D-
If I end up with an amp that doesn't have line level inputs, what is your favorite/best-all-around LOC for BMWs?

Any amp you buy will have line level inputs, but it may not have speaker level inputs :)

You are only installing a sub. Given that, you don't really have any concern about frequency response etc, so you should get whatever you can find locally. If you have a Circuit City, Best Buy, or Radio Shack they all carry them and they will all be adequate for your needs. Crutchfield also sells them.

If you were installing an SQ competition system I might point you toward a Soundgate or something a bit higher end, but frankly, you'd be wasting your money.

d-

I am torn between two options:
1.) Getting a kicker amp (zx350.2 which should fit in the stock sub location) with speaker-level inputs and just using it to run my sub (Image Dynamics IDQ12 in 1cuft sealed). Then I would probably replace the front tweeters and woofers with something that could run on stock power.

2.) I have found a few small footprint 4 channel amps (ie Alpine PDX series) that I considered using to power some front speakers and then use the other 2 channels for the sub. Unfortunately, all of the amps that are small enough to be hidden in the BMW only accept RCA inputs. I assume here you would recommend a higher quality loc?

I am definitely not an audiophile, but I enjoy a nice sound and can tell that I dont get that from my current nonDSP system. My old vehicle was similar to option 2, I had a 4x100 amp running Boston Rally 6.5 components up front and a 10 sealed in back. Very good sound in a pickup truck.

I am considering the new Phoenix Gold RSD 6" components as they should fit the roughly 6" woofer opening, but I don't know about the tweeters or if they would sound good w/o some extra amp power.

If the stock stereo is loud enough for you, then alt 1 will work fine. In my case, I couldn't hear the stereo with the windows down, so it was bye-bye DSP.

Since I don't know what vehicle you have I can't really comment on the stock space or what will fit. However, the stock location for the E39 5 series is fairly small, and I managed to fit a 4 channel in with at least a smidge to spare.

Of the current offerings I found few that would fit - they are all too long. Thus I decided to go "old school". There is an added benefit that old amps were rated at 12V (not 14.4V) which means the ratings are typically quite low compared to todays. For example, mine is rated 4x25W, but if you find the 14.4V ratings it is actually 4x65W. I chose an MTX Blue Thunder (which was top of the line at the time) and couldn't be happier.

In your case, this would allow you to run 2x65W + 1x250W.

Oh, and it has the added benefit of accepting balanced inputs up to 8V through the RCA's, which means no LOC.

If, as you said, you do go with one of the new Class D amps then I still don't think it will matter which LOC's you use. If you are an audiophile (I know, you said you aren't) then you'll probably complain about the slew rates of Class D amps. If you aren't, then you won't be able to tell the difference in sound between a $200 and a $20 LOC.

Just my thoughts :)

d-

I looked all over your install blog. Very detailed, I am glad that you really blazed the trail on this project. I think that I may start off by installing the component speakers. If this cleans up the sound enough for me then I will stick with just amping the sub. Otherwise, I found this little guy that may be just the right size, can do 75x2 and 300x1, and accepts speaker level inputs up to 26V! Am I reading this correctly?
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pi...Manual0122.pdf

You indeed are reading that correctly - it can produce 75x2 + 300x1 and will accept the inputs from the BMW system through the speaker level inputs with absolutely no issue.

Note that in this case "speaker level inputs" are still provided via the RCA jacks, you just slide a switch to tell it you are feeding speaker level instead of line level inputs. It also does not require a remote turn on lead...

d-

Try emailing them on [email protected], you will probably be able to get the info you want.

I have just heard from AudioControl that the 6XS (my active crossover) CAN accept the +5/-5 balanced feed from the BMW radio module, so I don't need any LOC there at all, which is good news. Unfortunately, as you pointed out, the 6XS output will be a bit high for the Nakamichi amps. Although the 6XS does have output level controls, there is a real danger of these being accidentally set too high. Is there a simple way to attenuate/limit the 6XS outputs without needing multiple LOCs? Or will I just have to rely on maintaining the correct adjustement?

What would happen to the Nakamichi amps if their input signal was too high?

No way to limit the output that I am aware of without LOC's. But, there are 4-channel LOC's, so that seems like it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Are you set on the 6XS? If not, I'd look for another active crossover that meets the needs of your Nak...

If you send a signal that is too high to the Nak you will burn out the input stage, which is to say that you will be sending it in for expensive repairs.

d-

Just to confirm a few things. I am wanting to upgrade the audio in my X5 also. I'm i right in thinking i can connect directly into my Phoenix Gold Outlaw amplifier as it will accept upto 9 volt input. Thus no need for any converters. Also would i be right in thinking there is no sub out availiable on a non dsp system. I have the nav but no sub or dsp.:confused:

Pin
1 Front left +
8 Front left -
2 Front right +
11 Front right -

5 remote turn on for amp.

You haven't provided enough information to adequately confirm anything.

Are you intending to add just a subwoofer amplifier after the existing amp or a 4 channel & sub amp after the radio?

As a side note, you really should start a new thread since your questions are only loosely related to the topic here.

d-