Stock concert speakers system poor?

[Greig300]

From the first day I got my S3 8L I've always thought the stock concert system for a expensive car (when new) has a rubbish stereo. My friend has an A4 b6 from 2004 with stock stereo and it sounds fantastic! Great bass just night & day difference compared to mine. I've replaced the speakers front and rear with ones recommended by Andymac with his adapters. While better it just sounds tinny no bass and just pants. Are all 8Ls the same? Even with BOSE option I've read it's not a worthwhile either. Apart from that I love my S3.

 

[AndyMac]

Yes, as said many times you need to upgrade the subwoofer to get any decent sound from the system in the 8L

 

[Filth]

all be it not the best of bass i wouldn't go as far as to say my standard system sounds tinny. I plan to get an andymac setup at some point but its way down on the list of things to do for me. is it possible there is something wrong with your head unit?

 

[16Klappe]

The system in my A3 (also Concert) is great, by far one of the best factory systems I have ever heard. I always see people posting about how crap they are but I don't see it myself, unless there is a fault with these systems?

I work for Mazda and we fit 17 speaker Bose systems in the Sport models and I always say that my stereo is just as good. What more could you possibly want from a car stereo?

 

[Greig300]

Could be just my car then? Trust me when I say mine sounds crap it's just so flat.

 

[AndyMac]

Thought you had the Bose system already?
If so try disconnecting the Bose earth lead on the back of the HU.
This will put the Concert back into a smiley face EQ (instead of the flat Bose EQ), so your Bass & Treble will actually work properly - makes a big difference!
Also aftermarket speakers running off the Bose amp don't work that well. The Bose amp is expecting 1.5 ohm impedance speakers, which aren't available aftermarket, even low impedance units are twice that. This means the Bose amp will have to work a lot harder to deliver the same power.
It's not your car, all 8L systems are pretty average at best.

 

[Greig300]

Thought you had the Bose system already?
If so try disconnecting the Bose earth lead on the back of the HU.
This will put the Concert back into a smiley face EQ (instead of the flat Bose EQ), so your Bass & Treble will actually work properly - makes a big difference!
Also aftermarket speakers running off the Bose amp don't work that well. The Bose amp is expecting 1.5 ohm impedance speakers, which aren't available aftermarket, even low impedance units are twice that. This means the Bose amp will have to work a lot harder to deliver the same power.
It's not your car, all 8L systems are pretty average at best.

No I have a standard system non-BOSE...When i first bought the car after a while the front door speaker was rattling...realising it was a BOSE Speaker with no BOSE logos on speaker grills and with single subwoofer in boot you said I bet someone has installed BOSE speakers into a stock system trying to make it sound better in actual fact is damaging the headunit and you were 100% correct Andy as usual So I got some of your adapters and speakers you recommended all went smooth and well but still sounds flat... All speakers work and the subwoofer to but sounds muffled? Underpowered somehow? Recently noticed the battery in the car is getting low noticeable on start up some mornings.. Related? Been doing this on and off since owning the car (2 years)

 

[AndyMac]

Well the whole non Bose system is underpowered. You only have 2 x 20w (peak) going to the fronts from the HU, that's about 2 x 12wRMS, a bit like running your HiFi speakers directly off your iPhone. But seriously adding a subwoofer is really the only way forward

 

[Greig300]

Well the whole non Bose system is underpowered. You only have 2 x 20w (peak) going to the fronts from the HU, that's about 2 x 12wRMS, a bit like running your HiFi speakers directly off your iPhone. But seriously adding a subwoofer is really the only way forward

So either Andymac subwoofer or new headunit with more power?

 

[AndyMac]

No, just subwoofer, HU with more power will just overpower stock sub even more. Doesn't have to be a stealth sub, any sub will do.