Standard AWD ($59/69k) - Let's Discuss the Stereo System

[AWDMK4]

Let’s speculate on the SAWD (and now defunct RWD) speaker system, shall we? I’ll assume the Standard AWD (SAWD) will have the same drivers but I’m curious on which of the 15 speakers from the PAWD/CB they will use.

The Premium versions have the highly praised 15-speaker system with the following drivers:

I believe we’re confident we won’t get the (2) 200mm subs below the rear seats and also the (2) 100mm full range drivers in the ceiling above the rear seats. I’m also confident we don’t get the (2) 60mm full range in the side roof rails above the front seats since the grills are missing in the RWD pictures.

That leaves us with 9 remaining speakers:

(3) 100mm full range across the dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 100mm full range in the rear doors
(2) 25mm tweeters in the A-pillars


The big question is, what (2) speakers are missing from the 7-speaker system in the SAWD/RWD? Looking at the pictures of the RWD, there are smaller grills where the Premium tweeters are located. Since the grills are much smaller than the ones on the Premium, I would guess the grills are just for the blind spot monitoring LEDs and not for tweeters. Also, it would be unlike Tesla to create a separate tweeter grill if they already have one.

That would leave us with the following 7-speakers:

(3) 100mm full range across the dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 100mm full range in the rear doors


Even with what I’ve presented, I’m still skeptical since Wes from Tesla stated that even with the standard 7-speaker system, it is impressive and has good sound quality....

If that's true and it "covers the frequency spectrum", why eliminate the tweeters and not 2 of the full range speakers, either from the rear doors, or 2 out of the 3 from the dash.


So, if the tweeters are present, alternate configurations could be:

(3) 100mm full range across the dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 25mm tweeters in the A-pillars

This would provide a full front sound stage.

OR

(1) 100mm full range in the center dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 25mm tweeters in the A-pillars
(2) 100mm full range in the rear doors

Would provide good sound up front with some rear fill.


The Tesla Cybertruck Parts Catalog and Service Manual, at this time, does not differentiate between the sound system in the PAWD and SAWD so it was difficult pinning down what actually we’ll get.

I know we’re close to delivery of the first SAWD Cybertruck in June/July but has anyone with a 2025 Base RWD model confirmed the location and drivers used in the 7-speaker sound system?

Let's discuss!

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[AWDMK4]

If you're seeing 2 of the speaker overhead view images, i.e the one at the bottom, something is screwy with the forum tool. I've tried to delete it numerous times but it won't go away.

 

[TripleB]

My head just exploded to the point that if I was worried about sound that much I would just pay up the 20k.... All be it a big bag of money. I do appreciate the good work. Let me know what you find out.

I have a 59k cybertruck on order but it would be difficult to not get the beast. I just refused to spend 99k on one which is why I don't have one!

 

[AWDMK4]

LOL. Sorry, that's just the engineer/data geek in me!

While I love the premium sound system in my Model 3 Performance, I'm sure I'll be satisfied with the base sound system in my SAWD (on order). It was too good of a deal at $59k not to buy, and I'll have no regrets at that price and the $20k savings.

 

[Mini2nut]

This guy has driven the PAWD and the RWD trims and compared the suspension and sound systems. He claims the RWD truck is missing the bass "thump" which makes sense.

 

[UberNoob]

Mines in the shop for PCS currently so I can’t look, but if I’m not mistaken, there is another speaker between the two sheets of glass pointing tword the rear folk. Anyone with a foundation beast can confirm it?

 

[TarheelCT]

I’ve been waiting for this thread for some time. My biggest concern on the 59k was the sound system being inferior. Hoping there will be many aftermarket upgrade paths.

Op Great job breaking this down.

 

[comet2]

Let’s speculate on the SAWD (and now defunct RWD) speaker system, shall we? I’ll assume the Standard AWD (SAWD) will have the same drivers but I’m curious on which of the 15 speakers from the PAWD/CB they will use.

The Premium versions have the highly praised 15-speaker system with the following drivers:

I believe we’re confident we won’t get the (2) 200mm subs below the rear seats and also the (2) 100mm full range drivers in the ceiling above the rear seats. I’m also confident we don’t get the (2) 60mm full range in the side roof rails above the front seats since the grills are missing in the RWD pictures.

