Speaker upgrade on new A3 sportback - is it worth it?

[Daveotto]

Hi All,

Just ordered my new A3 sportback 2.0TDI S line in Daytona Grey and have inlcuded upgrade to Audi speakers but have read in some reviews that standard speakers in the new A3 are just as good so upgrade is not really need.

Would appreaciate some feedback from others experience before build is confirmed as could swap out for some other gadgets/gismos'

thanks,


Dave

 

[PjDali]

Hi All,

Just ordered my new A3 sportback 2.0TDI S line in Daytona Grey and have inlcuded upgrade to Audi speakers but have read in some reviews that standard speakers in the new A3 are just as good so upgrade is not really need.

Would appreaciate some feedback from others experience before build is confirmed as could swap out for some other gadgets/gismos'

thanks,


Dave

I have specced the Audi Sound System but wont be picking up my car until 23rd even though its waiting on me and is available from 16th (the things i do for my dear wife) so happy to provide a comparison to previous Bose system when I can.


Must admit from what I have gleaned online is that the Audi Sound System is seemingly akin to an unbranded Bose system but the B&O system is. Notch above the Bose and seemingly fantastic.......but at £700 quid B&o was out with my own personal budget.


I don't think ill be disappointed with the Audi sound system if it is close to what the Bose delivered.

 

[Daveotto]

I have specced the Audi Sound System but wont be picking up my car until 23rd even though its waiting on me and is available from 16th (the things i do for my dear wife) so happy to provide a comparison to previous Bose system when I can.


Must admit from what I have gleaned online is that the Audi Sound System is seemingly akin to an unbranded Bose system but the B&O system is. Notch above the Bose and seemingly fantastic.......but at £700 quid B&o was out with my own personal budget.


I don't think ill be disappointed with the Audi sound system if it is close to what the Bose delivered.

Thanks, will be great to "hear" your "feedback" forgive the puns - for me its audi speakers or swap out for interior light pack and folding door mirrors...choices choices......to go with aluminium room roof rails and cofort pack

 

[Neesh]

I have the Audi Sound Sytem and to me having the sub is a big difference compared to the normal sounds system...Bang and Olufsen option is in another league...the sound is crisp and does not distort at all at any volume level.

 

[deci]

I'm used to listening to music on Genelec monitors/sub that cost a total of £4500. I didn't upgrade from the standard speaker set in my car and I'm more than happy. At the end of the day, when I listen to music in my car its a background thing - a distraction for long journeys. When I set out to 'listen' to music I do it in my house. I can't justify the price Audi charges to upgrade given the speakers I could get for my own house for the same price.

Weirdly, most musicians and producers that I know don't put a lot of value to their in-car systems.

 

[PjDali]

I'm used to listening to music on Genelec monitors/sub that cost a total of £4500. I didn't upgrade from the standard speaker set in my car and I'm more than happy. At the end of the day, when I listen to music in my car its a background thing - a distraction for long journeys. When I set out to 'listen' to music I do it in my house. I can't justify the price Audi charges to upgrade given the speakers I could get for my own house for the same price.

Weirdly, most musicians and producers that I know don't put a lot of value to their in-car systems.

I've spent a bit of money on home hi-fi over the years but sadly getting married kind of put a stop to that but I best not go there in case my wife happens to read this

So I get what your saying Deci, as lets face it road, wind noise and other vehicles all contribute to drowning out the subtleties in music you would no doubt hear sitting at home with nothin but music playing, so blowing a wad of cash on an in car set up is possibly not a great idea unless you have some serious sound proofing and budget, but I'd say the Bose system in my current car helps make sure what you can hear over and above road \wind noise is a crisp and clear and most of enjoyable as I don't feel I need to turn it up to almost full tilt to hear it.....

I loved the bose set up and many passengers have said it sounded very good indeed.

Had plenty cars and spend money upgrading speakers and headunits and none ever sounded as solid as the Bose kit in the A3, but then I reckon the A3 is the best motor I've ever owned due to it being superbly built and a fairly refined cabin to be in, so if £250 notes gets me a simlar sounding kit with the Audi Sound System in my new A3 SB I reckon it'll be money well spent......if not I'll be having a whinge at he dealer for suggesting it's just an unbranded Bose

 

[deci]

I see where you're coming from. If it included a DAB radio then i'd have considered upgrading. I tend to listen more to the radio than mp3s when driving and crappy reception will still be crappy reception on a B&O!

 

[Vertigo1]

The car comes with 8 speakers as standard. The Audi Sound System says it has 10 including the sub and front centre speaker. I suspect it simply uses the same 8 speakers and adds the sub and centre speaker and upgrades the amplifier.

 

[Daveotto]

The car comes with 8 speakers as standard. The Audi Sound System says it has 10 including the sub and front centre speaker. I suspect it simply uses the same 8 speakers and adds the sub and centre speaker and upgrades the amplifier.

Thanks for all the advice, still not sure what to do so have added all the optional extras and will deselect once I make up my mind.

How does the number of speakers and output compare to the "old" or should I say current, until Saturday, Sportback.

