MB Quart Premium Line Fitment

[sweetride01]

Will MB Quart Premium component speakers work/fit OK in an E30? I guess 5.25" front, 6.5" rear.
I have an Alpine 9831HU, and I would like to get better speakers to take advantage of the Alpine's sound handling.
I'm also thinking 10"sub, and 1 or 2 amps?

Scroll Down to post #9 and 10, I've been advised by an audiophile to better equipment.

[Nathan]

the holes in the rear are for 5.25", but can easily be modified for 6.5". Everything else sounds good.

[sweetride01]

Will the sound be balanced with 6.5" speakers in the back, or should I stick with the smaller speakers? I know some people have been dissatisfied with the distribution before.
Also, should I try and get the sub drilled into the rear shelf, or should I get a small enclosure? I want my sub to add experience and depth to the music, not one thats going to jar my bones and sound like a muffled thud the whole time.

[Digitalwave]

If your car has the Premium sound system, you can fit the 5.25"s all around, and drill out the tweeter pods in the front to fit the tweeters. You could not cut up the stock rear pods to fit 6.5"s, unless you wanted to make some custom mounting plate that goes across the rectangular cutout in the rear deck.

If you have the none premium setup. I think the fronts are the same (minus the tweeter pods), but the rear has deck-mounted 4" speakers.

Putting the sub in a small sealed enclosure is the only way to go.

[sweetride01]

If your car has the Premium sound system, you can fit the 5.25"s all around, and drill out the tweeter pods in the front to fit the tweeters. You could not cut up the stock rear pods to fit 6.5"s, unless you wanted to make some custom mounting plate that goes across the rectangular cutout in the rear deck.

If you have the none premium setup. I think the fronts are the same (minus the tweeter pods), but the rear has deck-mounted 4" speakers.

Putting the sub in a small sealed enclosure is the only way to go.

Sorry I didn't make that clear. I have the premium sound system. With the premium system, were the rear speakers components or mounted coaxially?
Also, why the enclosure? All car manufacturer premium sound systems, even excellent ones like the Mark Levinsons, use subs mounted in the cabin.

[Digitalwave]

The rears are components. It'll be harder to fit the new tweeter in the slot in the rear.

The first problem you will have with mounting a sub on the rear deck is that the rear deck is so small you'd be lucky to fit an 8" sub there. Second, there is sheet metal directly under the rear deck. Third, sealed or even ported enclosures ALWAYS sound better than an infinate-baffle setup, it's just a fact. I don't know why car manufacturers do that, but you don't see any stock setups winning sound competitions now do you? You don't see free-air subs winning anything either.

[sweetride01]

Yes, but often sound competitions are just based on maximum sound decibels.
So the enclosure will allow the bass to actually sound like it's part of the song? Like the deep sound of a bass cello, or the bang of a bass drum?

[Digitalwave]

There are just as many SQ (sound quality) competitions as SPL (sound pressure level). The enclosure will make the bass MORE a part of the song. A sub in a sealed box is as responsive as it gets. A free air sub is going to be more sloppy and muddy sounding.

[sweetride01]

Thanks for all the help.
Where to get an enclosure-Bavarian Soundwerks? Or a custom one?
Are floor mounted or deck mounted enclosures better? Down firing or outward firing?

[sweetride01]

After talking to someone who knows a lot more about audio than I, we came up with a better audio setup:

-10" SoundSplinter RLi sub
-6.5" Elemental Design 6500 components up front, no rear speakers.
-USAmps IS-4085 amplifier, 125w/ch x4 @ 4 ohm.
-Odyssey lightweight battery, 925CCA.

What do you guys think? Also, where do I need sound deadening in the E30? Thanks.

[Digitalwave]

I've never heard of any of those products so I can't comment on them.

What are you going to use to power the sub?

I'd start with some Dynamat on the trunk lid - its going to rattle. Then take it from there. Maybe on the back of your license plate as well.

[sweetride01]

I am going to bridge the rear two channels of the amp, creating 400W at 4ohm.
I presume I'll need sound deadening in the kick panel area also?

[KenC]

Those mids kick ass, as does the amp... real powerhouse.

[808BMW]

agreed. Sounds like whoever you asked knows what they're doing. Just follow them.

[Digitalwave]

I am going to bridge the rear two channels of the amp, creating 400W at 4ohm.
I presume I'll need sound deadening in the kick panel area also?

How do you figure it will do 400 watts at 4ohm? Wouldn't it just be 250 watts?

I don't know how you are going to fit the 6.5"s up front, but some sound deadening there wouldn't hurt either. I have Dynamat around my 5 1/4" Kappa components in the front and I didn't notice much difference but its nice for piece of mind.