Audio Upgrade for BMW X5 E53 - Page 7

daki50 · #1 10-08-2021, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Depending on how particular you are you can find speakers that will significantly improve the sound without any alterations. I think Crystalworks has the broadest experience here.

Many years ago I purchased a plug and play set of speakers, amp and subwoofer from Bavsound. I am completely happy with the results. Unfortunately, I don't think they offer a set anymore but it might be worthwhile to give them a call. At the time of my purchase they were extremely helpful.

A couple of years ago I had to replace a tweeter and a local car audio shop had a further upgrade that was also plug and play.

How much did it all cost you? Does it make sense to change speakers without an amplifier? I currently have a subwoofer at the factory, does the ego also need to be changed or is it enough at the factory?

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bcredliner · #2 10-08-2021, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daki50

How much did it all cost you? Does it make sense to change speakers without an amplifier? I currently have a subwoofer at the factory, does the ego also need to be changed or is it enough at the factory?

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It was sooooo many years ago I can't remember and probably not a good comparison to todays pricing. I have every invoice related to my 4.6 since purchased new. I have them cataloged chronologically by year, month and day. If I only knew what year I did the upgrade.

It all depends on budget and how good you want system to be.

daki50 · #3 10-08-2021, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

It was sooooo many years ago I can't remember and probably not a good comparison to todays pricing. I have every invoice related to my 4.6 since purchased new. I have them cataloged chronologically by year, month and day. If I only knew what year I did the upgrade.

It all depends on budget and how good you want system to be.

So you're saying there's a huge difference in sound quality? Did you also change the subwoofer in the trunk or not? Is it complicated to connect another amplifier and which one did you use?

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bcredliner · #4 10-09-2021, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daki50

So you're saying there's a huge difference in sound quality? Did you also change the subwoofer in the trunk or not? Is it complicated to connect another amplifier and which one did you use?

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Yes, in sound quality and even more when I added the aftermarket multi-media player. As I mentioned speaker, subwoofer and amp were in kit. Subwoofer replaced the stock one. Connecting amp and subwoofer was easy.

bcredliner · #5 10-09-2021, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daki50

How much did it all cost you? Does it make sense to change speakers without an amplifier? I currently have a subwoofer at the factory, does the ego also need to be changed or is it enough at the factory?

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I don't remember the cost. I know just enough about audio systems to be dangerous. My guess is there would be noticeable improvement with correct current day speakers.

crystalworks · #6 10-11-2021, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Depending on how particular you are you can find speakers that will significantly improve the sound without any alterations. I think Crystalworks has the broadest experience here.

Many years ago I purchased a plug and play set of speakers, amp and subwoofer from Bavsound. I am completely happy with the results. Unfortunately, I don't think they offer a set anymore but it might be worthwhile to give them a call. At the time of my purchase they were extremely helpful.

Sorry I hadn't responded to this, was out of pocket since Thursday at a vintage BMW event. As bcredliner said, the Bavsound/BSW speaker upgrades are a great addition to the DSP system. But they are impossible to find, and were expensive new, and still are. I have a full set and wouldn't part with them unless a "make me sell them" offer were made.

Aside from that option, other members have pioneered other options. See propellerhead's thread here and X53Jay4.8is' thread here. Both threads are full of info and both retained the DSP amp so are compatible options.

I went with a complete change, removing the DSP amp and changing all drivers. I don't recommend this option unless you are serious about sound, don't mind a lot of work, and have extra cash in your bank account waiting to be burned. I started a thread about it but need to start a new one as that one is no longer accurate. Editing it to be so again would be a pain so I'll just point to the new thread in the original post when I finally finish it (3 years in progress

).

daki50 · #7 10-09-2021, 06:04 AM

Can anyone tell me which amplifier you used and how to connect it if you have any circuit? Since I have android multimedia and it has some audio outputs, do I need to run some cables from there to the amplifier or do I just connect the cables that are currently on the factory amplifier?

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daki50 · #8 10-09-2021, 02:08 PM

Do any of you have a diagram of how to connect a new amplifier, would you leave the old subwoofer (because I have a dsp system) if you can?

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daki50 · #9 10-11-2021, 12:38 PM

I was thinking about Keenwood or Kappa Infinity speakers (have you heard of them)? I would also replace the factory DSP amplifier with some aftermarket if it will improve the sound in the vehicle a lot. I see that everyone also puts crossovers for the speakers and then connects them to the amplifier, can anyone tell me what you get with that?

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crystalworks · #10 10-11-2021, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daki50

I was thinking about Keenwood or Kappa Infinity speakers (have you heard of them)? I would also replace the factory DSP amplifier with some aftermarket if it will improve the sound in the vehicle a lot. I see that everyone also puts crossovers for the speakers and then connects them to the amplifier, can anyone tell me what you get with that?

In that case, you'll find this thread I did on a DSP integration harness interesting. Gives the wire pinouts/colors for the harnesses at the DSP amplifier.

Removing the DSP amp and going aftermarket gives more speaker options, and of course more power. The quality of the sound of my front stage now is unbelievable. My wife had the B&O system in her F15 X5 and is not happy now after spending the weekend in my X5. I am running 3 amps, 2 5 channel amps, and 1 mono amp. Still working some kinks out, but am very happy with how it's coming out.

I did Infinity Kappa 3 way component speakers up front. 6" door woofers, 2" dash mids, and 1" tweeters. They are on sale right now btw, if you're interested in them. They are all 2.5ohm drivers. Likely wouldn't pair well with the DSP amp, but on aftermarket amps (that are 2ohm stereo capable) they sound awesome. I am not using any of the crossovers they sent as I am using an Audiocontrol DSP and the amps to control the speakers on an individual basis in terms of frequencies they receive.

Kenwood speakers I have limited experience with. But as long as they use a textile tweeter of some sort (silk or otherwise) I'm sure they'd be great. Metallic tweeters are too bright for me and end up a little tinny.

If you go with a 4 channel amplifier to power your interiors, then use the included crossovers for the components. This will allow you to power more drivers with the limited amplification channels. Passive crossovers can sound great too. I wanted to go full active since I was using a 10 channel DSP and could handle all the speakers in an X5.

But what I am doing is a huge pain in the @$$. I don't recommend it to any normal person.