How much better is the sound system of the 2018 MK7 Golf vs MK5 2005 Golf?

[jaygolfgti]

How much better is the sound system of the 2018 MK7 Golf vs MK5 2005 Golf?

[SRGTD]

There’s a good chance you won’t get any responses to your question. Ideally, to get objective views you’d need someone who currently owns both a mk5 and mk7.5 GTI (a 2018 car will be a mk7.5, not a mk7) who can compare the two back to back, and I dare say there aren’t many who currently own both cars.

There’ll no doubt be some forum members with a mk7.5 GTI who owned a mk5 GTI in the past. However, remembering the finer points of the performance of a mk5 GTI’s sound system from a number of years ago and being able to make an objective like for like comparison with a mk7.5’s system wouldn’t be easy IMHO (memories fade, mk5 GTI sound systems may have been been fitted with aftermarket head units and / or speakers). I owned a 2007 mk5 GT which had the optional RCD500 unit (multi CD changer). I can remember that it was fine for a 2007 system and it did the job, but I wouldn’t be able to comment objectively on how the sound quality compared with the infotainment unit in my current car as it’s 11 years ago since I owned the mk5.

I believe forum member @willni does have both a mk5 GTI (an ED30 model) and a mk7.5 GTI Performance. However, I think their mk7.5 has the upgraded Dynaudio system, so any comparison they may be able to provide might not answer your query if the mk7.5 you’re getting has the standard system.

Don’t know if you’re part exchanging your mk5 against the mk7.5 but if you are, why don’t you listen to both systems back to back on the day you collect your mk7.5? That way, you’ll be in the best position to judge for yourself.

[willni]

I believe forum member @willni does have both a mk5 GTI (an ED30 model) and a mk7.5 GTI Performance. However, I think their mk7.5 has the upgraded Dynaudio system, so any comparison they may be able to provide might not answer your query if the mk7.5 you’re getting has the standard system.

Thanks for the shout out SRGTD, I'm no great use either to be honest I put a set of rainbow speakers and an aftermarket radio into my mk5, so it's very good. (Even though I mostly have the radio off and listen to the nice non-GPF exhaust)

However my brother does have a mk5 R32 with the 10 speaker pack (note some mk5 gti's only got 8 ), and there's a massive difference between the dynaudio of the 7.5 and the Mk5. My old GTD didn't have dynaudio but I did put a helix sub and DSP in it which got it to 85-90% of the Dynaudio system but gave more custom settings.

So I can't directly compare anymore but from memory the standard 7.5 system is much better than the mk5 because it has younger components and they moved away from paper speakers which the mk5 had.

[dubber36]

I'd say that the Dynaudio in my lads 2009 Scirocco sounds better than our 2021 Tig Elegance.

Are you comparing the quality of the Mk5 Golf radio and speakers when they were new against a Mk7 Golf now, or 10 year old paper cone speakers against 3 year old ones?

[willni]

I'd say that the Dynaudio in my lads 2009 Scirocco sounds better than our 2021 Tig Elegance.

Are you comparing the quality of the Mk5 Golf radio and speakers when they were new against a Mk7 Golf now, or 10 year old paper cone speakers against 3 year old ones?

Pretty certain the scirocco of 2009 Dynaudio system is the virtually the same as the mk7, but a premium sound pack will always sound better than standard speakers due to the higher watts pushing the speakers harder.

12 year old paper vs 2 year old mk7 standard

[coolhandluke123]

I've experience of both. The MK5 I had had the VW sat nav which came with a better speaker set up than the standard head unit. My MK7. 5 has the Dynoaudio which gives a far superior sound, more settings and a built-in sub.

[jaygolfgti]

Cool, so mine will have Dynoaudio, do they all come with it as standard?

[coolhandluke123]

Cool, so mine will have Dynoaudio, do they all come with it as standard?

No, it's an optional extra.

[SRGTD]

I’d suggest spending some time listening to the standard sound system before spending money on upgrading it. Many owners are quite happy with the standard set up and we all hear things slightly differently, so after living with the standard system for a while, you may feel it’s not necessary to upgrade it.

If you do decide to upgrade, Dynaudio was the factory fit sound system upgrade in the mk7 / mk7.5 Golf. It may be possible to retrofit it but I dare say it’d be quite expensive to do. An alternative option might be the Helix plug and play sub that fits in the spare wheel well. I’m not sure if it’s still available to buy new; it was a VW accessory for the mk7 Golf so you’d need to check a) if it’s still available and b) if it’s compatible with the mk7.5 Golf. There are usually a few used examples for sale on the internet. From memory, it may be necessary to sacrifice your spare wheel if you did go for the Helix - assuming it is compatible with your car’s sound system.

[ub7rm]

My Mk5 was an early model so had 10 speakers - but I noticed a marked improvement when I changed from the standard RCD300 unit to the fancier sat nav model that was all the rage as a retrofit at the time. 

I can't help with a direct comparison, too much time and other cars have passed over the driveway since, but would echo that the standard mk7 speaker set up is actually very good.