E53 4.8is Stereo upgrade starting in a few weeks
 

I'm new to this site. I have owned a black 2006 4.8is just over a year and I love it! The stereo is lacking though. After about a year of researching dead ends I finally got it figured out. The plan is to keep the stock navigation deck and everything else except the stock speakers. I was told that you can install a digital signal processor (DSP) Directly to the outgoing speaker wires from the stock dsp amp. The added dsp will basically translate the signal to analog so you can just add an amp and speakers. Then I found jl audio makes a dsp 5 channel amp. Jl audio VX700/5i. They make more powerful ones, but this one is perfect for my build. One channel per door and one for the sub. I already got the speakers, (jl audio c2-600 components.) And getting the JL audio 10"w1 stealth box next week. Once I have everything in hand I will take pictures of the install. I hope some of this info will be of help to someone, it took me a year to get enough info to be confident in this build.

Sounds like great fun. Can't wait to see your progress!

Wow - I didn't expect someone else to planning a speaker upgrade at the same time as me. Sounds like you are MUCH closer to installation, though. You're post has me concerned about my choice of amp. I intend to use those same JL speakers, but the amp I picked up (received today) is the MX280/4. I had thought I could get away with a non-DSP amp if my head unit was already Eonon and my factory sub is getting swapped for BavSound ghost sub with BavSound amp. My research led me to make an attempt at adding a decent amp to stock speaker setup...but I feel like adding those speakers will improve overall sound quality. In your opinion - should I or do I need to hold out for the DSP amp at 8x the cost...or can I use the amp I just got with the Eonon head unit? Thanks, and I'm excited for your detailed write up with plenty of pictures ;) Ha.

I'm actually on day 2 of my DSP amp removal and replace with a JL amp. The key (at least as I understand it) is simple: crossovers. Active or passive, it doesn't matter, but it is my understanding that the OE DSP amp acts as a crossover to the tweeters and door subs. As such, it acts as the 'filter' for the outgoing sound, allowing only high frequencies to tweeters and lows to door mids/subs.

I've settled on a set of passive JL crossovers (4). I had them sitting around, so it fits with the 'budget build' I started with JL 650CSi speakers. That's 2 Xovers per side, one for high, one for low. I also have a sub with its own amp.

The head unit will be installed at the same time- this one is branded the Xtrons. We all know by now they're pretty much the same chinese units with little more than branding separating them.

My install should be complete at the end of the week. After driving around in the E39 with a built system, I am looking forward to the experience in the E53. The next thing I'll do is to line the door panels in a dynamat equivalent. I did this in the E46 and the doors close sounding like like an E class Merc.

I'll start or continue a thread with the updates.

Make it two.

I'm doing Fountek FR58EX and JL TR-650csi's similar to PropellerHead.

I just put in the front mid founteks in that dash as part of a blower motor job and impressed so far :)

Since I have two sets of JL tweeters coming I'm open to sell them to anyone else upgrading!

I've been meaning to focus some time on this but with a few other things taking priority this sort of fell waist side... thanks for this post!

Any modifications needed to fit the JL TR-650csi's? Are these for the front door panels only or all four? Will these sound good with the DSP amp? I ask, because I want to upgrade the speakers for now and then upgrade the amp if and when it calls for it..

Yes, you must modify the 650Csi's. But you pretty much have to modify any speaker you install.

I recently found the 650csi's for pretty cheap on amazon ($109):

JL Audio TR650-CSi 6-1/2" Evolution TR Series 2-way Component Speakers System (Pair)

I covered my journey with the stock DSP amp in this thread:

You people suck. 12 years later, I finally replace speakers.

Here's some pics of the speaker install from that thread:

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...small-copy.jpg

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...opy-small-.jpg

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...opy-small-.jpg

So, it sounds like crossovers can offset DSP requirements? Since I don't have JL crossovers laying around - would you recommend these for me? (x2?)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036D1DQI..._t2_B003QQ67HA

Also, by utilizing crossovers...should I be fine with the MX280/4 amp? I'm still a little confused on impact of DSP concept...but I'm hoping that with Eonon head unit - I might have some flexibility?

Lastly, I've always kept an eye on this european seller's solution on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-X5-E53-...53.m1438.l2649

Seems like sourcing C2 level stuff on Amazon makes more sense than this kit of C1 level stuff...but I don't have experience with either that may be a bad assumption. Can anyone tell if the "mounting collars" included in the eBay kit come standard with what JL sells? If not - might getting those be worth the difference in performance/installation? Sorry for the naiveté...I'm used to just moving my old JL setup from vehicle to vehicle...but I recently retired that setup after 17yrs and want to custom match a new system to my new rig! Thanks for any insight.

I will be using these same crossovers from my wife's E46 and a similar 4ch amp from JL. The crossovers will take the function from the DSP amp and deliver only the right frequencies to the correct speakers.

My install will be with an android unit that is pretty much like the rest of them.

https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...55-custom-.jpg

There are no mounting kits in the JL speakers I purchased. It doesn't look like those rings will really serve well in an E53. It's very easy to use tin snips and trim the JL speakers to fit the OE mounts on the E53. The OE mounts include the connections as well so you can retain factory wiring all the way up to the JL connections- if that sort of thing is important to you.

I referenced the thread from Jay who used JL C2's in my 650CSi thread. Both are a solid read for you to learn a bunch without rehashing it here.

Are you going with Seicane or Dynavin 7?