Talk Tesla – Audio Upgrades For The EV Generation

A revolution is happening on UK roads. Electric Vehicle (EV) sales are soaring thanks in part to unpredictable costs of petrol and diesel as well as government-induced panic caused by increasing stories of new vehicles powered by internal combustion engines being banned by 2030. Many still need to be convinced about this date. However, plenty believe it will happen and are pioneering the EV generation adding pressure to the charging infrastructure for whatever reason. 

Regardless of how we predict the future, EVs can be pretty appealing. They are simple to drive and packed with safety and comfort features that draw increasing interest from a previously cynical public.

As a specialist aftermarket car audio company, we were naturally concerned about the threat to our business. However, we needn’t worry. Standard car audio in EVs is still inferior and nowhere near hi-fi quality. But what about the extra current draw? Wouldn’t the additional drain on the battery reduce the range? We are pleased to report that this is no obstacle to good hi-fi in a car either.

With this in mind, high-end audio distributor FOUR Car Audio invested in several electric vehicles to see what else might threaten its business. One of these, a Tesla Model 3, is actively used as a benchmark demonstrator for EV vehicle owners.

The Tesla drew a lot of attention at the Autosport International show at Birmingham’s NEC. Most who already had a Tesla proudly predicted their vehicle’s audio systems could not be bettered. It was amusing to watch their reactions when faced with this modest upgrade. The car we have featured the basic audio system. This performed poorly with a lack of dynamics and a narrow sound stage. All essential Mid Bass was absent, and bass was only apparent when the vehicle was stationary.

The standard system features positions for a pair of 8″ woofers, a pair of 4″ mid-range, and a pair of tweeters. The standard positions are suitable for a change, with both mids and highs sitting close together and high up in the vehicle. Furthermore, there was a nice void under the boot floor which in our car now contains a minuscule yet powerful 8-channel amplifier and a 10″ powered subwoofer.

We wanted to feature an affordable upgrade that delivered control, clarity and “space”, so Audison Prima was our range of choice. But first, we had to stop the “pinging” from the massive front doors. For this, we used Skinz 3mm sound deadening and wave diffuser. The result of this is a much more solid door. The new system is not deafeningly loud. However, the sound treatment employed ensures that the speakers’ output ends up in the car rather than in the street, annoying your neighbours. We had crowds of people standing around the car while we were demonstrating, but they could not tell what we were playing!

The front speakers were upgraded to Audison Prima AP 8 woofers, AP 4 mid-range and AP 1 tweeters. An 8-channel AP F 8.9bit drives the front end. This has been configured so that the woofers receive bridged channels giving them more power, which is generally necessary when dealing with bass frequencies.

The amplifier features a built-in Digital Signal Processor (DSP), which is critical in the final result in this vehicle. It has too many features to explain in a short piece such as this (link to DSP’s here). In the hands of an expert, a DSP can be used to shape the sound and place it wherever it needs to be placed! In this vehicle, the astonishingly wide sound stage can be enjoyed in both driver and passenger seats. The image also sits beautifully at ear height, with no sense of the true position of each speaker being evident.

Sub bass is often contentious when talking to car drivers about their audio. Anyone who listens to music at a good quality level will absolutely get why it is required, especially in a car where road rumble will often cancel out low sounds. The subwoofer we have used here is the Audison Prima APBX 10AS. This features a 10″ sub and a powerful amplifier built into an unfeasibly compact box. As the built-in amplifier is what is called a D-Class amplifier, it draws surprisingly little current. The quality of the bass is sublime, however, and the way it integrates with the speakers in the front is magical, considering that it is hidden away on the boot.

People regularly spend much more on an audio upgrade for their cars than we invested in this one. However, everyone who has listened to this system has been mightily impressed. 

If you love music on the move, it is well worth visiting your local Audison installer and finding out what they can do for your car or follow this link ( https://www.fourmasterscaraudio.co.uk/your-car/audio-upgrade/other-brands/other-model ) and leave a few details for a free, no-obligation quote.