[AShubrah]

I am starting this thread in order to bring together the knowledge and advice of everyone who has upgraded the audio system in any way whatsoever in their Ford EcoSport, as I couldn't find a common thread for audio advice for my car, unlike the others.

I own a 2016 Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 Ti-VCT, and since mine doesn't come with the SYNC system, I am looking for an alternative.
I'm currently running a pair of Mercury R62 Limited components up front, with a pair of DLS Performance M226 co-axials & DD Audio VO-B3 Bullet Tweeters at the back, on a DD Audio C4.100 4 Channel Amplifier.
For the lows, I have a pair of Sundown Audio LCS subwoofers in the boot, running off a Rockford Fosgate P500X1bd at 1Ohm.
All of this is controlled by a Pioneer DEQ-S1000A sound processor, since the OEM HU barely lets me tinker with anything at all.

After researching online, I found the Caska EcoSport Base 359 GPS and Car Media Player, that would fit my car perfectly and would add the features that I was looking for. However, the above mentioned system wasn't available anymore.

Alas, I started looking for more alternatives, and I came across a very interesting fact that I don't think many people know about.
The design of the bottom half of the part that houses the screen is different in the Trend variant and the Titanium variant.





This causes the aftermarket units to not fit in the lower variants & thus, eliminating it from my list as well.



My next option was to go for a Tesla Style Android Head Unit, but since it completely removed the physical volume button and had a laggy interface to begin with, I couldn't make peace with the fact that I would have to spend ₹30.000/- for the same.



As of now, I am stuck with the OEM HU, and would love to hear from fellow EcoSport owners who have changed the same to a more generic Pioneer or Sony alternative.

[digitalnirvana]

@hserus has changed the stock HU of his new gen Fiesta with an Android one purchased from Aliexpress. It comes with the fascia. Please have a look at his ownership thread and get the seller's coordinates. Worth checking if they might be having something similar for the Ecosport too?

[hserus]

Originally Posted by digitalnirvana

@hserus has changed the stock HU of his new gen Fiesta with an Android one purchased from Aliexpress. It comes with the fascia. Please have a look at his ownership thread and get the seller's coordinates. Worth checking if they might be having something similar for the Ecosport too?

They do have something for the ecosport but it was for sync models if I remember right - yours might have sync v1 (create a profile on www.india.ford.com with your VIN and check for firmware updates, you should be able to get details).

Double / triple check with the seller showing them photographs. Once it is shipped it will be too late for you to get another fascia, a different deck etc.

The seller in question was Navitech - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/336554

[AShubrah]

Originally Posted by digitalnirvana

@hserus has changed the stock HU of his new gen Fiesta with an Android one purchased from Aliexpress. It comes with the fascia. Please have a look at his ownership thread and get the seller's coordinates. Worth checking if they might be having something similar for the Ecosport too?

Originally Posted by hserus

They do have something for the ecosport but it was for sync models if I remember right - yours might have sync v1 (create a profile on www.india.ford.com with your VIN and check for firmware updates, you should be able to get details).

Double / triple check with the seller showing them photographs. Once it is shipped it will be too late for you to get another fascia, a different deck etc.

The seller in question was Navitech - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/336554

As you can see, my EcoSport doe not come with any version of SYNC.
However, I will contact the seller to enquire if there is something available for my variant.

P.S - Do you know anyone who has changed the OEM HU of their Fiesta/EcoSport/Figo/Aspire to a generic 2-DIN one?

[hserus]

Originally Posted by AShubrah

P.S - Do you know anyone who has changed the OEM HU of their Fiesta/EcoSport/Figo/Aspire to a generic 2-DIN one?

Service indicators, check engine light etc are all mapped to the Ford head unit.

So don't take that away, ever. You'll run into issues.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by AShubrah

P.S - Do you know anyone who has changed the OEM HU of their Fiesta/EcoSport/Figo/Aspire to a generic 2-DIN one?

Attachment 1939222

This is a CANBUS based head unit, do not try adventurous after market installations. As hserus mentioned, there will be some inbuilt readers in Chinese head units. I have seen good reviews about Hypersonic OEM type installations. Hypersonic head units are easily available, try a demo before installation

[hserus]

Originally Posted by deehunk

This is a CANBUS based head unit, do not try adventurous after market installations.

The thing about such chinese gear is that it comes with a dongle that has an older Ford firmware in it, possibly reverse engineered. That handles all the alerts.

