Terramar Audio Upgrade/Stock Specs

[Andaru]

I find myself looking for a new car unexpectedly after my current car was inexplicably written off after the slowest speed crash the world has ever seen.

The Terramar is at the top of my list, however the stock audio quality is bordering on awful and I don't want to have to wait for a factory order to spec the Sennheiser speakers. So, I'm looking for aftermarket audio upgrades.

I am an hifi fanatic, but this is my first foray into aftermarket audio beyond head units.

From the specs, all I can find is that the stock audio is 8+1 speakers. Presumably 8 speakers and a sub. The Sennheiser upgrade adds a central speaker.

Just to make a start on pricing up a full or incremental upgrade, can anyone give me the specs (size etc) of the stock speakers? I do prefer stealthy upgrades but am not averse to filing or cutting away unseen bits of plastic. I assume the stock dashboard has a pop out panel where the additional Sennheiser speaker would go, or is the speaker grille already there?

Budget wise, I'm thinking somewhere in the £800-1500 region. But I'm open to spending more over a few months and do higher quality incremental upgrades.

I found a great thread on the Formentor sub on sound dampening upgrades that I will definitely be doing along side this. All other in car audio advice and experiences welcome as always.

 

[Rob13]

I find myself looking for a new car unexpectedly after my current car was inexplicably written off after the slowest speed crash the world has ever seen.

The Terramar is at the top of my list, however the stock audio quality is bordering on awful and I don't want to have to wait for a factory order to spec the Sennheiser speakers. So, I'm looking for aftermarket audio upgrades.

I am an hifi fanatic, but this is my first foray into aftermarket audio beyond head units.

From the specs, all I can find is that the stock audio is 8+1 speakers. Presumably 8 speakers and a sub. The Sennheiser upgrade adds a central speaker.

Just to make a start on pricing up a full or incremental upgrade, can anyone give me the specs (size etc) of the stock speakers? I do prefer stealthy upgrades but am not averse to filing or cutting away unseen bits of plastic. I assume the stock dashboard has a pop out panel where the additional Sennheiser speaker would go, or is the speaker grille already there?

Budget wise, I'm thinking somewhere in the £800-1500 region. But I'm open to spending more over a few months and do higher quality incremental upgrades.

I found a great thread on the Formentor sub on sound dampening upgrades that I will definitely be doing along side this. All other in car audio advice and experiences welcome as always.

You may find even the Sennheiser a bit wanting depending on how much of an audio snob you are usually the speakers are the same, just Sennheiser/paste audio brand here, just tune the car (I could be wrong with the Sennheiser.

I updated my Leon, but these days with parts sharing yours won’t be a million miles off.

ST VZe audio upgrade with a sub

Hi I recently got my Leon ST Ve (VZe everywhere else) and after a Peugoet 508 SW with its Focal upgraded audio system, and being a bit of an audio snob, I really couldn’t bear the stock audio system. Weirdly the PHEV can’t get the Beats system (same speakers so would have had same issues)...

www.seatcupra.net

 

[CosmicBlue]

I find myself looking for a new car unexpectedly after my current car was inexplicably written off after the slowest speed crash the world has ever seen.

The Terramar is at the top of my list, however the stock audio quality is bordering on awful and I don't want to have to wait for a factory order to spec the Sennheiser speakers. So, I'm looking for aftermarket audio upgrades.

I am an hifi fanatic, but this is my first foray into aftermarket audio beyond head units.

From the specs, all I can find is that the stock audio is 8+1 speakers. Presumably 8 speakers and a sub. The Sennheiser upgrade adds a central speaker.

Just to make a start on pricing up a full or incremental upgrade, can anyone give me the specs (size etc) of the stock speakers? I do prefer stealthy upgrades but am not averse to filing or cutting away unseen bits of plastic. I assume the stock dashboard has a pop out panel where the additional Sennheiser speaker would go, or is the speaker grille already there?

Budget wise, I'm thinking somewhere in the £800-1500 region. But I'm open to spending more over a few months and do higher quality incremental upgrades.

I found a great thread on the Formentor sub on sound dampening upgrades that I will definitely be doing along side this. All other in car audio advice and experiences welcome as always.

I have a VZ2 and you do definitely want to wait for a Sennheiser equipped Terramar - its excellent. East Yorkshire Retrofits will be along in a minute I'm sure but I have a feeling that the modern Cupra vehicles (post 2020 ish) are not so straight forward to upgrade in the audio department.

