Beats Audio MK3 Leon vs SEAT Sound

[Lmbarrett83]

All,

Looks like a few of us that have ordered MK3 CUPRA's with SEAT Sound will be getting Beats Audio instead.

Any info on this system?

Any non UK owners with the Beats audio care to leave their experiences with the system - in English

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[BipedalMale]

I have looked for info on this too, the best I can find is single comment on a YouTube video from the owner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dib0ZXizc2c

It isn't worthy of What Hi-fi mind...

 

[KXL]

Wondered if anything has changed? I believe SSS is 135watt amp with 1 sub, 9 speakers. Some say (don't quote me on this) it's a debadged Canton sound system.
Beats I guess is the 300watt amp with 1 sub and 9 speakers. Do tell us when you get the Beats does it actually say Beats on the sub, or just Seat Sound, and if an amp lives under the front passenger seat.. This will be interesting!

 

[Lmbarrett83]

This was on the german forum

https://www.seat-leon.de/vboard/showthread.php?118084-Beats-Soundsystem-f%FCr-den-Leon/page7

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[Copra68]

I have a feeling customer services keep calling it beats audio because elsewhere in Europe that's what it's called. Time will tell if the cars turn up with the UK seat sound or the European beats audio.

 

[Lmbarrett83]

I have a feeling customer services keep calling it beats audio because elsewhere in Europe that's what it's called. Time will tell if the cars turn up with the UK seat sound or the European beats audio.

I used to believe that too, but my case manager used to refer to it on my order as SEAT Sound (SS) until recently when i pulled her up on it.

She responded by saying that she was only reading what was in front of her, on her screen.
I've since had a screenshot confirming that Beatsaudio (BA) is listed against my order on the SLI.

Scrogg also confirmed that orders placed for the MY18 Cupra with SS would have that option replaced with BA as SS has been discontinued (paraphrasing)

BA is/was available in other markets, limited edition Cupra's and the Cupra Ateca.

I'm more confident about this than i am about the other rumours.

After reading translated reviews on it though its a mixed bag. A few were saying that SS offered better sound quality. BA was bass heavy and was nothing more than a badge.

Personally i like the idea of BA, but as long as i get a 10 speaker upgrade and spare wheel i'll be happy.





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[Copra68]

I used to believe that too, but my case manager used to refer to it on my order as SEAT Sound (SS) until recently when i pulled her up on it.

She responded by saying that she was only reading what was in front of her, on her screen.
I've since had a screenshot confirming that Beatsaudio (BA) is listed against my order on the SLI.

Scrogg also confirmed that orders placed for the MY18 Cupra with SS would have that option replaced with BA as SS has been discontinued (paraphrasing)

BA is/was available in other markets, limited edition Cupra's and the Cupra Ateca.

I'm more confident about this than i am about the other rumours.

After reading translated reviews on it though its a mixed bag. A few were saying that SS offered better sound quality. BA was bass heavy and was nothing more than a badge.

Personally i like the idea of BA, but as long as i get a 10 speaker upgrade and spare wheel i'll be happy.





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Yip same here as long as its bassier than standard with the better speakers. The sub in the full size spare wheel is worth the extra.

 

[LouG]

I'd imagine that calling a non Beats system Beats would be in contravention of most consumer law. It is a registered trademark.

 

[Lmbarrett83]

I'd imagine that calling a non Beats system Beats would be in contravention of most consumer law. It is a registered trademark.

No expert myself but i think the implication was that Seat could have just paid for a license to use the name, and adhered to within a standard.

Richard Branson does similar with the virgin brand these days.

That's not my opinion but thats how i understood it.

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[Rocco]

Seat Sound System uses the amp that is integrated in the unit in the glove compartment. Beats uses an amp that is fitted under the drivers seat. (in LHD cars that is). The Beats system is comprised of of the shelf VAG components so as Lmbarrett83 mentioned, it looks like SEAT simply paid for the license to use the Beats name.
In my opinion, Beats has a richer/fuller sound compared to SSS. It also has more power reserve so there is less distortion at high volume.

 

[KXL]

Seat Sound System uses the amp that is integrated in the unit in the glove compartment. Beats uses an amp that is fitted under the drivers seat. (in LHD cars that is). The Beats system is comprised of of the shelf VAG components so as Lmbarrett83 mentioned, it looks like SEAT simply paid for the license to use the Beats name.
In my opinion, Beats has a richer/fuller sound compared to SSS. It also has more power reserve so there is less distortion at high volume.

