Audi A3 Audi Sound System fault?

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BA123

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Hi All,

I hope you can help me prove a fault with the Audi Sound System (10 speakers 180 watts including sub).

I have a 64 plate A3 sportback fitted with the Audi Sound System option. However I have noticed a massive dip in volume when the bass kicks in.

To be more specfic when the sub is turned up over half way in the settings and a track is played say at volume 15 the mid range and treble lowers. A bit like the sub is drawing all the power from the amp. This is more noticebale when playing from media than from radio (DAB), I imagine this is becuase of the quality of the track/music. If the Sub is turned down (while the track is being played with a bassline) you can physically hear the other 9 speakers get louder. Turn the sub back up again over half way and the volume dip again to the other speakers.

It is a company/lease car and my colleague also has exactly the same model (both delivered on the same truck) and has the same issue. He has questioned it with Audi and if Im honest they have not been much help. First they advised it was becuase of Gala then when he physically got the top mechanic to sit in the car to show him he had no clue and advised he would have to look into it. A few weeks later he has come back and said Audi have advised it is due to a anti-distortion feature! Personally I dont believe this!

My question to you all... Has anyone else noticed this with an Audi Sound System? If so, has it been brought up with Audi? What did they say? Any Audi mechanics on here that can comment?

Thank you in advance for any comments/suggestions.
 
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@BA123 welcome to audi-sport.net. Hope you enjoy the forum. :) x
 
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Thank you for your reply, veeeight.

However I dont see it being a limiter that is the problem. Its like there is not enough power for the sub and speakers.

Why would the limiter only kick in when the bass kicks in? I know that sounds a stupid question but if the sub is turned off you can turn the volume up as much as you please and no limiter kicks in and the speakers do distort. Also the sound is fine say at 15 and no distortation then the bass kicks in and the volume lows but you can still hear the sub at the said volume. Like I said its like there is not enough power in the amp to serve all speakers.

Is there a seperate amp for the *** or is it built into the head unit?
 
*** has amp in the 5F unit, B&O has amp under LHF seat.

Limiter for 2 purposes, to prevent clipping in the amp stage, and to limit problems associated with the faux-sub in terms of driver/cone travel, displacement and amplitude.
 
Thank you. I will have to have a play around with the bass settings to stop it clipping then.

Please can you advise what the 5F unit is? Is this the unit in the glove box?
 
5F yes, unit in glovebox.

Try Sub +3, Bass +1, Treb +2 and go from there.
 
I thought I would update you all, after going to Audi they have stated the below...

Good Afternoon,

I have some further news Audi have released a Technical bulletin on the 28/3/15 about this issue which is as follows:

Customer statement / workshop findings

The volume fluctuates when playing tracks with bass. This happens mainly during bass passages and when playing the music loudly.

Technical background

The system reduces the signal to prevent a speaker overload.

Production change

From week 22/2015

Measure

Postpone repairs.

We are working on a production and service solution.

This TPI will be updated as soon as the measure is available.

If you would like an automatic E-mail notification when a suitable measure is available, please accept this TPI in your DISS order and confirm the subsequent enquiry with "Yes".

As you can see there will be a repair but we are waiting for Audi to release the solution.
 
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I have retrofitted my own A S S subwoofer, and haven't had such experience? the feature has gotta be software based?
 
Just to advise I've been having the same issue in my 2014 A3 Sportback S-line and it only has occurred since Audi did an MMI update to fix a Navigation problem. They have now asked me to remove my Bluetooth phone from the MMI for two days as they thing they might be related. I disagree and firmly believe that the software on the MMI is dreadfully untested and full of Bugs. Audi need to man up and admit that their development team have issues and do something about it, especially connect.
 
Just goes to show, if you find something strange - never assume it's normal behaviour!

Good work OP.
 
Has anyone been able to resolve this yet?
Just collected a brand new A3 Sportback with Audi Sound System and noticed this issue straight away. Wish I hadn't gone for the upgrade now, a basic sound system wouldn't spoil music like this.
 
PMOZ_01 said:
Has anyone been able to resolve this yet?
Just collected a brand new A3 Sportback with Audi Sound System and noticed this issue straight away. Wish I hadn't gone for the upgrade now, a basic sound system wouldn't spoil music like this.
Click to expand...

I'm still getting the same problem on my s3 , totally ruining any music I play!

Strange to note that it's fine with the radio but bad with CarPlay or through Bluetooth
 
Has anyone else learned more about this problem?

It is really quite bad, I have tried messing around with the bass setting, and even if you dial it all the way down it still happens.

Any song with a constant bass track is ruined
 
Hi guys just bought a 66reg a3 and having same problems driving me mad can anyone help at all it's so loud on start up but once get going gets quieter and quieter even at full volume
 
Hiphophustler87 said:
Hi guys just bought a 66reg a3 and having same problems driving me mad can anyone help at all it's so loud on start up but once get going gets quieter and quieter even at full volume
Click to expand...

