Highs and Mids
 

Hello,

I recently added a pair of 8" subs to my 2004 X5 w/DSP. Sounds really good, pretty happy. I am wondering, though, is there are way to easily upgrade the highs and mids? Would replacing the stocks tweets/mids provide only better sound but also a bit more volume, or do I really need to add another amp/speakers. What is the best way to improve volume+quality of mids/highs?

Thanks,
TTM

:worthless:

BSW Stage I kit.

:iagree:

Many different upgrades available
 

BSW is probably the easiest kit to use to upgrade, but most any correctly sized speakers will work - on my E39, for example, the upgrade is 5.25" mid-woofers w/ 1" tweeters. I chose MB Quarts instead of Rainbow and saved a ton of money ($130 for all interior speakers) while still getting the significantly brighter sound I was looking for. Did it take extra time and research on my part? Absolutely, but for the couple hundred I saved it was worth it.

As for volume, you may see an increase in volume depending on your particular system. If you replace the existing speakers with lower resistance ones (ie. 4 ohm ilo 8 if that is what you have) then the new ones will be louder. HOWEVER, please bear in mind that your factory amplifier may not be stable at very low impedance.

If you meant brighter instead of louder, then the answer is still yes, but you need to go listen to the possible new speakers to determine which you like - and remember, whatever they sound like in the store, they will sound different in your car :)

d-

I am going to have to agree :)


To the OP if you have any specific questions please let me know via PM/Email/Phone/Post

:)

What kind of effort level are we talking about for the installation...?
If I didn't go with the full package (change all the speakers), which are the key ones to change out to get better sound, or do they all really need changing?

How do you figure out which speakers will fit? Is there any dimension info for the factory speakers around, so I can make sure any new ones I buy will fit and are the correct impedance?

Also you mentioned that speakers would be louder if the new ones are lower impedance. I will probably not take a chance on that, will just match the ratings on the new and old speakers. Question is, what are those ratings?

Thanks to people who responded.

TTM

With our BSW Stage 1 the installation takes a bit of time but is not "hard". We provide step by step color installation instructions along with the stage. This is on top of being able to call and get tech support if you run into any problems.

The speakers are in an "enclosure". If you had to put a size on them it would be ~6" speaker for midbass and about a 5/8 tweeter. The midrange in the dash up front is 2.5".

Our stage 1 does not just "get louder". The impedance is properly matched and sometimes just a touch higher than the stock speakers. This is made up for in efficiency. The "loudness" most people refer to would be that if with your oem speakers you can turn it up to 15 clicks before it sounds terrrible... now you can turn it up to 18,19 or 20. You can listen at a higher volume level because of the increase in sound quality and the lack of distortion at lower volume levels.

Let me know if you have ANY additional questions!

i'd have to say that the most difficult part of the installation is removing the
OEM speakers from their housings. a bit of effort is required to do this. enough
effort that u feel as if ur gonna break something from using so much force.

also, when removing the front door panels, be extremely careful not to pull the
panel off at any awkward angles. if u have lighted door handles, the piece attached
to those breaks quite easily and costs about $60 to replace. trust me on this
one. as for the rear door panels, i keep saying this until i am blue in the face,
they do not need to be removed. when i did the install on my previous 4.6is,
i did not remove the rear door panels.