 

[number3]

I think I have the standard stereo, i say think, because my dealer hijacked a showroom car on order from other dealer to get me in my car before Christmas , so I didn't spec it, though it did have two of the things I wanted, sunroof & glacier white! Anyway, other than having the DAB I'm sure it's standard, but it blows away any stereo I've had previously! Vertigo I deaf don't have the B&O but how would I tell if its the mid spec one ?

mark

 

[PjDali]

Not got my own car as yet but i think if you have a sub in the wheel well and a centre speaker in the dash, then it would suggest you have the audi sound system.......B&O would have all sorts of branding and lots of lovely speakers

 

[Peterdona]

Does anyone know if the sub in the audi upgrade and the b&o package are the same

 

[bobwilson]

does the b&o system have those tweeters that rise out of the dashboard, and do you lose the spare wheel? Or does it all stay flush and clutter free?

Does anyone know if you can hear telephone calls from outside the car with the standard system? (i know with many cars, you hear the caller from outside the car, but the b&o system claims to eliminate this)

 

[Sootchucker]

No, B&O doesn't have powered lift speakers, they are permanantly fixed in place, and 14 very nice speakers at that !

The test car I drove over the weekend had B&O and it still had a spare wheel (space saver) wtih the Sub fitting neatly into that. No boot space was lost as both boot heights were always available.

Can't asnwer the last question I'm afraid as I didn't pair my phone with the car, but I can only imagine it depends on how loud you have the volume turned up ?

 

[Vertigo1]

Surely whether you can hear the caller from outside the car depends on how loud you have the volume, or am I misunderstanding you. Also, I've not heard about the B&O countering this in any way, can you elaborate?

 

[XXXCorps]

I think I have the standard stereo, i say think, because my dealer hijacked a showroom car on order from other dealer to get me in my car before Christmas , so I didn't spec it, though it did have two of the things I wanted, sunroof & glacier white! Anyway, other than having the DAB I'm sure it's standard, but it blows away any stereo I've had previously! Vertigo I deaf don't have the B&O but how would I tell if its the mid spec one ?

mark

You can tell if you have anything other than the standard system if you have a control for Sub Settings in the Sound Control section of the MMI.

 

[Vertigo1]

You can tell if you have anything other than the standard system if you have a control for Sub Settings in the Sound Control section of the MMI.

Or indeed whether there's actually a sub in the boot!

 

[XXXCorps]

Or indeed whether there's actually a sub in the boot!

...And that

 

[bobwilson]

Surely whether you can hear the caller from outside the car depends on how loud you have the volume, or am I misunderstanding you. Also, I've not heard about the B&O countering this in any way, can you elaborate?

Hi Vertigo, well if you're going to stay civil, I'll answer you this time. Many cars suffer from the ring tone and caller's voice being heard clearly from outside the vehicle, it's something to do with frequency of telephone calls and speakers being inside the doors / body of the car. B&O claim to have eliminated (should say improved) on this by using ''closed'' speakers (i.e. a thick solid material on one side), so the sound stays inside the car. I think I read it on the B&O website regarding the new Audi's.

Perhaps its rare to be standing next to a car when a call is taking place, but until last week I had never heard any telephone related sounds coming from any car on the road before. However, someone in my street was making a call from their car, and I could hear the ''ring ring'' part and then "'Hello".. and the whole conversation clearly. I couldn't hear the driver speaking, only the person he was speaking to. It sounded almost like he had a tannoy system mounted on the outside of his car - but he didn't, and probably he didn't even realise people could hear it!

I'm not sure what the brand of car was..

I've been quite wary of making calls from blutooth in my car since then unless I'm on a motorway!

 

[number3]

...And that

alright alright ... Lol pair of ****** comedians , I got confused thinking I'd read the sub for the Audi upgrade was in the centre dash speaker!

mark

 

[Vertigo1]

LOL, it's quite capable of making the rear view mirror shake from the boot, let alone if it was in the dash. The flamin' windscreen would probably fall out

 

[mjcourtney]

I can't wait to see an A3 going down the road with the spare wheel fitted - complete with sub still attached in the middle... now that would be a sight to see!

 

[squiretolley]

I've always found the standard VW and Audi systems to be pretty good, so could never really justify paying extra for an upgrade. The system in my current Golf beats the Bose system in my wife's Qashqai hands down.

 

[XXXCorps]

I agree the VW Group standard systems are very good and up there with the best of them in my opinion. However, if they sound as good as the Bose system in my car then i'll do the Pepsi Challenge anyday of the week. I think the Audi Sound System will give it a good run though, and the B&O system will blow it out of the water...

 

[hittchy]

I had the standard sound in my first two 8P A3s, then Bose in my A3. When I bought my A4 I had the Audi Sound System (although always regretted not ordering B&O). It is far better than standard Audi but nowhere near the S3s Bose IMO.

I think the Bose and B&O differ in that they just don't suffer distortion at any level. My Audi Sound System does.

 

[hittchy]

I can't wait to see an A3 going down the road with the spare wheel fitted - complete with sub still attached in the middle... now that would be a sight to see!

Or more of an issue, changing the wheel on a dark rainy night and leaving sub at the side of the road.

 

[Vertigo1]

I think the Bose and B&O differ in that they just don't suffer distortion at any level. My Audi Sound System does.

Indeed. Had BOSE on two 8Ps and now B&O on my 8V. Faulty speakers notwithstanding, they'll both make your ears bleed before they distort. The BOSE was very good for the price in both cars in which I had it but the B&O is noticably better all round, but not by a massive margin.

 

[selar]

I don't know if it's too late to throw my tuppenceworth in or if you've already ordered, but Bohemian Rhapsody on the B&O gave me goosebumps. Blew me away.