mk3 bentley continental case study

 This Bentley Continental GT was brought to us because the original Bang & Olufsen system simply wasn’t performing at the level expected from a vehicle of this calibre.

After listening to the factory system, it was clear there were several issues. The bass was weak, the midrange lacked clarity and the tweeters sounded harsh. The system only really sounded acceptable at low volume, and even then it lacked detail, depth and control.

The aim of this build was to create a complete audio upgrade that delivered a far more refined listening experience while keeping the vehicle as discreet and factory-looking as possible.

We designed a full system upgrade using our stealth approach, with the amplifier rack, DSP and subwoofer positioned behind a trimmed panel at the rear of the boot. The only noticeable compromise was a small reduction in boot space, but the result was a far superior audio system with a clean OEM-style finish.

This was a detailed build carried out over several weeks, with the vehicle carefully stripped, protected, sound deadened, wired, upgraded and tuned.

The factory Bentley Bang & Olufsen system may carry a premium name, but the equipment fitted was not performing to the standard expected.

The original speakers were manufactured specifically for the vehicle, but the performance was limited. The midrange drivers lacked detail and control, while the subwoofer struggled to deliver any real depth or impact.

The original subwoofer was mounted in the boot and fired into an area that was heavily restricted by surrounding panels. This meant much of the bass energy was lost before it could properly enter the cabin.

The amplifier side of the factory system was also limited, and although the system used multiple channels, it lacked the control, authority and tuning flexibility needed to create a truly high-end listening experience.

This is why we chose to remove the factory limitations and build a properly designed upgraded system around the car.

The first stage of the build was the most time-consuming part: the full vehicle tear-down.

To install the system correctly, we removed the interior panels, seats and carpets carefully, giving us access to the factory speaker locations, wiring routes and areas requiring sound treatment.

Every removed panel was laid out individually, with fixings and bolts bagged, labelled and kept with the correct trim pieces. This helps protect the vehicle, keeps the build organised and ensures everything goes back exactly as it should.

Plastic panels were treated with sound deadening on the hidden side where required, then wrapped and stored safely to prevent damage during the installation. Seats and interior trim were also protected throughout the work.

This level of preparation is essential on a vehicle like this. A proper system upgrade is not just about fitting equipment; it is about respecting the vehicle while improving it.

For this Bentley, the customer opted for additional sound deadening beyond our usual upgrade package.

Sound deadening plays a major role in improving the performance of an audio system. It helps reduce panel vibration, unwanted resonance and road noise, creating a more controlled and refined listening environment inside the vehicle.

On this build, we applied a multi-stage sound treatment package using:

3mm Skinz sound deadening
6mm sound isolator for the doors
10mm sound isolator for panel gaps and cavities
Skinz Wave diffuser material

This helped create a stronger foundation for the upgraded speakers and subwoofer, allowing the system to sound cleaner, tighter and more controlled.

To keep the installation discreet and retain as much usable space as possible, we designed a compact multi-amplifier solution.

The amplifier rack was built to sit in place of the original subwoofer location, allowing the upgraded amplifiers to be hidden neatly behind the trimmed boot panel.

This setup allowed us to run 13 channels from the DSP and power the upgraded speaker system properly.

Although the original system ran multiple channels, our upgrade changed the way the system was configured. We removed the centre dash speaker from the upgraded setup and converted the rear two-way arrangement from fully active to a passive configuration where required.

The result was a cleaner, more controlled system with the power and flexibility needed to deliver a proper high-end sound.

From day one, we knew this upgrade had to be truly bespoke.

No off-the-shelf speaker adaptors existed for this vehicle, so we designed and manufactured our own speaker mounting solutions in-house.

We could have used 3D printed parts, resin-bonded wood or adapted universal mounts, but for this build we wanted the strongest and most precise solution possible.

The speaker collars were engineered specifically for the vehicle and CNC machined from aluminium. Each mount was designed to fit the factory location accurately while holding the upgraded speaker securely and correctly.

These small details make a big difference. Proper mounting improves reliability, speaker performance and the overall quality of the installation.

For the speaker upgrade, we fitted Hertz Mille Legend speakers throughout the vehicle.

The factory front 6x9 speakers were replaced with two 6.5" speakers per front door, giving the system far better midbass control and output.

For the midrange locations, we fitted:

3" Hertz Mille Legend speakers in the rear shelf
3" Hertz Mille Legend speakers in the rear quarter cards
3" Hertz Mille Legend speakers in the front doors

The original dash tweeters were retained due to the level of work required to replace them, including windscreen removal. In the rear, we used Hertz Cento tweeters running passively from the rear Mille speakers.

This speaker package gave the Bentley a much cleaner, more detailed and more controlled sound while retaining a discreet factory-style appearance.

The original factory subwoofer was one of the weakest parts of the system.

Because it was mounted in the boot and restricted by surrounding panels, it struggled to deliver any noticeable bass into the cabin. Much of the low-frequency energy was wasted before it could reach the listening area.

We replaced the original setup with a Hertz Mille Legend 8" subwoofer mounted in a custom 18mm MDF enclosure.

The enclosure had to be carefully designed. It needed to be large enough to perform properly, but slim enough to retain usable space and fit around the factory air compressor for the suspension.

The subwoofer now plays through the opened hatch into the rear seating area, giving the system real depth, impact and control without sounding boomy or overpowering.

The result is bass that feels integrated with the music rather than separate from it.