e30 cabin / trunk accoustics

[Jean]

Currently my e30 doesn't have a single speaker or cd player in it. I am thinking about putting something basic in, front speakers and 1 sub. How is the e30 in terms of accoustics ? Is the trunk very "sealed off" or is that not really the case on the e30s as much on the newer cars ?

[StereoInstaller1]

Currently my e30 doesn't have a single speaker or cd player in it.

Same here, man...same here

I am thinking about putting something basic in, front speakers and 1 sub.

Perfect, IMO. Just enough to make excellent sound. Use a 4 channel amp (get one with adjustable crossovers) and run half on a single voice coil 10" and the other half on the fronts.

How is the e30 in terms of accoustics ?

very poor in midbass, made worse by shitty kickpanel 5.25" speaker location and a very aggressive tweeter placement

Is the trunk very "sealed off" or is that not really the case on the e30s as much on the newer cars ?

incredibly well sealed, far more than any new car this side of MBZ or BMW. Punch out the ski hole, it really helps. Do you plan on building your own box, or something pre-fab?

Luke

PS...now that I think about it, there is an old Kenwood KDC X769 in the dash

[Jean]

Same here, man...same here

Perfect, IMO. Just enough to make excellent sound. Use a 4 channel amp (get one with adjustable crossovers) and run half on a single voice coil 10" and the other half on the fronts.

very poor in midbass, made worse by shitty kickpanel 5.25" speakers and a very aggressive tweeter placement

incredibly well sealed, far more than any new car this side of MBZ or BMW. Punch out the ski hole, it really helps. Do you plan on building your own box, or something pre-fab?

Luke

I've had a couple different systems over the years, and I still prefer the keep it simple stupid method ;)

Doesn't look like the front kickpanel location will fit a 6-6.5" driver w/o having to cut and I do want it to look stealthy so, kick panels and such are not an option here.

I haven't removed the "cover" in the trunk on the back seat, do all e30s have a ski hole ?

I am thinking a single 10 or 12 polk db sub in the spare tire well, what are your thoughts ?

Wish I could just fit my diy speakers into the car instead

unfinished http://www.briangt.com/gallery/my-3-...aker_shoot_038
finished http://www.briangt.com/gallery/albums/album33/room.jpg

[Mless5]

I kicked out ski opening ans sealed single 10" into it. Box is in the trunk.

[StereoInstaller1]

I've had a couple different systems over the years, and I still prefer the keep it simple stupid method ;)

I prefer to do just as little as is needed to fill the bill, and always as simple as possible

Never quite seems to be all that simple though. Maybe I should try more stupid? :)

Doesn't look like the front kickpanel location will fit a 6-6.5" driver w/o having to cut and I do want it to look stealthy so, kick panels and such are not an option here.

I think the right 6.5 could fit with just a tiny bit of metal cutting. Mine came with ENORMOUS Sony 6.5" 3 ways (GAK!) cut into the stock panel and a broken glovebox. All of the other E30's I have done systems in have gotten 5.25" down there, mostly due to the tiny airspace behind that factory location. A bit of Dynamat Extreme (or whatever butyl damping material) to help control resonance helps a ton.

The Memphis MSyncs I did sounded excellent, IMO.

I haven't removed the "cover" in the trunk on the back seat, do all e30s have a ski hole ?

I am not certain, but every single one I have ever done a sub in did. Likely 25 cars or so, including M3s.

I am thinking a single 10 or 12 polk db sub in the spare tire well, what are your thoughts ?

My entire debate about the entire output of the woofer being sealed into the cabin of the car has been beat to death on several threads. Sound quality is best served by making the sub box be part of the cabin, not the trunk.

Basically, I want all of the woofers output to be heard by me, not the outside world. I absolutely DETEST spare tire subs in a non-hatch, SQ wise.

Why the Polk db? Do you already own one?

Wish I could just fit my diy speakers into the car instead

unfinished http://www.briangt.com/gallery/my-3-...aker_shoot_038
finished http://www.briangt.com/gallery/albums/album33/room.jpg

Those look great! Nice job...are you going to run the Revelators? Good call on all of the components too.

I have a set of Morel 12" woofers I have been sitting on for about 12 years, waiting until I can build enclosures to suit them. These are incredibly light, amazingly fast woofers, among the best ever made. About $400 each, wholesale cost. I will run them with tri-amped tubes (300B, wewt!) if I can ever find the space and time to build absolutely world-class cabinets for them.

Good to see another DIY audio dude here.

Luke

[Jean]

I prefer to do just as little as is needed to fill the bill, and always as simple as possible

Never quite seems to be all that simple though. Maybe I should try more stupid? :)

I think the right 6.5 could fit with just a tiny bit of metal cutting. Mine came with ENORMOUS Sony 6.5" 3 ways (GAK!) cut into the stock panel and a broken glovebox. All of the other E30's I have done systems in have gotten 5.25" down there, mostly due to the tiny airspace behind that factory location. A bit of Dynamat Extreme (or whatever butyl damping material) to help control resonance helps a ton.

The Memphis MSyncs I did sounded excellent, IMO.

Gotcha, i'll just stick with a 5.25" for now, it's just to have some sound when I drive the car to autox events (50 miles each way), otherwise I wouldn't even bother.

I am not certain, but every single one I have ever done a sub in did. Likely 25 cars or so, including M3s.

My entire debate about the entire output of the woofer being sealed into the cabin of the car has been beat to death on several threads. Sound quality is best served by making the sub box be part of the cabin, not the trunk.

Basically, I want all of the woofers output to be heard by me, not the outside world. I absolutely DETEST spare tire subs in a non-hatch, SQ wise.

I'll pull the carpet from the back seat and check it out, I thought only cars with the rear folding armrest had the ski opening but I am probably wrong on this.

Why the Polk db? Do you already own one?

I've had old polk db components/subs years ago and really like them, especially their tweeters. But main reason now is that they are so cheap from cardomain.com ($50 for a brand new set of 5.25", I bought two sets for now).

Those look great! Nice job...are you going to run the Revelators? Good call on all of the components too.

I have a set of Morel 12" woofers I have been sitting on for about 12 years, waiting until I can build enclosures to suit them. These are incredibly light, amazingly fast woofers, among the best ever made. About $400 each, wholesale cost. I will run them with tri-amped tubes (300B, wewt!) if I can ever find the space and time to build absolutely world-class cabinets for them.

Good to see another DIY audio dude here.

Luke

I made those about 2 years ago, the amp sitting on the desk next to the monitor is also diy, dual mono class ab about 60wrms per channel. Very simple but very good sounding, it's connecting to my pc via m-audio 2496 card.

The morels are good, I really want to try a ribbon tweeter next or do a dipole system for the "boxless" sound.

[808BMW]

Every e30 I've owned has the ski hole in the sheetmetal, whether your rear seat has an armrest or not.

I once put 2 cheapy 12's in a truck box in my trunk (it was free) before I punched out the ski hole and you couldn't tell a difference at all.
No more bass, not one rattle, nothing, its as if I didn't install anything. Our trunks are damn sealed.