[Sean Jones]

Hi all-

I'm trying to find info on the premium sound system. I "chatted" with Lincoln and the person didn't know the answer, and said they will get back to me. Anyways thought I would check here. Does anyone know how many watts the stereo is, is there an amp, and what size is the the subwoofer.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DeMarco]

I haven't been able to locate any information even on Lincolns website.

What you might want to try is calling up the parts department of a local lincoln dealer and see if they can give you the specs.

They have access to the manuals, so while we don't have access to them (not yet), at least we can leverage those parts guys to our advantage

 

[Sean Jones]

Thanks! That's a good idea! I'm planning on test driving one this week. I'll just stop in the shop and ask them. I'll let everybody else know what I find out, in case anybody else wants to know.

 

[RobJeff]

Here's the Specs per the MKC sales brochure:
"Enhanced THX II Audio System with 14 speakers, 700 watts of power and a 14-channel amp with distributed bass technology; includes HD radio"

I sprang for this on my MKC. You'll read a range of opinions on this extra cost option on this forum, most positives dealing with sound clarity and most negatives related to lack of a subwoofer bass punch.

On balance, I really like it. Last night, drank a couple glasses of wine, sat in the garage and fired up the Steely Dan Aja CD. Could dial it in to hear all the instruments and sounds that I am used to hearing on my fairly $$ home stereo system. I'm happy.

 

[Sean Jones]

Hey RobJeff-

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I'm looking for the specs for the regular stereo that is used (Lincoln Premium Sound System), not the upgraded THX system. I was going to order the THX, then I read the bass isn't great, and the "subs" in the THX model are 6x9. Those aren't subs!

 

[JOEHIO]

Don't underestimate the THX systems. Have it in my wife's MKS & my MKX, very happy with it.

 

[shirtmkc]

Don't underestimate the THX systems. Have it in my wife's MKS & my MKX, very happy with it.

The THX system in the MKC is nothing at all like the THX ithe MKX, the MKX system is significantly better, it plays much louder, and has a great sub. The THX in the MKC has no sub at all, only the Premium Sound System Sean Jones is inquiring on does.

As for the specs on the Premium System, the sub is a crappy 8", with a tiny 100 watt amplifier. The front and passenger component systems are driven by the built-in amp in the radio. The sound is very clear, and never distorts, but not all that powerful.

The factory sub is a real piece of garbage. I removed the factory sub and amp and replaced it with a Rockford Fosgate Punch 325 watt amp, which fit perfectly into the OEM spot, and put a Rockford super slim 10" sub. What a huge difference this makes to the overall system, adds the depth it was missing. A $400 total investment, and sounds way better than the $1000 THX option.

 

[midnite cruiser]

ShirtMKC- love that suggestion on the sub. I do find the spatial imagery left to right kind of 'tight", i.e., the L and R dash speakers seem close together. Has anyone experimented with tweeters/mids on the tops of the doors or other places?

 

[Sean Jones]

Thanks Shirt! Great plan for the aftermarket sub and amp! So how difficult was it to change out? Just unhook some wires and replace for the amp? Any other items used?

 

[docman]

Audio Upgrade

I didn't see a response from the old post.

I've got the regular Lincoln Premium audio, I haven't listened to the Enhanced THX II although I may run up to a dealer today to hear the differences.

I can turn my volume up to full without distortion (and it almost needs it with the low power amp), but the system lacks crispness and clarity. I'm not sure a more powerful sub is the right plan.

Any other tried approaches out there?

 

[kwas4]

The THX option doesn't have a sub? Seriously?...

 

[kwas4]

Now I'm curious how much work it'd be to add a sub to the THX. I can pretty much bet that the wiring to that back corner in the photo isn't there, but is the subwoofer housing there even if one isn't present? The main amp would probably have to be swapped out as well??...

Why Lincoln would skimp on something so simple to take + audio to ++...

 

[blankster]

Now I'm curious how much work it'd be to add a sub to the THX. I can pretty much bet that the wiring to that back corner in the photo isn't there, but is the subwoofer housing there even if one isn't present? The main amp would probably have to be swapped out as well??...

Why Lincoln would skimp on something so simple to take + audio to ++...

THX is an audio standard where the speaker configuration available in the MKC does not warrant a sub. THX is intended to deliver tight bass and also tunes the sound to the cabin configuration. Adding a sub may require a crossover to limit the frequency being routed to it plus an additional amp. Plus adding the sub to the THX system may make it too boomy since the low frequencies would also be passing through the other speakers. If anyone would know it would be Crutchfield.

 

[Jereld]

Honestly, I think the THX system sounds great. It has plenty of bass IMHO, especially at mid-volume.

This is coming from a guy that used to have 2 15" JL Audio subs with a 1000 watt amp in a crappy car when I was a kid ;-)

 

[ddsski]

New to the forum but used it in my search about audio. Was going to buy a new 2017 Reserve with THX system because maybe 1% of those on the lots have it then I did more research. Because the THX system is a $995 option and doesn't have a sub, it will be unable to reproduce much of anything below 80Hz. The premium audio system has a lousy sub, but that is easily upgradeable. I ended up with a 2015 reserve with everything I wanted with only 17K on ododmeter for 16K less than a new one. couldn't say no to that. For $478 including install it now has a RE Pro audio RT Pro 8 sub powered by a Poweramp XL-350DM amp done by a national champ in sound for years. For half the price of a THX system, I can officially blow its doors off, and the sound is VERY accurate. This comes from a MacIntosh guy.

 

[kkreit01]

I'm happy with the THX system, but it does lack bass. I think the door drivers are supposed to perform sub duty? or may the rears (haven't really sat back there to listen). The THX system in my '10 MKZ was significantly better. It had two 6x9 subs on the rear deck, and it had decent bass response (a lot better than the MKC). I also added a little sound deadening to the rear deck -- which helped. I had a MKX loaner for 3 days. It had the Revel Ultima system -- and sounded great. It blew THX away. My next Lincoln will have the Revel system -- 2 turbos.

 

[ewf]

New to the forum but used it in my search about audio. Was going to buy a new 2017 Reserve with THX system because maybe 1% of those on the lots have it then I did more research. Because the THX system is a $995 option and doesn't have a sub, it will be unable to reproduce much of anything below 80Hz. The premium audio system has a lousy sub, but that is easily upgradeable. I ended up with a 2015 reserve with everything I wanted with only 17K on ododmeter for 16K less than a new one. couldn't say no to that. For $478 including install it now has a RE Pro audio RT Pro 8 sub powered by a Poweramp XL-350DM amp done by a national champ in sound for years. For half the price of a THX system, I can officially blow its doors off, and the sound is VERY accurate. This comes from a MacIntosh guy.

Hi ddsski. Your info was very useful. According to Crutchfield, the stock sub impedance is either 1 or 2 ohms. Do you happen to know which it is? Was the RE Pro sub that you got one with dual 4-ohm voice coils? If so, did you have the voice coils wired in parallel to achieve 2-ohms? Thanks.

 

[ddsski]

THX or not, there are physical limitations to the range of sound certain sized drivers can produce. THX basically blew it on the MKC. That area was available for a nice deep quality 8 in sub. So Jazz will be fine, light classical fine, anything heavy you might as well be listening to Bose products.

My guy is not a fan of the shallow subs unless no other choice. He went with a high quality 8inch v a cheaper (Fosgate for example) 10 inch sub for accuracy and power handling. I must say, it certainly does transform the entire sound system esp now that I can back off of the bass setting (-1-2 is fine) which make rest of system far more efficient. Even the organs on Yes Awaken are heard with authority now!

 

[MKC4ME]

I have had my MKC with THX audio for over a month now. I mostly listen to classical music (FM radio, satellite radio or USB drive) and find the combination of a quiet vehicle and clean audio sound from the THX system to be very enjoyable, especially in surround mode. After noticing this discussion, I decided to listen to some big pipe organ music with bass content below 32 Hz and was very satisfied that it could not only be heard but felt.

I've had vans and SUV's for the last 28 years and don't particularly like having the sub-woofer in the cargo space, as it is mostly blocked when travelling with the space filled with luggage. The THX system uses four 6.5" woofers in the doors, presumably each driven by its own amplifier, in lieu of the single 8" sub-woofer in the standard audio system. I have not always been happy with the results of combining the bass content of stereo signals into a single channel because of random cancellation and augmentation of the signals due to differing phase relationships. I suspect this is more of an issue with classical / acoustic music sources than pop / rock music.

Someone wanting booming "rock" bass might find the THX system to be a waste of money but I don't think that is what it was designed for.

 

[ddsski]

With all due respect, you were certainly not hearing anyhting 32Hz coming from that sub. You were hearing a harmonic of it. For mid volume I'm sure you are absolutely correct. If I want to hear 1812 and the cannons at West Point...... I want to feel like I've been hit. The old Antal Dorati version in Mono with Minneapolis Symphony orchestra is still the benchmark from my childhood. True top shelf audio should be about accurate reproduction and be capable of playing all gendres of music.

To be fair, considering the true crap the American Auto industry subjected us to till the last 5-10yrs makes even the base systems sound luxurious now. We were years behind the Europeans on high end car audio. Bose didn't help things. I did not mean to diss the THX effort, just saying they cut a corner and the space was there and was a very efficient placement without requiring any boxes etc. When i upgrade the fronts to a slightly more spatial product I'll be good to go