My Audio thread

[deansbimmer]

This is a thread to document some of my Audio build. It is a modest system, designed more with sound quality in mind than anything else. I wanted a fully integrated OEM appearing system which will give me all the bells and whistles of a modern BMW but much more powerful. I am far from being an expert in audio so had spent many months gathering information on what I wanted and how to execute it.

Quick rundown of the goods acquired:

CD43 Business CD, (new unit!)
Audio Control LC6i signal converter
Dice electronics Ipod integration
Infinity Kappa 5 channel amplifier
MB Quart rear component set/crossovers
Blaupunkt 6.5" low profile components (to be mounted in the doors)
Custom 10" ported sub box from Luke's group buy.
JL 10" subwoofer




I'd like some feedback on these Blaupunkt and Quart speakers... I got them for next to nothing so I'm inclined to think I need something better.



I started tonight by cutting out the ski-hole plate and removing the factory stereo wiring loom, amplifier, and the hackjob head unit/rats nest from the previous owner.



I have a long way to go.

[Schnitzer318is]

Haven't heard the Blaupunkts personally, but have installed a few sets of the MB's. They are a decent speaker, but use a metal dome tweeter (magnesium/titanium/etc can't remember which) so they can be a bit harsh if not toned down. Setup should sound good with the Xover settings, and that jl10w0 should be great for that box and amp.

Is that a box from Luke? I want one of his single 10" boxes like that in the worst way for my new project. Will have to wait til after the motor is in though...

[StereoInstaller1]

that pile of crap is gonna sound like shit.

[Schnitzer318is]

that pile of crap is gonna sound like shit.

Awesomes... that is one of your boxes then... :)

[deansbimmer]

that pile of crap is gonna sound like shit.

LOL. Tell us how you really feel, Luke... :-o

[StereoInstaller1]

Haha, you got robbed!

Seriously, get that stuff in the car already!

The 10 box is an absolute miracle worker. I have heard several of them now, every one has amazed me and everyone who has heard it.

that Kappa 5 is an amp I have been looking forward to hearing for 3 or 4 years now, as long as I have heard about development. Class D fullrange amps are not common. Infinity -back in the Rich Coe days- tried with a series, which sounded excellent if a bit dull on the high end (stunning midbass, though) but were twice the price of a normal class A/B amp, would ONLY run a 4 ohm load, and made very little power. Not exactly a commercial success, you might say. The Kappa 5 is supposed to be a show stopper, and one that I wanna work with.

The JL woofer works well in my boxes and is a typical chinese woofer, meaning 10X better than most that ever came out of the US, but not up with the best that ever were.

Basically, the same could be said for the seperates. I would love to see more advanced crossovers (which is why I love my Exiles so much) but unless you are dropping $2K, nothing is gonna perform much better.

Now get your ass out to the garage and get it DONE!

Luke

[deansbimmer]

Did work today!

I got to spend all day today on the car. What a treat! :p

In the morning, I bought an e46 console on eBay. It should be here soon. I'll do that in another thread.

Next, I received my keyless entry system in the mail, and dug out my dome light dimmer unit from George Graves which I've had stashed for almost a year. I installed both. Keyless entry is FANTASTICALLY SUPER WONDERFUL! Oh, and the auto dimming setup is super trick...makes the car feel 20 years newer.



Next, after alot of measuring and consideration, I installed the front speakers in the door panels and run the wiring for the tweeter and woofer through the door jamb connection. I also installed and routed all the wires from the Line Converter to the Amp, and started to build the amplifier panel.

(you can kinda see the door card speaker in this picture, forgot to take some process shots)









I had ordered some sound deadening Tuesday and hoped it would have arrived today, but no luck. I should be getting 3 gallons of Spectrum in the mail soon.

http://www.secondskinaudio.com/sound-deadener/spectrum.php?category=121

My plan is to spray 3 coats behind the rear door cards in the wheel cavity, the wheel humps and floor in the trunk, and on both sides of the rear seat paneling, and the rear deck. I had already put Dynamat underneath the carpet and firewall. That should give me some good road noise reduction. I also ordered a couple 3x7 sheets of automotive acoustical dampening foam (1/2" and 3/4"), to install in the dead space between front and rear door cards, and the rear seat and the backseat panel. I'm hoping it will bring the car to a more modern and solid feel.

