Audi S4 Speaker FAQ
Which Audi S4 speakers should I upgrade first for the biggest sound improvement?
Start with the front door 6.5 inch speakers - they handle most of your music's frequency range and sit closest to your ears. These coaxial or component drivers typically run around 50-75 watts RMS and cover roughly 80Hz to 20kHz. The front door placement gives you immediate impact since that's where stereo imaging happens. After that, consider the rear deck 8 inch subwoofers if your S4 has them - they'll add the low-end punch around 40-200Hz that smaller speakers can't deliver. Dashboard tweeters come third, but honestly? The front doors will transform your sound more than anything else.
Can I replace coaxial speakers with component speakers in my Audi S4?
Yes, but you'll need to plan the tweeter placement. Component systems separate the tweeter from the woofer, so if your S4 currently has 6.5 inch coaxials in the doors, you can upgrade to components - just mount the tweeters in the existing 1 inch tweeter locations (dashboard, A-pillar, or door panels depending on your setup). This actually improves soundstage since tweeters perform better when positioned at ear level. Make sure your new components can handle 4-8 ohm impedance and match your head unit's power output. The crossover networks usually fit behind the door panel... though space might be tight.
What's the difference between the center dash speakers across different Audi S4 generations?
The evolution shows interesting priorities. Earlier S4s used 3 inch full-range or midrange drivers in the center dash - these handled vocals and mid-frequency content around 200Hz to 5kHz. Later models switched to 2.5 inch coaxial speakers, then eventually just 1 inch tweeters. The tweeter-only approach makes sense because it eliminates phase issues with the main door speakers. That 3 inch center speaker was probably trying to do too much anyway. If you're upgrading, a quality 1 inch tweeter actually integrates better with your Audi S4's overall soundstage than those larger center drivers ever did.
Why does my Audi S4 have both 3.5 inch and 6.5 inch speakers in the front doors?
Your S4 likely runs a multi-driver setup where the 3.5 inch handles midrange frequencies (roughly 300Hz to 3kHz) while the 6.5 inch covers mid-bass and lower midrange. This creates better frequency separation than a single full-range driver trying to do everything. The smaller speaker responds faster to midrange details, while the larger one moves more air for bass impact. When upgrading, you could replace both with a quality component system, or... actually, some people just upgrade the 6.5 inch to a better coaxial and leave the 3.5 inch alone. Depends on your budget and how deep you want to go.