The factory audio system is tightly integrated with the Terramar's electrical architecture, there is no visible 'head unit' the controls for the audio system are in the centre dash dispIay, on the steering wheel etc. I think I'm correct in saying only the Sennheiser equipped vehicles get the sub in the boot - inside the temporary spare wheel if spec'd.

 

[Bahnstormer_vRS]

Get Spotify Premium.

Recently upgraded from mp3 to Lossless streaming / download with no increase in subscription cost bar a later, typical, plus £1 annual increase.

Amazing how much better the music I listen to sounds on the standard audio in my Ateca VZ.


Guy


Sent from my Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk

 

[CosmicBlue]

I was always impressed with the standard audio on my Ateca VZ too, the Terramar execution however is not so good.

 

[Tell]

Any comment from @East Yorkshire Retrofits .

 

[serdar_18fr]

Get Spotify Premium.

Recently upgraded from mp3 to Lossless streaming / download with no increase in subscription cost bar a later, typical, plus £1 annual increase.

Amazing how much better the music I listen to sounds on the standard audio in my Ateca VZ.


Guy


Sent from my Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk

My Cupra Ateca has Beats Audio, meaning there's an amplifier under the front passenger seat, which is a standard Panasonic-built device used in many VAG models which has a branded audio system option like Beats, Sennheiser, Harman etc.
Its supposed output is 380w but I find it a little underwhelming for that amounts of power.
Not that I needed a more powerful system, but I have to say that the maximum volume does not sound like it's powered by an extra amplifier.
I believe many standard infotainment units are already capable of giving that much maximum volume without an amplifier.
Also, I find the subwoofer adjustment curious, where very little change (almost nothing) in the bass level happens as you increase or decrease it.
This was one of the things I was planning to ask Cupra Ateca/Beats Audio users in a separate thread.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

I find myself looking for a new car unexpectedly after my current car was inexplicably written off after the slowest speed crash the world has ever seen.

The Terramar is at the top of my list, however the stock audio quality is bordering on awful and I don't want to have to wait for a factory order to spec the Sennheiser speakers. So, I'm looking for aftermarket audio upgrades.

I am an hifi fanatic, but this is my first foray into aftermarket audio beyond head units.

From the specs, all I can find is that the stock audio is 8+1 speakers. Presumably 8 speakers and a sub. The Sennheiser upgrade adds a central speaker.

Just to make a start on pricing up a full or incremental upgrade, can anyone give me the specs (size etc) of the stock speakers? I do prefer stealthy upgrades but am not averse to filing or cutting away unseen bits of plastic. I assume the stock dashboard has a pop out panel where the additional Sennheiser speaker would go, or is the speaker grille already there?

Budget wise, I'm thinking somewhere in the £800-1500 region. But I'm open to spending more over a few months and do higher quality incremental upgrades.

I found a great thread on the Formentor sub on sound dampening upgrades that I will definitely be doing along side this. All other in car audio advice and experiences welcome as always.

The Sennheiser system is a completely different set of speakers & an external amplifier, not just additional speakers

The amplifier communicates via ethernet, meaning your only option for adding an aftermarket amplifier is using a high level output - in turn meaning you're stuck with the infotainment units DSP

 

[Tell]

The Sennheiser system is a completely different set of speakers & an external amplifier, not just additional speakers

The amplifier communicates via ethernet, meaning your only option for adding an aftermarket amplifier is using a high level output - in turn meaning you're stuck with the infotainment units DSP

Is that analogue out of the DSP or digital. Digital you may not be bothered about but if its analogue you are at the mercy of how good the conversion is to analogue. This is where in the old mib2 days without an external amplifier, the unit fed the analogue signal to each speaker by it's own analogue cable out the back via the connection. No crossover as per the old days, that was done in the amp.

The downfall of those trying to connect power ampliers into the analogue system of the mib2, least. Didn't stop people doing daft things thou. You need the digital signal out if you are driving your amp, not a cobbled together compromise.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Is that analogue out of the DSP or digital. Digital you may not be bothered about but if its analogue you are at the mercy of how good the conversion is to analogue. This is where in the old mib2 days without an external amplifier, the unit fed the analogue signal to each speaker by it's own analogue cable out the back via the connection. No crossover as per the old days, that was done in the amp.

The downfall of those trying to connect power ampliers into the analogue system of the mib2, least. Didn't stop people doing daft things thou. You need the digital signal out if you are driving your amp, not a cobbled together compromise.

Cars with MIB1, 2, 3 and 4 without an external amplifier process the audio and amplify internally within the control unit then output to each speaker

MIB2 with an external amplifier can either use MOST or speaker outputs to the amplifier - depends on the car, depends on the amp.
This was ideal as you can buy MOST interfaces and/or amplifiers/DSPs with MOST.

