How to Upgrade Your Tesla Model S Sound System
A Tesla Model S sound system upgrade can drastically improve your driving experience—but it could also raise your insurance rates.
Written by John Davis
Reviewed by Lisa Steuer McArdle
Tesla has been leading the way for luxury electric vehicles for the past decade. And the cars are celebrated for their performance and features. But many owners opt to pair the quiet ride with an upgraded Tesla sound system—and you, too, can boost your Tesla’s style and sound with a few upgrades, like some beefy subwoofers and new speakers.
The Tesla Model S was given a facelift in 2018 that included making the enhanced UHFS sound system standard, but many drivers still find themselves craving a little more oomph from their audio system. If that sounds like you, there are some steps you can take to boost your car’s audio capabilities. However, as an all-electric vehicle, the Tesla Model S sound system is not as simple to replace as the one in your old Toyota, and if you’re going to tackle this job, you’ll need to make sure you have the right know-how.
Fortunately,
Jerry
, the trustworthy insurance comparison app, is here to help you understand how to upgrade your Tesla sound system. We’ll cover everything you need to know to complete your upgrade. And we’ll explain how to do it without causing your Tesla insurance costs to skyrocket!Don't get ripped off!
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What kind of sound system does a Tesla Model S have?
Before you can get started upgrading your Tesla sound system, you should familiarize yourself with the system that’s already in place.
The Tesla Model S is one of the most popular all-electric vehicles on the road. When it was released in 2012, you could choose between the base, seven-speaker audio system with no subwoofer and the upgraded 12-channel Ultra High Fidelity System (UHFS) with an eight-inch subwoofer. However, beginning in 2018, the UHFS system became standard on the Model S.
You’ll want to keep that fact in mind when shopping for upgrades. Depending on your car’s model year and trim options, the number of pre-existing speakers to swap out will vary.
Both the base-level audio system and the enhanced UHFS system are powered by Tesla’s 17-inch touchscreen located in the center of the dash.
MORE: Tesla Model S trunk space
How to upgrade a Tesla Model S sound system
So, you’re planning to upgrade your Tesla Model S sound system. But before you start ripping out the stock speakers, you’ll need to take note of a couple of specifics of Tesla sound systems.
The door speakers in your Tesla Model S are rear-mounted, as opposed to most vehicle speakers with mounting points on the face. This can make replacing stock speakers slightly difficult, so remember to go slowly and use caution when removing the old parts and installing your upgrades.
You’ll also need to purchase some new door panel clips because the ones Tesla uses are single-use items.
When you’re ready to start shopping for upgrades, there are a few areas on which you’ll want to focus. To build your perfect sound system, you should start by enhancing the speakers, subwoofer and amplifier.
Start with speaker upgrades
When building a custom sound system, the first step should always be speaker upgrades.
High-quality audio upgrades are rarely cheap, so you’ll need to be prepared to spend a good chunk of money on your new system.
You should also contemplate whether this is a job you feel comfortable completing on your own. Teslas have more complex electrical systems than regular cars. If you’re unfamiliar with wiring and your vehicle’s internals, you should consider hiring a professional to install your upgrades.
You’ll also need to decide whether you want to upgrade all of your Model S speakers or focus on one specific area of the vehicle, like the front door or dash speakers. Finally, you’ll need to determine whether you want coaxial speakers, which are usually cheaper, or component speakers, which provide higher-quality sound.
Ready to start shopping? Here are a few quality speaker options for your Tesla Model S:
- Light Harmonics Model S Front and Rear Door Speaker Set: $1,099.00
- Kicker 47KSC6504 KS Series 6-½” 2-Way Car Speakers: $103.96
- Kicker 47KSS504 KS Series 5-¼” Component Speaker System: $199.96
- Infinity Reference REF-375TX Reference Series ¾” Textile Dome Tweeters: $82.95
Pump up the bass with a subwoofer
A quality subwoofer is a great way to take your custom sound system to the next level.
If you own a Tesla Model S from 2018 or newer, your stock system includes an 8-inch sub mounted in a custom enclosure in the trunk. This is a great starting point for upgrades. And if your Model S doesn’t have a stock subwoofer, this particular upgrade is even more important.
When shopping for subwoofers, keep in mind that you may need to make some adjustments to the car to get the new part to fit. And if your Model S doesn’t have a stock sub, you might need to build a box to house the new speaker or consider buying a complete kit, like
this one from SoundQubed
. When you’re ready to purchase your new sub, consider these quality options:
- Kicker 48CVTDF122 Sealed downward-firing enclosure with 12” 2-ohm shallow-mount subwoofer: $269.99
- JL Audio CS110LG-TW3 Sealed PowerWedge™ enclosure with one 10” TW3 subwoofer: $529.99
- Kenwood Excelon P-XW804B Reference Series ported enclosure with one 8” shallow-mount subwoofer: $199.99
What’s the difference between a 4-ohm subwoofer and a 2-ohm sub?
As you continue your quest for the ultimate Tesla sound system, you might wonder about the difference between 4-ohm and 2-ohm subwoofers. While it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference, there are some slight differences between the two types of subs.
The distinction is that 2-ohm subs typically provide a crunchier and louder sound, while 4-ohm subs are more known for their crisp clarity.
Boost the power with an amplifier
The final piece of a quality sound system is the amplifier. The stock system in your Tesla includes individual amplifiers for each speaker, all controlled by another amplifier built into the Master Control Unit behind the touchscreen.
Because of this, most experts do not recommend trying to install an aftermarket multi-channel amp. As all-electric cars, Teslas have complex electrical systems. And if you’re not trained to work on these systems, you can harm yourself or damage the vehicle.
If you absolutely have your heart set on an aftermarket amp, we recommend contacting a professional for this stage of your upgrade.
How to protect your Tesla sound system—and save on insurance!
While upgrading your Tesla sound system is an excellent way to increase its style, it might also increase its theft risk. For this reason, many
car insurance
companies offer sound system coverage to protect your audio setup. However, the bad news is that extra coverage often comes at a steep price—namely, an increase to your insurance premium.Luckily, the trusted broker app,
Jerry
, can help keep your Tesla Model S insurance costs low without sacrificing coverage. All you have to do to get started is download the app and answer a few simple questions. After that, Jerry will take care of the rest by comparing companies and rates to find the best offers for you and your unique situation. “Jerryis an amazing app. Thanks to it, I saved a lot of money for my Tesla Model 3’s insurance. I’m so glad I downloaded the app!” —Erza S.
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FAQs
What sound system does Tesla use?
While Tesla is not known for providing extensive details about its sound systems, we know that former Bang & Olufsen engineers had a hand in the design process. Since 2018, the Model S has come standard with the 12-speaker Ultra High Fidelity System (UHFS).
The
Tesla Model 3
comes standard with an 8-speaker system, or an optional 15-speaker premium package, while the Tesla Model Y
has a 13-speaker system that includes a stock subwoofer and amp. How many speakers does a Tesla Model S sound system have?
Prior to 2018, the Model S was available with a base, seven-speaker audio system, or an upgraded Ultra High Fidelity System (UHFS) with 12 speakers and a sub. The 12-speaker UHFS system has been standard on all Model S cars since 2018.
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