The BestCarAudio.com editorial team recently talked to none other than Ricardo Rangel, head of the famous Mexico City-based Monster by Rangel, about the 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 project they recently completed. Ricardo told us that this is the sixth build they have done for this client in the past three years and with each project, the client’s interest in high-performance audio has increased. This enthusiasm for great sound clearly shows in the products chosen for this project.
The audio system in the Mustang is designed to sound amazing without affecting the look of the cockpit or the value of the vehicle. These criteria meant that the system needed to be designed and constructed in a way that would use factory fastener locations for everything from the speakers to the mounting of the custom subwoofer enclosure and the system amplifiers. One of Ricardo’s many talents is in visualizing the look and feel of a project for the client, so the design process for the Mustang was exhaustive, but worth the time to ensure the client would be thrilled.
Shelby GT350 Subwoofer Enclosure and Amp Rack
From a visual standpoint, the trunk of the Mustang is the most exciting part of the installation. Ricardo and his crew created a two-piece subwoofer enclosure that would be home to a total of four JL Audio 8W7AE-3 subwoofers. The two-piece enclosure was assembled in the trunk. Next, the team added a fascia panel that is covered in black Alcantara that matches the seats and a painted MDF trim ring that matches the Velocity Blue paint on the exterior of the vehicle. Acrylic accents on the ends of the trim panel are lit with blue LEDs.
A pair of Audison Voce 5.1k amplifiers are mounted to the floor of the trunk on acrylic panels and are also illuminated with blue LEDs. The subwoofer channels of the AV 5.1k each produce up to 1,000 watts of power to ensure the bass in this muscle car matches its aggressive appearance and performance capabilities.
Monster Mustang Audiofrog Speaker Upgrade
Ricardo suggested that using Audiofrog GB-Series speakers would be the ultimate choice to keep up with the prodigious bass created by the system’s subwoofers and to deliver sublimely accurate sound. The front stage of the Mustang features 1-inch GB10 tweeters in the factory locations in the A-pillars and 2.5-inch GB25 mids and GB60 6.5-inch woofers in the factory door speaker locations. The Monster team created custom mounting brackets for all the speakers and treated the doors with SoundSkins Pro damping material and SoundSkins Rings to prevent any buzzes or rattles.
A set of GB60 woofers and GB15 tweeters provide rear fill for the sound system. Dedicated GB615C passive crossovers handle the duties of dividing the audio signal from a Hertz Mille Power 4 between the drivers.
AudioControl System Integration and Signal Processing
An AudioControl DM810 digital signal processor handles all the filtering and equalization for the system. The processor, along with the Hertz amp and the passive crossover networks for the speakers, are mounted behind the seat of the Mustang. An Audison Connection SFD 41C fused power and ground distribution block takes care of routing power to the system’s amps and processors.
Show-Quality Looks with Amazing Performance
Ricardo told us that the Monster Mustang build took about a month to complete, including design, fabrication, installation and tuning. He was happy to report that not a single bracket or plastic clip was damaged during the installation and, even more impressively, the car can be returned to its factory condition without any trace of the amazing sound system having been installed. We do not doubt that the client is thrilled with the performance of his sound system.
If you are in Mexico City and are looking for an amazing audio system upgrade for your vehicle, contact the team at Monster by Rangel. Their website is www.monsterbyrangel.com and you can follow them on Facebook, YouTube or on Instagram.
