You people suck. 12 years later, I finally replace speakers.

[jopecasa]

IMO.... I value speaker Sensitivity over Impedance.....especially if they're not being driven below 50 hz.

Lower than 80 hz...you need a woofer/subwoofer that can cleanly re-produce the bottom octaves.....This is were Big amps and Massive Magnet brigade come into play.

At the end of the day....Your "taste" in music and "tolerance" in loudness... matters most.

Do you prefer Treble......Mid-range.......or Bass?

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by jopecasa

IMO.... I value speaker Sensitivity over Impedance.....especially if they're not being driven below 50 hz.

Another new concept for me in this world. I can look it up for the specifics, but if you'd help me understand what it is ab this spec that is important to you, I would love to learn some more.

Also, if you (or anyone else) would like to comment on the sensitivity specs of the speakers I've used so far- and how that might translate into my experience with them, I'd love that new understanding as well. I even went and snipped the sensitivity specs for both the JLs and the Memphis Audios so everyone who is so inclined might more easily make me smarter.

Memphis Audio (Dash mids): 85%

JL Audio: (front/rear) 91%

[X53Jay4.8is]

Prop Thanks for taking this speaker upgrade to the next level. Ooh Ha!!!!

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Prop Thanks for taking this speaker upgrade to the next level. Ooh Ha!!!!

I wasn't really thinking ab it until my buddy started counting. "You diiiid.. 2... 4.. 8.. and 10.. TEN speakers! And we haven't done the sub yet!" Not bad for under $300. But what did I get for it?

WOW! It is INCREDIBLE!

I don't think I need to say again that I am no audiophile. But I'm not completely deaf, either. (yet) Talk radio? I can hear the voices more clearly. Classical radio? I understand what people say ab 'depth' in sound. Radio, radio? Well... there's little more effective way to reinforce a disdain for popcorn, lollypop, or whatever tweeny word is right for this generation's Madonna and Prince. I can really, really hear Lady Miley Swiftiana's music. Who knew I was making the right choice based on shitty sound for all these years? OTA analog signals are improved.

But streaming digital? YOWZA! I plugged into the aux audio and streamed some Beatles, Pink Floyd, and some Yo-Yo Ma. The highs are there like they never were. The singer's voices are clear enough to hear the words- a challenge I have always had. We listened to some string music, and I said, "Wow! That really sounds like a guitar!" My 12 yr old sm@rt@ss chimes in from the rear: "Daddy, that's a harpsichord." Oh. Well. See?

If you can believe it (I couldn't), I found myself thinking.. Man, this sounds awesome. You know what would be really nice? Just a tinge more bass filling in the lows. It so will sound better, too. I sound like such a snob. But I think it may just be true. I'm now as anxious as I have been to get the BSW sub installed.

My wife wasn't in the mood to agree with me last night, but she's not deaf either. She knows it sounds good. She'll admit it when it's not a Friday of a busy week.

I found the transaction for the BSW sub on clearance. I didn't remember that I paid nearly $500 delivered. That seems like a lot of money, now. I suppose at the time I hadn't planned on replacing anything but the sub, so it was ok. I don't think I would have considered $800 for sound all at once. I can't say that what I have today is worth $800 bc I haven't installed the sub. Truthfully, I can't imagine that it will give me nearly twice the enjoyment of the $280 spent on speakers so far. But I'm gonna dance with the one what brung me and power through the final install. Once that's done, I'll update here again.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I can't say that what I have today is worth $800 bc I haven't installed the sub. Truthfully, I can't imagine that it will give me nearly twice the enjoyment of the $280 spent on speakers so far. But I'm gonna dance with the one what brung me and power through the final install. Once that's done, I'll update here again.

Today was the day for the BSW sub install. I think I mentioned I purchased it in 2016- I didn't recall that it was nearly a YEAR ago in Feb, 2016. Well.. I *was* in the middle of a full-on kitten herding exercise with my home audio and maturing smart home project. This bit of speaker diddling with the car is nothing compared to the 12-year-long smart home process. Tons of work, many iterations, and there will be more. But that's a story for a place where we don't talk ab E53's.

The sub install was probably the easiest of them all. If you've ever been under the spare tire cover, or installed anything like a Bluetooth ULF, you'll be familar with the process for gaining access. Even if not, BSW's YouTube videos are still around. Follow them as closely as you need for the install.

The only things we needed to alter were a notch on the positive battery terminal and a similar notch on the module cover in front of the battery. Once notched, the cables needed to power the sub are easily routed. Again, the BSW instructions won't betray your mission here.

