RS4 Audio System Goes Silent, Complete Sound Loss Fix

I had a very similar sound system issue with my 2018 RS5. With some experience working on cars, I initially tried troubleshooting the volume control and audio connections myself, but the problem persisted despite basic checks. The symptoms matched exactly, no sound output regardless of the audio source. The head unit would power up fine, but there was complete silence whether using Bluetooth, auxiliary input, or radio. After taking it to a workshop, they diagnosed a defective bass speaker that was causing a complete system shutdown, a fairly common failure point in these models. The repair cost me 280 Euro, including parts and labor. The sound quality returned to normal immediately after the fix. Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, it would help to know: Have you noticed any sound distortion before the complete audio failure? Is your system the standard audio package or the premium upgrade? Does the system make any clicking sounds when changing volume? Have you had any recent electrical work done on the car? This information would help determine if you are facing the same underlying issue that I encountered.

I had a very similar sound system issue with my 2018 RS5. With some experience working on cars, I initially tried troubleshooting the volume control and audio connections myself, but the problem persisted despite basic checks. The symptoms matched exactly, no sound output regardless of the audio source. The head unit would power up fine, but there was complete silence whether using Bluetooth, auxiliary input, or radio. After taking it to a workshop, they diagnosed a defective bass speaker that was causing a complete system shutdown, a fairly common failure point in these models. The repair cost me 280 Euro, including parts and labor. The sound quality returned to normal immediately after the fix. Before suggesting specific solutions for your case, it would help to know: Have you noticed any sound distortion before the complete audio failure? Is your system the standard audio package or the premium upgrade? Does the system make any clicking sounds when changing volume? Have you had any recent electrical work done on the car? This information would help determine if you are facing the same underlying issue that I encountered.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Mine has been to its latest service just 2 weeks ago at 119426 KM. I checked further and discovered the USB audio ports are completely dead too, not even charging my phone. This complete radio silence across all inputs makes me suspect its more of an amplifier or main control unit issue rather than just a speaker problem. Did your repair shop mention anything about potential amplifier faults? Given all audio connectivity seems dead, I wonder if its worth checking the main fuse before booking a workshop visit.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Mine has been to its latest service just 2 weeks ago at 119426 KM. I checked further and discovered the USB audio ports are completely dead too, not even charging my phone. This complete radio silence across all inputs makes me suspect its more of an amplifier or main control unit issue rather than just a speaker problem. Did your repair shop mention anything about potential amplifier faults? Given all audio connectivity seems dead, I wonder if its worth checking the main fuse before booking a workshop visit.

Your suspicion about the amplifier makes sense, especially with the USB ports being dead too. In my case, while the initial diagnosis pointed to the bass speaker, the workshop actually discovered the amplifier had a failed power stage causing the complete radio silence. The dead USB ports weren't an issue in my situation, which suggests your problem might be more extensive. The main fuse is definitely worth checking, an electrical surge during the recent service could have affected the system. In these models, the amplifier and USB circuits share some power distribution components, which explains why both are affected. My repair ended up being more expensive than initially quoted, 680 Euro total for the amplifier replacement, but it resolved all audio connectivity issues completely. One thing I learned through this: the workshop mentioned these amplifier failures often start with the USB circuit before affecting the entire sound system. Since your symptoms appear more comprehensive than my initial problem, I would suggest: 1. Check the main audio fuse 2. Have voltage readings taken at the amplifier connections 3. Get the system computer scanned for fault codes Let us know what you find after checking the fuse, it could save you a workshop visit if that turns out to be the simple fix.

Your suspicion about the amplifier makes sense, especially with the USB ports being dead too. In my case, while the initial diagnosis pointed to the bass speaker, the workshop actually discovered the amplifier had a failed power stage causing the complete radio silence. The dead USB ports weren't an issue in my situation, which suggests your problem might be more extensive. The main fuse is definitely worth checking, an electrical surge during the recent service could have affected the system. In these models, the amplifier and USB circuits share some power distribution components, which explains why both are affected. My repair ended up being more expensive than initially quoted, 680 Euro total for the amplifier replacement, but it resolved all audio connectivity issues completely. One thing I learned through this: the workshop mentioned these amplifier failures often start with the USB circuit before affecting the entire sound system. Since your symptoms appear more comprehensive than my initial problem, I would suggest: 1. Check the main audio fuse 2. Have voltage readings taken at the amplifier connections 3. Get the system computer scanned for fault codes Let us know what you find after checking the fuse, it could save you a workshop visit if that turns out to be the simple fix.

No audio for 3 days now in my RS4. My USB charging ports not working at all is definitely pointing to a bigger electrical issue than just a faulty speaker like you had initially. I checked the main fuse as suggested, it looks fine visually but I will test it properly with a multimeter tomorrow. The car has been running perfectly otherwise since the recent service, so the timing does seem suspicious. Given the complete failure of both the sound system and USB functionality, I think you are right about it likely being an amplifier power stage issue. Will probably need to book it in and have them run a full diagnostic scan. Thanks for sharing the repair costs, helps set expectations. 680 Euro for the amplifier replacement seems reasonable if it fixes both the Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging. I will update once I get the multimeter readings and workshop diagnosis.

No audio for 3 days now in my RS4. My USB charging ports not working at all is definitely pointing to a bigger electrical issue than just a faulty speaker like you had initially. I checked the main fuse as suggested, it looks fine visually but I will test it properly with a multimeter tomorrow. The car has been running perfectly otherwise since the recent service, so the timing does seem suspicious. Given the complete failure of both the sound system and USB functionality, I think you are right about it likely being an amplifier power stage issue. Will probably need to book it in and have them run a full diagnostic scan. Thanks for sharing the repair costs, helps set expectations. 680 Euro for the amplifier replacement seems reasonable if it fixes both the Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging. I will update once I get the multimeter readings and workshop diagnosis.