I’ve just replaced my Mk5 Golf (RCD300 with 10 speakers) with a Mk6 Golf (RCD 510 with 8 speakers).

Both systems are stock, unmodified.

To my ears, the RCD510 with 8 speaker set up doesn’t seem to sound as good as the RCD300 with 10 speaker set up. (I’ve compared both with the same song on the same CD). The bass is not as punchy, and the vocal / treble is not as crisp and transparent.

Has anyone else noticed the same thing? Is this loss of quality due to the head unit, or is it because they’ve gone from a 3 way setup to a 2 way set up at the front?

I don’t want to spend a large amount of money upgrading the system in the Mk6 – I would have been happy if the system sounded similar to the RCD300 with 10 speaker system in the Mk5.

Has anyone replaced the front speakers in a Mk6 Golf without changing the head unit or adding an amp? Is there a noticeable improvement? Or will it not be worthwhile doing unless I add an amp as well?