Shaun originally contacted MC Audio looking for a compact bass solution for his 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster.

Like many Porsche 718 owners, he enjoyed the vehicle’s performance and driving experience but felt that the standard audio system lacked depth, bass impact and overall presence.

His initial idea was to install a slimline active subwoofer without compromising the limited space inside the cabin.

After inspecting the vehicle and carefully assessing the available installation space, we completed the first stage using a HELIX U 10A 10-inch active slimline subwoofer.

The improvement in bass performance encouraged Shaun to continue developing the system. He later returned for a complete second-stage upgrade using premium HELIX COMPOSE speakers, a MATCH DSP amplifier and a Porsche-specific plug-and-play integration harness.

The result was a properly engineered two-stage audio system rather than a simple speaker replacement.

Stage One: HELIX U 10A Active Slimline Subwoofer

The first stage focused on improving the low-frequency performance of the Porsche.

HELIX U 10A – 10-Inch Active Slimline Subwoofer

The HELIX U 10A combines a compact enclosure, a 10-inch subwoofer and an integrated amplifier in a single unit.

Its slimline design makes it suitable for performance vehicles where installation space is limited and a conventional subwoofer enclosure would take up too much room.

The HELIX U 10A provided:

Deeper bass extension
Stronger low-frequency impact
More warmth and weight
Integrated amplification
Compact installation
Independent bass control
Minimal impact on the Porsche interior
Clean integration with the factory audio system

Because the amplifier is built into the enclosure, there was no need to install a separate mono amplifier during the first stage.

The subwoofer was professionally secured and integrated while preserving the vehicle’s factory appearance and practicality.

2018 Porsche 718 Boxster undergoing a premium car audio upgrade at MC Audio Sydney

Why Bass Is Challenging in a Porsche 718 Boxster

The Porsche 718 has a compact cabin with very little unused space.

Any subwoofer installation must account for:

Seat movement and adjustment
Factory wiring
Interior panel clearance
Passenger comfort
Safe amplifier ventilation
Roof operation
Secure mounting during spirited driving

This is why we always inspect the vehicle before confirming whether a particular slimline subwoofer can be installed safely.

After completing the first stage, the Porsche had considerably more bass depth and impact. However, the improvement also revealed the limitations of the original speakers and factory amplification.

This led to the second stage of the project.

HELIX U 10A 10-inch active slimline subwoofer installed in a Porsche 718 Boxster

Stage Two: Complete HELIX COMPOSE Speaker Upgrade

The second stage was designed to transform the complete listening experience.

Shaun wanted greater clarity, stronger output, improved sound distribution and better performance when driving with the roof open.

The final speaker package included dedicated tweeters, midrange speakers, 8-inch door woofers and rear coaxial speakers from the HELIX COMPOSE range.

HELIX Ci3 T20FM-AL MK2 Tweeters

The factory tweeters were replaced with:

HELIX Ci3 T20FM-AL MK2 – 0.75-inch tweeter pair, FlexMount, 4 ohms

These compact premium tweeters were selected to improve high-frequency detail while maintaining a smooth and refined sound character.

They helped reproduce:

Fine musical detail
Cymbals and percussion
Vocal presence
Instrument harmonics
Soundstage height
Greater clarity at higher volumes

The HELIX FlexMount system provides additional installation flexibility, making it easier to integrate the speakers discreetly into factory-style locations.

The objective was not to create an excessively bright or aggressive system. The tweeters were professionally tuned to deliver clean detail without becoming tiring during longer drives.

Titanium dome tweeter HELIX Ci3 T20FM-TI installed Mclaren 720s MC Audio Syndey

HELIX Ci3 M100FM-S3 Midrange Speakers

The front midrange speakers were upgraded using:

HELIX Ci3 M100FM-S3 – 4-inch midrange speaker pair, FlexMount, 3 ohms

The midrange is one of the most important parts of any audio system because it reproduces much of the human voice and many of the instruments we hear in music.

These HELIX Ci3 midrange speakers delivered:

Clearer vocals
Greater instrument definition
Improved detail
More natural tonal balance
Better separation between performers
Increased output compared with the factory speakers

Together with the Ci3 tweeters, the midrange speakers created a much stronger and more accurate front soundstage.

Instead of hearing sound from individual factory speaker locations, the system was tuned to create a more natural presentation in front of the driver.

HELIX Ci5 S200FM-S2 eight-inch door woofers installed in a Porsche 718 Boxster

HELIX Ci5 S200FM-S2 8-Inch Door Woofers

The lower section of the front soundstage was upgraded using:

HELIX Ci5 S200FM-S2 – 8-inch subwoofer pair, FlexMount, 2 ohms

These 8-inch HELIX woofers were installed in the factory door locations to provide significantly stronger midbass and lower-frequency performance.

They were selected to complement the HELIX U 10A active subwoofer.

The HELIX U 10A handles the deeper bass frequencies, while the Ci5 door woofers reproduce the upper bass and midbass range.

This combination improved:

Kick drum impact
Bass definition
Front-stage energy
Transition between the speakers and subwoofer
Low-frequency control
Overall system dynamics

The factory woofers could not provide the authority or control required to match the upgraded subwoofer. The Ci5 8-inch woofers helped bring the bass forward and connect it naturally with the rest of the music.

Rear Speaker Upgrade for Roof-Open Driving

One of the most important parts of the second stage was improving the rear sound coverage.

The Porsche 718 Boxster is a convertible, and the audio system must perform under very different acoustic conditions depending on whether the roof is open or closed.

When the roof is open, wind and road noise increase while a significant amount of sound energy escapes from the cabin.

To reinforce the system without overpowering the front soundstage, we installed dedicated HELIX coaxial speakers in the rear.

HELIX Ci3 C100.2FM-S3 MK2 coaxial rear speakers for improved roof-open sound

HELIX Ci3 C100.2FM-S3 MK2 Rear Coaxial Speakers

The rear upgrade used:

HELIX Ci3 C100.2FM-S3 MK2 – 4-inch two-way coaxial speaker pair, FlexMount, 3 ohms

These speakers combine a midrange driver and tweeter within one compact assembly.

They were ideal for the limited rear installation area of the Porsche while still providing both midrange and high-frequency reproduction.

The rear coaxial speakers improved:

Rear cabin sound coverage
Clarity while the roof is open
Overall system volume
Passenger listening experience
Tonal balance throughout the cabin
Sound energy at motorway speeds

The rear speakers were not installed to move the soundstage behind the driver.

Through careful DSP tuning, they were used as rear fill—supporting the front system and improving the overall listening environment without becoming distracting.

MATCH UP 8DSP Amplifier and System Controller

The complete speaker system was powered and controlled using:

MATCH UP 8DSP – eight-channel plug-and-play amplifier with nine-channel DSP

This amplifier became the heart of the second-stage upgrade.

The MATCH UP 8DSP was an excellent choice for the Porsche because it combines multiple amplified channels, advanced digital signal processing and a compact physical design.

Space inside a Porsche 718 is limited, so amplifier dimensions are extremely important.

Despite its compact size, the MATCH UP 8DSP provided the flexibility required to manage the upgraded front speakers, rear speakers and complete system integration.

MATCH UP 8DSP eight-channel amplifier installed for a Porsche 718 audio system

Why the MATCH UP 8DSP Was Essential

Replacing factory speakers without upgrading the amplifier would have severely limited the final result.

The MATCH UP 8DSP provided:

Eight amplified output channels
Nine-channel DSP processing
Individual speaker control
Digital crossover management
Time alignment
Phase adjustment
Equalisation
Speaker level matching
Subwoofer integration
Front and rear sound balance

Every speaker inside the Porsche is positioned at a different distance from the driver.

Without time alignment, the sound from the closest speakers reaches the driver before the sound from the speakers on the opposite side of the vehicle.

The DSP allows us to digitally delay individual channels so that sound from each speaker arrives at the listening position at the correct time.

This creates a more accurate and stable front soundstage.

Porsche-Specific Plug-and-Play Harness

The amplifier was integrated using:

MATCH PP-VAG Porsche Edition – Porsche plug-and-play harness for MATCH amplifiers

The specific harness used was the:

Molex PP-VAG 2.6 Porsche Edition – 2-metre harness

This vehicle-specific integration component was critical to maintaining a professional and reversible installation.

Why the Porsche Harness Matters

Rather than cutting into the vehicle’s factory audio wiring, the MATCH Porsche Edition harness connects the DSP amplifier to the original system using compatible factory-style connectors.

This provides several advantages:

No unnecessary cutting of factory wiring
Cleaner installation
Faster and safer integration
Easier future servicing
Reversible installation
Reduced risk of wiring faults
Preservation of the Porsche’s original electrical system

The plug-and-play harness allowed us to access the factory audio signals and route them through the MATCH UP 8DSP before sending the processed and amplified output to the upgraded HELIX speakers.

This is a much more professional approach than modifying or splicing the original wiring loom.

Acoustic Treatment and Door Preparation

Installing premium woofers into untreated factory doors can limit their performance.

The additional power and movement generated by the HELIX Ci5 8-inch woofers can create vibration within the metal and plastic door structure.

Acoustic treatment was used to stabilise the speaker mounting area and reduce unwanted resonance.

This helped improve:

Door rigidity
Midbass definition
Low-frequency control
Speaker efficiency
Reduction of rattles
Overall sound refinement

By reducing energy loss through the door structure, more of the speaker’s output is directed into the cabin.