Go into your setting sounds like your speed related volume is on
 
With is off mate just keeps going lower and lower while driving useless
 
airbus319 said:
Just to advise I've been having the same issue in my 2014 A3 Sportback S-line and it only has occurred since Audi did an MMI update to fix a Navigation problem. They have now asked me to remove my Bluetooth phone from the MMI for two days as they thing they might be related. I disagree and firmly believe that the software on the MMI is dreadfully untested and full of Bugs. Audi need to man up and admit that their development team have issues and do something about it, especially connect.
Click to expand...

Audi don't have a very good record of admitting errors - see numerous posts concerning a/c condenser damage
:rage:
 
Went to Audi today booked in for next Wednesday I do believe It's better on android car play but via aux Bluetooth cd player it's awful really miserable
 
Hiphophustler87 said:
Went to Audi today booked in for next Wednesday I do believe It's better on android car play but via aux Bluetooth cd player it's awful really miserable
Click to expand...

Did your car go to the garage? what was the response from Audi?

This is driving me mad, I have never owned a car with a stereo that is so useless!
 
Luckily I don't play my music loud enough for it to bother me. Can't see them doing anything about it. It's how the systems designed.
 
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If you reset your MMI everytime you get in the car (hold down three buttons, see manual) it fixes the problem and you have clear sound again. My 63 plate does it too, hoping there's been a software update by now??? Spoke to local audi and they want to charge me for one (if there is one) as the car is out of warranty... that's just ridiculous!

Honestly though, as a quick fix the reset works a treat, even though you have to do it every time you get in.
 
Hi everyone, I have a 2019 A3 30 TFSI Black Edition and mine does the same thing when your listening to music with either DAB, Bluetooth, Apple Play or SD card. Has anyone found a solution to this yet? I had a 2016 A3 Saloon 1.6 TDI Sport before and this was fine. I took it to Audi with a few other problems but they said there was nothing wrong with it!!! So not happy.
 
Joshua72 said:
Hi everyone, I have a 2019 A3 30 TFSI Black Edition and mine does the same thing when your listening to music with either DAB, Bluetooth, Apple Play or SD card. Has anyone found a solution to this yet? I had a 2016 A3 Saloon 1.6 TDI Sport before and this was fine. I took it to Audi with a few other problems but they said there was nothing wrong with it!!! So not happy.
Click to expand...

Hi Joshua, which audio system do you have A.S.S. or B&O?
 
Joshua72 said:
Hi Christoffer, thanks for the reply.
It's just the Audi Sound System. It has a Bass speaker where the spare would normally go and a front centre speaker so this 2 more speakers than my previous Audi had and that was and that was just the Audi Sound System as well.
Here is what my car has:
https://www.audi.co.uk/about-audi/audiupdate/autumn-2018/08-A3-Black-Edition.html

Thanks if you can help
Click to expand...

Hi Joshua,
I was just wondering how you could replicate the issue with A.S.S. in a 2019 when AUDI removed the Subwoofer Level. (Leaving only Treble and Bass)?

Mine does no do it unless I turn the Bass up to 80-100%, and that's because of the filter to the speaker in the doors. Which makes sense, but removing the option to adjust Subwoofer level does not make sense, my Audi dealer said it's on purpose.
 
Christoffer said:
Hi Joshua,
I was just wondering how you could replicate the issue with A.S.S. in a 2019 when AUDI removed the Subwoofer Level. (Leaving only Treble and Bass)?

Mine does no do it unless I turn the Bass up to 80-100%, and that's because of the filter to the speaker in the doors. Which makes sense, but removing the option to adjust Subwoofer level does not make sense, my Audi dealer said it's on purpose.
Click to expand...

Hi Chritoffer
Yeah there is option to change the level of the bass speaker on mine either. Mine does it even with the bass at about 40% and listening to music at about 70%.
And as had my previous Audi didn’t have the extra bass speaker or front centre speaker and I could listen to the same music on full volume with no noise cancellation or what ever it’s doing.
The other thing mine does when I have my iPhone connected is the whole system goes off randomly and Audi told me that it’s a software incompatibility problem with iOS and Audi haven’t caught up with there software and that it’ll get uploaded to the car by itself when it’s available. But yesterday when I travelling around I found going around some roundabouts the system would shutdown and restart it was almost like there is a loose connection or something?
 
Joshua72 said:
Hi Chritoffer
Yeah there is option to change the level of the bass speaker on mine either. Mine does it even with the bass at about 40% and listening to music at about 70%.
And as had my previous Audi didn’t have the extra bass speaker or front centre speaker and I could listen to the same music on full volume with no noise cancellation or what ever it’s doing.
The other thing mine does when I have my iPhone connected is the whole system goes off randomly and Audi told me that it’s a software incompatibility problem with iOS and Audi haven’t caught up with there software and that it’ll get uploaded to the car by itself when it’s available. But yesterday when I travelling around I found going around some roundabouts the system would shutdown and restart it was almost like there is a loose connection or something?
Click to expand...

