• Formentor members, we are testing a new feature requiring selection of a model year when posting - more info here

Beats Audio Retrofit

Jul 25, 2022
9
0
I'm positive it will be worth the small price they're charging for the option. If nothing else, just for the additional power available to the system

The rear doors are now finished. We've taken the tweeters from the old A pillar trims, replaced the rear door wiring looms for the factory beats looms & sound deadened the doors. We had to repin the replacement loom due to the choice of tweeter & use a different plug.

We decided to use the old tweeters in the rear as the alternative was new door cards at around £600 just for the sake of two 2" speakers as you can't buy them seperately. This is the only compromise we're making.

The front doors are also finished. Again, speaker replaced and sound deadened

Jobs for tomorrow are;
Seats out
Glovebox out
Amp in
Wiring loom made up from amp to door connectors, to fusebox, to MIB unit, A pillars and centre dash speaker
Run rear heated seat wiring to fusebox
Hi! I'm Leon Mk4 owner and I think how to upgrade my standard 7 speakers system with basic Media System. First I want to add rear doors tweeters from Leon Mk 3. I see you instaled in Formentor front tweeters in rear doors and it works! Would you like to help and say what is the diameter of this speaker and what kind of plug you used instad of standard 1J0 971 972? You think that I need to replace rear doors orginal mid-woofers by woofers? Thanks in advance.
 
Hi! I'm Leon Mk4 owner and I think how to upgrade my standard 7 speakers system with basic Media System. First I want to add rear doors tweeters from Leon Mk 3. I see you instaled in Formentor front tweeters in rear doors and it works! Would you like to help and say what is the diameter of this speaker and what kind of plug you used instad of standard 1J0 971 972? You think that I need to replace rear doors orginal mid-woofers by woofers? Thanks in advance.
Sorry I'm not sure what size they are. Wiring wise, we replaced the rear door wiring harnesses and all of the speakers in the car (aswell as making the rest of the loom by hand). However the plug for the tweeter is 4B0 971 832 from memory
 
Last edited:

KoenG

Active Member
Jan 3, 2023
24
12
Sorry for my ignorance, but I'am shocked because of the effort to retrofit or "mimic" a beats audio!? I agree that the std setup is mediocre at best, but isn't it much more simple (and maybe as effective?) to just updrage the speakers, fit in an amplifier of 4x50Wrms@8Ohm and throw in an active subwoofer 150Wrms under the drivers' seat?

I'am not a purist, far from, but i just bought this cupra 300 Mk4 and the disappointing std sound made me think about possible updrades already (after two weeks of ownership). The midrange is almost obsolete, but seems logic since there is no driver for it except at the bottom of the door (!?), and the bass is boomy and immediatley saturated at moderate amplitude levels already!? who has ever given a "go" for such a poor audio set-up I wonder?
 
Sorry for my ignorance, but I'am shocked because of the effort to retrofit or "mimic" a beats audio!? I agree that the std setup is mediocre at best, but isn't it much more simple (and maybe as effective?) to just updrage the speakers, fit in an amplifier of 4x50Wrms@8Ohm and throw in an active subwoofer 150Wrms under the drivers' seat?

I'am not a purist, far from, but i just bought this cupra 300 Mk4 and the disappointing std sound made me think about possible updrades already (after two weeks of ownership). The midrange is almost obsolete, but seems logic since there is no driver for it except at the bottom of the door (!?), and the bass is boomy and immediatley saturated at moderate amplitude levels already!? who has ever given a "go" for such a poor audio set-up I wonder?
Good luck fitting an aftermarket amplifier to a unit that only outputs via ethernet. The quality you're going to get using high level outputs (only 4 channels) isn't good.

With sound deadening the beats system is worth the factory price, however it it's factory state it isn't fantastic. Sound deaden it, and replace the speakers if you feel like it then for the money it's a good system. No, it doesn't compare with high end car audio systems - however it also doesn't cost thousands

We're specialists in OEM retrofits, hence our own cars get OEM retrofits regardless of cost
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: KoenG and Fencer60
Feb 22, 2022
95
43
I have a hybrid formentor 245 and when I ordered it Beats was not available as an accessory unlike now which is also available for hybrids; Why couldn't you before and now yes? Is the kit for hybrids different from the others?
 
