mk7.5 GTI - Sound system options

[minke]

Hi,

This probably should be in the audiophile section of the website but I'm not looking for turning the car's audio system into a setup that ends up costing $1000s and $1000s and I'm hoping some more learnered members of the forum could weight in with some reasonable options

The car has the standard sound system from factory (Discover Media). When the teenager plugs in and plays her music the sound coming out can be grating and unpleasant like fingernails on a chalkboard, if there's any members remember those.

I'm not sure if a straight factory fit speaker upgrade would be sufficient to offer a significant upgrade on the sound quality or of the headunit isn't capable and it would require a change of that and then an amp at which point I think I'd just leave it the way it is.

I'm not sure if it would economical to upgrade the entire system to the factory Discover Pro.

Cheers

Note: I didn't go down the Discover Pro from new as it also came with a sunroof in 2020. Something I'm very much anti of.

[ope126]

Focal Inside would be a very good option; VW Golf VII | compact (2012-2020) | Au Auf | Focal Inside

[petemac110]

I can highly recommend the Kicker Key 200.4 amp as a fantastic upgrade, even whilst retaining the factory speakers (I'll be fitting aftermarket speakers soon, although if I hadn't already bought them, I'm not sure that I would have bothered). The extra power, plus the application of equalisation and time alignment via the supplied microphone significantly improves all aspects of the sound, and works wonders on the sound staging and imaging.

[Lucas_R]

I had the Focal IS VW 155 speakers in my Mk7 GTI and they were a great upgrade for the money in my opinion. Depth, clarity and overall sound quality improved noticeably. I bought them from a shop in Germany called extremeaudio and they were about 40% cheaper than buying locally.

The speakers are made specifically for the VW Golf so they plug straight in and fit perfectly. The only little modification was to the tweeters but that was not hard to do.

I also purchased the Impulse 4.320 amplifier and the IBUS20 subwoofer, but never got around to installing those - and the car is now sold - so i will be advertising the amp and sub soon for sale.

[minke]

The IS VW 155 is just the front speakers yea? that how I'm seeing the product. And yea that's a big saving! $499 RRP here. There's one site I saw for $330ish? but I need someone (trustworthy) to install.

Did you add their sound deadening as recommended?

[minke]

Hi Lucas - Do you put IS VW 155 in the front and back?

There's an alternative option of IC V 165 for the rear and I'm struggling to work out the difference (apart from the lack of the tweeter in IC VW 165)

[petemac110]

Hi Lucas - Do you put IS VW 155 in the front and back?

There's an alternative option of IC V 165 for the rear and I'm struggling to work out the difference (apart from the lack of the tweeter in IC VW 165)

The IC VW 165 has a tweeter, but in a coaxial (centre mounted) arrangement, rather than a separate/split arrangement.

[Lucas_R]

The IS VW 155 is just the front speakers yea? that how I'm seeing the product. And yea that's a big saving! $499 RRP here. There's one site I saw for $330ish? but I need someone (trustworthy) to install.

Did you add their sound deadening as recommended?

Hi Lucas - Do you put IS VW 155 in the front and back?

There's an alternative option of IC V 165 for the rear and I'm struggling to work out the difference (apart from the lack of the tweeter in IC VW 165)

If you want to do front and rear speakers then you will need to purchase 2x of the IS VW 155 sets (which will be 4x mid range speakers and 4x tweeters in total). This is what I had in my car.

And yes I installed sound deadening extensively when replacing the speakers (as well as doing the rear hatch, spare wheel area and under the rear seat) but I didn't use the Focal sound deadening - I used this product which I was happy with:
BIG DOG SOUND DEADENING ROLL

[minke]

If you want to do front and rear speakers then you will need to purchase 2x of the IS VW 155 sets (which will be 4x mid range speakers and 4x tweeters in total). This is what I had in my car.

And yes I installed sound deadening extensively when replacing the speakers (as well as doing the rear hatch, spare wheel area and under the rear seat) but I didn't use the Focal sound deadening - I used this product which I was happy with:
BIG DOG SOUND DEADENING ROLL

Thank you. Is the sound deadening really going to be noticed? I've watched the Focal install videos on YT adding the sound deadening to the doors and too me I cannot see how that is going to help the audio (clarity of the sound).. ?

[Lucas_R]

Thank you. Is the sound deadening really going to be noticed? I've watched the Focal install videos on YT adding the sound deadening to the doors and too me I cannot see how that is going to help the audio (clarity of the sound).. ?

I have used sound deadening on a few cars now and it reduces road noise, external noise, vibrations and rattles etc. So it makes your stereo sound better from making your car quieter. That's my experience anyway.

I'll be buying a new car in the next few weeks and will more than likely do sound deadening again as its relatively cheap and I have found it to be quite effective - especially for the price.

[minke]

I've ordered the speakers from that site you mentioned. Thanks for that. Much cheaper. Did you get the VAT back ? some countries offer it back if the product(s) leave the country. The extremeaudio website did say -ex VAT which I thought said less VAT but when it pushed through to Paypal it was inc VAT. Oh well.. only another $50... $1000 for 2X ISVW155 here, $530 landed. Can't complain. I did reach out to a local installer (of Focal) that tried to talk me up to all the bits and deadening for $3,500. I don't like my wife THAT much.

Gotta find someone to install them now.

I've never thought about sound deadening anything. My A4 NVH is very good and having B&O factory really made me noticed the sound out of my GTI. Hatches are always a little more noisy with the hatch area acting like a sound box... never thought of throwing sound deadening stuff at it.

I note that you mention Big Dog Roll. There's a real rabbit hole on sound deadening. And huge swings in prices.

as always - thanks for the counsel .

[minke]

Well. I'm 75% complete. Only the front two tweeters to go. This will be next weekends project. Sound deadening added to the doors during install of the speakers.

Worth ever cent of the $520 (thanks Lucus where to but the speakers) and $280 of Focal BAM XXXL sound deading.

So I have around a meter left I think (not unrolled).

Where would you put it as a priority? I'm thinking boot (in around wheel well) or would you distribute it between the boot and under the rear seat.? (under the carpet out of the question... cannot be arsed stripping the car THAT much.. )