I haven't had the system going off, occasionally it stays in a "Conversation"-mode even after the Conversation is ended. But I think this might be a miss match between the iOS on your phone and the software on your car. Some iOS builds have errors on the CarPlay software. I'm currently running iOS 13.0 Public Beta 7, with no issues. If you're on iOS12 or less you'll enjoy iOS13 when they do the final released ;-)
 
Sorry if anyone said the same already, I didn't have time to read through all the replies yet, but here is a thing about sound-n-amps I read a while ago. The more bass you add, the less volume you get, so you have to up the volume. It's normal. I don't remember details of why it works like this though.
 
It’s Most likely due to a multi channel amplifier struggling with the demand. Takes a lot more power/move a subwoofer than a tweeter.
On lower end multi channel amp, let’s say 5x100w, the total 500w is shared across all speakers plugged in. When the sub asks for 400w then that only leaves 100w to the rest of the speakers.
A good 5x100w amp will give 100w to each channel even though the sub wants 400.
A good setup will have an individual amp per speaker but that gets expensive.
In my youth I had a car with a SPL blow your windscreen out level sound system so understand how it all works. A bit more mature now but the same principles still apply.
Cheap amps vs expensive.
I’ve had a few a3 courtesy cars and have noticed this on all of them apart from the b&o cars.
Even my old a6 did this.
 
Joshua72 said:
Hi Chritoffer
Yeah there is option to change the level of the bass speaker on mine either. Mine does it even with the bass at about 40% and listening to music at about 70%.
And as had my previous Audi didn’t have the extra bass speaker or front centre speaker and I could listen to the same music on full volume with no noise cancellation or what ever it’s doing.
The other thing mine does when I have my iPhone connected is the whole system goes off randomly and Audi told me that it’s a software incompatibility problem with iOS and Audi haven’t caught up with there software and that it’ll get uploaded to the car by itself when it’s available. But yesterday when I travelling around I found going around some roundabouts the system would shutdown and restart it was almost like there is a loose connection or something?
Click to expand...

Hi Joshua,

I literally took delivery of a new A3 S Line 2.0 yesterday and immediately noticed exactly the same as you. Did you work out how to resolve it at all or have Audi responded?

Rich
 
Hi Rich,
Sorry for the delay in replying to you, nope still waiting to hear back from Audi.
How about you? Have you got yours sorted? If so what’s the fix?? My brother has a BMW and he just laughs at me and says I told you BMW are better
 
Joshua72 said:
Hi Rich,
Sorry for the delay in replying to you, nope still waiting to hear back from Audi.
How about you? Have you got yours sorted? If so what’s the fix?? My brother has a BMW and he just laughs at me and says I told you BMW are better
Click to expand...

I literally signed up to this site just for this specific question. I have a 69 plate A3 S-Line I picked up in October, I noticed this issue immediately and got so annoyed with listening to my music I just listen to the radio most of the time.

I clearly forgot how bad it was because a week ago I decided I should be listening to Spotify while driving, not the radio.. and there it was again. Most songs are genuinely ruined by this, I’m so disappointed.

If anyone finds a fix, please let me know for the love of god, I’m sick of the 4 songs they play on repeat on the radio but I’m also sick of my music sounding terrible.
 
Jon-Lee Walker said:
I literally signed up to this site just for this specific question. I have a 69 plate A3 S-Line I picked up in October, I noticed this issue immediately and got so annoyed with listening to my music I just listen to the radio most of the time.

I clearly forgot how bad it was because a week ago I decided I should be listening to Spotify while driving, not the radio.. and there it was again. Most songs are genuinely ruined by this, I’m so disappointed.

If anyone finds a fix, please let me know for the love of god, I’m sick of the 4 songs they play on repeat on the radio but I’m also sick of my music sounding terrible.
Click to expand...

Hi,
Nope I still have the problem. They advised me that it was down to my phone, but to go away and make a list of songs which create the problem so they can test. This was back in October and I haven’t had time. I now do have a list though so I need to get back in touch with them. The win though is that I have also experienced it through the radio, so it’s a audio system fault not a decoding issue.

you managing to follow anything up?
 
RichardC said:
Hi,
Nope I still have the problem. They advised me that it was down to my phone, but to go away and make a list of songs which create the problem so they can test. This was back in October and I haven’t had time. I now do have a list though so I need to get back in touch with them. The win though is that I have also experienced it through the radio, so it’s a audio system fault not a decoding issue.

you managing to follow anything up?
Click to expand...
Good luck, let us know how you got on. I’ve not followed it up majorly yet but I’m going to speak to my local dealership when I get chance.
 
Yeah guys lets get this sorted ASAP
My wifes basic A1 has better sound than my car!!
 
The Audi sound system is OK, but it is not B&O quality. It is limited by the amp to produce quality bass at high volumes. You get what you pay for or option. There are threads on here on how to improve the sound, but it is costly and not for the faint of heart to install. The dealership will not be able to help you and neither will Audi.
 
So tell me why my previous 2016 Audi A3 with 8 speakers not B &O was fine you could turn the volume to full and there would no automatic volume reduction
 
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