Outstanding cars don't always have the audio systems to match. Moise E. Hendeles learned this truth when he bought an '08 Audi R8. "After purchasing my Audi R8, I was extremely dissatisfied with the factory Bang & Olufssen upgrade audio system," he reveals. Even the car's sticker price of $140,000 isn't enough to overcome the limitations of a factory audio system. The disgruntled Hendeles stopped by Al & Ed's Autosound in West Hollywood, Calif., to see what could be done.Meeting with installer Elie Rothstein, Hendeles learned about some solutions that would greatly improve upon the OEM sound system. Confident that Al and Ed's could meet his expectations, he gave Rothstein the go-ahead for the $10,000 install. After all, if you're spending $140K on a car, what's an extra 10 grand?
Subwoofer Enclosure And Amp Rack
Embedded in the rear wall behind the seats, a subwoofer and amps add some powerful lows to the system. "The goal was to achieve a nice, tight bass response to complement the front speakers," Rothstein explains. "This was definitely achieved!" Flushed into the wall and hidden by the seats, you won't even know the Alpine amps and Pioneer subs are back there until you turn on the stereo. Carbon fiber by Sly Machines covers the custom enclosure, coordinating with the Audi's sleek aesthetics.
Amps
Two Alpine PDX amplifiers power the system. For the front Focals, a four-channel PDX-4.100 pumps out 400 watts of power. Handling the subwoofer, a two-channel PDX-2.150 brings 300 watts.
Sub
A Pioneer TS-SW104D slim line subwoofer pumps the bass from Hendeles' favorite rock songs right into the occupants' midsections. The new upgrades by Al & Ed's Autosound blow the original audio system out of the water and Hendeles couldn't be happier. The OEM system may have let him down, but the aftermarket sound met his expectations and then some.
Dash
Part of Rothstein's plan was to retain the factory source unit by using a Rockford Fosgate 3Sixty.2 processor as an integration device. "This is the best way to integrate with the factory system," Rothstein says. "The built-in time alignment and EQ features truly made this system sound amazing."
Shifter Knob
In keeping with the carbon fiber on the vehicle's exterior, Rothstein used Sly Machines carbon-fiber trim liberally in the cabin. In addition to framing the factory head unit, the material adds some lightweight flair to the doors, the sub enclosure/amp rack, and, of course, the trim around the shifter.