Worth upgrading coax speakers in Tesla Model S?

[AzHP]

Hey all, I've had a Tesla Model S for a year and a half now with the stock sound system (4 decent full range speakers in the doors, 2 tweeters in the front pillars and a mid range speaker in the mid dash) and I decided to take the plunge to upgrade the sound. First step is getting a sub, I'm having a local shop in Burlingame put in a JL Audio MicroSub+ 10" ported amplified subwoofer into a hidden compartment in the back (where 3rd row seats would install but I don't have kids). That's something I'm willing to pay for, since I don't wanna mess with tearing down most of my car myself (no experience working on cars aside from changing oil).

Now, since it's a Tesla I know I'm getting gouged by people when I ask how much to do a full system, I've gotten estimates between $2900-3500 out the door for sub, amp and component speakers. I got my girlfriend's Focus hatchback done for half that and I'm pretty sure I overpaid there too. Anyway, the point is, I don't wanna pay out the *** for a sound system in my car (I already paid out the *** on the car itself) so I want an upgrade that's manageable to do on my own, but only if it's going to give me a noticeable improvement.

So first question is, is it worth it to swap out stock speakers (which are decent to good) for higher quality coax speakers without swapping the amp? Based on the info I've gotten from reading around (link below), the speaker size and housing from Tesla is custom, and it runs 2 ohms, which probably limits my choices.

Second question is, if it's worth it, can anyone help me pick parts that will work with my setup? Aside from the speakers and wire, I'd need help figuring out what I need to mount it where the original speakers went, and it also looks like there's a special 2 pin wire plug/harness that I'd want to plug in to. I don't want to cut the wires in case I need to go back to factory. There's a place called Light Harmonic doing custom speakers that are built specifically for the Tesla with the connectors and everything, but they were supposed to ship this month but I think they're pushing it back to next month, and aside from that they're running $1k for 4 speakers. That being said, the factory speakers aren't half bad, so if that's the kind of price I'd have to look at paying for an upgrade to the sound quality, then that might not be a bad choice later on down the road.

Thanks for reading! The guide where I found speaker specs and installation guide is linked below:

https://teslatap.com/modifications/upgrading-rear-door-speakers/

Click to read more...

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I'd keep the stock speakers if I were you. just add the sub and lower the bass on the head unit so your door speakers dont overwork on the bass and you should get better clarity already.

Main reason why you should keep it because the stock head unit has a stock EQ curve to work amd match well with their speaker choice. If you put in some random aftermarket, its gonna sound like garbage. unless you do a digital sound processor or replace the head unit completely which i'm sure you dont want to do that to that nice touch screen. To actually get better sound than stock, it REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK and really going balls to the wall with the install. Just a simple speaker swap will make you lose a lot of overall SQ most of the times without addressing any other issues relating to car acoustics, sound treatment, sound processing, tuning, more amplifier power ETC.. pain in the @ss. Best to leave it alone IMO. I've heard the tesla system. It takes a lot of money just to get a baseline system to beat that SQ wise.

 

[AzHP]

Thanks for the quick reply. I got this response from a shop in Hayward that I asked about just doing speakers and he suggested this:

We recently finished a model X using the existing speakers but Amplifying them and adding a single subwoofer in the rear and it made a drastic difference. Sounded phenomenal.

My recommendation for you would be using a JL Audio XD 400/4 Amp and running JL audio speakers c2-650x for the front and rear. Since you have the sub already with the box leaving that intact if you're happy with it....

Xd amp 399

C2 spkrs 150 x 2 = 300

JL Wing/JL converters 199

Labor 6 hrs @75 = 450

Total $1350 plus tax

So you're saying without a processor, it's not really worth the effort and expense to do this? That's good to know. It's what the shop I'm getting the sub from said too, and hey if they're not trying to upsell me, I feel like I can trust their opinion.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for the quick reply. I got this response from a shop in Hayward that I asked about just doing speakers and he suggested this:

So you're saying without a processor, it's not really worth the effort and expense to do this? That's good to know. It's what the shop I'm getting the sub from said too, and hey if they're not trying to upsell me, I feel like I can trust their opinion.

if all you are doing is just adding more power and keeping the stock head unit, then that would work just fine and dandy. Stock speakers can perform well when fed more power. Just an amp and sub upgrade is probably the most you'd need.

processor is only if you plan on upgrading different speakers.

 

[AzHP]

if all you are doing is just adding more power and keeping the stock head unit, then that would work just fine and dandy. Stock speakers can perform well when fed more power. Just an amp and sub upgrade is probably the most you'd need.
processor is only if you plan on upgrading different speakers.

Thanks. Sounds like the guy in Hayward just wants to push higher end speakers on me to fit the budget I gave him without the processor or EQ. I'll ask the shop that's doing my sub what they think of replacing the stock amp.