That leaves us with 9 remaining speakers:

(3) 100mm full range across the dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 100mm full range in the rear doors
(2) 25mm tweeters in the A-pillars


The big question is, what (2) speakers are missing from the 7-speaker system in the SAWD/RWD? Looking at the pictures of the RWD, there are smaller grills where the Premium tweeters are located. Since the grills are much smaller than the ones on the Premium, I would guess the grills are just for the blind spot monitoring LEDs and not for tweeters. Also, it would be unlike Tesla to create a separate tweeter grill if they already have one.

That would leave us with the following 7-speakers:

(3) 100mm full range across the dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 100mm full range in the rear doors


Even with what I’ve presented, I’m still skeptical since Wes from Tesla stated that even with the standard 7-speaker system, it is impressive and has good sound quality....

If that's true and it "covers the frequency spectrum", why eliminate the tweeters and not 2 of the full range speakers, either from the rear doors, or 2 out of the 3 from the dash.


So, if the tweeters are present, alternate configurations could be:

(3) 100mm full range across the dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 25mm tweeters in the A-pillars

This would provide a full front sound stage.

OR

(1) 100mm full range in the center dash at the base of the windshield
(2) 200mm woofer in the front doors
(2) 25mm tweeters in the A-pillars
(2) 100mm full range in the rear doors

Would provide good sound up front with some rear fill.


The Tesla Cybertruck Parts Catalog and Service Manual, at this time, does not differentiate between the sound system in the PAWD and SAWD so it was difficult pinning down what actually we’ll get.

I know we’re close to delivery of the first SAWD Cybertruck in June/July but has anyone with a 2025 Base RWD model confirmed the location and drivers used in the 7-speaker sound system?

Let's discuss!

Great analysis, OP. Thank you for all the work. Some AI-generated infographics based on your post, pictures, and speaker breakdown, so take with a grain of salt. The first image maps all 15 speakers in the PAWD/CB system, and the second shows three possible 7-speaker SAWD configurations depending on which two drivers get cut from the remaining nine.

 

[AWDMK4]

I’ve been waiting for this thread for some time. My biggest concern on the 59k was the sound system being inferior. Hoping there will be many aftermarket upgrade paths.

Op Great job breaking this down.

Thanks. We'll see soon enough on how this system performs. My wife's '23 M3 RWD has the standard sound system and it sounds pretty good for a entry level model. Better than the stock systems in my son's '17 Golf Sportwagen and my '17 F150 XLT. Her '23 M3 though is lacking highs since the tweeters, while present, are not active.

Replacing speakers in the CT is possible, but we may have a different (lower power) amp to drive them and adding amps could be a challenge with the 48v architecture. It'll be interesting to see if the wiring for the front 60mm full range & 25mm tweeters (if missing) is still there. Who will be the first to perform a tear down to find out?

In my '17 F150 I replaced the 4 door speakers with Infinity Kappa series speakers, which even with the stock head unit power, it was a big jump in sound quality. (Kappa's are amazing for the price)

Light Harmonic has a 7-speaker replacment set for the Long Range but I'm guessing this 7-speaker setup is based off their experience with the 15-speaker system CTs and not necessarily with a customer's Long Range CT. Hopefully I'm wrong and they are correct on the speaker locations.

One thing's for sure, my overnight demo of a PAWD left me REAL impressed with the 15-speaker sound system. Let's hope Wes was correct in his assessment on the base system.

 

[AWDMK4]

Just learned one of our members, @mikey19 in CA has a RWD model. Let's see if he notices this thread and could possibly chime in on which speakers are active in the RWD, and his overall thoughts on the system.

 

[AWDMK4]

It looks like we have a new RWD owner on the forums, @CyberTruckyWucky, along with a previous owner (traded later for a PAWD), @CyberWalrus.

@CyberWalrus provided his thoughts on the stereo on another RWD thread, which also has some great photos of his RWD:

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/long-range-rwd-delivery.48429/

I am no audiophile. When I originally demo drive RWD and AWD, it was still great in my ears. I don't listen to music with boosted up bass anymore, like more balanced. The AWD will be punchier. The RWD was great to me.

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