upgrading my 2005 x5 stereo

novfilms · #1 08-17-2006, 09:59 AM

my 2005 x5 has the stock stereo system in it (with nav & sirius) but i'd like to upgrade the sound. not sure if there's any good place to put an amplifier (suggestions) but i think upgrading the speakers (component system?) might help. i recently put a new alpine head unit into a 1992 mbz wagon that i'm having our recently driving permited daughter use until she's got some driving experience. when i bought it new i was still in those heady days of great music whatever the cost and apparently (i'd forgotten) replaced all the speakers, put in a sub and lots of power. with the new head unit it sounds like a home stereo and blows away the stock x5 system. my wife (who drives the x5) is jealous! what can i do realistically for the x5?

thanks

alan

i can be emailed off list as well: [email protected]

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broknlgs24 · #2 08-17-2006, 10:12 AM

do a search or browse the audio forum. many here have upgraded
their setup using the BSW Stage I kit.

el_duderino · #3 08-17-2006, 12:15 PM

There are firms (some host this forum) who have upgraded speakers for that car. This is definitely the lowest-cost approach.

The bottleneck is the amplifier and the architecture of the system.

Best results are obtained (NOT lowest-cost results) when replacing the amplifier and the speakers, and abandoning the BMW front-door three-way architecture and using a two-way front architecture with a tweeter that plays low into the upper midrange.

Here are some links with some descriptions and pics:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bavarian-soun...005-4-8is.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bavarian-soun...io-system.html

Micah D. Cranman · #4 08-17-2006, 04:33 PM

Hey Alan, just wanted to pop in and say hello! Good speaking to you this morning.

As we discussed, for your particular needs, I do think that an amplifier replacement is a good option in concert with upgraded front speakers (Dynaudio are what we discussed, I believe) and our xh108 subwoofer in the rear of the vehicle. If you have ANY questions based on our earlier conversation, please do let me know.

el_duderino: I think speakers are a viable option for many, but you are right in that it doesn't provide the best results possible. However, on a limited budget, I do think it's probably the simplest, best upgrade possible to improve clarity and detail provided the right speakers are chosen. As I'm sure I've mentioned before, whether it's the right solution for certain folks will ALWAYS depend on their particular needs and available budget. We don't recommend it as a solution to everyone, and will in many cases steer customers away from it as a solution if we don't think it's a good fit -- even if that's all will fit their budget.

But it's an option.

el_duderino · #5 08-17-2006, 05:33 PM

Yeah, that's what I said.

Micah D. Cranman · #6 08-17-2006, 05:43 PM

I think the tone and implications were somewhat different, but we're on the same page, yes.

aus · #7 08-19-2006, 02:47 AM

Ken, nice write-up's. Did you guys ever tap into the rear speaker outputs from the head unit (in the spare tire well) into the rear channels of a LOC? So the LOC is between the "head unit" and stock amp.

el_duderino · #8 08-19-2006, 05:34 PM

Well, we didn't use an LOC in the final version.

When we tapped in after the DSP amp, in the initial install, we used Soundgate LOCHVAs (actually a Navone piece, now discontinued).

Sounded pretty good.

Then we took out the DSP amp and ran the audio out of the HU tuner module in the back straight into the aftermarket gear. We added rear outputs from the module to the aftermarket gear, since the tuner module has only L and R out in a DSP setup 9in the DSP setup the fader lives in the amp and is controlled by the HU through the databus).

We did use an IsoMax "gli" but at $200 for ground loop isolation it's hardly an LOC

aus · #9 08-19-2006, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the response. It sounds similar to what I did, but I used a LOC. We tapped into the HU tuner for the rear channels since like you said, the DSP output only has R & L outputs without rear channals in the stock wiring harness. The problem we had was there was a TON of engine whine when we grounded then LOC, but minimal when we didn't ground the LOC. Is that what the IsoMax gli is for? What is it? Thanks for all the great posts.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=213379

Can I pick you brain for another problem I have My front's went out. It was the tweet's initially, then the woofers went out a couple weeks later. Any idea what would cause this?

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