How to Upgrade Your Audi Sound System
Upgrading your Audi’s sound system is a great way to improve your driving experience—but it can also cause your insurance premium to skyrocket.
Written by Andrew Biro
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
The number of speakers in your Audi's sound system primarily depends on the model, model year, and trim level of your car—but most models come with at least six to ten speakers. If you want to improve your Audi’s sound system, you can do so by swapping out the factory speakers, adding a subwoofer, and connecting an amplifier to increase your power.
As one of the top luxury car brands in the world, Audi has consistently delivered stylish, well-crafted vehicles featuring the latest technology, especially when it comes to audio technology. And even if buyers don’t opt for the addition of a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, the stock stereo setup isn’t half-bad.
In the event that you do want to upgrade your Audi stereo but are unsure where to start, don’t worry—car insurance super app Jerry is here to help!
As the nation’s highest-rated
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comparison app, a trusted broker
, and an expert on all things Audi, Jerry
has put together this article detailing everything you need to know about upgrading your Audi’s sound system.Don't get ripped off!
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What kind of sound system does an Audi have?
As you might have guessed, not every Audi has the same sound system—in fact, the type of sound system in your Audi is solely dependent on the car’s model, model year, and trim level. Most models do, however, have somewhere between 6 to 10 speakers, an AM/FM stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth capabilities, and smartphone integration.
That said, some Audi models do offer the buyer the option of upgrading to a premium sound system designed by Bang & Olufsen. There are different varieties of these upgrades, but most B & O systems boast “3D” sound and add an additional 7 speakers to the cabin, along with a 16-channel amplifier and 730-watt subwoofer, making for a truly superb listening experience.
Your sound system's speakers, however, ultimately determine the quality of sound, regardless of whether you're connected via Bluetooth, the radio, or an aux cord.
If you own an Audi with one of the premium B & O sound systems, you probably don’t need to upgrade—but if you’re just working with the original stock setup, it might be time to start looking at what your aftermarket speaker options are.
How to upgrade an Audi’s sound system
The exact upgrades your car's audio system can handle largely depend on the age and model of your Audi—you should, however, concentrate on three things: adding new speakers, a subwoofer, and an amplifier.
Start with speaker upgrades
One of the easiest ways to enhance your Audi’s sound quality is by swapping out your factory speakers for a better set of aftermarket ones.
Be prepared to spend a good amount of money on your speaker upgrades, though, especially if you’re not familiar with your Audi’s internal electronic systems, as you’ll need to hire a professional to complete the installation. Furthermore, most Audis use relatively small stock speakers, which means many replacements will need to be modified before they can be installed.
You will also need to choose between installing component speakers, which have a clearer sound, or coaxial speakers, which are significantly less expensive. Our suggestions for aftermarket Audi speaker upgrades include:
Pump up the bass with a subwoofer
Additionally, the installation of a subwoofer is also essential to any Audi sound system upgrade because it relieves smaller speakers of the strain of producing low-frequency notes, allowing them to operate in a more comfortable frequency range.
This same addition of a subwoofer ultimately leads to the production of richer sounds and better handling of bass notes, enabling you to fully enjoy your music as the artist intended. The most common locations for a subwoofer are the trunk or underneath your Audi’s back seat, but the best location will largely depend on the exact vehicle model.
There are a lot of subwoofers on the market, but not all of them are created equal—look for something like the
Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12
or the JL Audio 10W0v3-4
.What’s the difference between 2-ohm and 4-ohm subwoofers?
As you pursue subwoofer upgrades, you’ll start to see that some are marked as “2-ohm” while others are marked as “4-ohm”. If this gets you wondering whether one is better than the other, well, there’s no real, objective answer.
A 2-ohm subwoofer will, however, produce a louder, more powerful sound, whereas a 4-ohm subwoofer will produce a much clearer, deeper sound—which one you choose really just comes down to personal preference.
Boost the power with an amplifier
Adding an external amplifier to your Audi's sound system is another way to improve the overall audio quality, as speakers powered by an amplifier will not crackle or distort the music they play.
What’s more, a good amp can still produce loud, clear audio even if you don’t replace your factory speakers, as the amp serves as an additional power source and relieves some of the strain put on your Audi’s OEM sound system.
It's also important to note that, if you intend to add a subwoofer, an amplifier will be necessary to supply power—here are some of our suggestions for the best aftermarket amps:
MORE: Car loans for Audi 2022
Don't get ripped off!
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How to protect your Audi’s sound system—and save on insurance!
Of course, there are some downsides to upgrading your Audi’s sound system, namely the effect it can have on your car insurance premium. Most standard insurance policies are only meant to cover your vehicle’s original factory equipment, so any aftermarket parts you install won’t be covered.
Fortunately, licensed
car insurance
super app Jerry
makes it easier than ever to shop for affordable Audi car insurance
rates—in fact, the average user saves $800+ a year on their car insurance payments!All you have to do is download the app, fill out a few short questions, and Jerry will start comparing dozens of affordable quotes from the nation’s top insurance providers to find you the best deals available!
“I wasn’t comfortable signing onto an otherwise cheap policy because the provider would track my miles, soJerryfound me a non-tracking policy with Clearcover for only $61/month! I think I made the right choice going with Clearcover. Thanks for helping my peace of mind, Jerry.” —Jorge C.
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FAQs
What sound system does Audi use?
In most of their current models, Audi offers buyers the opportunity to upgrade to a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, which adds seven additional speakers to the cabin, a 16-channel amplifier, and a 730-watt subwoofer.
How many speakers does an Audi sound system have?
The model, model year, and trim level of your Audi all play a significant role in determining how many speakers it has—as a general rule, however, most models have between 6 and 10. If you have one of the premium Bang & Olufsen sound systems, your speaker count will shoot up to 17.
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