Sina's Car Audio: Redux

[freeride53]

I want to get some better sound quality & bass out of my system, without having to wire new speakers, or install sub-woofers. I currently have a newer Blaupunkt Key West Head unit, BMW Premium Sound on the rear deck, and shitty stock speakers in the front. What do you guys recommend, without having to spend *too* much?
Again, all I want, is some better sound and more bass.

Cheers & happy holidays!

[stumble_t]

Cheapest/ best "value":
I'd say move the premium up front and add tweeter pods, and a "luke box" through the ski pass. Lose the rear deck speakers.

[GunMetalGrey]

Luke box means adding a sub, I would cut out the rear speaker deck to fit some 6x9's.

[trackjunkie21]

Luke box means adding a sub, I would cut out the rear speaker deck to fit some 6x9's.

6x9's in an e30 suck. Premium sound speakers, 4 channel amp and lukebox. This was Luke's suggestion for a cheap setup. Have the stock amp power the rear speakers, and the new amp power the fronts and sub. You will have a killer setup.

[GunMetalGrey]

I want to get some better sound quality & bass out of my system, without having to wire new speakers, or install sub-woofers!

This is why I suggested it, you can make custom enclosures, if you really want to go that far, but a subwoofer is defiantly the best way to add sound quality, because you are eliminating the low end frequencies from the all range speakers, turning them into mid-high range speakers, which makes their clarity improve.

[bmwman91]

I tried a huge variety of things. Basically, the only way I found to get satisfactory low-frequency response was with a sub in the trunk. 6x9's sound like ass, and really aren't designed for very low frequency reproduction. If you put them into the rear deck & crossed them over at like ~180Hz, they might give you a little bass.

I worked on plans for some deck-mounted subs for about a month, and trust me, a trunk-sub is a lot easier. Many of us put the sub in a baffle, firing through the ski-pass hole. You don't really need an arm-rest in the back either...there are enough leaks all over the back that the bass works its way into the cabin.

Check my thread for some ideas (you don't need all the other gadgets).

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=170725&page=4

[StereoInstaller1]

I want to get some better sound quality & bass out of my system, without having to wire new speakers, or install sub-woofers.

Huh? You want better SQ and bottom end, but you don't want to do new speakers or a sub? I must be missing something. Maybe you don't understand how properly engineered subwoofer systems do their job, or maybe all you have heard is "kid boom", not a proper subwoofer, properly installed.

Let me ask you a question: why don't you want a sub?

Luke

[priapism]

Tell me about this Luke Box thing...

My JVC HD30 is great but it presumes you have a sub so it puts zero bass through the regular drivers. This is a beater so I want something extraordinarily cheap.

[StereoInstaller1]

I do a couple versions of very custom boxes that most shops simply lack the skills necessary to build at all, and if they did they would charge in the $350ish range.

I build and sell mine (usually) in groups of 8 or so, allowing me to sell my 10" boxes for $185 plus shipping. You can use a dirt cheap woofer (seriously, my #1 recommendation is $50 typically) and as little as 100 watts RMS power will make an incredibly satisfying quantity of incredibly clean, detailed bass. Best yet is the fact that hardly any trunk space is used and there are virtually ZERO rattles, as 100% of the bass energy is forced into the cabin, instead of rattling around in your trunk.

This design as developed over 30 years of professional installation experience, specializing primarily in BMW. There are several installation threads and several "group buys" over the last 3 years or so. I have sold well over 100 boxes, and expect to develop markets for newer models this year.

[Brian D]

The Lukebox is worth every penny. Build quality alone is excellent, I'm really looking forward to finishing my install.

[freeride53]

No no, I want new speakers. I just don't want to have to do any more wiring at the moment. My other car's wiring was an absolute nightmare. My car doesn't have the armrest/ski-pass. I really want to keep my trunk space at a maximum, and do not want to swap my rear seat back.

[StereoInstaller1]

Well, you can "want new speakers" all you want...but trust me on this: the stock premium sound speakers are BETTER than whatever you think you are comfortable spending.

Let me explain a second: as speakers go up in pricetag (supposedly quality, but that is BS) they generally make LESS bass...as makes sense...why would a speaker manufacturer sell you good enough speakers that you don't need a sub? That only means they aren't gonna sell you a sub, right? Yes, they can play louder IF used with a sub...but I have proven this FACT to dozens of E30 owners.

Look at it this way too: I don't make or lose any money telling you what to do, right? I do make a little money selling boxes, but I don't sell equipment, generally. I have been doing this for 30 years, trust me, I am WAY pickier than anyone you have ever met. Why would I tell you to keep stock stuff?

BTW: I will guarantee your deck is installed wrong. I will also guarantee your speakers are done wrong, too... and if your amp has been bypassed, it is likely wrong, too. All of those details make for MUCH worse sound. If you want to go through it, take all of it apart, take pics of the wiring. Post a list of EVERY SINGLE CONNECTION, everywhere...we will go through it, fix it, and then you might be OK with the sound.

Luke

[McGyver]

i dont mean to hijack, but do you have insallation instructions for your "cheap setup"? i'd like to see how the wiring goes.

[StereoInstaller1]

i dont mean to hijack, but do you have insallation instructions for your "cheap setup"? i'd like to see how the wiring goes.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191119

[freeride53]

Well, you can "want new speakers" all you want...but trust me on this: the stock premium sound speakers are BETTER than whatever you think you are comfortable spending.

Let me explain a second: as speakers go up in pricetag (supposedly quality, but that is BS) they generally make LESS bass...as makes sense...why would a speaker manufacturer sell you good enough speakers that you don't need a sub? That only means they aren't gonna sell you a sub, right? Yes, they can play louder IF used with a sub...but I have proven this FACT to dozens of E30 owners.

Look at it this way too: I don't make or lose any money telling you what to do, right? I do make a little money selling boxes, but I don't sell equipment, generally. I have been doing this for 30 years, trust me, I am WAY pickier than anyone you have ever met. Why would I tell you to keep stock stuff?

BTW: I will guarantee your deck is installed wrong. I will also guarantee your speakers are done wrong, too... and if your amp has been bypassed, it is likely wrong, too. All of those details make for MUCH worse sound. If you want to go through it, take all of it apart, take pics of the wiring. Post a list of EVERY SINGLE CONNECTION, everywhere...we will go through it, fix it, and then you might be OK with the sound.

Luke

thanks Luke. Again, my E30's system is stock, except for the head unit. I also added the Premium deck speakers but that's it. I followed the wiring instructions when installing my head unit, but I'm sure you're referring to something else. I know I don't know nearly a fraction about car audio as you, so I'd like to hear anything I can from you.

I am going to inevitably take the head unit off again as well.