Best Wire to use to replace stock wiring

[Brezzi]

hey r3v,

I'm more of a mechanic than a audio specialist. However, I'm looking to re-wire all of the speakers in my 89 vert. I've done this before on the 90 vert I had previously but used the wire I had laying around and some pioneer speakers I picked up from wal-mart. It didn't sound terrible but this time around I'd like to get some better quality sound with real depth. I don't want a kicker at this point but might be open to it in the future.

Basically my questions are:

- what type of wire should I use?
- any speaker recommendations? Keep in mind this is for a vert so the rear speakers aren't the same size as a coupe or 4door.
- process recommendations?
- do I need any kind of amp or balancer?

Thanks in advance!

[Rook12V]

Unless there are specific problems with the factory wiring, there's no real reason to change it out, unless you're adding an amplifier.
If you're going to do that, then get some speaker wire from monoprice:

http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=120&cp_id=12003&cs_id=1023903

50' is probably more than enough to do everything right, and still screw up a few times. :)

For speaker recommendations, I'll let others pipe up first, I like MBQuart and Inifinity Kappa, but they're not cheap.

I do recommend an amp, and the 5 channel Planet Audio that Luke recommends has been working just fine in my E30 for ~1.5 years.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Audio-AC1800-5-1800-watts-Amplifier/dp/B003GSLE4O

This would give you the opportunity to put a sub in later, although I'm not sure how much room you have in the 'vert.

As far as process? Do you mean procedure? I dunno man. Be careful, remove all the old wire, and cleanly run the new wire.

[Brezzi]

Unless there are specific problems with the factory wiring, there's no real reason to change it out, unless you're adding an amplifier.
If you're going to do that, then get some speaker wire from monoprice:

http://www.monoprice.com/Category?c_id=120&cp_id=12003&cs_id=1023903

50' is probably more than enough to do everything right, and still screw up a few times. :)

For speaker recommendations, I'll let others pipe up first, I like MBQuart and Inifinity Kappa, but they're not cheap.

I do recommend an amp, and the 5 channel Planet Audio that Luke recommends has been working just fine in my E30 for ~1.5 years.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Audio-AC1800-5-1800-watts-Amplifier/dp/B003GSLE4O

This would give you the opportunity to put a sub in later, although I'm not sure how much room you have in the 'vert.

As far as process? Do you mean procedure? I dunno man. Be careful, remove all the old wire, and cleanly run the new wire.

Thanks for all the insight! Yeah I think I need to add an amp. Main reason I want to do this is because I cut out some hug aftermarket kit that was placed under the steering column and looked terrible. After I did this my bass was completely off so I'm guessing this unit I cut out had to do with the amp/balance. Instead of trying to deal with someones hack job I figured I would just lay new wire and give my system a complete refresh. I've never wired an amp, how hard is that?

[AndrewBird]

I would get rid of everything aftermarket and keep the stock wiring. Front speakers out of a late model E34 are going to be your best bet.

If you want a sub, the only way to go is with a box from German Audio Specialties. I've heard several of their vert boxes in person and they are phenomenal. And not just phenomenal for a vert, phenomenal compared to any car.

Amp wiring is easy. Run RCA's and an amp turn on wire from the stereo to it, power from the battery, ground it to the chassis near by then speaker wires away from it to the speakers.

[benz-tech]

If you are near a pick n pull, I recommend raiding a '90's German car. Usually pre-twisted too.

[Rook12V]

If you want a sub, the only way to go is with a box from German Audio Specialties. I've heard several of their vert boxes in person and they are phenomenal. And not just phenomenal for a vert, phenomenal compared to any car.

Didn't know (didn't check) that GAS made a 'Vert box. DO IT. I've never been as happy with a stereo in my life than my Luke Box'd E30.

[Brezzi]

Thanks for the advice guys! I knew about the GAS vert box, I'm definitely interested, just not sure if I want to ad a kicker yet.

In the mean time I'll be looking in the wiring and an amp.

[dlmrun2002]

Luke is gonna kill you. BMW speaker wire is really good. German Audio Specialties ( Luke) is your answer. Buy amps, sub, box..... B••M B••M B••M Out go the lights !!!!!

[Brezzi]

Luke is gonna kill you. BMW speaker wire is really good. German Audio Specialties ( Luke) is your answer. Buy amps, sub, box..... B••M B••M B••M Out go the lights !!!!!

I know how good old bmw wire is, I don't want to remove it but I think I have to because that aftermarket system was hacked into the stock system. Idk when I get into it I might be able to salvage it.

[bmwman91]

Whatever you go with, I do recommend using twisted pair wire. Since a lot of the wiring runs parallel to some of the chassis harnesses, interference from the ignition and alternator are a real possibility. Twisted pair wire will help to ensure that the interference appears in both wires, which effectively cancels it out at the speaker.

[Brezzi]

Whatever you go with, I do recommend using twisted pair wire. Since a lot of the wiring runs parallel to some of the chassis harnesses, interference from the ignition and alternator are a real possibility. Twisted pair wire will help to ensure that the interference appears in both wires, which effectively cancels it out at the speaker.

very helpful, as I'm not an audio expert or know exactly what can be done to cancel out interference. :stupidsign: