Elise S3 speakers

[Trebor_UK]

Any recommendations for speakers to replace the OEM ones in an S3 Elise?

Currently have the in-dash fronts only but want to fit rear ones also.

Got a new stereo (Power Acoustic CP-71W) ready to fit once I get the car back from the suspension investigation and wanting to do the speakers too, think adding the rears will improve the sound and what I can hear, esp when the roof is off.

Have updated the stereo firmware already so it does Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay now

Have also changed the boot-up screen, well had to be done didn't it

 

 

[Guido]

Hi,

I replaced the Alpine ones in my Exige for Focal ones.  Are they any better?  Certainly clearer but not night and day.  The best quality/sound improvement came from when I changed the headunit.  I also have a small sub for the passenger foot-well but haven't got around to fitting it yet.

I have my old Alpine rears gathering dust in the garage.  You're welcome to them (FOC) if you want to give them a whirl.

I hope the suspension issue is a simple, cheap fix!  

Edited May 2, 2025 by Guido

[Matt5964]

We changed to the focal ac100 in front and Ac130 rears, didn’t come alive until we added an alpine inline class D amp behind the dash, ktp445 I think

then added a sub in footwell, much better now

[Dave-hp]

23 hours ago, Trebor_UK said:

Any recommendations for speakers to replace the OEM ones in an S3 Elise?

Currently have the in-dash fronts only but want to fit rear ones also.

Got a new stereo (Power Acoustic CP-71W) ready to fit once I get the car back from the suspension investigation and wanting to do the speakers too, think adding the rears will improve the sound and what I can hear, esp when the roof is off.

Have updated the stereo firmware already so it does Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay now

Have also changed the boot-up screen, well had to be done didn't it

 

 

Hey, i like that single DIN stereo! I take it that it fits the standard slot, in say a series 2? Mine has an original Alpine, I need one that syncs with my iphone!

How have you found it so far?

Did the S3 not have rear speakers? Or only certain models? To be fair I find airpods easier to hear sometimes, but that will be the Larini exhaust drowning out the front and rear speakers 🙂 

 

Edited May 2, 2025 by Dave-hp
add

[Trebor_UK]

1 hour ago, Dave-hp said:

Hey, i like that single DIN stereo! I take it that it fits the standard slot, in say a series 2? Mine has an original Alpine, I need one that syncs with my iphone!

How have you found it so far?

Did the S3 not have rear speakers? Or only certain models? To be fair I find airpods easier to hear sometimes, but that will be the Larini exhaust drowning out the front and rear speakers 🙂 

 

Haven’t fitted it yet, but yes fits the std 1-din slot.

my S3 has front speakers only, but there are grills for the rears and I’m told the wiring is there so should be just a case of fitting them and connecting up. 

Will report back once fitted and I’ve tested it with CarPlay for nav and music

[Dave-hp]

14 hours ago, Trebor_UK said:

Haven’t fitted it yet, but yes fits the std 1-din slot.

my S3 has front speakers only, but there are grills for the rears and I’m told the wiring is there so should be just a case of fitting them and connecting up. 

Will report back once fitted and I’ve tested it with CarPlay for nav and music

Where did you purchase it from? I take it uk? 

[Trebor_UK]

1 hour ago, Dave-hp said:

Where did you purchase it from? I take it uk? 

No, I got it from Walmart when I was in the US recently, bargain at $140. I had planned to get at least 1 more to bring back but there was only 1 on the shelf at the store. 
 

As soon as I get it fitted I’ll put some installed pics up. 

[Trebor_UK]

Fitted the stereo yesterday. Tested today and worked great for nav on over 5 hrs of driving.

Today ordered Focal 100AC speakers for the front and 130AC for the rear - both appear to be straightforward fitment to existing mounting points.

 

[DeanB]

That's really nice.

 

[Trebor_UK]

Got the Focal speakers in today. Wow, how much better it sounds, much richer and deeper sound.

biggest thing I think is the rears now putting out significant sound, and I can actually hear the music at 70mph with the roof off (before was just noise and distortion if turned up loud enough to hear).

Very happy with the result.

[Matt5964]

4 hours ago, Trebor_UK said:

Got the Focal speakers in today. Wow, how much better it sounds, much richer and deeper sound.

biggest thing I think is the rears now putting out significant sound, and I can actually hear the music at 70mph with the roof off (before was just noise and distortion if turned up loud enough to hear).

Very happy with the result.

Add a alpine ktp445 or focal impulse inline class d amp to get the best out of the vocal’s , I fits behind the head unit in the dash

 

https://caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/alpine-ktp-445a-head-unit-power-pack-amplifier?variant=49369558384970&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21094411866&gbraid=0AAAAADoKi737uW3oWj5gTmEnDpz4x9W48&gclid=CjwKCAjw3MXBBhAzEiwA0vLXQTRKv9Pp2tjCSuVDK4hg5VuKdPd-7USTWhYjSPok8gwLjYuF3p2gkRoCy1UQAvD_BwE

 

https://caraudiocentre.co.uk/products/m-focal-impulse?variant=45592444240153&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=19020260339&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=636898637463&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19020260339&gbraid=0AAAAADyAplqsSehyBPSBImeJqoa0-lQ7A&gclid=CjwKCAjw3MXBBhAzEiwA0vLXQRlC7jAWwiDFaL1UXgtxpCcnP2BS7CiKvMni-X_Omni2l0TcbnhSYRoC7JAQAvD_BwE

 

 

 

 

[Trebor_UK]

10 hours ago, Matt5964 said:

Add a alpine ktp445 or focal impulse inline class d amp to get the best out of the vocal’s , I fits behind the head unit in the dash

 

https://caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/alpine-ktp-445a-head-unit-power-pack-amplifier?variant=49369558384970&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21094411866&gbraid=0AAAAADoKi737uW3oWj5gTmEnDpz4x9W48&gclid=CjwKCAjw3MXBBhAzEiwA0vLXQTRKv9Pp2tjCSuVDK4hg5VuKdPd-7USTWhYjSPok8gwLjYuF3p2gkRoCy1UQAvD_BwE

 

https://caraudiocentre.co.uk/products/m-focal-impulse?variant=45592444240153&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=19020260339&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=636898637463&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19020260339&gbraid=0AAAAADyAplqsSehyBPSBImeJqoa0-lQ7A&gclid=CjwKCAjw3MXBBhAzEiwA0vLXQRlC7jAWwiDFaL1UXgtxpCcnP2BS7CiKvMni-X_Omni2l0TcbnhSYRoC7JAQAvD_BwE

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the links.

Will see how it goes for a while, but like the idea that the amp is hidden behind the head unit. 

[Daggers1]

I replaced the rear speakers with Blaupunkt ones to match the stereo head unit (Blaupunkt Essen 200). Sound still wasn't that great, so decided I really needed a subwoofer. Ended up getting the Rockville  800W sub. Fitted it behind the seats and WOW! It's like having a whole new stereo system. Already have a windscreen mounted Android Auto unit with a dashcam built in which ius very handy.

[X1022x]

Hi all

 

Thinking about doing this myself. Still a good way to go a year later?

 

Cheers!