VW speaker upgrade kits

[Richn83]

Hi all, I can already suspect the response I will get to this but going to ask for comments anyway! 

Just been looking at the VW speaker upgrade kits as there are some going on the bay for relatively little money, these consist of better quality beefier speakers designed to replace the existing 3 way front door speakers and also the frequency filter unit, all are fully OE design even down to the cowlings plug connectors and unfortunately rivet attachment 

So my question has anyone every installed them, or had a listen to someone who has?  and secondly interested in how easy people have found it to drill out the old rivets on the bass speakers?

And in case people dont know this is what im talking about:


30/50W speakers tweeter 4ohm, mid and bass 8ohm, even just looking at the picture the cone material looks alot better than the standard rough card.  And I can get hold of them for £80 brand new including the wiring kit would normally be £400 directly from VW although one of the tweeter has minor damage but I might leave them alone.

[alexperkins]

Theres some sets on eBay atm for £89 brand new with no damage

Seems like a reasonable drop in upgrade tbf

Drilling out the old rivets is dead easy 

[Richn83]

The £89 ones need the additional wiring kit which seems to include the uprated (I guess it is) cross-over unit since I cant find what the fitting kit fully entails apart from VW charge £130 for it Im a bit dubious about the good condition ones.  The tweeters themselves look to be plastic welded into the housing as well so Im a little dubious about removing them!

Have you upgraded the speakers in your car Alex?

Also will a hand drill and hand riveter be man enough for the job?  I dont have any power tools (rented accommodation) and I am loathe to spend too much money just to do the speaker install.

[alexperkins]

Ill have to look on ETKA...itll be the the extras section 

They just pop out its quite easy

Im looking to do so in the next few months when I have some spare cash. Im perfectly happy with the output of the RNS510, would just like a better dynamic range now i have added a small active sub in the boot 

Aye it would be. A good sharp drill bit and firm pressure. A hand riveter is more than adequate - just use good quality rivets.

[Richn83]

Cheers Alex,


That little bag in the center seems to have rivets in it so hopefully the quality of my rivets wont come into question  

Excellent well I reckon im set then, I have the left hand door card lose at the moment anyway after replacing the door controller and mirror housing so that half a job saved as I didn't re attach the poppers until I was sure all was ok.  And the drivers side will be coming off once I get hold of the drivers side folding mirror, will probably mean I get an old vs new comparison for a little while!

This is the damage to the tweeter, does anyone know if this will affect sound reproduction in a tweeter? not sure if it is an active component or a cover?

[calculon]

Hm interesting. I'm experiencing quite a lot of crackling through the rear speakers when I play something loud. Do you have a part number for this kit (or what is it called exactly)?

[alexperkins]

http://www.shop4volkswagen.co.uk/product/Speaker_Upgrade_Kits_1K0051733 wiring counterpart for under 30 - thats a bit better than 150 :)

[Richn83]

Hm interesting. I'm experiencing quite a lot of crackling through the rear speakers when I play something loud. Do you have a part number for this kit (or what is it called exactly)?

These ones are for the front door on 10 speaker cars, sets on ebay for £89 plus you need the wiring kit that Alex has linked
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-GENUINE-VW-GOLF-MK5-FRONT-SPEAKER-UPGRADE-KIT-/400164269136?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5d2ba62c50#ht_2301wt_826

There is a rear door specific version which are also up for sale on the same companies site that Alex linked.  I dont have any plan to chnage the rears hoping doing the front will provide enough, and only as its relatively in-expensive and genuine.

this is the link to the VW site
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/accessories/technology/1K0051606B/rear-speaker-upgrade-kit-5-door-?mark=golf-2004-2009&offset=20&previousCategory=technology

[Richn83]

http://www.shop4volkswagen.co.uk/product/Speaker_Upgrade_Kits_1K0051733 wiring counterpart for under 30 - thats a bit better than 150 :)

Cheers Alex that is alot better than the VW price!  Have ordered the speakers and a hand drill some bosch metal drill bits and a hand riveter will see how I get on with that little lot!

Would be interested in people opinion of the damage to the tweeter (I went for the cheap kit  as I'm moving house next month and shouldnt be doing this at all!) and especially interested if anyone has done this (unless there crap as Ive now splashed the cash) 

[Betty02]

How do I tell what speakers I have? My sound quality is pretty awesome,  and no crackles or nothing with load music and good base? Don't want to buy an upgrade and already have it lol!

[Creatz]

This is the damage to the tweeter, does anyone know if this will affect sound reproduction in a tweeter? not sure if it is an active component or a cover?

use a hoover nozzle to sort that out  

[Richn83]

This is the damage to the tweeter, does anyone know if this will affect sound reproduction in a tweeter? not sure if it is an active component or a cover?

use a hoover nozzle to sort that out  

Interesting Creatz!  Will give that a try 

[Creatz]

it works my kid did it to one of mine once, hoover popped it back out.

your wlecome 

[Richn83]

How do I tell what speakers I have? My sound quality is pretty awesome,  and no crackles or nothing with load music and good base? Don't want to buy an upgrade and already have it lol!

It depends on a couple of different things Betty, firstly age of the car will determine if you have 10 speaker or 8 speakers MY06 and after was 8 speaker, you should be able to tell by placing your hands over the speaker grills to tell if anything is pushing air behind it.

Beyond that there was also a sound pack option which provided an amp under the passenger seat and uprated speakers so have a look to see if you have anything under the passenger seat and I think someone mentioned that the tweeter cover the sail shaped plastic on the inside of the wing mirror should also say dynaudio if you have the sounds pack.

[alexperkins]

It also depends on whether you have an MFD2 or RNS system as factory fit as these came with 10 speaker options in any case.

Will be interested to read what you have to say about the uprated speakers once fitted Rich. That'll probably decide it for me