They crackle and crunch and their announcements remain a mystery to their audience; the speakers in Munich's underground system are old and in dire need of replacement. The MVG plans to replace 4445 old announcement systems by the end of 2012, at a cost of 5 million Euro.

Some of the speakers in the 63 train stations across Munich's metro are over 20 years old, they don't meet the contemporary technical standards and are difficult, if not impossible to understand. It is not economical to maintain and repair them, which is why the 4445 speakers will gradually be replaced on the platforms. The new speakers will boast automated adjusted speaker volume, i.e. the speakers will become louder if a train enters the station, so as to counter the noise.

According to MVG, all stations will be observed and the details of the new system to be installed will be planned and tailored to each station. The actual replacement of the speakers will occur early next year and presumably finish by the end of 2012.