I have a hybrid formentor 245 and when I ordered it Beats was not available as an accessory unlike now which is also available for hybrids; Why couldn't you before and now yes? Is the kit for hybrids different from the others?
Specifications vary between manufacturing years, different markets & due to parts availability etc
 

Karbonfaiba

Active Member
Jul 9, 2023
172
111
Hampshire, UK
Thank you for detailing this retrofit with pictures, it answers a serious question I had.

The Formentor stock audio system is a clear step down from the B&O audio system I had in my Ford (which was very akin to the "Beats" setup).

Very unfortunate that the VZ2 was so close to the £40k tax threshold, any option of fitting Beats pushed it over into thousands more in running costs. Sure, it's cheap on the surface but get severely punished in tax, no wonder so many VZ2 have no extras fitted except the paint.

So a retrofit would be the only option for people like me looking to get the audio experience back. Otherwise just wait till 2028 I guess and pickup a used VZ edition or whatever fully equipped VZ3 is available since the additional rate would've ended by then. Long time to wait mind.
 

Leon xLux st etsi

Active Member
Dec 22, 2021
26
4
Scotland
Sorry I'm not sure what size they are. Wiring wise, we replaced the rear door wiring harnesses and all of the speakers in the car (aswell as making the rest of the loom by hand). However the plug for the tweeter is 4B0 971 832 from memory
I have just fitted rear door tweeters,(Beats from golf mk8 and extra crossovers as beats tweeters have no crossovers build in)
there are empty grills for them next to door handle, just covered out with bit of plastic. Sound is much better on the rear just need to figure out how to connect small sub maybe feed it from center channel?🤔 Sound good anyway.
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
2,511
1,371
I have just fitted rear door tweeters,(Beats from golf mk8 and extra crossovers as beats tweeters have no crossovers build in)
there are empty grills for them next to door handle, just covered out with bit of plastic. Sound is much better on the rear just need to figure out how to connect small sub maybe feed it from center channel?🤔 Sound good anyway.
As far as I’m aware, Beats audio hasn’t ever been available on the mk8 or any previous model of Golf (it was Dynaudio on the mk6, mk7 and mk7.5). The upgraded audio option on the mk8 Golf is Harman Kardon, so your tweeters are likely to be HK.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leon xLux st etsi

Leon xLux st etsi

Active Member
Dec 22, 2021
26
4
Scotland
As far as I’m aware, Beats audio hasn’t ever been available on the mk8 or any previous model of Golf (it was Dynaudio on the mk6, mk7 and mk7.5). The upgraded audio option on the mk8 Golf is Harman Kardon, so your tweeters are likely to be HK.
Ah, yes you are right, I thought they are from golf, but just had a look and it says from vw so could be other model🤔. Maybe t cross or something.
Thay had this plastic plate but I have removed it to fit correctly and used bit of hot glue and some sticky foam.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20231229_083846.jpg
    Screenshot_20231229_083846.jpg
    225.4 KB · Views: 106
  • Screenshot_20231229_083752.jpg
    Screenshot_20231229_083752.jpg
    123.6 KB · Views: 110
  • Like
Reactions: SRGTD
I have just fitted rear door tweeters,(Beats from golf mk8 and extra crossovers as beats tweeters have no crossovers build in)
there are empty grills for them next to door handle, just covered out with bit of plastic. Sound is much better on the rear just need to figure out how to connect small sub maybe feed it from center channel?🤔 Sound good anyway.
We reused the old A pillar speakers in the rear doors, as the beats speaker is part of the door card and we didn't fancy replacing it just for that
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leon xLux st etsi

Leon xLux st etsi

Active Member
Dec 22, 2021
26
4
Scotland
They must be from polo or t rock front A pillar, anyway price was just £20 and as I said space was there for them so cheap little upgrade only thing they might be slightly to loud for rears even with crossovers.
 
Last edited:
Adrian Flux insurance services - discount for forum members.