Plug and play Audio Upgrade

R

RowLarry

Member
Hi all, after a bit of advice please.

Just bought a 2016 T6 Highline which is already converted into a campervan.

Delighted with it, but the audio experience from the headunit and OEM speakers is pants. I'm also adjusting to not having any rear speakers, so for any rear occupants who want to hear the music it has to be so loud and tinny that you can't hear yourself speak!

I have looked through numerous threads on here, and I'm none the wiser really about upgrading the audio to acceptable, rather than earth-shaking.

So, is there a suitable plug and play kit that replaces the existing speakers in the T6? Or is it quite an involved process to get the door cards off, etc.
The last time I did this was to a Fiesta MK2 and it was considerably easier then! New headunit and speakers in the parcelshelf, job done.

I also like the idea of sound deadening in the doors as the cabin roar is quite loud. I'm undecided about the head unit - I have CarPlay and Android Auto in my other car and it's great, but the existing one seems to work OK through plain Bluetooth. I quite miss Google Maps though. If there was a cheap-ish one I'd consider it.

I'm also guessing that adding rear speakers will be difficult as the van is already fully converted etc.

There is a limited budget as I've just bought the van, and have to persuade my wife why we need to spend more money on it! Any advice welcome.
 
I upgraded the speakers to some Focals which made a difference but TBH I'm now torn between putting a small amp in with the existing head unit or upgrading to a Kenwood head unit - absolut5 have been really helpful - they've recommended an amp that fits in behind the glove box which would save some money but TBH I'd like to have CarPlay
 
RowLarry said:
Hi all, after a bit of advice please.

Just bought a 2016 T6 Highline which is already converted into a campervan.

Delighted with it, but the audio experience from the headunit and OEM speakers is pants. I'm also adjusting to not having any rear speakers, so for any rear occupants who want to hear the music it has to be so loud and tinny that you can't hear yourself speak!

I have looked through numerous threads on here, and I'm none the wiser really about upgrading the audio to acceptable, rather than earth-shaking.

So, is there a suitable plug and play kit that replaces the existing speakers in the T6? Or is it quite an involved process to get the door cards off, etc.
The last time I did this was to a Fiesta MK2 and it was considerably easier then! New headunit and speakers in the parcelshelf, job done.

I also like the idea of sound deadening in the doors as the cabin roar is quite loud. I'm undecided about the head unit - I have CarPlay and Android Auto in my other car and it's great, but the existing one seems to work OK through plain Bluetooth. I quite miss Google Maps though. If there was a cheap-ish one I'd consider it.

I'm also guessing that adding rear speakers will be difficult as the van is already fully converted etc.

There is a limited budget as I've just bought the van, and have to persuade my wife why we need to spend more money on it! Any advice welcome.
Click to expand...
Drop us a pm or call 01980 624740 and I will go through the options
 
stevemorg1 said:
I upgraded the speakers to some Focals which made a difference but TBH I'm now torn between putting a small amp in with the existing head unit or upgrading to a Kenwood head unit - absolut5 have been really helpful - they've recommended an amp that fits in behind the glove box which would save some money but TBH I'd like to have CarPlay
Click to expand...

Did you do these yourself Steve, and how much were they roughly? Also the model would be helpful, thanks.
 
Had them done by a local ICE specialist - they added deadening in the front doors as well - speakers were focal ISU 2000s - inc fitting/deadening were @£310
definitely an improvement but a better head unit or small amp might be worth looking at
 
stevemorg1 said:
Had them done by a local ICE specialist - they added deadening in the front doors as well - speakers were focal ISU 2000s - inc fitting/deadening were @£310
definitely an improvement but a better head unit or small amp might be worth looking at
Click to expand...
Add our plug and play amp, makes a huge difference
 
Would one need an additional plug and play amp if you went all out and upgraded the head unit to the DNX 9190? Or are we saying an amp is needed/beneficial for any or all head units? I have a Driveaudio awful thing which Camper Kings deemed an appropriate 'upgrade' but both FM and DAB have poor reception with signal drop out, think the company went bust.....to be fair the Satnav bit is fine. Do non VW head units struggle w the limited signal from what must be piddly aerials tucked away in the wing mirrors or have i got that wrong?
 
