A client from Manassas recently brought his 2024 Audi S3 to Westminster Speed and Sound in hopes of improving the audio system’s performance. After auditioning the factory-installed sound system and talking to the client about his goals, we demonstrated several upgrade options. Happy with our suggestion, we scheduled a date to perform this Audi S3 speaker and amp upgrade.
Audi S3 Speaker Upgrade
The first order of business was to upgrade the speakers in the doors and dash. We removed the stock drivers from the doors, then, set to work treating them with Hushmat sound deadening. We treated both the inner and outer door skins to minimize noise transfer into the cabin. We topped things off with a layer of Silencer Megabond foam on the trim panel to prevent buzzes and rattles.
The next step was to create custom speaker mounting adapters for the Helix and BLAM speakers the client chose. We designed and printed adapters for the new 8-inch woofers so they’d drop right into the mounting locations for the factory-installed drivers. The 0.75-inch Helix tweeters pop into the stock locations at the top of the door. This trim level of S3 doesn’t come with dash speakers, so we ran wiring to the dash location and cut mounting plates for a set of BLAM Live-Series two-inch midrange drivers.
DSP-Equipped Amplifier Integration
With the speakers wired up, we began integrating a Match UP 8DSP eight-channel amplifier into the vehicle wiring using a harness specific to this platform. To keep everything tidy, we added the wiring for the dash-mounted midrange speakers to the harness.
The amplifier is mounted under the front edge of the passenger seat. The form-fitting floor mats ensure no water, snow, or slush will get near the amp.
System Calibration for Smooth Sound
The key to making this system sound amazing is our calibration process. We use our real-time audio analyzer and measurement microphone to align each speaker’s output in the vehicle and compensate for the cabin acoustics. We fine-tune everything by setting delays to compensate for differing path lengths to each speaker.
The result is an audio system with a focused soundstage that spans the width of the listening environment. Voices and instruments have a natural and balanced sound similar to what you’d hear in a recording studio. We enhance the midbass and lower frequencies to give the presentation warmth and impact.
Baltimore’s Best European Vehicle Audio Upgrades
The client returned to Westminster Speed and Sound, anxious to audition the vehicle. He was thrilled with how clear and dynamic it was. If the audio system in your Audi, Porsche or Mercedes-Benz doesn’t make you smile, drop by the store and talk to one of our upgrade experts. If you can’t make it here during regular business hours, give us a call or use the contact form to send us an email.
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