[planner]

While I love my new 2020 XC40 Inscription, I was disappointed in the flat and cheap sound of the factory speakers. They are entry-level, paper products that don't compare to the engineering applied to the rest of the vehicle.

During the first month of ownership, I had our local auto sound specialist replace all of the speakers with Audison polypropylene speakers and had additional ones installed where cut outs for the upgraded Harmon Kardon system speakers would go. The new speakers offer concert hall quality and at a higher volume without changing the 8 OHM amplifier. Having a10 speaker/1 sub-woofer system makes quality sound even throughout the cabin.

Apparently, the center channel comes with the upgraded Harmon Kardon speaker set so that does not need to be replaced.

As a result, the upgrade cost was less than half of what the Harmon Kardon upgrade offered by Volvo would cost. I couldn't be happier with the upgrade, but disappointed in Volvo for not providing such acoustical quality in their engineering. I encourage any owner that is dissatisfied with the sound to consider an after-market upgrade, with no impact to your warranty,

 

[Sir]

While speakers may make a difference it's the amplifier that is the key to significant improvements in audio quality. My 2019 S60 T6 R-design had a Wilkens-Bowers audio system. Unfortunately that system is not available XC40's.

Paul

 

[planner]

While speakers may make a difference it's the amplifier that is the key to significant improvements in audio quality. My 2019 S60 T6 R-design had a Wilkens-Bowers audio system. Unfortunately that system is not available XC40's.

Paul

Exactly. The best after-market approach is customizing the system to your cabin space. In the case of the XC40, the factory amp, offering 8 OHMs, is sufficient to go from the 7 speaker factory system to an 11 speaker custom system. In fact, my system plays louder with the after-market speakers than the factory, paper speaker.

 

[Sir]

Loud is not measure of audio quality, it's a quantitate measure not a quality measure. No matter how good the speaker it can only respond to the input signal it gets. Feed it crap and you get crap out, it's as simple as that. Important audion factors are how well the sound signal is amplified, frequency range, distortion, noise, reserve, signal response time, etc...
Take a look here: High Quality Audio Amplification

Paul

 

[planner]

Agreed. A quality system produces all frequency ranges at low volumes, of which I prefer. I apologize if you thought I was a boom boxer.

 

[Sir]

I wasn't judging you, sorry if it came across that way.

Paul

 

[Austrian Yodeler]

Hi.

Would you please tell me the exact name/specification of the replacement speakers. Even if i am not sure if get them here in Europe.

Greetings from Austria

Greg

 

[Sir]

Hi.

Would you please tell me the exact name/specification of the replacement speakers. Even if i am not sure if get them here in Europe.

Greetings from Austria

Greg

I too would like to know. Come on Planner, help us out.

Paul

 

[planner]

The speaker company I used is Audison out of Italy. www.audison.eu
While they offer several levels of speakers, the Prima line is affordable and outshines the Harmon Kardon speaker series.
I replaced the front and rear door speakers with the following:

Prima 4" Mid Range (AP4)
Prima Tweeters (AP1)
Prima 5 1/4 Coaxial (APX5)

The resulting sound is full with even sound throughout the cabin. I now Love my XC40.

 

[eugen61]

The speaker company I used is Audison out of Italy. www.audison.eu
While they offer several levels of speakers, the Prima line is affordable and outshines the Harmon Kardon speaker series.
I replaced the front and rear door speakers with the following:

Prima 4" Mid Range (AP4)
Prima Tweeters (AP1)
Prima 5 1/4 Coaxial (APX5)

The resulting sound is full with even sound throughout the cabin. I now Love my XC40.

Thanks for sharing, this is very helpful!

Do you know if the amplifier had to be reconfigured with new channels in order to add the extra 2 speakers in the bottom rear doors? Or it was possible to simply bin the tweeter from the top of the rear door and install the extra speaker in the bottom without wiring directly from the amplifier?

 

[planner]

I know the amplifier wasn’t replaced, but the specialist did need to make some calibrations. I recommend using a professional. The good news is that Volvo informed me that upgrading speakers not using Volvo will not impact their warranty.

 

[wakblak]

Can you provide more information for where and which speakers that you replaced.
You added the two extra speakers and they automatically worked?
Also, what calibration was done?

 

[wakblak]

Something like this:

https://www.facebook.com/1677033425897455/posts/2308492419418216

 

[Gumby]

Hello All,
I am looking at replacing my speakers, finding the factory very muffled.
has anyone replaced the centre dash speaker?
how did you remove the cover? and what did you replace it with?

 

[dansoldit]

Hello All,
I am looking at replacing my speakers, finding the factory very muffled.
has anyone replaced the centre dash speaker?
how did you remove the cover? and what did you replace it with?

I would love to dump the center speaker. All the sound seems to come from the center of the dash.

 

[Trickster]

I would love to dump the center speaker. All the sound seems to come from the center of the dash.

Totally agree, when I try to adjust the speakers to the rear they just seem to die out into a quiet mode. I prefer the music coming more from behind me so I don’t miss a word my wife says.😳