Complete Factory B9.5 S5 B&O Upgrade
Upgraded RS Acoustics speaker setup:
* Front door woofers: Ciare HWG160-8
* Front and center midrange speakers: Audison Voce AV 3.0
* Front and center tweeters: Audison Voce AV 1.1
* Rear door woofers: Audison Prima AP 6.5P
* Rear tweeters: Audison Prima AP 1P
Sound deadening setup:
* SoundSkin Pro on all door metal and behind the front and rear woofers
* SoundSkin sound guide foam around the woofers to help guide sound out of the speaker grilles
* Dynamat on all door cards
* SoundSkin wavy foam on top of the Dynamat on all door cards to add a bit of soundproofing proofing
First of all, I want to give credit to Phil because he is an excellent example of what great customer service should be. He responds quickly whenever I have questions and always takes the time to explain things in detail, even on the weekend and late at night. That really helped me understand the speaker options better before making my buying decision. Shipping was also fast after the order was fulfilled, and the quality of the 3D-printed parts and wire soldering was very clean. He even gave me a free upgraded set of tweeters when I made a mistake with my order, and those upgraded Voce tweeters ended up sounding amazing. Thank you, Phil.
The sound is way better than the factory setup. It even sounds better than the Mercedes CLS Burmester system I had and the Bowers & Wilkins system in the Volvo XC60 that I heard a while back. I already thought those systems sounded amazing, but after hearing this setup, this might be the best car sound system I have ever listened to. Mind you, this is based on the cars that I have had and my nonexistent experience with hearing a complete DSP and amp tune upgrade. I’m sure with a full DSP, amp upgrade, and proper tune, it would sound even better. But after listening to this upgrade more, I do not think it would be worth it for me because I am already very happy with how it sounds now. The bass and midbass from the Ciare woofers are much tighter, cleaner, and more controlled. Before, the bass sounded hollow, muddy, and messy, but now it sounds solid and punchy. I’m sure the sound deadening also helped with that punchy bass, and the doors have no more rattles when the bass hits.
To me, the Audison Voce AV 3.0 midrange speakers and Audison Voce AV 1.1 tweeters were both the biggest improvements in the system over the factory speakers. The midbass and lower details do not sound hollow or messy anymore, and everything feels more filled in and controlled. The AV 1.1 tweeters add a lot of clarity and detail, but they still sound smooth. They are not harsh or tiring to listen to at higher volume, which is a big improvement over the stock tweeters. With the factory tweeters, I had to lower the volume because the highs could get sharp and ear-piercing. With the AV 1.1 tweeters, I can listen louder, and they deliver a smooth, clean sound. Overall, the front stage feels more complete and enjoyable.
For example, I was listening to Celine Dion’s The Power of Love, and around the 58-second mark when she started hitting the high note, the detail and clarity from her vocals gave me goosebumps. The clarity of the guitar strings and the tight punch from the drum kicks made me smile.
The main reason I upgraded the rear speakers was to add a nice rear fill and surround sound while keeping the same tonal characteristics as the rest of the Audison speakers in the front. The Audison AP 6.5P rear woofers and AP 1P rear tweeters do exactly that without making the rear speakers feel out of place.
Overall, I am very happy with the upgrade. The system already sounds so good that I honestly do not feel like I need a DSP amp right now. The sound is clearer, tighter, wider, and much more enjoyable than before. The only downside is that the small factory subwoofer is now the weakest part of the system. At this point, the stock sub is just chilling in the background and is definitely being overpowered by the front woofers. The front speakers now have so much more punch and control that the subwoofer no longer keeps up with the rest of the system. It does not have the depth, power, or tightness to match everything else. That will definitely need to be upgraded next.
