At lower volumes (and lower speeds) it’s fairly balanced, with just a bit of roughness and fringing in the higher frequency range that’s worrying. But crank it up (while the Taycan is very quiet, tire noise becomes disproportionately intrusive at higher speeds) and a lot of its composure makes it go away. The more you pile on the volume, the rougher and more vulgar it becomes. Each area of the frequency range decides to compete with each other, and the result is like sitting in someone’s migraine.
In the end, the system was only marginally imperfect in a reasonable amount, and then clearly imperfect. It’s really weird that something Porsche-related (relatively speaking) should crash when asked to shift into high gear.
Score: 5/10
Bose System: Channels: 14 – 4 x 19mm tweeter, 5 x 100mm midrange, 2 x 165mm woofer, 1 x 200mm subwoofer, 2 x 220mm subwoofer. Power: 710 watts. Zoom in: Category D. Bluetooth codec: SBC, AAC. Apple CarPlay: yes
More speakers and more power. In a nutshell, this is the story of audio upgrades. But the Taycan’s Bose option also includes a system called SoundTrue (one designed to recover lost information from compressed digital music files) and a system that switches between “linear” sound (pronounced “stereo”) and surround sound Options.
Both functions are handled quickly. Surround sound offers a level of Dolby Atmos-style spatial audio, and because it’s subtle, it’s very effective. SoundTrue just pushes the mids forward and sounds as good as the original.
Overall, this is undoubtedly more complete, dynamic, and faithful than the standard system. Yes, it’s a midrange striker, but it’s less of an issue here than elsewhere because the tonal balance is very natural in a broad sense.
Bass performance is particularly impressive. All the depth and impact you can actually ask for, as well as the speed and control. So the low frequencies won’t be dull, the mids won’t be overwhelmed, and the door panels won’t resonate.
The high end is problematic, though. It’s bright to the point of being hard, and at fairly loud volumes it’s borderline ‘jarring’. Considering the noise entering the cabin tends to be well below the frequency range, it really doesn’t seem like this is necessary. With the EQ to back off the treble, it’s a little less front-facing, but just as noticeable and thin.
So, what you’re getting for $1,200 is, basically, a massive, enveloping, impressive sound that’s totally overemphasized on the high end.
Score: 7/10
Recommendation: Upgrade! But it’s not an easy task.
Tesla Model 3 Standard and Premium Audio
Photo: Tesla
Telsa boss Elon Musk very concerned about the sound The company’s cars, this is evident in the design of the audio systems inside its best-selling cars. Both the standard and premium systems built by the Telsa team are immersive and tuned to make it a pleasure to listen to them in such a quiet cabin. Unfortunately, you can’t just upgrade your audio system as an option on the Model 3. You’ll need to choose the remote or performance model for a higher-end setup, and the remote setup will cost an extra $9,000 plus a $14,000 gig.
Standard system (unofficial): Channels: 8 – 1 x 1″ tweeter, 7 x 4″ midrange, 1 x 8″ subwoofer. Power: 350 watts. Zoom in: Category D. Bluetooth codec: SBC, AAC. Apple Carplay: No.
You’ll find the smaller Tesla sound system in the standard-range Model 3, maybe six fewer drivers in total, and nine in total throughout the cabin and trunk, but that doesn’t mean it’s a slouch.
You’ll get less overall soundstage and detail, but the entry-level OEM still outperforms most thanks to the smart cabin design and equally great speaker placement. The system may have a tweeter, but it’s expertly aimed at the center of the dash, using the windshield as a waveguide.
