The One and Only Tesla Sound System Amplifier Upgrade

When it comes to EVs, the first thing you probably think is Tesla and for good reason! It’s because a) they are everywhere and b) they were pretty much the first ones to do it well. Or it could also be due to you either loving or hating Elon. Regardless, like many new cars, Teslas come with some great features from the factory, but also offer some fancier upgrades available as options.

Since car audio is kind of our thing, in this article we’re going to:

• Take a look at the sound systems you can get from new Teslas. 
  
• Check out the amplifiers that power the Tesla sound system.
  
• Show you how to make these setups even better than they are stock.

Enjoy the reading!

What Sound System Does Tesla Use?

The Tesla “sound system” is a combination of creaks, rattles, and poor fitment. BUT… decent audio is added to mask all that! Isn’t that nice? All jokes aside, the actual Tesla sound systems you get are genuinely pretty good for a factory setup.

While the Tesla audio components are all in-house developed, the people behind them are from some of the best car audio companies. When Tesla first started, their audio was handled by a German company called S1NN which was full of ex-engineers from other well known brands. They eventually got purchased by Harman Kardon.

Soon after, Tesla developed their current in-house audio department that started with some ex-Bang & Olufsen engineers. B&O, for those unaware, is one of the top car audio brands on the planet. I guess that’s what led Tesla to the, “if you can’t be ‘em, hire ‘em” practice on this one! Well, it paid off. 

Currently, Tesla offers two sound systems in their vehicles: the Standard Tesla Sound System, and the Premium Tesla Sound System. What’s the difference? Well, I’m glad you asked!

The Difference Between Tesla Standard and Premium Sound Systems

We already have some full articles covering both the Tesla Model 3 sound system and the Tesla Model Y sound system that you can check out for even more information. Here, let’s just get into a basic overview of them, shall we?

Standard System

First off, the standard system appears on certain variants and the premium on others; you can’t really option it into a lower trim car. The standard system on both comes with less speakers than the premium system, but their exact number has changed over the years.

Take the Model 3 for example: for a while, there were eight speakers, then around 2021 it went down to seven. In 2024 it went from seven to nine. The newer Tesla Model Y cars have a seven speaker system for the standard audio system.

When it comes to the Tesla sound system amplifier, this is where things get a little disappointing for the standard system. There is one amp that only produces 200 W peak power. You’re just not getting that much power out of a factory standard system no matter how hard you try.

Check out this article if you want to learn more about the differences between peak power and RMS power.

Premium System

The Tesla Premium System is where things get a little better: more speakers, more power, and so on. Numbers get a bit wonky for the Model 3 and Model Y, but here’s a breakdown of the basics.

Much like it did in the standard system, the premium system for the Tesla Model 3 also varied in the amount of speakers it used over the years: 15, then 14, and now 17. This includes two subwoofers in the trunk. The Model Y only ends up getting 13 speakers for the premium system with only one trunk sub in the rear.

Both systems get a bit of a treat when it comes to the amp though. Well, amps, actually, but let’s break it down in more detail…

Tesla Sound System Amplifier Specs – Is It Any Good?

With that tease out of the way, let’s talk a bit more about the amps. As mentioned before, the standard Tesla audio system comes with a single 200 W amp. While the clarity and quality of the speakers help the system a lot, 200 W peak only allows you to push the system so hard.

The premium Tesla audio system is where things get better. There are actually two amps, where one at 160 W is dedicated to just the rear Tesla subwoofers and the other at 400 W serves the rest of the system. With a total of 560 W RMS, that’s not too shabby. A comparable BMW with Harman Kardon only pumps out 464 W of power.

So, how do they sound? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. 

If you want raw, loud power, then maybe not. Tesla was never aiming to win any loudness contests. They crafted their systems (be it Standard or Premium) to give everyone in the vehicle a balanced and rich sound.

With no engine and a quiet ride overall, Tesla focused on an accurate and full sound over having to mask exterior noise. However, what if you want both clarity AND power? Is that even possible? Well, with a factory Tesla system, not really. That is where the world of aftermarket comes in.

