Premium sound sounds like shit

[SpartanTiger81]

So I just bought a 89 325is with premium sound and it sounds like complete shit. My old e just had stock sound and the quality was 100% better. I have some JVC head unit which actually isn't bad, but the speakers can't handle shit. My old car had a pioneer something and 2 coaxial pioneers in the rear. I thought preium would sound better, lol...

[Danny]

I have a full stock system for sale.

[SpartanTiger81]

I'll probably sell this head unit, buy 4 new coaxials and let that be it. I don't need much bass, but this all treble sounds like complete shit..

[Danny]

Well if you have a headunit then play with the settings.

[SpartanTiger81]

I did and it didn't do much.

[StereoInstaller1]

A properly installed Premium sound speaker system sounds pretty OK with an aftermarket deck.

[SpartanTiger81]

For some reason my sounds like shit. I can't even turn it up to 20 before that shit has a like the crackling shitty sound.

[NOMAD]

You are probably running it through the stock amp and its crapping up the sound.
Try running wires from headunit direct to speakers. Could be your speakers are also blown.

Working Premium speakers don't sound that bad. On par with a basic coaxial setup.

[StereoInstaller1]

You are probably running it through the stock amp and its crapping up the sound.
Try running wires from headunit direct to speakers. Could be your speakers are also blown.

Working Premium speakers don't sound that bad. On par with a basic coaxial setup.

Agreed, only better than most coaxials, and WAY better bass than 99% of the components out there.

Pull your deck out and look at the speaker wires. See if they are connected to the stock wiring. If they are, you might be running the stock amp still.

An easy way to test that would be to see if you can pull the plug on the amp.

IF YOUR STOCK AMP IS CONNECTED your caps lock might get stuck and your car will sound like shit.

Find out and let us know, OK?

[E30 Cabrio]

I just installed a new HU in my 88 with Premium sound, bypassed the factory amp and it was quite an improvement.
As mentioned, you're probably still wired to the factory amp.
Check the stock fader and see if that's connected and functional. That would indicate the factory amp is still connected, but not necessarily the opposite - if the fader doesn't work, it doesn't mean the stock amp is not connected, just that the fader was bypassed.

The stock front speakers and tweeters are decent, but the rear stock speakers on cabrio's are horrible.

I'm going to replace them soon.

[aSpecD_]

ok how else am i able to check if stock amp is still connected?

i just got a free sony headunit from a homie and wired it yesterday to my premium sound 89 325is. i don't have the fader thing though nor did i find any wires that would go to it. i connected everything according to e30 wiring diagram and the diagram of the head unit. i'm not getting any base and my rear speakers give me that crackling sound about volume 18..

stereoinstaller1, what do you think?

-jeff

[TurkE30]

mine is all stock it sounds excellent even when i get it over 20...

[T Verdier]

bump

[T Verdier]

sorry where is the stock amp?

[De //m3]

Stock amp should be in the trunk behind the lefthand (Driver's Side) paneling, just ahead and inboard of where the antenna mounts. At least thats where it is on an E30 M3. But I think it should be in the same spot.