B&O Unleashed

[Tremor14]

What would the $700 upgrade price get you in a stereo shop to improve the included 402A B&O system? I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on an incoming truck that has everything on my order except this option. I’m not sure how big of a priority I should put on the Unleashed option since I was happy with the Sony 700W system in my 2010 Raptor. I mostly listen to recordings of live Jam band music and podcasts.

It would get you this converter and then you can start modding.

https://www.abt.com/NAV-TV-ZEN-A2B-DSP6A-A2B-Audio-Interface-NTVKIT889/p/127057.html?store_code=&camptype=cpcUSGooglePLA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=sc&utm_campaign=SC%20Shopping%20-%20SSC%20-%20USA%20PLA%20-%20[Electronics]%20-%20Catch%20All&gclid=CjwKCAjwtIaVBhBkEiwAsr7-c4Jucy3lJX3arFvvn0RtLbtzhnKjgpKUV7VwgRH1JbFU3ooAHfvWcxoCZFUQAvD_BwE

 

[Dackjob2]

This is a little off the main topic... Ordered (402a) and no vin yet. I have seen several posts about the unleashed system and the "likes/dislikes". I did not add that to my order but have been thinking of adding it before a vin is assigned. I have never "upgraded" my sound systems other than what a manufacture offers. I have not been able to hear a unleashed system in person vs the "standard BO" system. If you could do it all over would you still add the unleashed upgrade or just go with the "standard BO" system.

 

[FTLBS]

...If you could do it all over would you still add the unleashed upgrade or just go with the "standard BO" system?

Absolutely! I have always appreciated good music. I have upgraded sound systems in my boat, cars, and in my home. I have been very impressed with the B&O unleashed sound system and would not hesitate to buy it again (and again).

 

[ClulessWallob]

This is a little off the main topic... Ordered (402a) and no vin yet. I have seen several posts about the unleashed system and the "likes/dislikes". I did not add that to my order but have been thinking of adding it before a vin is assigned. I have never "upgraded" my sound systems other than what a manufacture offers. I have not been able to hear a unleashed system in person vs the "standard BO" system. If you could do it all over would you still add the unleashed upgrade or just go with the "standard BO" system.

This guy has some good reviews on both systems. Based on what he says it’s worth the price

B&O Review

 

[Tremhunter]

I wasn’t able to listen to either system before ordering. I’m a bit of a sound snob and didn’t want to take the chance of being disappointed so I bumped up to the best system they offered.

 

[Tremor14]

Absolutely! I have always appreciated good music. I have upgraded sound systems in my boat, cars, and in my home. I have been very impressed with the B&O unleashed sound system and would not hesitate to buy it again (and again).

Most of the reviews I've heard on it are positive. I ordered it on mine.. My dealer recently had a Tremor come in and asked it I was interested. It was missing moonroof and B & O Unleashed. If it had the B & O, I probably would have taken it.

 

[SDTremor]

Coming from a Jeep SRT with the Harmon Kardon system, I expected the B&O Unleashed to be a step up with newer capabilities etc. Initial impression was that it was good, but not the improvement I expected. After reading everything I could find and making some tweaks its now that step up. What changed? First the comments to push the soundstage just behind the front seats improved things quite a bit. The game changer though was the comments about source material. The HK system would get "louder" with any source material, while the B&O is much more picky about having good source material. I went through various sources and with high quality stuff the sound is not only cleaner, but for sure gets plenty loud. XM radio was kind of the bottom end, followed by streaming services (Spotify, Amazon music, etc) on high quality and then as noted in one of the posts, a USB with lossless material was a huge step up. At the end of the day, I'm not sure why the B&Oun system is so finicky about the source quality, but with good input it truly does sound amazing for a factory stereo.

 

[ArmySooner405]

Spotify is mostly my primary music source when driving and it sounds really good to me. Surround, not stereo. My fader is placed just behind the rear cupholders just behind the front seats. I did move my truck equalizer to about 80% on the treble and bass, and moved the mid down a notch or two under half. I also made my equalizer in Spotify look about the same and made all my quality of streaming to the highest quality. Most of the playlists I bounce around to sound really good, and if you search Dolby atmos or spatial audio playlists, you’ll really hear the full capabilities of the surrounding speakers and above.

I’ve since switched to Apple Music primarily, and I think it definitely has an edge over Spotify as far as quality goes.