So, I'm in "tinker mode" until I get that stuff in the mail. It will make a mess when I spray it in, so I cant get too far ahead of myself with the rest of the install.

[Schnitzer318is]

Looks great so far... I'll be checking in frequently.

[deansbimmer]

I got to spend several more hours on the car today. Good thing, since I'll be traveling again next weekend and I didn't want her to feel totally neglected. I do feel like I got over some major hurdles...

Today, I finished routing the wires. All in all, I built an entire new audio harness which plugs into the C302 accessory connector under the dash. I reused the factory connectors in my new harness to plug into the C302 which gives the head unit its ground, 12v power and acc power, and lights-on signal. I used the stock power and grounding points, and new OEM colored wiring, so technically, I can still use the factory electrical troubleshooting manual.

First, I replaced the Hvac Panel and mechanism since several mounting tabs were broken and a couple cables were loose since their mounts broke too...


I wired and mounted the Line Converter....


The CD43 does not fit flush in the panel as-is, this is how it will look without modification.


So, out came the dremel, you can see I ground the upper and lower flanges flush, but the sides were only cut halfway down to give a snug fit. If you cut them flush too, then the radio can slide left and right. No bueno.


Next, once the stereo would slide in and fit flush, I had to figure out how to secure the unit so it wouldn't fall out or push in too far. The factory gives us a nice bracket which slides into the heater core box to support the rear end of the head unit, so I mounted a piece of angle aluminum to it, and measured/marked/drilled the holes needed to mount the back of the head unit to the bracket.


Now, It was just a matter of adjustment to get the right angles and depth for when the unit slides in place. Unfortunately, there isn't enough room to permit sliding the whole assembly in like this... Once everything was final and installed, it was fun getting to that stud to screw on the little nut. There is about 1" of space left between the HVAC box and the back of the head unit, and the wiring takes up most of that.


With the mounting part out of the way, I routed the final bit of harness to the panel and prepared to cut everything to length.


I soldered in the CD43 connector, and completed the audio harness! This is the final end which would connect to the head unit. Since I am using an Dice iPod Link by Denison, its harness will connect here instead (as well as another connector on the back of the radio), and the other end of the Dice Link harness will actually plug into the head unit.


I didn't get a picture of it in particular, but I connected the Dice Link to the CD43 connector, and routed it to a nice spot next to the DME. Its a perfect location really. It doesn't stretch the wires, plus I'll have access to the DIP switches if I need to change any settings (without pulling apart the dash).



Done for the night.

[TexasTerp]

looking good! Can't wait to see the final project!

[StereoInstaller1]

You do have a sub level controller somewhere in that mix, right?

Did the K5 come with one?

Looking good so far...get it done!

[deansbimmer]

There is of course the gain adjustment on the amp itself, but I did not opt for the remote sub level adjustment for the Line Converter...

Should I be concerned? I can always buy it, the plug in is right on the LC6i

I am sooo motivated to get this done. In the process of the audio installation, I'm also installing and replacing a lot of other miscellaneous items that have needed attention for some time. Next session I'm installing a R134a valve on the evaporator core since that area is nicely available for service right now. I'm also integrating a newer generation rear view mirror with auto-dimming, compass, and homelink rf buttons.

[DrMcDave]

nice core elements. If you decide to upgrade other components down the road it shouldn't be too difficult.

[dude8383]

did you spray on the spectrum sound dampener? i'm thinking about using that to insulate the trunk as well. i have damplifier pro in the cabin area already :)

[StereoInstaller1]

did you spray on the spectrum sound dampener? i'm thinking about using that to insulate the trunk as well. i have damplifier pro in the cabin area already :)

with one of my boxes, there is no reason to apply any sound damping in the trunk whatsoever.

And (pet peeve) DAMPENING means getting something wet...