Speaker upgrade suggestions

[cappuccino]

The sub-par audio quality coming from the standard speaker + RCD510 from the VW Polo 2013 is starting to annoy me.

Can anyone suggest:
1. Do I need to upgrade the RCD510 or just speakers?
2. What speaker upgrade to get? Not looking to wake up the neighbourhood with a hooligan bass, just want a clearer, more crisp, higher quality sound.
3. Places in Sydney that can do the upgrade. Not looking to install myself.

[CID84G]

+1 I'll be interested to know as well, especially re getting new speakers.
Is the stock speakers 1 way only or multiple drivers?
Is it worth just upgrading the speakers but not the RCD510?

[kamold]

Best bang for your buck is to put in an amp (and sub if you like) and drive the stock speakers.

The RCD510 (and RNS510 for that matter) has only a 4x25w amp.

You are limited only by budget as to how good a quality amp you want to get, but even a modest amp will produce much better sound.
Then if you find the stock speakers lack clarity etc you can replace them with some good quality Focals or something.
But replacing the stock speakers and driving them with just the head unit will give negligible improvement IMHO.

[nomadx38]

Also taking out the stock speakers is quite a task. They are pop riveted in and are quite a task
to get out. Just getting the door panels off is hard and you run the risk of more rattles or broken parts.

Sub is the best option, quick, easy and effective.

[kamold]

Also taking out the stock speakers is quite a task. They are pop riveted in and are quite a task
to get out. Just getting the door panels off is hard and you run the risk of more rattles or broken parts.

Sub is the best option, quick, easy and effective.

Another good point. You have to drill them out and some speakers require adapter rings to screw back into the door.

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[brimway]

Speakers are the weak link.

[readerr0r]

I think the speakers in my Polo GTI were fantastic, I spent many a coin trying to get good sound from my old 2002 325i with H/K sound and the Polos speakers, RNS510, a nice 5 channel amp and a quality brand sub trounced it. Very balanced, good sound stage and showed up lots of hidden detail.

There's a chance the South African/non-GTI Polos come with different speakers.

If you have a RCD310 upgrade that first, its terrible.

[kamold]

Speakers are the weak link.

I would disagree. What is the point of driving good speakers from the internal amp?

[cappuccino]

Best bang for your buck is to put in an amp (and sub if you like) and drive the stock speakers.

The RCD510 (and RNS510 for that matter) has only a 4x25w amp.

You are limited only by budget as to how good a quality amp you want to get, but even a modest amp will produce much better sound.
Then if you find the stock speakers lack clarity etc you can replace them with some good quality Focals or something.
But replacing the stock speakers and driving them with just the head unit will give negligible improvement IMHO.

Interesting. Wouldn't increasing the amp blow the standard speakers? What amp would you recommend?

[AndrewBurns]

Sound system in my old 07 camry was much better than the polo, they should have spent a bit more time on it imo.

[kamold]

Obviously don't overdo it with the amp. But a moderate amp, particularly with a sib handled by the bass will leave no more real stress on the speakers than pushing the stock head unit.

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[symes1515]

Check out Dynaudio. They're pricey but they are the speak of choice for VW upgraded sound systems.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Hi guys

When it comes to upgrading the audio system in our cars the first thing I would think of doing is swopping out any standard head unit the car may come with. Simply due to the fact that you will have better functionality along with a better sounding, cleaner output. If you want to keep it OEM, by all means do so, however you will need to purchase a wiring harness so that you don't have to cut the main loom to hook up a hi-low convertor you will need if you go about installing an amplifier.

Before you begin choosinig parts, I will recommend you decide how you want your car to sound. This will depend on the type of music you like and at what volumes you enjoy them. An amplifier is a great first step. I have one powering the stock speakers in my Polo, and it sounds absolutely awesome (considering they're still stock, and have paper cones).