 

[sean80]

I have the regular b&o and have found that the quality of the music you put into it definitely makes a noticeable difference. Turn all your quality setting up as high as they go and it sounds pretty damn good. I use Spotify on an iPhone 13 pro.

 

[ClulessWallob]

I ended up with the standard B&O system and am happy with it. The bass is good and it can get pretty loud. I stream Spotify and audible from my phone so I’m not spending too much time on getting the source data perfect. I’m sure the Unleashed system is worth the price but I’m just grateful to have a truck with most of the options on my original order at this point.

 

[Dackjob2]

I ended up with the standard B&O system and am happy with it. The bass is good and it can get pretty loud. I stream Spotify and audible from my phone so I’m not spending too much time on getting the source data perfect. I’m sure the Unleashed system is worth the price but I’m just grateful to have a truck with most of the options on my original order at this point.

Thanks for the update. I spoke to my dealer and he emailed the regional Ford rep., who was able to add it without losing the priority code #2. Well see...

 

[ChsTremor]

Good to hear all of the feedback and tips on making it sound best.
I drove a loaner ‘21 lariat a few months ago and thought the unleashed system sounded pretty good with the following comments:

1. It should be louder. I don’t listen to very loud music often but I was able to turn it all the way up (no distortion) and it was about as loud as my ‘15 at 75%. Kind of like having a truck with a rear locker and front torsen - I will rarely use it but want to know it’s available.
2. The rear sliding glass rattles and is something I will need to address or I won’t be listening to any music. Has anyone come up with a solution for this? My 1990 model Silverado single cab with two 10’s and one 12” rattled but could be solved by cracking the rear glass a little. Can’t be having rattles while I’m bumpin my Too Short!

Update on this.
I don't have the unleashed in my '21 BUT the volume level problem I described above persists with the regular B&O. After driving for about two weeks now I've come to the conclusion that this issue is isolated to when I'm listening via carplay from my phone. Sirius and regular radio both get significantly louder than carplay. I'm guessing the factory head unit does some internal volume limiting BS.

 

[Tremor14]

Update on this.
I don't have the unleashed in my '21 BUT the volume level problem I described above persists with the regular B&O. After driving for about two weeks now I've come to the conclusion that this issue is isolated to when I'm listening via carplay from my phone. Sirius and regular radio both get significantly louder than carplay. I'm guessing the factory head unit does some internal volume limiting BS.

This may be a dumb question, but do you have the volume on your phone turned up? Some phones automatically turn the volume down a bit and you may need to set it louder manually.

 

[steamboatdevil]

This may be a dumb question, but do you have the volume on your phone turned up? Some phones automatically turn the volume down a bit and you may need to set it louder manually.

I always want to ask this too .. had two friends complain and I used the rocker switch on their phones to increase volume and they were shocked … another one had some safety volume limit on his

 

[Tremor14]

I always want to ask this too .. had two friends complain and I used the rocker switch on their phones to increase volume and they were shocked … another one had some safety volume limit on his

Exactly; I listen mostly to Pandora and make sure the phone volume is at maximum.

 

[ChsTremor]

This may be a dumb question, but do you have the volume on your phone turned up? Some phones automatically turn the volume down a bit and you may need to set it louder manually.

Yes - on the iphone it doesn't give the option to turn up using the buttons on the phone when on Carplay.

I have found that the EQ in Spotify does transfer to the output in the speakers but the Loud/Normal functions do not.

You can also get a few more Db's by running the treble, mid and bass up on the truck EQ.

 

[ChsTremor]

I always want to ask this too .. had two friends complain and I used the rocker switch on their phones to increase volume and they were shocked … another one had some safety volume limit on his

I looked for the safety volume as well.

 

[Tremhunter]

Try the music App Tidal. I’ve found it’s the highest streaming music app available. You can get a 1 month trial. It might be the best way to test to unleash the unleashed .

 

[MLBTremor]

If anyone follows Autovlog he just traded in his 2021 Ford F150 Lariat with B & O unleashed for a 2021 Ram TRX and he said the Ram stereo is way better the Ford's.

 

[FaKtor34]

If anyone follows Autovlog he just traded in his 2021 Ford F150 Lariat with B & O unleashed for a 2021 Ram TRX and he said the Ram stereo is way better the Ford's.

It should be that's an $100,000 truck compared to a 65k truck.