retrofit upgrades for a D2 S8

[Daz.g]

Hi all,

Does anyone know exactly what the standard Bose factory option contained ? Reading through the options codes there seems to be both active and passive systems, some with subwoofer option, some with two way or three way speaker options ........

I've found a retrofit package deal from A8parts on ebay that includes amp,speakers and wiring loom fitted for £475 but this has no mention of a subwoofer ?

Also wouldn't the head unit require some sort of software update to accomodate the Bose or would the fact its connected with a Bose wiring loom 'tell' the headunit ?

On another note I've been thinking about the RNS-D to RNS-E upgrade on CraigyB's site, What benefits would I gain from this ? As far as I can tell just the advanced navigation and mp3 functionality. Would there be any sound quality differences between this head unit and my current one ?

The reason I'm asking all this is that my brother has a 2008 S3 with the bose option and the RNS-E headunit and it sounds AMAZING. My current one just lacks any midrange adjustment so it either sounds earpiercingly tinny or crap on the bass.

So in your opinion would I get what I'm looking for from a simple Bose retrofit or change the headunit ...... or both ???

Cheers all,

And heres a new picture of the new S8 now the suns showed its face...

[PsYcHe]

The unit should know whether or not it has Bose by the wiring.

The RNSD to E swap is definitely an upgrade... Ian from A8parts has just done it.. I'd give them a call to chat through it and make sure your happy.

[SINGH]

And a nice simple mod for you would be newer style S8 badges like this AUDI S8 emblem badge RED RS4 A6 A8 S6 S4 S8 RS8 RS6 TT on eBay (end time 25-May-10 05:57:26 BST)

Front and rear.

[Mex77]

But those are plastic and will look cheap after a while

[zip]

this link shows the D2 BOSE configuration.

http://www.bose.co.uk/GB/Images/Audi_A8_(D2)_Baujahr_1993-2001_DE_tcm6-6242.pdf

No subs, but 2 ported bass enclosures in the front doors (waveguide thingies?)

Zip

[IT_S8]

Hi all,

Does anyone know exactly what the standard Bose factory option contained ? Reading through the options codes there seems to be both active and passive systems, some with subwoofer option, some with two way or three way speaker options ........

I've found a retrofit package deal from A8parts on ebay that includes amp,speakers and wiring loom fitted for £475 but this has no mention of a subwoofer ?

Also wouldn't the head unit require some sort of software update to accomodate the Bose or would the fact its connected with a Bose wiring loom 'tell' the headunit ?

The Bose option gave you 8 high quality speakers, 2 parcel shelf, 2 front door lower, 2 front door upper and 2 rear door lower to replace the 10 low quality speakers you have at present, 2 front door speakers upper, 2 front door speakers lower, 2 rear speakers lower, 2 rear parcel shelf and 2 rear speakers upper.

You get a seperate amp in the boot (in the gap under the CD changer) and the wiring from the amp to the speakers is notably of a higher quality than the non-bose setup. It uses the same headunits, CD changers etc and is a setting on the headunit using vagcom to switch Bose on / off as with bose all speakers are driven off the line out on the headunit, where the normal setup runs the front speakers directly and the rear parcel shelf speakers run from a line out connection, with mini amps in each parcel shelf speaker that in turn feeds the rear doors also....

The 'woof' is from the lower front door speakers, they have a sizeable base box built on the back which goes half way down the length of the door. There is no seperate sub woofer like you might get in an A6 avant for example.

Hope that helps

[Daz.g]

cheers for all the advice guys, I'm sold on the bose upgrade. does the bose option give you different sound controls in the menu so you can change extra settings or will i have the same as now ie ; no midrange adjustment . I guess just the change to the amplification method should bring good benefits with the sound quality and not necessarily need tweaking .... think this might be my next purchase as i'm still having trouble deciding what wheels to go for( such a nightmare with the S8 !! - got to be real careful not to ruin the whole look of the car ! ) - i might revert my funding to the audio:grin: