I have been a dj for 13 years and when I turned up the system for the first time in my new A4, I almost puked. This is the worst factory system I've heard in a while. My girlfriend has an Accord system that smokes it, and even worse my buddy has a Neon stereo that KILLS it. I took the thing back to the dealer thinking there was a problem, but listened to another just like it and actually felt lucky. The problem is either speaker distortion or some kind of door panel rattling in the front. I couldn't tell even when the Audi tech took the door panel off right in front of me (the front right is the worst). Anyway, I want to add an amp and new speakers to the existing head because I dig the red display and it integrates with the control panel. However, I've been warned against that. Also, I figured it would definitely help to at least replace all the speakers. My questions are: Will replacing only the speakers help? Can you add an amp and speakers? What speakers work in the factory holes? Are the factory crossovers built in the speakers or somewhere else? Can anyone help with this situation....and fast. This is killing my ears.

yes u can use the factory head and install an aftermarket amp.... u can also just replace the speakers for a start and get a marked improvement...the factory fronts are 4.5's but most 5.25 fit with a adapter ring. The rears are 6.5's and neither set front of rear are externally crossed over and if they are u shouldnt use that crossover with new speakers (bad idea), ie u need to buy seperates with their own crossover or buy coaxials with a built in.
The rattling noise u hear is the door panel flexing and resonating. When u swap the front speakers spending 20 bucks on some sound deadening material to lay right behind the speaker on the door panel will help immensly.
I have the symphony and as a former car audio competitor for sound quality i dont think it is bad at all compared to my honda's stock system and several others including Lexus. I am however as we speak swapping the factory speakers.
I guess that just proves my point, some folks have to spend a ton to make it sound nice, some folks like the 20 bucks a pair coaxials available at Best Buy. *shrug*
hope that helps


Darren
`00 A4 Image Dynamics speakers
`91 Acura Integra IASCA competitor (retired)

...in order to shift some of the bass away from the puny door speakers. With the midrange and treble turned up a little more than usual (at least for me) then the front still keeps the soundstage (because the rear speakers don't really reproduce those frequencies).

In my '96 A4 (Delta head unit), I replaced only the front speakers with a set of Cantons (4" woofer even) and the improvement was remarkable (o.k., I also added a 12" sub too). I'll do a full amp and speaker replacement in a few months in the S4.

I adjusted my hidden equalizer. It sounds much better now. Follow the link below.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec56.shtml">http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec56.shtml</a</li></ul>