, not the cute blonde.
I've looked for a mic in the same rough area of Ranger and I don't see one. Maybe there's a mic elsewhere. But - See the 2019 Direct Wire Information Chart I have attached. I don't see a specific wire listed for a mic. That doesn't mean there isn't one and the Ranger doesn't have this feature - because to me, it sounds like it does. Maybe there is no wire because the mic is mounted directly to the amp unit or something.
So some work needs to be done here. I request the help of the Ranger5G team so we can have good subwoofer systems. Questions that need to be answered:
- Does the Ranger use audio system enhanced sound?
- If yes, where is the mic for it?
- Can it be disabled by unplugging it when we find it?
- Are there any RCA line level volume controlled outputs on the OEM head unit?
- If not RCA line level, perhaps wires we can splice into between the head the separate amp?
- If none of this, is our only option for subwoofer inputs the rear speaker line levels?
- The wiring diagram has wire colors from the amp to the speakers. Same from head unit to amp?
These questions need to be answered to have a truly decent external amplified subwoofer system. I am working on answering these questions myself and will post up as soon as I know them, but if anyone has anything, sound off.
After these are answered, I get started on a custom box fit to every nook and cranny behind the rear seat like I did on my last '99 std cab ranger. 20 band parametric eq on the inside with full cab calibrated mic measurement for smooth contoured response.
--------------------------------------------------
April 2020 Update
Over time we have some answers. I wanted to post an update to post #1 so people don't have to dig through this whole thread to find answers. Particularly when the first few pages are just discussing if the enhanced engine sound is even there.
Does the Ranger use audio system enhanced sound?
Yes, confirmed by several Ford engineers, engine sound enhancement is there. It varies according to throttle position, engine RPMs and other factors. The Forscan crew as of now has not figured out how to disable it, although there have been rumblings about it here and here.
If yes, where is the mic for it?
Can it be disabled by unplugging it when we find it?
Ok here's where there was some confusion. The mic is not for enhanced engine sound. It is for ANC, the Active Noise Cancellation system. Not all Rangers have this, only those with a particular options package, usually Lariats and potentially overseas Raptors. And this it seems is potentially a bigger problem than enhanced engine sound. It can cause a feedback issue with your subwoofer and it is what the cute blonde is trying to solve in the 2.3L Mustang video above. My 301a XLT does not have a mic for ANC, only for Sync commands. The ANC mic location is not clear yet, but we have a person in this thread with some info on an overseas Raptor. But there are significant differences in that vehicle.
Are there any RCA line level volume controlled outputs on the OEM head unit?
No. We are stuck splicing into speaker lines to get signal, or if you have a B&O system, the Zen Audio is a pricey but good solution, reference fusseli's installation.
If not RCA line level, perhaps wires we can splice into between the head the separate amp?
Yes. Use the FOR-11CK harness from Safewireless. It has been confirmed to work with the ranger non- B&O system.
If none of this, is our only option for subwoofer inputs the rear speaker line levels?
For non-B&O systems, line level is all we have, and in general rear speakers seem to be the best and most common option used.
The wiring diagram has wire colors from the amp to the speakers. Same from head unit to amp?
Yes. Reference that to work out where to tie into the FOR-11CK harness. Thanks to Ed Venture for being the first and figuring out that this harness works.
--------------------------------------------------
February 2021 Update
The Forscan guys did it. Fake engine noise can now be toggled off through forscan.
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