So basically a 300watt amp (that lives under one front seat) vs 135 watt amp that lives in the glovebox.

 

[CupraRobX]

Seat Sound System uses the amp that is integrated in the unit in the glove compartment. Beats uses an amp that is fitted under the drivers seat. (in LHD cars that is). The Beats system is comprised of of the shelf VAG components so as Lmbarrett83 mentioned, it looks like SEAT simply paid for the license to use the Beats name.
In my opinion, Beats has a richer/fuller sound compared to SSS. It also has more power reserve so there is less distortion at high volume.

So basically a 300watt amp (that lives under one front seat) vs 135 watt amp that lives in the glovebox.

And the fact that you‘ll be safe in the knowledge that Dr D.R.E (don’t act like you forgot about him) sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion and is now worth an estimated $740 million.

 

[walshy]

And the fact that you‘ll be safe in the knowledge that Dr D.R.E (don’t act like you forgot about him) sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion and is now worth an estimated $740 billion.

I had totally forgot about dre

 

[leonlad]

And the fact that you‘ll be safe in the knowledge that Dr D.R.E (don’t act like you forgot about him) sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion and is now worth an estimated $740 billion.

billion ??

 

[CupraRobX]

billion ??

Sorry...I went all Dr Evil there with my amounts...

 

[KXL]

Oh no, one of those i Things...one day it will be Seat Leon with Apple Sound system!

 

[Jamilarov]

I have Beats audio in my 2 months old Cupra ST and I have to say that it is not anything special. Yes, it has quite loud bass, thanks to the subwoofer but mids are quite poor. I miss some good music instrument separation too. Also sound isolation on higher speed is not so good in Leon so experience from listening music is quite poor in these situations. On the other hand, considering the price, it is still good value for the money but dont expect anything breathtaking. There are much worse sound systems in other cars but also better ones. I tried Bang & Olufsen in BMW X5 and the comparison with Beats audio is like heaven and hell but the price is also somewhere else.

 

[Jaco2k]

I have read somewhere (don't remember where, but it was some other forum) a similar discussion and the consensus seemed to be that Beats is louder and more bassy but Seat Soundsystem is actually more clear, defined and balanced.
I had the impression the system on my car was quite good and showed it to 2 car audio specialists in my area (one competes for the win in Finland national car audio championship and the other owns a car audio specialized shop and is a bit of a calibration guru).
They both agreed that this system sounds great out of the box and both said "I would be happy with this system in my car and I would do nothing about it"
About the loudness, how loud do you really want it to be?? At least for me, the Seat Soundsystem is pretty loud enough.

 

[Maypack]

At least for me, the Seat Soundsystem is pretty loud enough.

Im well happy with my Seatsound system too. Loud enough for me.

Nice to get some independent clarification of its quality.

Nice one @Jaco2k

 

[SitdownandhaveaCupratea]

I have read somewhere (don't remember where, but it was some other forum) a similar discussion and the consensus seemed to be that Beats is louder and more bassy but Seat Soundsystem is actually more clear, defined and balanced.
I had the impression the system on my car was quite good and showed it to 2 car audio specialists in my area (one competes for the win in Finland national car audio championship and the other owns a car audio specialized shop and is a bit of a calibration guru).
They both agreed that this system sounds great out of the box and both said "I would be happy with this system in my car and I would do nothing about it"
About the loudness, how loud do you really want it to be?? At least for me, the Seat Soundsystem is pretty loud enough.

Hi guys. This report worries me as I went to test drive a car that had Seat SOund and I was actually quite blown away with how good it was, and it was certainly extremely loud. However, I have been offered a new Cupra and it has the Beats sound system, and from what I have read the feedback seems to be better for Seat Sound than the Beats system. I don't care so much about bass, more the clarity and tone of the mids and highs as I am a bit of an audiophile and listen to a lot of movie soundtrack music.

Audio is important to me but the dealer will probably be like "WTF" if I decline the car and insist on having Seat Sound specced over the Beats option... cos everyone knows Beats is better right? BECAUSE ITS BEATS DAMNIT! However I read that this is simply the licensing of the Beats name and a system is built "to spec" to be allowed to call it Beats. I would be very interested to know which speakers are used in both the Seat Sound and Beats audio system so I could check the specs. Anyone have any idea?

I will go see the car tomorrow, listen to Beats and report back.