MIB3 & MIB4 with external amplifier always use Ethernet.

 

[Tell]

Cars with MIB1, 2, 3 and 4 without an external amplifier process the audio and amplify internally within the control unit then output to each speaker

MIB2 with an external amplifier can either use MOST or speaker outputs to the amplifier - depends on the car, depends on the amp.
This was ideal as you can buy MOST interfaces and/or amplifiers/DSPs with MOST.

MIB3 & MIB4 with external amplifier always use Ethernet.

Is that ethernet proprietary so external amps are stuck or do some support it ?. I'm only a home theatre guy versed in that .

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Is that ethernet proprietary so external amps are stuck or do some support it ?. I'm only a home theatre guy versed in that .

It’s not Ethernet with an RJ45 put it that way

 

[Tell]

It’s not Ethernet with an RJ45 put it that way

Ah "automotive ethernet"

Google Search

I see there is a Reddit link with an interesting little box. Other little boxes may be available. See whether there are any enterprising souls out there.

RJ45 to RCA

Google Search

I'm sticking to home theatre where I have audio sussed .

The question is whether there is any pesky protocol put into the data to prevent these boxes unpacking the data as you get in TOS say. But if the DSP is in those boxes seems a bit cheap. Other than that your posh outboard audio car processor would need to have a compatible RJ45 for automotive ethernet meeting all VW standards whatever they may be. Eg. It would work.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Ah "automotive ethernet"

Google Search

I see there is a Reddit link with an interesting little box. Other little boxes may be available. See whether there are any enterprising souls out there.

RJ45 to RCA

Google Search

I'm sticking to home theatre where I have audio sussed .

The question is whether there is any pesky protocol put into the data to prevent these boxes unpacking the data as you get in TOS say. But if the DSP is in those boxes seems a bit cheap. Other than that your posh outboard audio car processor would need to have a compatible RJ45 for automotive ethernet meeting all VW standards whatever they may be. Eg. It would work.

As mentioned above. There’s no RJ45 with automotive Ethernet

A third party interface would need to talk the talk as if it’s an OEM amplifier. Not impossible, not simple, not cheap.
This is how the good third party MOST interfaces work for earlier cars

 

[Tell]

As mentioned above. There’s no RJ45 with automotive Ethernet

A third party interface would need to talk the talk as if it’s an OEM amplifier. Not impossible, not simple, not cheap.
This is how the good third party MOST interfaces work for earlier cars

So basically they are wasting their time, it is all proprietary and sown up by VW at the minute untill some one cracks it and then there would be a question of how good it was to spend a small fortune on something. The car is built round an audio system as it is around the cars other systems locked down from tampering ... unless they are VW approved.

Thanks for clearing that up.

As an aside I saw in the new Polo or something they were going to give you the built in choice between VW navigation or Google navigation. None of this Android Auto malarkey . Move away from pandering to those that want to use AA and Car Play. Taking back ownership of the car systems. Suppose to be happening outside the VAG group as well. Can hear some groans now.

 

[Bahnstormer_vRS]

^^^^ Definitely a groan here as I've got used to using Android Auto for both (Google) Maps / Navigation and Audio (Spotify).

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk

 

[Tell]

Obviously it would be good to retain AA / Car Play connectivity. Looking at a video yesterday of the ID.Polo it was said "Car Play" like screen. Is this the fabled mib5.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Obviously it would be good to retain AA / Car Play connectivity. Looking at a video yesterday of the ID.Polo it was said "Car Play" like screen. Is this the fabled mib5.

MEB doesn’t use the conventional MIBx naming scheme. Completely different hardware

 

[Tell]

MEB doesn’t use the conventional MIBx naming scheme. Completely different hardware

Thanks I'll get back to the pesky Xmas lights

 

[CosmicBlue]

Having lived with the Terramar's upgraded Sennheiser audio for a month or so, I'm really rather impressed with it. I've owned a bunch of Audi vehicles with Bose or B&O audio and for the most part they have been OK the low point being a 2018 B9 RS4 with B&O, and a 2016 RSQ3 with Bose being excellent.

The Terramar's upgraded audio is very good, unlike most systems where, for my taste, I'd decrease the higher and boost the lower frequencies this seems perfectly acceptable left flat with the 'Immersive' slider set at about 3/4. I'm guessing there is a DSP in there because a good recording seems to create the perception of sitting in the middle of the band, further enhanced by the Terramar itself being quiet and refined.

If you stumble across this thread and are pondering on ticking the option box then do so, you won't regret it.