Audiophile Audio Upgrade for Ocala Mustang Shelby GT500

The owner of this stunning 2022 Mustang Shelby GT500 contacted the team at Sound Depot and Performance in Gainesville about upgrading the stereo system in his car. We invited the client to visit our store so our team could get a feel for his goals for the audio system, inspect the vehicle and brainstorm about product solutions and installation options. The client wanted the audio system to sound amazing and look cool so he could show it off at cruise nights and car shows. It took some back and forth, but we came up with a system that would deliver an audio performance worthy of this Shelby’s pedigree and an installation design that would turn some heads.

Shelby Mustang Radio Integration and Speaker Upgrade

The first task in upgrading any audio system is ensuring that a good, clean signal is available. For this Mustang, we decided the factory-installed source unit had adequate features and, when paired with a PAC AP4-FD21 interface module, would provide a clean signal we could work with.

Any audio system must rely on high-quality speakers to deliver impressive performance. The client chose a three-way array of JL Audio C7 speakers for this Mustang. After removing the interior trim panels from the doors, we treated the inner and outer skins with a layer of Mesa MDMU8 sound deadening to reduce noise transfer into the vehicle and seal any openings in the doors. Our team created a set of mounting adapters for a set of 6.5-inch JL Audio C7-650cw woofers. We also installed two sets of matching 3.5-inch C7-350cm midrange drivers and two 1-inch C7-100ct tweeters. We added a second set of the tweeters to the stock speakers in the rear to ensure that the sound would be evenly delivered from all over the vehicle.

Custom Rear Seat Delete and Subwoofer System

Our fabrication process began with creating the enclosure with the front panel for mounting the subwoofers.

Our expert technicians went above and beyond when fabricating the components of this sound system.

We worked with and designed around the concept of a rear seat delete, making room for the two JL Audio amplifiers to be showcased.

The final product on the inside is just as beautiful as the exterior of the Mustang.

In the trunk, acrylic windows in the rear of the enclosure show off the monstrous magnet assemblies for the two subwoofers.

LED lighting inside the enclosure illuminates the two W7 magnet assemblies.

LED lighting makes these flagship JL Audio subwoofers pop!

We worked with one of our local business partners to design and fabricate a custom-engraved Shelby emblem.

We also added custom lighting to the vehicle, just to add a little extra style.

The focus of the installation is clearly on the amp rack and subwoofer enclosure in the rear of the Shelby Mustang. Working with the concept of a custom rear seat delete, our team created an amp rack that replaces the lower cushion of the back seat to show off the pair of JL Audio VX1000/1i VXi-series monoblock amplifiers. Each amp provides about 800 watts of power to one of two 10-inch JL Audio 10W7AE-3 subwoofers. The subwoofers live in a custom enclosure with an acrylic rear panel that fits behind what would be the rear seats. The subwoofers face forward toward the front windshield, and our team created a multi-component trim panel that includes LED-illuminated acrylic accents. Surrounding the enclosure is another trim piece that further mimics the custom rear seat delete concept. We worked with one of our local business partners to design and fabricate a custom-engraved Shelby Snake emblem mounted above the twin subwoofers.

Turning to the trunk, the acrylic windows in the rear of the enclosure are surrounded by another vinyl-wrapped multi-layer trim panel. LED lighting in the enclosure makes the massive magnet assembly on the rear of the W7 subwoofers stand out!

A six-channel VX600/6i amplifier drives the C7 speakers. We used the digital signal processor in the amp to split the audio frequencies between each of the drivers, time align the output of each speaker to the listening position and fine-tune the frequency response to create an impressively well-focused soundstage that spans the width of the vehicle. Listening to music in this car is like being in the recording studio with your favorite band. It’s tight, dynamic and incredibly realistic!

The audio system was bolstered by a pair of Mesa MP925HD AGM batteries isolated from the factory-installed battery with a high-current solenoid. The owner can play the audio system on the auxiliary batteries at shows but still have the original battery to start the car and get home without any hassles.

For a little extra style, we added additional custom lighting to the vehicle, including around the massive cooling vent in the hood. A RaceSport BHT01 Bluetooth controller allows the client to set the lighting to whatever color he wants. 

Central Florida’s Car Audio Upgrade Experts

Now, the stereo looks and sounds as beautiful as the rest of this stunning car!

It took some time to put together this amazing installation, but the efforts of our team were well worth it.The audio system looks stunning and sounds even better. The client was thrilled with what we created and couldn’t wait to show it off. If you’re interested in upgrading the sound system in your muscle car, we invite you to bring it to Sound Depot and Performance in Gainesville. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a personal consultation, call us or use our contact form to send our team an e-mail.