Speaker suggestions for E46

Sam

Sam

Sam

Soldato
Joined
12 Jan 2003
Posts
14,486
Location
Surrey
Hi

I have an E46 330CD and the previous owner has replaced the front speakers and also installed an Alpine amp (which i believe to be a Alpine PDX 4.100 - http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-alpine-pdx-4-100_p-22812.htm) but i need to double check this as i guess it could look the same but be a lower end model. The front speakers don’t seem to be great quality and need to be replaced as they appear to be damaged and when under load they rattle.

Can anyone recommend some decent front replacements please -

  • I listen to mostly drum and bass / dubstep / rnb etc
  • Speakers need to fit nice and easily (door card off, screw straight in place)
  • Speakers need to be hard wearing, i like my music loud and don’t want them blowing after 5 minutes use

Don’t mind spending sensible money if they’re going to sound the nuts and last http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/images/smilies/smile.gif

Any guides on removing the door card etc would be appreciated

Thanks

Sam
 
Yep, as above, it's gash. You can get the Sony sound on top amp for it and an MP3 changer for the boot, then (and or) use the Intravee. All this will cost a pretty penny before even touching the speakers, and even then, will still sound way way off from buying a decent head unit to start with. If you do that, and can live with the infinite number of poor "surrounds" then change the HU
 
Lucero said:
Yep, as above, it's gash. You can get the Sony sound on top amp for it
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This is the easiest and most effective option for the least outlay.

and an MP3 changer for the boot, then (and or) use the Intravee.
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But this makes little sense. If you have an Intravee it replaces the CD changer - so you cannot run a BMW changer with one. You can connect an Alpine AI-net compatible MP3 changer to the Intravee but.. why would you want to do that when it's far more effective to just plug an ipod into it.
 
The car already has some kind of iPod interface which works through the TV, it’s nothing special but does the job :)

Im sure im chatting crap but surely the HU is largely irrelevant as its going through an amp ?
 
[TW]Fox;21096666 said:
Do you have Harmon Kardon then?
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Nope

The guy has retrofitted the amp in the boot, i can only assume the car came with the standard system.
 
Anyone have any speaker suggestions... ? As i was saying surely the HU is largely irrelevant as the speakers go through an alpine amp in the boot :)

Sam
 
It's not irrelevant at all, if it's got a crap DAC / DSP / preamp stage, then the amp can't magic up some sound quality. Garbage in, garbage out and all that :p

Although if you've got the OEM sat nav stuff then I guess you won't be wanting to change the HU!
 
Howard said:
It's not irrelevant at all, if it's got a crap DAC / DSP / preamp stage, then the amp can't magic up some sound quality. Garbage in, garbage out and all that :p

Although if you've got the OEM sat nav stuff then I guess you won't be wanting to change the HU!
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Ahhh i see..

Regardless the speakers are damaged and therefor need replacing. Would you then suggest that there’s no point getting decent speakers as you just won’t notice the difference between say £50 jobbies.
 
Howard said:
Pardon?
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Do BMW's have terrible DACs etc? I wouldn't of thought so in this day and age. Cheap speakers and amp sure, those things can cost money, but with how cheap everything else could be why put a limited line out or what ever in?

I do not know the terms of the bits I'm on about so I do not blame you for wondering what on earth I'm talking about.
 
My point is that if all the electronics inside the OEM unit are made to a price, then adding expensive speakers or amplifiers will not remedy this. You can't amplify or improve what's not there. I noticed a vast improvement when I swapped the factory fit Sony unit in my Mondeo for the Alpine unit. I'm sure the preamp stages and whatnot are of higher quality along with the amplifiers.

If an amp has been 'retrofitted' into the boot then unless the BMW unit has a line-level output (doubtful) it will be amplifying the already amplified speaker-level outputs from the standard unit, further reinforcing my point. It'll provide more raw power but that's about it.


Plug a set of £300 Sennheiser headphones into a £50 Bush mini hifi from Argos and it'll sound awful. :)
 
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BMW standard audio is terrible and a lot of that is down to the dreadful HUs they fit.
 
Howard said:
My point is that if all the electronics inside the OEM unit are made to a price, then adding expensive speakers or amplifiers will not remedy this. You can't amplify or improve what's not there. I noticed a vast improvement when I swapped the factory fit Sony unit in my Mondeo for the Alpine unit. I'm sure the preamp stages and whatnot are of higher quality along with the amplifiers.

If an amp has been 'retrofitted' into the boot then unless the BMW unit has a line-level output (doubtful) it will be amplifying the already amplified speaker-level outputs from the standard unit, further reinforcing my point. It'll provide more raw power but that's about it.


Plug a set of £300 Sennheiser headphones into a £50 Bush mini hifi from Argos and it'll sound awful. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks mate

Do you have any idea on the size required and if there is a maximum depth of speaker that fits into the BMW door
 
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