[JimmyDee]

I bought a new Audi RS5, last summer. Originally, I wasn't going to touch the stereo... but the bug got hold of me!

As with all my previous builds, I have 3 main criteria:

1. Sound Quality (the best I can get, with what I have to work with).
2. Stealth Installation (I don't want to see any of the system).
3. Full Integration with the Vehicle's System.

Sorry to say, that I did all the work over a couple days, and got so busy that I forgot to take pictures of a lot of the install.
Here's the components, along with the few install pictures I did take:

Integration into the Audi (MOST150) fibre optic MMI system is handled by a NAV-TV Zen-V unit:

The Zen-V then feeds a Toslink signal into a Helix DSP-Ultra:

The Ultra then feeds 4 Audison amps. I'm using Class D amps for this build. My goal is: full stealth, and no heat.

1. SR 4.500 feeds the front tweeters and the front midrange
2. SR 4.500 feeds the front midbass (bridged)
3. SR 4.500 feeds the rear door tweeters and midrange
4. SR 1.500 feeds the sub

• Front tweeters are: Audison Thesis Violino II
• Front midrange are: Dynaudio Esotar 430
• Front midbass are: Audio Development W800-NEO

Rear Doors (because I often have people in the back seat) are:

• Sinfoni Tempo 10 tweeters
• Dynaudio Esotar 650 midrange

Sub is: Hertz Mille Legend ML2500.3

The full system, laid-out on my garage floor.

 

[JimmyDee]

The Thesis tweeters are mounted in the dash, facing upwards toward the windshield. This location originally had an OEM 3" midrange driver.
I was apprehensive about putting them in this location, but after firing the system up and tuning, I am absolutely stunned at how good they sound!
They're a magnificent tweeter, and I honestly don't feel like I'm losing much (if anything) by mounting them where they are.
I'm sure a set of custom pods would improve the sound slightly... but my goal was full stealth:

They were a pain to get in there... pretty sure I'll never get them out (without removing the dash).

It's pretty much never, that I can brag about stuffing 8 inches of anything into anything...
But I can happily report that my W800-NEO's fit perfectly into the Audi door's OEM location.
Extension rings were made from MDF, and then primed, and then painted with two coats of Plasti-Dip.

I didn't take any pictures of the Esotar 430's, but they are mounted onto the back-side of the door skin with custom brackets that I had a friend (with a shop) make for me.
Shoutout to: SoundsGood Auto Services Inc. Metro Vancouver, BC

This area (circled in red) is molded into the steel of the door, to accomadate the OEM midrange depth. It also is just deep enough to fit an Esotar driver!

The doors are all covered with Noico 80mil CLD sound deadener - yes, I used Noico. I had a pile of it leftover from previous builds.
The inner door skins are treated with Noico Closed-Cell PE foam deadener.


Factory integration was a nightmare in this car...
Typically, you would just unplug the fiber MOST cable from the factory amp in the trunk, and plug it into the Zen-V...
But Audi updated their MMI for 2021, and the brain unit (with the fibre access point) is located behind the glove box. So it all had to come out.
I also had to run a fiber line from the glove box, back to the rear of the car (where my Zen-V is located):

Here's the splitter cable, coming from the feed and then going into the MMI brain unit, and also feeding out to the line going to my trunk:

The Helix DSP is located in the spot where the factory amp was (behind the driver's side rear wheel):
The Zen-V is also tucked in there... but you can't see it.

On the passenger side rear wheel; is where the stealth sub enclosure is.
It's a custom enclosure, made by Basser (in Poland). He built it and shipped it cheaper than I could even buy the material for!

Basser - FBaudi11 Audi A5/S5 (F5) Sportback 2 Fit-Box subwoofer enclosure

FBaudi11 Audi A5/S5 (F5) Sportback 2 Fit Box subwoofer enclosure Fit box subwoofer enclosure is the ideal way to improve bass in the car. By matching to the vehicle takes little

sklep.basser.pl

I stuffed it with Poly-Fil to compensate for the fact that the enclosure is slightly undersized for the sub.

 

[JimmyDee]

Back doors have Sinfoni Tempo 10 Tweeters, and Dynaudio Esotar 650 mids.
Total overkill for rear fill... but I had them sitting around from a previous build, so I used them here.

I used Noico butyl sound deadener on the steel frame of the doors, and Noico foam on the inner door skins (the foam is mainly to eliminate rattles)

I also put quick disconnect plugs on the tweeter leads (dangling on the left-hand side), in case I need to pull the doorskins off - they can easily unplug.

Now back to the stealth sub;
I drilled holes into the steel chassis, and inserted Riv-Nuts to hold the sub in place.
Then cut 5" lengths of threaded rod, and inserted them into the Riv-Nuts:
Also ran a length of 12awg wire from the amp area, to feed the sub.

Slipped the threaded rod through the pre-drilled mounting holes:

And secured it with Allen Cap Bolts:

Worked out great. That sucker is in there tight! Give it a tug... it's solid. Not going anywhere.
Also note that Basser has pre-cut a notch in the lower right corner, to retain the factory 12V power outlet.

 

[JimmyDee]

Thanks to Amazon for the cardboard... I used it to make a template for the amp rack:

Amps and DSP sit perfectly flush underneath the floor piece.

I also made my own RCA's. They are all cut to size, to fit the application:

Super tidy... I'll never go back to regular store bought RCA's again.