The Best Custom Tesla Sound System Amplifier Upgrade

Sometimes there is just no choice but to upgrade a system if you want more power. In the world of car audio, the sky is pretty much the limit if you want to piece together random components, splice wires, solder, and more. When it comes to that though, you’re taking a risk as one wrong wire can fry the system. A mismatched amplifier can lead to poor performance or damaged speakers and there is a chance things may just simply not work properly (or at all).

The best option for ease of install, precise fitment, and guaranteed performance would be a complete plug-and-play kit. There are some options out there, but based on pretty thorough testing, we’re certain our Alpha One Tesla Sound System Amplifier is the best solution.

First off, it’s much more powerful – it produces 840 W RMS (1680 W peak). If we’re talking max for max, even at Tesla’s best (560 W peak), the Alpha One amp offers three times the power. While the subpar quality of BMW base or Hi-Fi speakers could be obliterated with that much power, thankfully Tesla’s ex-B&O engineers didn’t cut many corners, and the speakers can handle more power than the puny 200–560 W from the factory.

Additionally, Tesla audio systems are tuned one way and you have to hope that it’s the right way for you. But that’s the problem: not everyone has the same ears, listens to the same music, listens to things at the same levels, or drives in the same environments. Alpha One is tuned exactly for you.

As cheesy as it may sound (no pun intended), each amp is tuned for your specific ears, favorite music, and vehicle. Unlike the factory system, no Alpha One amplifier is tuned the same way. If that’s still not enough, the channel mapping, 30-band graphic EQ, time alignment, gain control, and more will allow for literally any type of sound adjustment you might want or need.

On top of that, all Alpha One kits are plug-and-play with no cutting, splicing, or hacked mounting solutions required. They come with all the harnesses you need, including cabling for an external subwoofer (we’ll get to that in a bit), and even a custom mounting bracket for the amp to keep everything neatly in place. There are even spare clips in the event you are feeling destructive while taking the Tesla apart. Or, you know, if one of them breaks. 

There is no guessing with the installation either. We provide our customers with detailed installation videos for reference. So far there is one for the Tesla Model 3 Highland Amplifier, but more will be coming.

Tesla Sound System – Upgrade Your Bass As Well!

There was a song a few years ago saying it’s all about that bass and it’s actually pretty true. Low end in your sound system (if done right) allows you to not just hear the music, but feel it. And not as obnoxious fart-like vibration. 

What does the stock low-end reproduction look like for the Tesla? The Standard Systems we mentioned earlier only have 2 woofers – both 8” in size and rated at 80 W. For the Premium System, there are 2 extra trunk subwoofers – also 8” in size, but rated at 160 W. This is a good start, but cranking things up too much can lead to a muddy sound, especially on the standard system without the trunk subs and a single amp.

If you DO have that weaker system, you might want to look into a complete upgrade. If you already made the decision to invest in an Alpha One amp, pairing it with an Alpha One SUB10 Subwoofer is the next best step.

The SUB10 is a 300 W trunk sub based around a 10” driver that looks as good as it sounds. You don’t have to worry about it drawing power from the main Alpha One amp as it has its own 900 W mono block amp paired with the driver. Remember those cables we said came with the Alpha One amp? They will run straight to the SUB10.

Here’s the main thing about the SUB10 though: it’s not made for competition. It’s made to enhance your listening experience. This will bring out the low end, allowing you to feel it, but without having to deal with the muddy sound characteristic of other subs. Just good, clean sound. Since it’s paired with the main amp, you’ll also be able to get a tune to make sure the SUB10 is getting the best signal it can to accurately replicate your music.

Installation is super simple, just like the main amp. It was made with quick disconnect cables in the event you wanted to use your trunk as an actual trunk. Imagine that! Just unplug and when you’re done, plug it back in. Simple.

It is worth noting that currently the SUB10 is only available for Alpha One Amp users, so make sure you pick one up before or while ordering your SUB10!

To Sum It All Up

Tesla went the extra mile to make a quality sound system in-house. However, it still has its limitations, which is especially obvious in the Standard system. Even the Premium System could use the help of a more powerful amp if you really want to crank things up and get the most out of it. Alpha One Amplifier is a fantastic option to make that happen and the SUB10 Tesla trunk subwoofer is a perfect addition to any Tesla sound system system.

We hope you found this article helpful! Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for other helpful maintenance and DIY focused videos for Tesla, BMW, MINI, and Supra.