E53 '05 Audio Upgrade

[Djera]

I got a new X5 a few months ago and the audio system (MKIV NAV) is not quite what I have expected. I would like an option of just changing the speakers and keeping the stock amp. Anyone has an advice? One site I've found suggested MB QUART but I didn't find the exact model of speakers I would use and how to get them. Thanks

[alpac]

:xoutpost:
When you say that the audio system is not what you expected what do you exactly mean? The X5 audio stock system is not bad but definitely lacks good bass. If it is only the lack of bass which bothers you then you can easily upgrade it by adding a subwoofer and a sub amplifier. Adding a subwoofer and amp for the subwoofer is what most people need. Here is an article which explains how do to that. http://www.xoutpost.com/showarticle-237.html

Now if you want a more drastic upgrade then you cannot just replace the speakers without replacing the stock amp. The X5 stock amp uses built-in crossovers. That means that the outputs of the stock amp have filtered frequency range and that the stock amp and stock speakers are matched to each other. Unfortunatly that also means that if you take the output of the stock amp to aftermarket speakers or to an after market amp for that matter you will never have a good signal. Therefore is you want to upgrade your system you MUST replace the amp too.

[Djera]

I only ment by "not quite" that it doesn't have enough clarity with high volume and of course there's the bass problem. Thank you for the bass advice it does help. I wouldn't post this question normally, it is only that I ran into this site that says that you can just change the speakers and keep the stock amp because they've measured it to be correctly balanced, soundwise. This is the site that explains it. I was hopping I could get advice if it is true or not.

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...php?PA=&II=386

What I liked is the price and the simplicity of installment. If I decide to do more than as well I might do the whole thing

[ekaz]

There are a multitude of threads in the Stereo forum that address the DSP system in the X5. There is also an article on the main page in the stereo section that has some suggested DSP settings, may be the same article that alpac posted.

You could probably swap the speakers but i don't think it would sound as good as you'd expect without some extensive work.

[alpac]

Originally Posted by Djera

I only ment by "not quite" that it doesn't have enough clarity with high volume and of course there's the bass problem. Thank you for the bass advice it does help. I wouldn't post this question normally, it is only that I ran into this site that says that you can just change the speakers and keep the stock amp because they've measured it to be correctly balanced, soundwise. This is the site that explains it. I was hopping I could get advice if it is true or not.

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...php?PA=&II=386

What I liked is the price and the simplicity of installment. If I decide to do more than as well I might do the whole thing

Interesting indeed. It looks like they have found how to pair the stock amp outputs with the appropriate speakers. For some reason the X5 (and most BMWs) are equiped with 8 Ohm impedance speakers unlike most automobile audio speakers which are 4 Ohms. Also the front mids in the X5 are very specific to BMW in term of frequency response (by the way that is probably why this BSW kit does not try to replace the front midrange drivers). All of that makes speaker replacement very difficult if you do not change the amp. I know of some people who have tried just replacing the speakers without changing the amp and ended with a sound which was worse than with the stock. If you go for the BSW kit please let us know about the results. After installing this kit you may still need more bass. Good luck

[X5Jay]

Originally Posted by Djera

I only ment by "not quite" that it doesn't have enough clarity with high volume and of course there's the bass problem. Thank you for the bass advice it does help. I wouldn't post this question normally, it is only that I ran into this site that says that you can just change the speakers and keep the stock amp because they've measured it to be correctly balanced, soundwise. This is the site that explains it. I was hopping I could get advice if it is true or not.

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...php?PA=&II=386

What I liked is the price and the simplicity of installment. If I decide to do more than as well I might do the whole thing

That product does look interesting - first time I've seen it. Please do let us know what you decide to do and welcome to the best (and certainly most entertaining) X5 resource, period!

[Micah D. Cranman]

Just wanted to clear up an possible misconceptions about our products. The BSW kit DOES make a significant, positive difference in sound quality and audio system performance. We do guarantee the performance of our systems, so if you're not happy, you can return them for a full refund. Here are links to a couple of satisified customers from this very forum:

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...?highlight=bsw

http://www.xoutpost.com/stereo-system...?highlight=bsw

Also, we do have replacement midranges specific to the X5:

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/product.php/II=489

[Ajogu]

I would really suggest adding a subwoofer and amp first. I did it and I'm very satisfied. Since you are lacking clarity with high volume, I think it is due to the poor bass the stock subwoofer gives.

[MGRMLN]

Originally Posted by Ajogu

I would really suggest adding a subwoofer and amp first. I did it and I'm very satisfied. Since you are lacking clarity with high volume, I think it is due to the poor bass the stock subwoofer gives.

I respectfully disagree.
The real issue is that the stock speakers have very poor range.
The difference a real tweeter and mid-bass driver adds is night and day. I actually had no idea the tremendous amount of detail and definition i was missing before I heard the speaker swap.

That said, I am looking to add more bottom end with a sub but only because the rest of the sound is so much cleaner and it's missing a bottom end.

Minsoo

[Ajogu]

Originally Posted by MGRMLN

I respectfully disagree.
The real issue is that the stock speakers have very poor range.
The difference a real tweeter and mid-bass driver adds is night and day. I actually had no idea the tremendous amount of detail and definition i was missing before I heard the speaker swap.

That said, I am looking to add more bottom end with a sub but only because the rest of the sound is so much cleaner and it's missing a bottom end.

Minsoo

Oh well, I think it also depends on the kind of music you listen to. I was missing the bottom end from start, hence the slight upgrade which really made a difference.
My kid brother just picked up his x with DSP and the difference is night and day.