How To Upgrade My Stock Speakers?

[Low Level E30]

Assuming a stock Premium Sound System, can I just buy a set of 5.25" speakers, remove the kick panel covers, and swap the old speakers for the new ones?

Or is there more to it... ?

[StereoInstaller1]

Yes you can, but be prepared for dissapointment if yours are in good shape. There are few 5.25" speakers out there with even close to as rich a sound as the premiums.

The premuim speakers actually sound excellent, expecially with aftermarket crossovers and a decent amp and/or deck.

Tell us what you are looking to improve.

Luke

[Low Level E30]

Well, I have a BMW CD43 Business CD head unit to put in the car - my needs/wants are simple:

- To be able to play CD's
- To enjoy clear rich sound - I don't need an overboard audiophile setup - I just don't want to have to listen to my speakers struggling to keep up when I play something like hard rock / metal --- I generally don't listen to music loud, but occasionally I'll turn it up a little. I'm certainly not a rattle-your-doors kinda guy.

[Low Level E30]

Ideally, I can just put the CD43 HU in, and be done with it. But I was expecting the "Premium" speakers to struggle, as they're almost 20 years old in my '88 car...

Currently, I just have the stock tape HU in the car - I don't turn it up loud, coz it has that infamous volume-knob-feedback-scratchiness issue. It's old, too.

[StereoInstaller1]

AJ, drop in a small 4 channel amp with the business class deck. Ideally, one with variable crossovers. You will be shocked how those 20 year old speakers sound, until they die a rattly death in 2 years.

Look for an amp with "summed outputs" (6 RCAs on it).

Then, do a sub and a small sub amp.

Luke

[Low Level E30]

Can you point me to a particular model, at a reasonable cost? Also, how would I wire that up? I would need to run new wiring, huh? I just want to plug 'n' play to the max extent possible :D

I know absolutely nothing about car audio. Period.

I do appreciate your very real expertise - I often see your posts helping everyone out - very good of you.

[Low Level E30]

Also, do you know what the BMW Part # is for the wiring harness adapter that allows you to plug in the CD head unit? Or, is there somewhere where I can buy an aftermarket one?

[StereoInstaller1]

Ummmm. BEST, AKA www.aampofamerica.com has them there harnesses and antenna adapters.

Amp? I absolutely love the Exile product. 600.4 is the smallest 4 channel and would be HUGE overkill...but kick ass.

Luke

[FL318is]

Ummmm. BEST, AKA www.aampofamerica.com has them there harnesses and antenna adapters.

Amp? I absolutely love the Exile product. 600.4 is the smallest 4 channel and would be HUGE overkill...but kick ass.

Luke

Following your lead, I linked but could not find the harness for the CD43. Could you point me to that?

[StereoInstaller1]

Following your lead, I linked but could not find the harness for the CD43. Could you point me to that?

What year/model car is it out of?

[ZiMMie]

What year/model car is it out of?

still waiting for ur pm.;)

[FL318is]

What year/model car is it out of?

Thank you very much in advance. I have part time job and very little time to check the forum.
The HU is brand new. Is there a ref# ?
I appreciate your expertise in this area. I plan to get the amp you recommended. Any opinion on speakers?

[Garageaholic]

So this is what it seems to me:

The "high level" outputs on the CD43 head unit are right in the range you want for the low level input to an aftermarket amp so you should be able to just cut the speaker output wires from the head unit and solder in RCA's (if noise is an issue because of the somewaht low level signal coming from the head unit you could cut the the speaker output wires and run a shileded RCA straight from the head unit). If anyone has done this and can comment on the overall sound quality I'd like to hear.

StereoInstaller1, this is what you're talking about? Cutting/splicing RCA wires from the speaker wires as inputs to an afermarket amp?