Which amplifier did you use? Has anyone added speakers under the seats as new models have?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Remember this was many years ago. The subwoofer amp that was in the kit is BSW was an Elemental Design NINe.2. Sub is 10" and enclosure is 24x12x9.

I don't remember the cost. I know just enough about audio systems to be dangerous. My guess is there would be noticeable improvement with correct current day speakers.

I replaced the factory sub. I have 1 sub. Original system had tweeters, I just upgraded them.

I have gone through the days of upgrades with Dice, Mediabridge etc. etc.. Coupled with the aftermarket tuner, I have all the features of current systems, including backup camera. I don't like doing anything that isn't a performance upgrade but I would certainly do the upgrade again.

Do any of you have a diagram of how to connect a new amplifier, would you leave the old subwoofer (because I have a dsp system) if you can?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry I hadn't responded to this, was out of pocket since Thursday at a vintage BMW event. As bcredliner said, the Bavsound/BSW speaker upgrades are a great addition to the DSP system. But they are impossible to find, and were expensive new, and still are. I have a full set and wouldn't part with them unless a "make me sell them" offer were made.

Aside from that option, other members have pioneered other options. See propellerhead's thread here and X53Jay4.8is' thread here. Both threads are full of info and both retained the DSP amp so are compatible options.

I went with a complete change, removing the DSP amp and changing all drivers. I don't recommend this option unless you are serious about sound, don't mind a lot of work, and have extra cash in your bank account waiting to be burned. I started a thread about it but need to start a new one as that one is no longer accurate. Editing it to be so again would be a pain so I'll just point to the new thread in the original post when I finally finish it (3 years in progress :rolleyes:).

I was thinking about Keenwood or Kappa Infinity speakers (have you heard of them)? I would also replace the factory DSP amplifier with some aftermarket if it will improve the sound in the vehicle a lot. I see that everyone also puts crossovers for the speakers and then connects them to the amplifier, can anyone tell me what you get with that?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In that case, you'll find this thread I did on a DSP integration harness interesting. Gives the wire pinouts/colors for the harnesses at the DSP amplifier.

Removing the DSP amp and going aftermarket gives more speaker options, and of course more power. The quality of the sound of my front stage now is unbelievable. My wife had the B&O system in her F15 X5 and is not happy now after spending the weekend in my X5. I am running 3 amps, 2 5 channel amps, and 1 mono amp. Still working some kinks out, but am very happy with how it's coming out.

I did Infinity Kappa 3 way component speakers up front. 6" door woofers, 2" dash mids, and 1" tweeters. They are on sale right now btw, if you're interested in them. They are all 2.5ohm drivers. Likely wouldn't pair well with the DSP amp, but on aftermarket amps (that are 2ohm stereo capable) they sound awesome. I am not using any of the crossovers they sent as I am using an Audiocontrol DSP and the amps to control the speakers on an individual basis in terms of frequencies they receive.

Kenwood speakers I have limited experience with. But as long as they use a textile tweeter of some sort (silk or otherwise) I'm sure they'd be great. Metallic tweeters are too bright for me and end up a little tinny.

If you go with a 4 channel amplifier to power your interiors, then use the included crossovers for the components. This will allow you to power more drivers with the limited amplification channels. Passive crossovers can sound great too. I wanted to go full active since I was using a 10 channel DSP and could handle all the speakers in an X5.

But what I am doing is a huge pain in the @$$. I don't recommend it to any normal person.

What you are installing is really amazing. I still wouldn’t invest that much in an audio system. I was thinking of using a 5 channel amplifier. Can you recommend me a combination of some Kappa speakers and some amplifier that will greatly improve my audio system but not overly expensive (like your audio system). I would like you to write me what I need to completely connect that audio system to my vehicle because I have no experience with it so far. Do I need to bring new wires from my android multimedia to a new amplifier or can I use an old existing installation?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can anyone tell me how much crossover I need and how it connects, which speakers connect together to one crossover and how it later connects to an amplifier?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk