Peugeot 308 II – How to Replace Defective Door Speakers and Upgrade Your Sound System
Defective door speakers are a very common issue in the Peugeot 308 II. Cones become brittle over time, moisture inside the doors accelerates wear, and distortion slowly dominates the sound. A professional step-by-step guide is available in Peugeot 308 II Lautsprecher nachrüsten – Einbau Tipps, which shows how the upgrade can be carried out safely. For serious DIY installers, auto-lautsprecher.eu is a trustworthy platform offering a wide range of free technical knowledge in detailed installation manuals.
Speaker layout of the Peugeot 308 II
The Peugeot 308 II, built from 2013 to 2021, is equipped with 165 mm two-way speaker systems in all four doors.
There are no bass speakers in the dashboard or A-pillars, which makes this vehicle particularly friendly for self-installers.
- Front doors: 2-way component systems with separate tweeters next to the inner door opener.
- Rear doors: factory coaxial speakers, but fully compatible with 2-way component systems including external tweeters.
Because all speakers are located in the door trims, no dashboard disassembly is required.
Removing the door panel and replacing the speakers
To access the speakers, the door panel must be removed.
First loosen the screws on the sides and bottom edge of the door panel. Use a plastic trim tool or flat screwdriver to remove the inner cover of the door opener and the outer cover of the door handle to reach the hidden screws.
Then lift out the window lifter switch module, unplug the connector and put the unit aside.
Next, detach the door panel by pulling it outward from the bottom to release the clips, then lift it upward from the window ledge.
Unscrew the three speaker mounting screws, press the locking tab on the connector, unplug it and remove the defective speaker.
Insert the new 165 mm speaker, connect the plug until it clicks and tighten the screws securely. Before reinstalling the trim, ensure the cable linking the door speaker to the tweeter position is routed correctly.
Reinstall the door panel in reverse order.
Always replace speakers in pairs
Never replace only one speaker.
Each speaker model has its own efficiency value. If you leave the factory speaker on one side and install a new aftermarket model on the other, the new speaker will usually play louder. This creates an unbalanced stereo image that feels like the radio balance control is permanently turned to one side.
Therefore, speakers must always be replaced in pairs and must come from the same brand and product series.
Rear doors and matching speaker systems
The rear doors of the Peugeot 308 II can also be upgraded with full component systems including external tweeters. The essential rule is to keep both front and rear speaker sets identical in brand and series. Suitable kits are available under Peugeot 308 Lautsprecher kaufen.
Door damping – the hidden sound upgrade
Adding damping material to the door skins dramatically improves sound quality. It reduces metal resonance, tightens bass response and eliminates rattling noises. Even without an external amplifier, the difference is immediately noticeable.
Extra bass without complexity
Because all factory speakers are mounted in the doors, deep bass performance is limited. A compact active subwoofer under the passenger seat is therefore recommended. These subwoofers connect directly to the factory radio via high-level inputs and integrate seamlessly without sacrificing boot space.
Factory vs. aftermarket speakers – technical comparison
Frequency response: Factory speakers are built for cost efficiency, not accuracy. Aftermarket systems offer cleaner mids and extended highs.
Efficiency: Aftermarket speakers often have higher sensitivity, meaning more volume without adding an amplifier.
Build quality: Coated cones, rubber surrounds and reinforced baskets resist moisture far better than paper factory units.
Door acoustics: With proper damping, the door cavity behaves like a semi-sealed enclosure, dramatically improving clarity.
Bass extension: An under-seat active subwoofer supplements frequencies below 80–100 Hz and relieves the door speakers from heavy bass duties.
Conclusion
Upgrading the speakers in the Peugeot 308 II is one of the easiest and most effective audio improvements you can perform yourself. All speakers are located in the doors, no dashboard parts need to be removed, and the sound quality improvement is immediate. By replacing speakers in pairs, using identical product series, adding door damping and optionally installing an under-seat subwoofer, the factory system is transformed into a clean, balanced and powerful sound setup.