Replaced DSP amp, need to re-code

[tekazgtr1984]

Original unit got wet and couldn't be saved. So, I picked up a replacement from a '00 E38 and installed it, but the sound is muddled and not clear. As I understand it, the amp needs to be re-coded.
Is there a preferred program for doing this? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[bcredliner]

There are different model DSP amps. I believe some are analog and some digital. Did you confirm it was for your year X5?

[tekazgtr1984]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

There are different model DSP amps. I believe some are analog and some digital. Did you confirm it was for your year X5?

I used realoem.com to make sure I got a compatible amp. The replacement I got is a Lear DSP amp from a 1/01 E38 with navigation (PN 65126905119). However, I'm not sure if it's analog or digital. It does work and I am getting audio from my speakers, but the sound just isn't as crisp or clear as before. That leads me to believe the amp needs to be re-coded with my vehicle.

[Qsilver7]

Yes....the DSP amp will need to be coded. The E38/e39/e53 can all use the same DSP amp but coding is required due to all 3 having different settings for number of speakers and interior dimensions etc.

When you install an amp from one of the aforementioned models and it is not coded for the model you install it in...it will perform as you have written...the sound will be muddled. The amp produces sound but not the best it should/could be if not coded correctly for the environment (model) it is is set-up for.

Sorry, I'm not sure if any software is better than the other...but you would obviously need software/hardware that can communicate with the audio system to set-up the DSP amp. If no one chimes in, then I'd do a google search (using specific search phrase) or try the audio forums on the popular BMW forums: bimmerforums, bimmerfest, bimmerboard, etc.

[bcredliner]

Mine had to be re-coded. The audio shop had a $10,000+ tool that they used.

[X5only]

Couldn't one use ISTA-P for this? I've used it for coding alarm retrofit on my E92. I remember seeing audio retrofit in the list of items. It asks the user if anything has been changed in the car. You select what has been changed in the list of items enumerated. I would give it a try. Here's the docs for ISTA-P.
BMW ISTA/P documentation - coding / programming - BMW forum. Diagnostics, coding, programming, repair BMW vehicles.

Edit:

Read on another forum that SSS/Progman via Retrofit will also do the job.

[kevinkay]

The DSP amp is the radio amp that sits in the back left cargo compartment, right?

Mine also got wet, found one on Ebay with the same numbers, plugged it in and it worked perfect without any programing.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by kevinkay

The DSP amp is the radio amp that sits in the back left cargo compartment, right?

Mine also got wet, found one on Ebay with the same numbers, plugged it in and it worked perfect without any programing.

Yes, there are two types of "radio" amps depending on if you have the DSP option or not.

And yes, if you get the same amp that came from the same BMW model that you have...you dont have any sound degradation. Sound degradation occurs when the amp is coded for a different BMW model than your car. And again, it's not that you DON'T get sound...the sound you hear is muddled/muddy if it is coded for a different model's DSP sound profile.

I don't have the software to do this so I just went out on the 'net to see I could find some examples. In the pics below from Navcoder website...you can see in the two different images that there's a field on this example page for a DSP acoustic profile (see bottom section under SPEED DEPENDENT VOLUME). This is not to say that this is THE (only) page to make a selection...just that DSP does have specific "profiles" based on what BMW model it is mounted in.

{DSP Acoustic Profile field does NOT have a selection in the pic below}


{DSP Acoustic Profile field has a selection in pic below}