| 01 | The Arrival |
| 02 | The Kit |
| 03 | Silence First |
| 04 | The Build |
| 05 | Your Controller, Your Way |
| 06 | Tuned |
| 07 | The Result |
Watch the Alpine Status Ford Ranger Film
Prefer to watch? Our short film tells the whole story in seven tracks, from bare metal to Hi-Res. So turn it up, or better still, play it through a good system.
The Status Sessions: the full build in 2 minutes 28 seconds.
An Alpine Status Ford Ranger, Built in Cardiff
Some jobs come along once in a career. Then this black Ford Ranger arrived with a simple brief: the very best Alpine has ever made. So we built an Alpine Status Ford Ranger with the complete Status line-up, from the Hi-Res player to the subwoofer.
To our knowledge, it is one of the first full retail Status systems in Wales. Other installs have used parts of the range, too. This one, however, has all of it, plus soundproofing in every panel.
Of course, if you know our builds, you may remember a different truck. Our Ford Ranger Raptor build had Audison and Focal, with full security. But this Ranger is a different story, and a different sound.
Waz and Alpine: a story that started at 18
That history matters too, on a job like this. After all, Status gear rewards an installer who knows the brand inside out. You can read more about how the business began on our story page.
The Alpine Status Ford Ranger Kit List
- The Alpine Status HDS-990 Hi-Res media player
- An HDP-D90 Hi-Res DSP: 14 channels of processing, 12 channels of amplification
- HDZ-65CS 6.5-inch component speakers in the front doors
- Rear doors: HDZ-65 6.5-inch coaxial speakers
- Alpine R2-W8D4 8-inch subwoofer in a custom under-seat enclosure
- Comfort Mat soundproofing throughout, plus Skinz in selected areas
- Optical leads and Connection cables, with SCR Distribution fitting accessories
- A 3D-printed mount for the Status controller, made in-house
How the signal flows
In short, the system works like a studio chain. First, the HDS-990 plays the music. Then the HDP-D90 processes every channel and powers the speakers. Finally, the subwoofer adds the bass the doors cannot reach.
The signal path, from the Hi-Res player to every speaker.
What Hi-Res Means in an Alpine Status Ford Ranger
Hi-Res is about how much of the original recording reaches your ears. For example, the Alpine HDS-990 plays files up to 24-bit and 192kHz. By comparison, a CD is 16-bit and 44.1kHz. So a Hi-Res file carries about six and a half times more data every second.
However, a Hi-Res source is only half the story. The HDP-D90 processor keeps that detail all the way to the speakers. As a result, you hear the space around each instrument, not just the notes.
Silence First: Soundproofing the Ford Ranger
Before a single speaker went in, the cabin had to go quiet. After all, a pickup is a tough place for good sound. It has big flat panels, a large cab and chunky tyres that roar on the motorway. Also, that noise sits right where the detail in your music lives.
So we stripped each door to bare metal first. Then Comfort Mat went onto the inner and outer skins. Next, the door cards were treated, and acoustic foam sealed them against the door. As a result, each door now works like a proper speaker box.
The floor and cab
Next came the floor. We covered it in deadening, then added acoustic foam on top. In selected areas we also used Skinz. The aim is simple: less tyre noise, fewer rattles, and a calmer cab at speed.
Want this in your own vehicle? See our car soundproofing page for how we treat doors, floors and boots.
Fitting the Alpine Status Ford Ranger Speakers
Once the doors were quiet, the speakers could go in. The HDZ-65CS components went up front, and the HDZ-65 coaxials went in the rear. Each one sits on a mounting ring, so it fits the factory location firmly. Read more about our car speaker upgrades.
Wiring a 12-channel amplifier
However, the HDP-D90 needs a lot of connections. That’s why we sleeved every run and kept it tidy. On top of that, optical leads carry the music digitally, right up to the processor. Our amplifier installation page explains why clean power and wiring matter.
A subwoofer you can’t see
Next, the bass. An Alpine R2-W8D4 8-inch subwoofer sits in a custom enclosure under the rear seat. So the Ranger keeps its full cab space, and the bass stays tight and quick. See our subwoofer fitting page for more.
A 3D-Printed Home for the Status Controller
Before we started, the customer knew exactly where he wanted the Status controller. In fact, as Waz put it: “If you’re paying, you can have it anywhere.” So we designed and 3D-printed a mount to put it right where his hand falls.
Tuned Through 14 Channels
Once everything was wired, the system was tuned through the HDP-D90. As a result, each speaker plays only what it does best. Then levels and timing are set so the sound stage sits in front of you, not down in the doors. Our DSP processor page explains how DSP tuning works.
Meanwhile, the factory Ford head unit stays in place. So the dash still looks like a Ranger, and the Status system plays alongside it.
The Finished Alpine Status Ford Ranger
After a full refit of the interior, the Ranger was ready. From the outside, it looks like a smart black truck. Inside, however, it is one of the most serious sound systems we have ever built.
We also want to say thank you to Alpine, who came down to Cardiff to document the build. On top of that, Sounds In Motion featured the Ranger in its Transformation Tuesday series.
| Installed by | Waz and the B&B Audioconcepts team |
| Recorded at | Unit C1, Penarth Road, Cardiff |
| Source | Alpine Status HDS-990 |
| Processing | Alpine Status HDP-D90 |
| Speakers | HDZ-65CS front · HDZ-65 rear |
| Bass | Alpine R2-W8D4 |
| Soundproofing | Comfort Mat · Skinz |
| Cables | Connection · optical leads |
| Accessories | SCR Distribution |
| Featured by | Sounds In Motion |
Why a Status System Needs a Specialist
Status kit is not plug-and-play. Instead, it needs a quiet cabin, careful wiring and hours of tuning. Without those, you pay for Hi-Res and hear something far less. In short, the install matters as much as the boxes.
That’s why we treat a job like this as a build, not a fit. If you want to see where to start, browse our car audio upgrades, from speakers to full systems.
Alpine Status Ford Ranger Fitting in Cardiff & South Wales
Our workshop is at Unit C1, West Point Industrial Estate, Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8JQ. Also, drivers come to us from Penarth, Barry, Newport, Bridgend and across the Vale of Glamorgan. So whether you drive a Ford Ranger, a van or a car, we can plan a system around how you listen.
Alpine Status Ford Ranger: Your Questions Answered
What is Alpine Status?
Alpine Status is Alpine’s top range of car audio. It includes the HDS-990 Hi-Res media player, the HDP-D90 DSP amplifier and the HDZ speakers. The range is built for Hi-Res playback up to 24-bit and 192kHz, so it suits drivers who listen closely.
Can you fit an Alpine Status system to my Ford Ranger?
Yes. This Ford Ranger has the complete Status line-up, with the factory head unit kept. First, we soundproofed the cab, fitted the speakers on mounting rings and hid the subwoofer under the rear seat. Then we tuned it all through the HDP-D90.
Can I keep my factory head unit with Alpine Status?
Yes, on this Ranger we kept the factory Ford head unit. The Status system plays alongside it, so the dash still looks standard. We check how your own vehicle is wired before we plan the install.
Does soundproofing make a difference in a pickup truck?
Yes. Pickups have large flat panels and big tyres, so road and tyre noise is loud. So soundproofing cuts that noise and stops panels rattling. As a result, you hear more detail at normal volume.
How do I play Hi-Res music in my car?
You need a Hi-Res source and files to match. The Alpine HDS-990 plays files up to 24-bit and 192kHz, including FLAC and DSD. Then a DSP amplifier, like the HDP-D90, keeps that detail all the way to the speakers.
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