[AShubrah]

Originally Posted by hserus

Service indicators, check engine light etc are all mapped to the Ford head unit.

So don't take that away, ever. You'll run into issues.

I came across a few owners who had replaced the head unit on their EcoSport with an aftermarket one from Pioneer or Sony, and since theirs wasn’t the top model with the screen, they didn’t face any issues with the CEL or CANBUS.

Originally Posted by deehunk

This is a CANBUS based head unit, do not try adventurous after market installations. As hserus mentioned, there will be some inbuilt readers in Chinese head units. I have seen good reviews about Hypersonic OEM type installations. Hypersonic head units are easily available, try a demo before installation

I will try a demo after the lockdown is over, but the only thing I am concerned about is not being able to play a 3-Way Active setup from the head unit.
If there’s a workaround for that, apart from retaining the DSP, I’d be interested in the same.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by AShubrah

I came across a few owners who had replaced the head unit on their EcoSport with an aftermarket one from Pioneer or Sony, and since theirs wasn’t the top model with the screen, they didn’t face any issues with the CEL or CANBUS.

I will try a demo after the lockdown is over, but the only thing I am concerned about is not being able to play a 3-Way Active setup from the head unit.
If there’s a workaround for that, apart from retaining the DSP, I’d be interested in the same.

The audio quality of the ford sync is streets ahead of chinese units, and even of most mid priced Pioneer type HUs. Service due indicators etc all display on the HU so please don't replace it with generic Pioneer type devices, not that you can fit a standard 1 or 2 din system into that helmet shaped dome.

[97_Octane]

I am running an upgraded ICE in my 2014 Ecosport Titanium (O). At one point of time I too was tempted to replace the stock head unit but better sense prevailed and I don't regret my decision one bit.

The sound quality from the stock HU is pretty good and detailed.

Here's what I'm running since the past 1.5 years:

JL Audio C1 650 components - front
JL Audio C1 650x co-axials - rear
Helix D Four - 4 channel amp to power the speakers
Rockford Fosgate R500x1d - Mono
Cerwin Vega VMAX 124 - Subwoofer in a sealed enclosure (punches TIGHT )

Maybe an entry level setup but to me it's Audio Nirvana.

[shivkumar19]

Originally Posted by 97_Octane

I am running an upgraded ICE in my 2014 Ecosport Titanium (O). At one point of time I too was tempted to replace the stock head unit but better sense prevailed and I don't regret my decision one bit.

The sound quality from the stock HU is pretty good and detailed.

Here's what I'm running since the past 1.5 years:

JL Audio C1 650 components - front
JL Audio C1 650x co-axials - rear
Helix D Four - 4 channel amp to power the speakers
Rockford Fosgate R500x1d - Mono
Cerwin Vega VMAX 124 - Subwoofer in a sealed enclosure (punches TIGHT )

Maybe an entry level setup but to me it's Audio Nirvana.

Very nice ,how much did it cost you? preferably a break up .

[chiefpk]

Can anyone suggest some good speaker upgrade for my friend's car. His budget is strictly under 6-7 k and wants some good vocals and decent bass. I am not starting a new thread just because it can be covered here i think. If there's any specific thread for suggestions on ICE upgrade please let me know. I wasn't able to find one. Thanks.

[raghav.carfreak]

Originally Posted by chiefpk

Can anyone suggest some good speaker upgrade for my friend's car. His budget is strictly under 6-7 k and wants some good vocals and decent bass. I am not starting a new thread just because it can be covered here i think. If there's any specific thread for suggestions on ICE upgrade please let me know. I wasn't able to find one. Thanks.

If he is the primary driver, your friend can look to upgrade to a pair of component speakers.
Jbl, polk audio, pioneer are a few that come to mind which should fall in the budget mentioned, 1-2k give or take

[Taha Mir]

Hey everyone, I've a few doubts regarding the ice on my 2013 ecosport trend ( without head unit)

My front left stock speaker has broken and output at high volume is crap, i want to change the front speakers to Rockford coaxials.

1) what kind of connectors do the stock speakers have? does this require cutting and taping wires or can I fit the connectors directly?

2) what size are the stock speakers?

[VMG]

Any of you upgraded to Sync3 of Ecosport 2016 petrol automatic?
It is original Ford system( sync3) with 8 inch Sony HU and takes care all warning and error messages.
If anyone has done this, can you pl send your feedback both pros & cons.
Thanks