Center channel speaker

[belybutn]

Looking for a front center speaker for a 2012 A7.

Bose system

Thank you!

[Botbasher]

Looking for a front center speaker for a 2012 A7.

Bose system

Thank you!

Unless you need OEM, any good quality 3.5" speaker will not only fit but vastly improve your center stage!

I used an Alpine 3.5" 2-way (SXE 0825 currently $46/pair). You get 2 so I did my A5 and S6. I mounted it with "elephant snot" (grey putty) to seal any voids.

The whole thing took about 30 minutes per car to swap over.

Cheers,

KS

[belybutn]

This is what I was thinking, but I stopped by a local car audio store, and he said that buying an aftermarket would never sound as good as the Bose factory.
While I appreciate his thoughts for saving money, I have a hard time believing that right?

[Audisthesia]

I would never go back to that store. Clearly ignorant. The stock speaker is a dirt cheap paper cone. Literally anything that will fit is better.

[Botbasher]

This is what I was thinking, but I stopped by a local car audio store, and he said that buying an aftermarket would never sound as good as the Bose factory.
While I appreciate his thoughts for saving money, I have a hard time believing that right?

Agree with Audisthesia fully on this one...

I owned 2 car audio stores and I've yet to see a typical factory system that can keep up with a solidly planned aftermarket system. Paper cones, weak foam surrounds, tiny magnets and anemic amps abound in factory systems. Remember, they are geared to balance between acceptable sounds and greatest profit!!

Do audiophile grade factory systems exist? Yes, but those cars generally start well north of 6 digits and are bespoke. Think Rolls, Bentley, Maybach. When I worked at Alpine HQ we did a lot of R&D for the aforementioned manufacturers (and others gone too soon like Vector) to design systems that would fill their customers whims if they choose Alpine! Other suppliers were names like Dynaudio, Polk, MB Quart, JBL, Altec Lansing to name a few. Ah, how I miss the heady days of High End car audio! The cars that go BOOM!!!

Cheers,

KS

[sepheroth86]

I have a spare RetroSound speaker from when my center took a crap.

Since speakers are sold in pairs and I only needed one. I'd do $60 shipped on it.

Same speaker Audisthesia used in his when he had the same problem.

[sepheroth86]

Agree with Audisthesia fully on this one...

I owned 2 car audio stores and I've yet to see a typical factory system that can keep up with a solidly planned aftermarket system. Paper cones, weak foam surrounds, tiny magnets and anemic amps abound in factory systems. Remember, they are geared to balance between acceptable sounds and greatest profit!!

Do audiophile grade factory systems exist? Yes, but those cars generally start well north of 6 digits and are bespoke. Think Rolls, Bentley, Maybach. When I worked at Alpine HQ we did a lot of R&D for the aforementioned manufacturers (and others gone too soon like Vector) to design systems that would fill their customers whims if they choose Alpine! Other suppliers were names like Dynaudio, Polk, MB Quart, JBL, Altec Lansing to name a few. Ah, how I miss the heady days of High End car audio! The cars that go BOOM!!!

Cheers,

KS

I get in discussions with some of these Audi guys about how the factory Bose doesn't get loud. They don't agree and state I have hearing loss.

I'm just used to real car audio that can throw down at 150+db.

[Botbasher]

I'm just used to real car audio that can throw down at 150+db.

LOL... yeah, I know how "quiet" most OEM systems are!

In my competition days, I had a Mitsubishi Mirage (an A3 sized car) with a 50w of Orion Red paired with 2 12" Cerwin Vega DVC's running at 1/4 Ohm (1600w on paper!) in a self designed 7th Order Enclosure. Best run was just a hair over 156dB. 100w Black ran the other 12 speakers. Miss that car... perfect imaging and stage! It was king of the hill for a good long time.

Buddy had 200w of Orion Red power in a Nissan Pulsar with 5 15" CVs. Would move so much air it'd bend the T-Top pins and crack the windshield! Best was 164dB! The NASCA and IASCA governing bodies actually had to change the rules to topple Orions dominance!

I still have my 50w Red and 2 12's... Toying with the idea of upgrading the 6! Such a quiet car it wouldn't take too much to sound like a Who concert!!

Hmmmmm... Got me thinking again!! Nope... Nope... Other projects first!!!

Cheers,

KS

[belybutn]

Well now I’m gonna go down the rabbit hole of replacing more than just the dash.
The car audio guy stated I would be over 5k to “upgrade” from factory for a better sound.
I know this is classifieds section, but does it make sense to do sections e.g all speakers from the front doors up, then do rears later? Been a little while since I’ve looked into car audio

[caelric]

i will say the B&O system in the C7.5 S6 is probably the best stock system i have ever heard, and really only needs a bit better of a sub. and that's after i have installed about 8 different aftermarket systems in various cars. not a pro, just a talented amateur.

as for Bose, just remember this: "No highs, no lows, must be Bose"

[Botbasher]

Well now I’m gonna go down the rabbit hole of replacing more than just the dash.
The car audio guy stated I would be over 5k to “upgrade” from factory for a better sound.
I know this is classifieds section, but does it make sense to do sections e.g all speakers from the front doors up, then do rears later? Been a little while since I’ve looked into car audio

That's up to your budget. I've done many customer cars in stages and many all in one. That's all a function of your wallet!!

As for $5k to upgrade being a lot... again... depends on your budget. Is that labor included or just parts? Depending on the components used, $5k could be a steal of a deal. When new, my Dynes, 6.5 mid bass, were almost $500 each! That's $2k for all 4 doors. The mids and tweets didn't get cheaper! So $5k for components only is easy!

$5k for all 4 doors, pillars, dash and subs installed? That's not out of line, but a bit on the high end unless they're making custom mounts for the doors and sub.

Sounds like you are getting charged the "S" tax in my opinion, but without more specifics about what they're installing, it's not a high tax!

Cheers,

KS