 

[JohnKuthe]

Hey all, I've had a Tesla Model S for a year and a half now with the stock sound system (4 decent full range speakers in the doors, 2 tweeters in the front pillars and a mid range speaker in the mid dash) and I decided to take the plunge to upgrade the sound. First step is getting a sub, I'm having a local shop in Burlingame put in a JL Audio MicroSub+ 10" ported amplified subwoofer into a hidden compartment in the back (where 3rd row seats would install but I don't have kids). That's something I'm willing to pay for, since I don't wanna mess with tearing down most of my car myself (no experience working on cars aside from changing oil).
Now, since it's a Tesla I know I'm getting gouged by people when I ask how much to do a full system, I've gotten estimates between $2900-3500 out the door for sub, amp and component speakers. I got my girlfriend's Focus hatchback done for half that and I'm pretty sure I overpaid there too. Anyway, the point is, I don't wanna pay out the *** for a sound system in my car (I already paid out the *** on the car itself) so I want an upgrade that's manageable to do on my own, but only if it's going to give me a noticeable improvement.

So first question is, is it worth it to swap out stock speakers (which are decent to good) for higher quality coax speakers without swapping the amp? Based on the info I've gotten from reading around (link below), the speaker size and housing from Tesla is custom, and it runs 2 ohms, which probably limits my choices.

Second question is, if it's worth it, can anyone help me pick parts that will work with my setup? Aside from the speakers and wire, I'd need help figuring out what I need to mount it where the original speakers went, and it also looks like there's a special 2 pin wire plug/harness that I'd want to plug in to. I don't want to cut the wires in case I need to go back to factory. There's a place called Light Harmonic doing custom speakers that are built specifically for the Tesla with the connectors and everything, but they were supposed to ship this month but I think they're pushing it back to next month, and aside from that they're running $1k for 4 speakers. That being said, the factory speakers aren't half bad, so if that's the kind of price I'd have to look at paying for an upgrade to the sound quality, then that might not be a bad choice later on down the road.

Thanks for reading! The guide where I found speaker specs and installation guide is linked below:

https://teslatap.com/modifications/upgrading-rear-door-speakers/

I've always found in my experience that upgrading to really good speakers is never a mistake! The better the better too! I even bought some $640 a pair set of PHD 5.25" comps and they were WORTH IT!

John Kuthe...

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I've always found in my experience that upgrading to really good speakers is never a mistake! The better the better too! I even bought some $640 a pair set of PHD 5.25" comps and they were WORTH IT!
John Kuthe...

You've always found huh. I'm surprised you can find your ****

 

[ilikeradios 10+ year member]

I've always found in my experience that upgrading to really good speakers is never a mistake! The better the better too! I even bought some $640 a pair set of PHD 5.25" comps and they were WORTH IT!
John Kuthe...

OP this guy ^^^^ is the village idiot, do not listen to ANYTHING he says.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Yeah pretty much the concensus around here ^^^^

 

[JohnKuthe]

Yeah pretty much the concensus around here ^^^^

So y'all are telling everyone better speakers are NOT a good upgrade to do?

Too much f ucking EGO around here!! :-(

John Kuthe...

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

So y'all are telling everyone better speakers are NOT a good upgrade to do?
Too much f ucking EGO around here!! :-(

John Kuthe...

you obviously havent learned anything from your system mess ups nor your electrical engineering degree. Thats a personal EGO issue if i ever seen one.

 

[Flipper245]

So y'all are telling everyone better speakers are NOT a good upgrade to do?
Too much f ucking EGO around here!! :-(

John Kuthe...

If you had taken the time to figure out wtf was going on, you would know that's not the best solution for this situation. It's clearly explained why! You're just to dense to get it.

 

[JohnKuthe]

If you had taken the time to figure out wtf was going on, you would know that's not the best solution for this situation. It's clearly explained why! You're just to dense to get it.

I've learned quite a bit about car audio, little to no thanks to the Denizens of Car Audio who keep being egomaniacal pr icks to me here.

I'm getting VERY close to full retirement and I don't necessarily WANT to learn how to do everything myself. I have the money not to have to now, finally!

John Kuthe...

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I've learned quite a bit about car audio, little to no thanks to the Denizens of Car Audio who keep being egomaniacal pr icks to me here.
I'm getting VERY close to full retirement and I don't necessarily WANT to learn how to do everything myself. I have the money not to have to now, finally!

John Kuthe...

then keep your mouth shut and wallet open. You have no place in giving horrible audio advice.

 

[staan]

hopefully john will hear a well planned out system in someone's car one day, then he will "learn" that with a proper install a system can sound better at 1/3 the price he paid for his shitshow.