Audio is horrible. Amp dead?

[Jordo]

So I just installed a new head unit, to replace the tired stocker. The audio was always sratchey, and just over all, bad before, and the passenger front door speaker sounded blown out. Well, once I put a decent HU in, I only then notice that none of the lower rear door speakers were working at all. And the tweeters at the top are much quieter then the ones in at the front tweeter speakers. And again, the over all sound is just terrible. Sounds like every speaker is blown out AND inside a mother- coffee can.

A guy at a local audio shop told me that he had a X5 and the amp started to die on it, giving it similar symptoms as to what I was having. So, of course he tried to sell me one. So IDK if I should try and get mine fixed, buy a replacement OEM off of eBay, or go aftermarket?

Have you ever heard of my symptoms and it being the amp?

This is what I have......

Head unit it is a Pioneer avicZ120BT




And this is my amp.....







Also, do I have to get this exact part number for a replacement stock unit? If not, I will jump on this one.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...fAudioQ5fVideo

[Storm13]

I'm VERY new to the forum here, but I'll put my $0.02 in here...

I swapped head unitis in both my 5-series and 7-series sedans (admittedly, they are older models). In doing so, I ended up having to bypass the factory amplifier and build my own crossovers for the front and rear speakers. I later replaced them with new component speakers that had their own crossovers and added a Rockford Fosgate 4-channel amp, but that may be more than what you're looking for at this point.

What I'm trying to get at is that the factory BMW headunit has a low power output that goes to the amp. Your new headunit has a much higher output that is pretty close to the output of the factory amp.

[Jordo]

Originally Posted by Storm13

I'm VERY new to the forum here, but I'll put my $0.02 in here...

I swapped head unitis in both my 5-series and 7-series sedans (admittedly, they are older models). In doing so, I ended up having to bypass the factory amplifier and build my own crossovers for the front and rear speakers. I later replaced them with new component speakers that had their own crossovers and added a Rockford Fosgate 4-channel amp, but that may be more than what you're looking for at this point.

What I'm trying to get at is that the factory BMW headunit has a low power output that goes to the amp. Your new headunit has a much higher output that is pretty close to the output of the factory amp.

Great info. So do you know of any amp by-pass plug/harness? Or can you describe how you made your crossovers? Pics even?

Thanks.

[chas3]

I might have misunderstood the question, but didn't you already bypass the amp when you installed the avic? Since the avic can't keep the amp alive, there shouldn't be any sound coming up from the avic, unless you bypass the stock amp.

[Lookin4Trouble]

Originally Posted by Jordo

So I just installed a new head unit, to replace the tired stocker. The audio was always sratchey, and just over all, bad before, and the passenger front door speaker sounded blown out. Well, once I put a decent HU in, I only then notice that none of the lower rear door speakers were working at all. And the tweeters at the top are much quieter then the ones in at the front tweeter speakers. And again, the over all sound is just terrible. Sounds like every speaker is blown out AND inside a mother- coffee can.

Sounds just like my stock "premium audio" DSP system. Next step for me is a full R&R when I have the cash to throw around. Haulingan HU w/NAV, non-shitty speakers, a REAL amplifier and a REAL Sound Processor will make all the difference in the world.

E

[Jordo]

Originally Posted by chas3

I might have misunderstood the question, but didn't you already bypass the amp when you installed the avic? Since the avic can't keep the amp alive, there shouldn't be any sound coming up from the avic, unless you bypass the stock amp.

No. I didn't by pass it. I just plugged the avic into the wire harness. So everything is still in play. I would like to go from head unit striat to speakers. So if there was a plug that I could buy that would plug into the wire harness, where the amp plugs in and it would direct the out put of the head unit and put it right to the correct speakers.

Issue is idk enough to know what wire to put to the tweeters or the mid range.

Any help???

[Storm13]

I spliced wires on my cars when I did it. Not sure if there's a harness or not.

[chas3]

Originally Posted by Jordo

No. I didn't by pass it. I just plugged the avic into the wire harness. So everything is still in play. I would like to go from head unit striat to speakers. So if there was a plug that I could buy that would plug into the wire harness, where the amp plugs in and it would direct the out put of the head unit and put it right to the correct speakers.

Issue is idk enough to know what wire to put to the tweeters or the mid range.

Any help???

If you do have the DSP, just replacing your OEM headunit with the avic is not enough. Either no sound will come out, or it will be distorted, when the avic will try to play anything. You will have to replace the OEM amp with some aftermarket amp, or bypass the OEM amp, or rewire all the car speakers, or keep the OEM headunit connected and hidden in your trunk, or pull some other gimmicks to make it work.

[Jordo]

Originally Posted by chas3

If you do have the DSP, just replacing your OEM headunit with the avic is not enough. Either no sound will come out, or it will be distorted, when the avic will try to play anything. You will have to replace the OEM amp with some aftermarket amp, or bypass the OEM amp, or rewire all the car speakers, or keep the OEM headunit connected and hidden in your trunk, or pull some other gimmicks to make it work.

Did not have DSP.