B8.5 S4 non-B&O audio upgrade (lots of pics)

[phroenips]

I had a '13 A4...decided I wanted more POWERRR! Traded up to an S4 :)

Found one with all the options we wanted, pretty much none we didn't, but it was missing the Bang & Olufsen system which I had in the A4 and was mostly happy with (could use more bass).

After getting the S4 and listening to it, I concluded it was possibly the worst OEM sound system I've ever heard out of a modern vehicle. And I drive a lot of rental cars when I travel for work. Something had to be done.

I took it to my local car audio shop and put them to work, and they were kind enough to take pictures of the process. I've very pleased with the results.


Audison Bit One DSP
Hertz Mille 6.5" woofers
Hertz Mille Tweeters
Hertz Energy 10" subwoofer
Hertz HDP5 (5 channel amp)
Custom subwoofer enclosure


Installing the amp
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/12021551314_2fe6e9d931_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021551314/)

Spectrum Analyzer - apparently my head unit starts clipping the signal at volume level 28...so they told me don't go above that :)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/12022040576_9d04943dcf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12022040576/)

On to the doors
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/12022044726_c6e32f58b6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12022044726/)

New vs old, including custom mounting bracket
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/12021213015_3610589ec0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021213015/)

P.S. magnets on the OEM speakers are hilariously small
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/12021214695_2a24b3e1d5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021214695/)

In the door
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/12021504523_4ee5812490_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021504523/)

They even retained the factory plugs in case I ever want to revert to stock
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/12021571044_8b1f934caa_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021571044/)

And now the custom sub enclosure. I've done fiberglass work before myself...I was happy to pay someone else this time!
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/12021576944_a9968fe027_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021576944/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/12021593714_d3ab11c928_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021593714/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/12021596494_804b072005_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021596494/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/12021249275_f76ae51949_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021249275/)

Routed edges
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2842/12022094176_4237d736e3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12022094176/)

Upholstered, and sub installed
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/12021262585_d6e7c0ddf1_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021262585/)

Finished and installed. And it can be pulled out in case I need to access the fuse box behind there, or the emergency fuel cover release (attached simply with velcro...a lot of velcro)
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3702/12021552753_41711b6909_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021552753/)

Finished amp and bit one installation. Hidden, yet easily accessible.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/12021584604_0569efb2cb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021584604/)

The Bit One controller needs a place to be mounted too
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/12021269665_b9fe528f66_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtberscott/12021269665/)

[dcc236]

Nice equipment list.
Always a pleasure to see a professional install like yours.

[cspcrx]

nicely done! Is the bit one control retractable? Meaning do you have to keep the cover for the ashray and lighter open all the time now?

[phroenips]

nicely done! Is the bit one control retractable? Meaning do you have to keep the cover for the ashray and lighter open all the time now?

Unfortunately, not retractable. They did first try to get it recessed in there so the ash tray cover could be closed and hide it. It was just barely too big/wide to fit though. This was the compromise, and it's actually affixed to the removable ash tray part with enough slack in the wire to be able to take it out and access the emergency shift release. The display was also fairly bright at night, even at the dimmest setting, so I had them put a small piece of window tint over it.

[HotRod]

Nice install. I have almost the same components. Do you have speakers in the rear? I did install my DRC in the ash tray. How does the Mille sound compared to the Hi Energy?

[phroenips]

Nice install. I have almost the same components. Do you have speakers in the rear? I did install my DRC in the ash tray. How does the Mille sound compared to the Hi Energy?

Thanks. Didn't touch the rear, still has the OEM speakers in there, but I'm not using them. I have it all faded to the front, but could add in some rear fill if I wanted to (simply by using the fader controls in the OEM interface).

Do you have any pics of your DRC installed?

[HotRod]

Thanks. Didn't touch the rear, still has the OEM speakers in there, but I'm not using them. I have it all faded to the front, but could add in some rear fill if I wanted to (simply by using the fader controls in the OEM interface).

Do you have any pics of your DRC installed?

Yes, check out the post "2014 S5 system upgrade" in this forum. I have pics showing the install I had done in my car. The interior in our cars are alike, so you can see how it looks.

[phroenips]

How does the Mille sound compared to the Hi Energy?

Forgot to answer this part of the question. I found the Mille to be brighter, cleaner and more capable at higher volumes. Even without a sub in the mix, they provided a really good low end without seeming like it was trying too hard, or out of its element. I was originally only auditioning the energy and high energy, but then that bastard of a sales guy flipped over to the Mille! :P Since I was also doing the bit one, he cut me a deal on the woofers and tweeters a la carte (without the bundled crossover).

He also turned on some Audison Thesis, but those were WAAAY out of the budget! Sounded nice though.

[HotRod]

Now you got me thinking about the Mille's! I've got good low end but I wouldn't mind getting better clarity or power handling.

[2000b5]

Sorry to bring this one back to life, but do you know where they tapped in for source signals? I have scoured and can only find wiring diagrams for the b&o system, I can't seem to find anything for the non b&o audio.

[phroenips]

Since the non-B&O is all analog, I believe they just tapped off of the individual channels into the factory amp (or maybe out of the factory amp? In which case, I would think that would work even for B&O), and did high level inputs into the Bit One, where they then cleaned up and "re-tuned" the EQ.

Unfortunately, this particular car met it's untimely demise in a collision, otherwise I'd go out and look. I did take all the gear and put it into the RS 5 that replaced it though ;)

[dawoodessop]

Hi #Phroenips.

Finally got my license to post (So no more lost PM's) ;).

I know that you don't have the car anymore and have read your last post. From the pics it looks like the installers removed the factory amp?

[phroenips]

I don't think they did, but I can't quite remember how they did it. I know after it was wrecked, I went in and took out the audio gear and put back the OEM speakers, and they worked just by plugging them in, even after I took out my amp/bit one.

[dawoodessop]

Haha. Good man save the dsp and amp. Did you end up installing them in the RS

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