silvstrk

Any recomendations on upgrades to my speakers. I want a better base sound. I do not want to modify the car by installing an aftermarket amp. Just looking for overall sound imprprovements.

Thanks<p>2001 1.8T
silstrk

siberian

given that you really don't want to do any serious mods, you will not be able to do much, if anything, to improve the bass response. Here are a few things you need to consider....

The rear speakers are self amplified (see the metal thingy surrounding the magnet on the rear drivers side speaker), and made specifically for this car, so there is no aftermarket "drop in" replacement for them. They are controlled by a line level output from the head unit. All aftermarket speakers are made to be used with a speaker level signal. Since the head unit has no internal amplification for the rear speakers, there's no way to run new (rear) speakers without an external amp.

So basically that leaves you with upgrading just the fronts....

Although upgrading the front speakers alone will give you a very modest improvement in sound quality at best, you will still be limited by the small size of the driver itself (4" ain't much), as well, you will be severely limited by the poor quality of the under-powered signal being sent to them. You can buy MBQuart adaptors made specifically for this car that allow you to fit 5-1/4" speakers, but again, don't expect much of an improvement in bass response.... after all, you're only adding an inch here so let's keep it in perspective.

In order to get really good bass response, you need to consider a few things....

Better sounding systems will have the signals divided up into frequency response ranges.... high frequencies are directed to the tweeters, mid-range frequencies are directed to the midbass/midrange drivers, and bass frequencies are directed to the woofers or subwoofers. Unfortunately, the speakers in the Audi are not large enough to properly handle lower frequencies very well.... hence the annoying distortion you hear at moderately high volume levels. Plus, since the level of amplification in this radio is weak at best, the signal is further distorted.

You might want to try a little trick that might give you a little more bass. It's cheap and easy, and it might help a little. Try making temporary enclosures that surround the rear speakers from the back side. This should help boost bass response a little. Remember in the older GM cars, there was that insulation lined cardboard box that suspended from the rear deck surrounding the back of the 6x9's? When you took them off the bass disappeared. Well, same concept applies here. There are no surrounds on the rears, so basically they are operating in a "free-air" setup... not very good for bass. So here's what you do. Get a couple of empty shoe boxes, or whatever box you can find that is around that size or a little smaller, and some poly-fill from the craft store (a bag will cost you about $3 bucks). Rig up a couple of enclosures and duct tape them to the rear deck around the speakers. Try to seal off as much air as possible with duct tape. NOW listen to the stereo and see if that helps a little.

Other than that, like I said, unless you are willing to add a small amp and a sub, you're not gonna get much more bass than you already have.... sad but true.

Good luck.

silvstrk

Thanks for the insight!<p>2001 1.8T
silstrk

audiquai

There is really nothing you can do that will make a significant difference. Bass requires power and like Siberian said, without adding an amp you have to use the head's power for the front speakers. Believe me, that head unit doesn't have enough power to drive anything but the tiny paper cones on your 4's. Hell, it doesn't even drive those very well. My advice is to invest in an amp and a decent set of 5.25 separates with the MB Quart adapters that just about everyone on this forum uses. Shouldn't cost you more than a couple hundred bucks. Hope this helps and good luck!<p>99.5 A4 1.8TQMS APR Stage 1