E46 content: Installing GAS 10 channel crossover

[Dirtboy]

Like the title says, I decided to install the GAS 10 channel crossover, and some other goodies, in my e46. Here's my writeup from diyma.com:

After finishing the install in my 1989 325i, I was itching to put a system into my 2002 330Ci.

Here's the subject of this install:



So I'm basically using scraps laying around my garage for this install. Here's some of the gear I had laying around:

JL 500/5
JL 300/2
Kicker KQ30

I'm sticking with the stock speakers for now, just gonna replace the factory "subs" with 2 10" Alphasonik subs. That leaves 10 stock speakers to be powered by the JL amps.

I'm using a custom 10-way passive crossover network made by German Audio Specialties.



I wanted to mount the amps in the spare tire well. Had some white particle board laying around so I put it to use.



Used up leftover carpet for the amp rack.



Got the amps jammed in the rack and wired up.



And there is still room under the amp rack to store the fix-a-flat kit and air compressor, since I have no spare tire.

And here's how the trunk will look 99% of the time.



So that's I've been doing this weekend.

Up next:
Wire the amps into the car
Wire up the crossover
Start tuning the system

More to come....

[Dirtboy]

Today I started working on the wiring. I've got a factory wiring harness adapter from Technic on the Bimmerfest forum. This makes install a bit easier and since no factory wires need to be cut, I can go back to stock pretty easy.

Here's a shot of the adapter and the crossover network.



Everything connected. Notice that the crossover also has connectors. Makes it a little easier to install.



Had to get into the stock amp cubby hole to get to the harness. BTW, that's my Phatnoise Phatbox MP3 player. 80 gig hard drive full of music that runs off the stock deck.



Way back in 2002 when I got the car, I tried to make the stereo sound better by hooking up 100hz high pass crossover to the 4 stock woofers. It helped out a lot, but it was time for them to go.



And just a shot of the EQ...



And that's how far I got tonight...

[Dirtboy]

Spent the morning of Thanksgiving finishing up the install in the trunk.

I got the crossover mounted where the stock amp used to be.



Everything fit back where it was. The eq is not permanently mounted so I can take it out and tune the system. I've got some straps that hold it in place.



Next step was wiring up the power.



And finally throwing the sub in the trunk. Don't laugh, it's just a temporary solution until I get a custom box in there. Like I said, it was just laying around not being used.



Now on to the tuning....

[Dirtboy]

I started a little tuning before I ran out of time. I used the Audio Tools app by Studio Six Digital. All measurements were from my iPhone 5 using the built-in mic. I held the phone at ear level just about touching my nose (my wife was wondering WTF I was doing, haha).

First up, here's a plot of the stock H/K system:



Here's a plot with the new system setup before I adjusted anything on the eq:



And here's after a little bit of tweaking on the eq:



Yeah, I have a bit of work to do. But the turkey was done and I was hungry. I'll do some more tweaking tomorrow.

[Ray Smoodiver]

Wow great stuff! I look forward to the next update.

[Dirtboy]

Ok, I got back into this install. I found out that one of the stock rear drivers was blown. But I also found out when I took the door panels off the the front drivers were just falling apart.

So.....

I went ahead and got the BSW stage 1 speaker set.

And to help get some more mid bass up front, I went ahead and cut the metal in the doors.



I decided to go a different route than other people have done when they cut the doors. I left the speakers mounted to the door panels and got some neoprene foam to seal them to the door.






I've still got some trimming of the foam to do, I should be able to get on that this weekend. Hopefully this will sound better than the original way the stock speakers were mounted.

[Dirtboy]

I got back to work on the install this weekend. Took a couple hours to get the door panels back on; had to trim the foam backings to fit right. But the time spent on this was well worth it.

Here's a RTA of the system with just the 10 BSW speakers hooked up to the amp with no EQ.



Here's an RTA of the system when I hooked up the subs.



Lots-o-bass!

I have some work to do with the EQ, but overall I am very happy with how it sounds right now. I can truthfully say the system sounds 100 times better than it used to.

Now, the bad news...

I've got alternator whine in the system. I tried for a bit to try to track it down. It's only at a certain level; the whine doesn't increase in volume when the volume is turned up. Plugged in some ground loop isolators and it was still there. Bypassed the EQ, still there. Unplugged the RCAs from the amp and it went away. That's about as far as I got. The next step would be to turn the amp 180 degrees and re-route all the wires/cables. But that's for another day. I can live with the whine for now only because it doesn't get any louder when the volume is turned up.

Maybe someone here has some pointers??

[Dirtboy]

Ok, I got back in the trunk and re-located the amp ground. Problem solved.

Also spent some more time level matching all the components which helped out a lot. I didn't really have time to sit and do some more tuning (wife was yelling that I was being too loud in the garage on a school night)

This system sounds so clean compared to the stock HK. I'm noticing sounds in some songs I didn't know were there. The soundstage is up on the the dash, but truthfully its a little skewed to the left. I'm sure that has to do with how close the mids/tweets are to my ears. Guess I got spoiled by the time alignment of the MS-8 in the e30.

I'll get much more time for tuning over the Christmas break (I get a week off, wife has to work. hehe). But right now the system is totally enjoyable; can't wait to hear what some tuning will do to it.