OK... so the Audison amps lasted all of 3 months (my threshold for changing amps is sh!tty)
With that said; I do believe I may have hit Amplifier Xanadu with this new setup. Can't see myself swapping these out... ever.

Relocated the Helix DSP and the Zen-V back to the side cubby in the trunk:

And mounted a Zapco mono amp under the amp rack, for the sub. I've had this amp sitting in my basement for about 10 years... glad to finally use it!

Because of the long chassis covering the lugs; you have to wire these Brax amps upside down.

And the finished product:

Everything buttoned back up. Cover down... Fully stealth. I'm really please with how this turned out:

 

[cman]

Wow this is outstanding! I've seen gut shots of those Audison amps they look pretty nice. The little compartments are really cool i cant believe you fit everything in there..

 

[JimmyDee]

Wow this is outstanding! I've seen gut shots of those Audison amps they look pretty nice. The little compartments are really cool i cant believe you fit everything in there..

Class D amps have come a long way.
These Audison amps are VERY nice sounding. I give them THREE thumbs up!
They're solid too. The whole thing is aluminum. No plastic.

SR 4.500 | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers

www.audison.eu

SR 1.500 | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers

www.audison.eu

And before anyone asks... I would say; "yes, they sound as good as my old MMATS amps".

 

[Coppertone]

From one AUDI owner to another I say bravo…..


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[Jheitt142]

Dang talk about an interesting way to update the thread!

Surprising the box could be built and shipped for that cheap!

 

[slowride]

Class D amps have come a long way.
These Audison amps are VERY nice sounding. I give them THREE thumbs up!
They're solid too. The whole thing is aluminum. No plastic.

SR 4.500 | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers

www.audison.eu

SR 1.500 | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers

www.audison.eu

And before anyone asks... I would say; "yes, they sound as good as my old MMATS amps".

I was intrigued by these as audison has seem to fall out of favor here on this forum

 

[Muu]

That's come out really nice

 

[mumbles]

Really, really impressive work! The rivnut/threaded rod combo is genius! Also, thanks for posting the effort needed for the Violino tweets, I just picked up a set and was considering putting them in the same location.

 

[audiocholic]

wonderful car,great components and a well thought out install, hope all turns out amazing for a fellow member.


just kindly wanted to ask though wont the 4.500 being bridged yielding +450rms on an already super efficient 8inch midbass going to be overpowering the 10inch subwoofer barely recieving 500rms?

why not go:

1 x 4.500 bridged to front midbasses
2 x 5.600 with the total 8 stereo channels powering rear mid+ tweeter,front midranges + tweeters and 2 sub channels powering a dual 2ohm subwoofer

that way you would actually cut down to 3 amps instead of 4,still have adequate power for stereo yet have 1100rms going to your sub duty instead of 500 with a more balanced front end/sub.

 

[JimmyDee]

why not go:
1 x 4.500 bridged to front midbasses
2 x 5.600 with the total 8 stereo channels powering rear mid+ tweeter,front midranges + tweeters and 2 sub channels powering a dual 2ohm subwoofer

For anyone who has followed me... I tend to try a lot of new gear, and swap-out equipment often.
Then I hate selling the used stuff afterward - based on bad experiences.
Sell a guy a 6 month old amp for half price, and he still finds something to complain about... pisses me off, so I don't do it anymore.
Then, I end-up with a basement full of high-end equipment, just sitting around. Which pisses my wife off...

I already owned all of the speakers (from previous builds) and wanted to use them on this vehicle.
I mean, let's be honest; an Esotar 650 and Tempo 10 tweeter is WAY overkill for rear fill... but I had them sitting around for years.

Ya, the bridged amp to the front midbass might also be overkill... but that's where proper tuning comes into play.
Everything is blended nicely. The sub gets plenty enough power from that 1.500 amp.
It's a crazy loud system. Crystal clear. And none of the amps barely even get warm... that's what I wanted.

I have a friend who is an Audison dealer, and he gave me a great deal on those amps.
Shoutout to: SoundsGood Auto Services Inc. Metro Vancouver, BC

 

[AudioGal]

I want to give a huge shout-out to @AudioGal for tuning my system. She is an absolute Wizard!
Can't thank her enough... it sounds incredible! Way beyond what I was expecting. Tuning is what makes the system.

My pleasure JimmyDee , it was awesome being able to enjoy the massaging seat while tuning!!!

I am super happy that the system met your expectations. It turned out very nice !!

 

[oldieHawn]

Dreamy build. Any plans to mod the rs5 beyond audio?

 

[JimmyDee]

Any plans to mod the rs5 beyond audio?

Today, I say; "No".
But I also said I wasn't going to do a stereo in this vehicle...

The car is fully loaded... and stupidly fast already.

 

[Coppertone]

Yes, so leave it be ha ha ha.


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[Audi-A3]

Looks like a great build. sweet car as well, Have to love Audi for not making things easy.

 

[JimmyDee]

Have to love Audi for not making things easy.

They did seem to over-complicate it.
With that said; it's a massive upgrade over any of their previous MMI's... but not installer friendly.

But let's be honest; when they were designing it, I'm sure the last thing on their mind was: "how do make this easy for some chump to tap into, so he can beef-up the stereo..."

 

[Jheitt142]

Sell a guy a 6 month old amp for half price, and he still finds something to complain about... pisses me off, so I don't do it anymore.
Then, I end-up with a basement full of high-end equipment, just sitting around. Which pisses my wife off...

I'll take that deal and you'll never hear from me again! Might hear the car though.