Scottna57 said:
Would one need an additional plug and play amp if you went all out and upgraded the head unit to the DNX 9190? Or are we saying an amp is needed/beneficial for any or all head units? I have a Driveaudio awful thing which Camper Kings deemed an appropriate 'upgrade' but both FM and DAB have poor reception with signal drop out, think the company went bust.....to be fair the Satnav bit is fine. Do non VW head units struggle w the limited signal from what must be piddly aerials tucked away in the wing mirrors or have i got that wrong?
Click to expand...

a amp is always beneficial in any setup, it’s larger, more powerful, deals with heat build up and has one purpose . And if you want to run larger door speakers then you will hear a massive difference

all headunits even factory struggle with reception due to poor aerial design
 
Can you provide any aerial solution? With a plastic/composite pop top can't even use the original steel roof.... and if you mounted something on the pop top it would need the cabling to accommodate the rise and fall. So it isn't straightforward to my limited imagination.
 
Scottna57 said:
Can you provide any aerial solution? With a plastic/composite pop top can't even use the original steel roof.... and if you mounted something on the pop top it would need the cabling to accommodate the rise and fall. So it isn't straightforward to my limited imagination.
Click to expand...
What pop top do you have?
 
I've just fitted a set of 200mm Focals and a Kenwood mini amp from @Absolut5. The difference is night and day. I retained the Disco OEM head unit. The sound is now fuller and solid. Goes louder than I need whilst retaining quality.

Edit: I'd already sound deadened but they sent me some more as part of speaker kit. I got carried away doing both my inner and outer panels and added some dodmat foam too but careful of windows. Mine pulled the foam off and got stuck.

Edit 2: The above was done for circa £600 all in (ish). Tip: Buy some spare door card spring clips.
 
Last edited:
stevemorg1 said:
@bootsam - how difficult was the mini amp to fit?
Click to expand...

An absolute doddle. Plug and play. The hardest bit was removing the trim and that was easy. I located it behind top glove box (dont forget the screw at back, which I conveniently omitted when I put it all back). Theres plenty room behind glove box. I put some foam over metal bar and secured it via zip ties. I set head unit to about 20% and amp at halfway where theres a '1' on gain position.

Trim to remove - around head unit. lower glove box, upper glove box (dont forget screw), left hand vent (this one was a pain but upper glove removal helped it)

Oh and I went for the adison fader to allow rear speakers if I decide to go for them, which Im not sure if i will or wont, but did it just in case I do as im not sure if I'm indecisive or not. Not sure. This made feeding loom a bit trickier but I still did it relatively easy.
 
Last edited:
Hi all, topic back to life but for T6.1.
I'm looking for a bit of advice for a similar request.
Replace my front speakers in my T6.1 in a simple way, and keeping the headunit as amplifier.
It seems T6.1 is limited to 165mm woofer so 200mm kits (ETON, ..) are not compatible
Thanks
 
winslow said:
Hi all, topic back to life but for T6.1.
I'm looking for a bit of advice for a similar request.
Replace my front speakers in my T6.1 in a simple way, and keeping the headunit as amplifier.
It seems T6.1 is limited to 165mm woofer so 200mm kits (ETON, ..) are not compatible
Thanks
Click to expand...
@Absolut5 is your man for this.
 
winslow said:
Hi all, topic back to life but for T6.1.
I'm looking for a bit of advice for a similar request.
Replace my front speakers in my T6.1 in a simple way, and keeping the headunit as amplifier.
It seems T6.1 is limited to 165mm woofer so 200mm kits (ETON, ..) are not compatible
Thanks
Click to expand...
You are stuck with the 165mm..

we do a plug and play focal kit, direct fit , super efficient 2ohm 94db voice coils ..

other options are available

drop us A pm or call 01980 624740
 
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