The Mitsubishi Evo X left the factory with something genuinely special for its day — a Rockford Fosgate sound system, complete with its own amplifier and a big subwoofer. But “special for its day” has a shelf life. When this blue Evo first arrived for a Mitsubishi Evo audio upgrade in Cardiff, the ageing Rockford head unit was the problem: dated screen, no CarPlay, no streaming. We fitted a Pioneer 9″ tablet-style multimedia receiver, and that first taste of modern sound did exactly what it usually does — a few weeks later, the Evo was back on the ramp for the full works.
Visit One — The Pioneer 9″ Tablet Screen
Job one was bringing the dash into the modern era. The old Rockford unit came out and a Pioneer 9″ tablet-style multimedia receiver went in — a big, bright floating screen running Apple CarPlay, sitting proud of the dash the way modern Pioneers do. Crucially, the swap was done properly: the Evo’s on-board features were retained, so nothing the car could do before was lost in the changeover. Maps, music, calls and even ChatGPT on the home screen — in a 2008-era performance icon.
Visit Two — The Serious Upgrade
- ✓Phoenix Gold ZXM500.4 — ZX Series Class-D 4-channel mini amplifier (1000W max) for the Focals
- ✓Phoenix Gold ZXM500.1 — ZX Series Class-D mono amplifier (1000W max) driving the factory 12″ Rockford subwoofer
- ✓Focal Polyglass PS 165 V1 — 6.5″ 2-way component speakers up front
- ✓Focal Slatefiber PC 165 SF — 6.5″ 2-way coaxials in the rear
- ✓Comfortmat 3-stage soundproofing — front and rear doors
- ✓Stinger cabling with SCR distribution plugs and speaker collars throughout
- ✓Old Rockford amplifier removed — with every factory feature of the car retained
Twin Phoenix Gold Amps — And a Clever Decision
Here’s the thinking that separates a system from a shopping list. The Evo’s original Rockford amplifier was tired, so out it came — but the factory 12″ Rockford subwoofer is a genuinely good driver, and part of the car’s character. So we kept it, and gave it what it never had: a dedicated Phoenix Gold ZXM500.1 mono amplifier with modern Class-D muscle behind it. The matching ZXM500.4 four-channel runs the Focals. Two compact ZX Series amps, properly cabled with Stinger wiring and SCR distribution, replacing one weary OEM box — and every one of the car’s factory features still works exactly as Mitsubishi intended.
Focal Front and Rear
Up front, Focal’s Polyglass PS 165 V1 components put the detail where it belongs — a dedicated tweeter and 6.5″ woofer lifting vocals and imaging up to windscreen height. In the rear, Slatefiber PC 165 SF coaxials keep the back of the cabin full without muddying the front stage. It’s a classic, well-matched French pairing: crisp, musical and more than capable of keeping up with a 12″ sub.
Three-Stage Comfortmat — All Four Doors
An Evo is many wonderful things; quiet isn’t one of them. Before the new speakers went anywhere near the car, all four doors were treated with Comfortmat’s three-stage process — damping layer to kill panel resonance, a decoupling layer to block road noise, and an acoustic layer to seal each door into a proper speaker enclosure. It’s the least glamorous part of the build and the one you hear on every single journey: tighter bass, cleaner midrange, calmer cabin.
Three Lessons From the Evo
Screen first, system later. A staged build spreads the cost and lets you hear the difference each step makes — and it’s how most of our biggest systems actually start.
Not everything factory needs binning. The Evo’s 12″ Rockford sub was worth saving — it just needed a proper modern amplifier behind it.
Stinger cabling, proper distribution, speaker collars, three-stage deadening — the invisible 50% of an install is what makes the visible 50% sound right.
Why Integration Matters on an Evo
Removing a factory-amplified system like the Evo’s Rockford setup is where plenty of installs go wrong — lose the integration and you can lose chimes, steering-wheel controls and vehicle functions along with it. Stripping out the old amplifier while keeping every one of the car’s features working takes knowledge of how the vehicle is wired, not just enthusiasm. That’s the difference a specialist makes, and it’s the standard every build leaves our workshop at. You’ll find the full picture on our car audio upgrades service page.
B&B Audioconcepts is Cardiff’s car audio specialist, based at Unit C1, West Point Industrial Estate, Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8JQ. From performance icons like this Mitsubishi Evo audio upgrade to family cars and classics, we look after drivers across Cardiff, Penarth, Barry, Newport, Bridgend, the Vale of Glamorgan and the wider South Wales area — and customers travel to us from all over the UK. To plan your own build, staged or all at once, call +44 (0)29 2070 7275.
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