A client from Ballwin contacted JML Audio in St. Louis about an upgrade for their 2015 Audi S3 audio system. We arranged a time for the client to stop by our facility with his vehicle so we could get to know him better and look over the car with him. While he was here, we sat in his car and listened to his stock stereo system, gave him a tour of our facility and auditioned some equipment that we felt best suited his needs. As the conversation developed, we realized that the audio system was going to be done in two stages. This post focuses on the first stage of the upgrades.
Audi S3 Audio: Stage 1
In the music of almost every vehicle on the road today, the single biggest thing missing is bass. If you have ever had the opportunity to listen to live music or hear a great-sounding home audio system, one of the first things you will notice about your car stereo system is the lack of lower-end music. Many people think the biggest problem in the sound of their audio system is the unit in the dash, when in reality, it is a lack of power and low-quality speakers. The good news is that a well-engineered car audio system can have better-sounding bass than most home audio systems.
In this vehicle, we knew right from the beginning that the stock stereo system in the dash was going to stay, since it did a great job and looked wonderful in the dash.
Amplification
We started this build by custom-fabricating a metal amp rack that fit perfectly down inside the spare tire well in the trunk. The rack was designed to hold a total of two amplifiers, so when the second stage of the upgrades gets done, the amp rack is ready to hold the second amplifier. For the subwoofer amplifier, we chose an Audison Voce Uno, a great-sounding amplifier that puts out well over 1,000 watts of clean power, so the client will have all the output he needs, no matter his mood.
One of the unique elements of the Uno amplifier is its ability to integrate directly with the stock Audi stereo system without any interfaces. In the future, when the time comes to add the second amplifier and upgrade the speakers, we will add an Audison DSP to the system for its fine-tuning capabilities.
Bass And Fabrication
When it came time to choose subwoofers, we went with a pair of the 10” Hertz HX250’s. Our team made a custom ported enclosure that fit perfectly between the wheel wells in the trunk. We fabricated a custom trim panel that included a black plexiglass trim panel and the Audi logo, giving the enclosure a clean, classy look. For a finishing touch, we added LED accent lighting in the trunk that illuminates in either red or white light.
Control
When you are adding real bass to a sound system, you want to be able to control it. For that reason, we flushed a bass level control knob in the center console behind the MMi controller, giving the client an easy way to control the amount of bass added to the music.
Paint Protection
In our consultation with the client, we realized how much he valued his vehicle and the depth of his desire to keep the paint looking as good as possible. Based on those thoughts, we did our full paint protection package on the vehicle. It includes protecting the full front bumper, full hood and front fenders, side mirrors, and door edges, as well as the cups behind the door handles.
Completion And Satisfaction
When the client came to pick up his vehicle, he loved the way we integrated all of the equipment into it. He thought it looked like Audi installed the equipment, which made our day. When we cranked it up, he loved the newfound bass in his music. As a result, he’s looking forward to the next round of upgrades.
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When you are ready to upgrade your sound system, contact us here at JML Audio. We will work with you to design and build the solution that best fits your needs.
Hello, Is it possible to upgrade the door speakers in my Audi S3 2016? I was told the speakers are 2 ohm and not possible unless I find specific speakers made for this car.
Thanks, a lot
Cory,
Thank you for your email. We believe that anything is possibly when it comes to high performance audio and know just how to make it happen for you. Please feel free to contact us directly for more information at info@jmlaudio.com