Beats subwoofer replacement

[pkaps]

ESX VS1100P | Passiv Subwoofer Reserverad

ESX Vision VS1100P Passivsubwoofer: Reserverad Subwoofer mit 28cm Bass Lautsprecher und 300 Watt Leistung für Anschluss am Werksradio

www.carhifi-store-buende.de

Seen this one on the Ibiza mark 6 forum here, discussing how to improve the Beats sound.
So, I went ahead and got it, not a plug and play matter as I had to cut the tightening bolt by 6 cm and had to cut the Beats wires to the sub as the ESX plug is not compatible with the Beats sub plug. Anyhow, the sound got quite better, also in low volume as the bass is now there, where with the Beats you had to crank the amp to feel some of it. Beats is not a bad sound system, if you know how to adjust it to your liking, its just not good enough for deep bass. The Beats sub box when I took it out it was like a toy box, I would guess its weight being not even 2 kg, a 6.5 inch sub with a small magnet and a large plastic donut around it, actually seeing it now for its size it plays well, considering. On the other hand the ESX is 10 kg, yes, that puts more weight in the trunk so no toping up the gas tank anymore to compensate.
However, although the bass clearly improved, being in the spare tire is not as in a dedicated sub system, the sub itself feels playing not to its full potential, so at some point, if I want more and can spare the money, will add an amp, probably the Match 5.4 DSP, yes, costly, which is real plug and play and fits with the Beats amp under the seat.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

The sound system transmits data via ethernet, so adding an aftermarket amplifier is currently difficult/impossible

 

[pkaps]

https://www.arsshop.de/seat-beatssystem-upgrade-plugplay-dsp-endstufe-

This is where I got the idea from, dont think there is a problem

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

https://www.arsshop.de/seat-beatssystem-upgrade-plugplay-dsp-endstufe-

This is where I got the idea from, dont think there is a problem

That looks like it's taking a high level signal and leaving the original amplifier in place as apposed to the digital signal and removing the existing amplifier

It also only has a 4 channel input whilst the original amplifier is outputting more than that (10 off the top of my head).

 

[pkaps]

Yes, seems like it, got to part with 700 eur to find out

 

[lajchi]

That looks like it's taking a high level signal and leaving the original amplifier in place as apposed to the digital signal and removing the existing amplifier

It also only has a 4 channel input whilst the original amplifier is outputting more than that (10 off the top of my head).

I was researching this as well. In this case, only the front and the subwoofer are driven by the small DSP amp, while the rest remains driven on the factory amp.
I had one of these (older model) in an Audi a4 B8, and it did improve the sound quite a bit.

This one would be a better option as it could drive all of the speakers - front and rear, and add waay more power to the subwoofer, which would give more options, even adding a propper subwoofer in an external enclousure:

Seat Beats ampPRO | 8 Kanal DSP Upgrade Verstärker für Beats

Seat ampPRO Beats: Plug and Play Verstärker zum Upgrade des Beats Werkssystem mit integrierten DSP und deutlich mehr Leistung

www.carhifi-store-buende.de

Only drawback would be that the plastic cover would not fit anymore.

Not sure if anymody managed to replace the original amplifier itself with something decent.

 

[pkaps]

Having lived now for a few days with the new sub I can attest that there is a notable difference, even on low volume, you dont have to crank it up to max to feel some bass. Yes, you don't have that feeling where your stomach is pounding with every beat, after all its still a medium output amp and a tire space sub, but you can feel the bass. Seems now the whole system performs better, that filling of the bass at low volume leaves the high tones to be more distinct, yet this is my opinion, others may not feel the same.
I believe adding the Match DSP will even have better results, but its price is putting me off at the time.
@Active Member, worst case scenario is to have both without the plastic cover, but should be no problem as the factory amp is all metal and the Match will be behind it and not exposed to any contact, other than dust. Pricier but better too!

 

[pkaps]

Finally I took the plunge and got the MATCH DSP plug and play set. Took me abt 3 hours to fit, made some mistakes on the way, as the tray housing the Beats dsp needs a light modification in order to also house the Match dsp and have the plastic protective cover FULLY back in place. Normally and knowing that you have to modify the tray this shouldn't take more than 1-2 hours. Obviously I'm not a pro, doing this as a hobby, was planning to take it to my car audio guy but my schedule was tight during days and I decided to try and do it my self last night, its a plug and play, right? Well, not exactly but quite close!
Well, the sound blows you up, its really phenomenal and I'm still on the Beats factory speakers, except as noted before of the sub which I had replaced with a passive Vision VS1100P. This makes a huge difference, I' m sure if I had the Beats sub still in I wouldn't really feel the difference.
Need obviously the soonest to also replace the door speakers as the Beats ones and the door cards rattle at half volume (which half volume is way more than the full Beats volume). And the Match simply works at almost half power, as it is still powered from the Beats configuration. For this I will definitely have to make time ando go to my guy when I will also replace the door speakers.
Mind you, the set is not yet fully adjusted, it plays with the basic adjustments made by ARS SHOP, from where I got it.
Simply the best upgrade to my Formentor thus far. I can now enjoy music again and yet with the Beats door speakers.
Not without a cost though, I've spent 1050 eur so far and foreseeing another 500-600 eur for the door speakers but really worth every penny.

 

[lajchi]

Great to hear that it worked out. You took the 6 channel version, that powers the front and the subwoofer?
Before doing more upgrades, did you consider sound-deadening your doors (you would eliminate the rattle of the doors and door cards)?

Just for other people who are considering the similar upgrade, there will be a Amplifier and harness from Option coming out in the next week or 2 for the Formentor with Beats, and is 129 eur cheaper compared to the Match Amplifier and harness, for more or less the same thing.

 

[pkaps]

Don't know where the power really goes to, but as you say I feel it mostly at the fronts and the sub. Its the 5 channel amplifier 9 channel dsp but it likely powers the fronts and sub and the rest are bypassed through it by the Beats dsp.
It takes a lot of adjustments but since I did it all by myself I relied on the ARS configuration that it comes with.
There is also an mk2 version of this Match, a bit cheaper, but a little inferior, i.e., the mk1 has A/D and D/A BurrBrown, the mk2 doesn't. Have to wait and see what Option will be using.
I checked before buying with ARS and they confirmed the package comes with the mk1 Match 5.4 dsp. The mk2 versions also have the mk2 written on them.
Will definitely do now the door insulation, I was thinking of getting the front and rear doors speakers replaced but was advised that actually the Beats are very decent, any gains by replacing them will be marginal, especially when I still use the midrpower mode (plug and play).

 

[lajchi]

It seems that the mk2 version is actually discontinued, and the replacement is the 5.4 DSP - ARS did not update their picture in the add. Anyway, I will wait until the Option DSP is available, since it does have all off the bells and whistles of the 5.4 DSP for 130eur less, and make my decision then.

Today I will start sound deadening my doors and the trunk (i will try to take pictures and post on the forum).

 

[pkaps]

The mk2 is just that, the second edition of the 5.4. Don't know if mk2 is discontinued. I didn't really want that, all I wanted was the first edition and thats what I got. I know on the ARS site it shows the mk2 on the first picture but on the rest it is the first and that's what they send you.