Comments ab the BSW amp: Yeah, it was a year ago. But I never broke the seal on the boxes. What we found is that the amp they sent had been installed on something, somewhere. The paint on the mounts was scratched as it would be from the most basic mount.

Indeed, when we got to the physical hookup, one of the terminals was stripped and would not clamp the speaker cable. This realization was aggravating, but it was solved by stripping the copper out of extra wire and using it to tighten up the threads. Also, one of the mounts had a screw stuck in it that looked like it's been cut off its mount. We cut the screw and were able to back it out. Not a new amp, that is for sure. I was dissapointed even if I'd bought on clearance. I didn't understand I was getting a unit from BSW that was used.

Anyway, once installed, it was time to fiddle with amp output and step-down balance. As shipped, the damn thing sounded like it was meant to rattle windows in other cars. It sounded like @ss. A few minor adjustments at the amp (tiny screws), and we were doing better. But it was still a bit too 'thump' for me. The step-down has a couple dials you can tune as well. In the end, it sounds pretty good and fills in some of that low that was missing. I can say that it was not at all worth $500 (to me) for the BSW sub.

But, like I said, I chose it. I'm not going to sell it. I might as well get the damn thing out of my storage room and into the car where it belongs. It also allowed me to button up the full speaker upgrade, satisfying my curiosity about what I'd learn through the whole thing.

I have thoughts ab an observation off to the side of this project. I'm not ready to share them bc I don't know if it's possible. I will look into it as I can and share what I've learned.

Sub installed- mostly.

[crystalworks]

^Welcome to clear audio my friend. Very few people care about it... until they hear it. Most people really do enjoy good audio reproduction but don't care enough to prioritize it in their homes and even lower in their cars..

Speaker sensitivity is a measure of how much volume will be produced by a speaker at a power input of 1 watt and a listening distance of 1 meter. The higher the rating, the better the speaker. I don't know what the factory ratings are, but >85 is considered pretty good by mass market speaker standards.

[jopecasa]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

^Welcome to clear audio my friend. Very few people care about it... until they hear it. Most people really do enjoy good audio reproduction but don't care enough to prioritize it in their homes and even lower in their cars..

Very True.

Speaker sensitivity is a measure of how much volume will be produced by a speaker at a power input of 1 watt and a listening distance of 1 meter. The higher the rating, the better the speaker. I don't know what the factory ratings are, but >85 is considered pretty good by mass market speaker standards.

There's plenty of brands to choose........depending on your budget.

I'm biased on Focal speakers and JL Audio amps.

[crystalworks]

I should have linked you to my BSW install... or rather reinstall, as I was less than impressed with BSW's method of recommended installation.

As to your thoughts on the sound, about what I had anticipated. It fills in some areas, falls short in others, and is definitely not worth $500. I'm glad mine came "gratis" with the X5. A very pleasant surprise because the way the PO had it tuned you couldn't even tell the thing was in the truck. Sounded like garbage. Some fiddling around (I've gotten decent at tuning by ear) and it performs well enough for something that doesn't take up any space.

BTW, it will sound better if you install a grille in front of it on the panel. Like this:



Edit: BTW what was your mounting solution for the amp? Zip tied as BSW shows in their videos? *bites nails*

Here's what I came up with after some noodling about with some ideas:



This makes adjustments very easy and convenient... though admittedly once it's set properly you shouldn't really have to mess with it again. I've been known to use nail polish or other means to lock gains/xover settings on customer installs after tuning and getting "auditory approval" from a customer when installing systems. Prevents someone getting all hamfisted with them and blowing speakers or amps.

[semcoinc]

Thanks for the recommendations Prop! :thumb up:

I just bought the Memphis Audio mids for the dash and will do the doors a little later, maybe closer to when I install the Eonon GA6166X.

I put the factory DSP sub in and am driving it with a separate mono block amp using high level inputs for now. It gives me enough low end to please me.







Can anyone point me to a DIY on cutting the right rear cover for a proper subwoofer grill install?

I measured it up and it looks like a 10" will give me a nice enough opening to let the pee wee subs breathe

Thanks,

Mike

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by semcoinc

Can anyone point me to a DIY on cutting the right rear cover for a proper subwoofer grill install?

Here's what Crystalworks did for his BSW. I think you could do something kinda cool looking with twin 6" grills on your OE sub. It's just cardboard and insulation, so cutting it is easy.

Use the grill to mark, a knife to etch through carpet, and the device of your choosing to get through the tougher stuff. A knife might even work. Like I mentioned, all of this work got me thinking of a mod for the OE sub. Since I just changed the RAM in my PC up to 32GB (cause why not), I may go out there and see what progress I can make. Gotta strike while the thoughts are still clear.