This made the bass cleaner, more controlled and more consistent at higher listening volumes.

HELIX Ci3 C100.2FM-S3 MK2 coaxial rear speakers for improved roof-open sound

Complete DSP Equalisation and Tuning

Once all components were installed, the system required complete calibration.

The MATCH UP 8DSP gave us access to individual channels for the front tweeters, front midrange speakers, front 8-inch woofers and rear coaxial speakers.

The HELIX U 10A was then integrated with the rest of the upgraded system.

The professional tuning process included:

Individual channel configuration
Crossover adjustment
Time alignment
Speaker level matching
Frequency response correction
Phase adjustment
Subwoofer integration
Rear-fill calibration
Soundstage positioning
Final listening tests

The vehicle remained with us while the complete installation, setup and equalisation were completed.

The final calibration was performed before Shaun collected the Porsche.

This tuning stage is what transformed the separate components into one complete audio system.

Complete Component List

Stage One

HELIX U 10A
10-inch active slimline subwoofer
Integrated 180W RMS amplifier
Compact and discreet installation
Factory audio system integration

Stage Two – Front Speakers

HELIX Ci3 T20FM-AL MK2
0.75-inch tweeter pair
FlexMount installation system
4-ohm impedance
HELIX Ci3 M100FM-S3
4-inch midrange speaker pair
FlexMount installation system
3-ohm impedance
HELIX Ci5 S200FM-S2
8-inch subwoofer and woofer pair
FlexMount installation system
2-ohm impedance

Stage Two – Rear Speakers

HELIX Ci3 C100.2FM-S3 MK2
4-inch two-way coaxial speaker pair
Used for the rear speaker positions
FlexMount installation system
3-ohm impedance

Amplification and Integration

MATCH UP 8DSP
Eight-channel plug-and-play amplifier
Nine-channel DSP processing
Professional system control and tuning
MATCH PP-VAG Porsche Edition harness
Molex PP-VAG 2.6 Porsche Edition
Two-metre vehicle-specific harness
Plug-and-play integration with the factory Porsche audio system

Why This Combination Worked

Each component had a dedicated role within the complete system.

The HELIX Ci3 tweeters reproduced the high-frequency detail.

The HELIX Ci3 midrange speakers handled vocals and the central musical information.

The HELIX Ci5 8-inch woofers delivered strong and controlled front midbass.

The HELIX Ci3 coaxial speakers improved rear sound coverage and roof-open performance.

The HELIX U 10A provided the deep bass foundation.

The MATCH UP 8DSP controlled, amplified and professionally aligned the complete speaker system.

Finally, the MATCH Porsche Edition harness allowed everything to be integrated without unnecessary modifications to the vehicle’s original wiring.

HELIX Ci5 S200FM-S2 eight-inch door woofers installed in a Porsche 718 Boxster

Final Result

The completed system delivered a major improvement over the standard Porsche audio system.

Shaun’s Porsche now had:

Deeper bass
Stronger midbass
Clearer vocals
Greater high-frequency detail
Higher usable volume
Improved instrument separation
Better rear cabin sound coverage
More enjoyable roof-open listening
A stable front soundstage
Complete DSP control
OEM-style integration

The system remained clean and refined at normal listening levels while also providing the output required for more energetic driving.

Most importantly, the upgrade preserved the appearance, functionality and character of the Porsche interior.

A Proper Two-Stage Porsche Audio Upgrade

This project demonstrates the advantage of planning an audio system in stages.

The first installation addressed the immediate need for more bass using the HELIX U 10A.

The second installation transformed the rest of the system using premium HELIX speakers, a MATCH DSP amplifier and Porsche-specific plug-and-play integration.

By retaining the original subwoofer and building the second stage around it, we were able to create a complete and properly balanced audio system without wasting the customer’s initial investment.

Porsche Audio Upgrades in Sydney

MC Audio specialises in premium audio upgrades for Porsche and other luxury and performance vehicles across Sydney and Australia.

Our Porsche services include:

Porsche 718 audio upgrades
Porsche Boxster speaker upgrades
Porsche Cayman speaker upgrades
HELIX COMPOSE speaker installations
HELIX active subwoofer installations
MATCH DSP amplifier integration
Porsche plug-and-play audio upgrades
Rear speaker upgrades
Acoustic treatment
Soundproofing
Custom subwoofer solutions
Professional DSP tuning

Every project is designed around the vehicle, the available installation space and the customer’s listening preferences.

We do not simply replace speakers.

We inspect the original system, select compatible components, integrate them safely and professionally tune the final result.

Planning an Audio Upgrade for Your Porsche?

Whether you are beginning with a compact active subwoofer or planning a complete HELIX and MATCH audio package, we can develop a staged upgrade that protects the vehicle and provides a clear path for future improvements.