Audio Transformation - Audison Upgrade
 

I finally came to the conclusion that I could no longer stand the ineffective and limp wristed sound system known as DSP. Music just wasn't the same and I no longer wanted to "take the long route home". The exhaust sound is wonderful when using the steptronic and winding out the gears but I really enjoy music on the long freeway drives. The DSP system does not have the power to overcome the highway noise and if you attempted to turn it up only certain frequencies got louder (not necessarily the good ones). The next logical step was to start searching for replacement components.
I have been a Focal fan for a while and have had experience with their 5 1/4" mids and tweeters. The clarity is amazing and they can handle power with no issue. Morel and Rainbow also came into the mix but I didn't have a dealer that I could demo speakers at. My local installer had just brought the Audison line in and he felt that they rivaled if not bested Focal when compared. I gave my installer a budget and turned him loose for an estimate. He came back with following:

1 pair Voce AV K6 mids/tweets in front doors
1 pair Voce AV X 6.5 in rear doors
SR 5 Amp 55w x 4 + 180w x 1
Bit One Digital Processor
JL Audio StealthBox
Dyna Mat

I gave the car to him for 2 days and waited for what seemed like 2 years. The transformation is nothing short of astonishing. Sound now fills the car and music is perfectly separated. One of the advantages of higher end components is that there is no need to have to turn up the power in order to get great sound. The highway noise is all but gone except for hard, sharp hits (bridge seams etc.). I can't say enough how pleased I am that I did this upgrade. I truly loved the car before but now I have recovered the feeling of wanting to stay in it and just drive. I'm sure the rest of you know what I'm talking about. Hopefully some may read this and be inspired to do the same with components of your choice. Good luck and thanks for reading.

I don't know I had an audio power button till my 16 month old daugter keeps asking for Musica, musica. I was so shocked at the shitty sound quality that I am teaching my daugter to listen to the exhausts. Lol. But I get what you mean. When my windows are closed, the exhaust sound is muffled, but still better than the shitty DSP system.

What did it cost you in the end.

How did you bypass the DSP, did you just delete it?

I had an Audison in my old car, and the amp was fantastic. If I get around ever to the X5, I'll probably do Hertz speakers and an Audison amp.

I think that the non DSP sounds way better. All told with labor it ran me $6200.

The DSP amp was unplugged and the system no longer recognizes the DSP. The Audison Bit One was installed and that turns the OE head unit into a slave that controls volume and CD track select. All features of the head unit continue to work (nav, menu, etc) except the EQ function.

Ahhhh...cool, but man $6200, that's just about what many of our older X5s are worth now...lol!!:rofl::rofl: I'm sure the sound is fantastic, I hope you have a secure parking garage.

Lol, x5 just drops value like rock;( I sold a 2005, with 60k miles,last year 4.4i fully loaded with 20 inch rims in pretty darn good shape, all records for $18k,so from60k to 18k in 6 years, I depreciated it by 42k roughly and yearly cost to drive was 7k a year ;( holly Molly. I am not accounting, gas insurance and repairs man:(

WHOAAAAAA!!!! $6200???? ANd how come this link didn;t come up on 9/3 on my page? Weird??? Anyways, the sound out of my 4.8is with DSP sounds pretty good. I don't have any complaints with the sound. I just may not have a good ear for sound. I've had friends spend some coin on a new sound system and then have me listen to it. They ask, "Doesn't it sound awesome. You can just hear the sound more clear!" I tell em that I can't hear a difference. The only different thing I hear is the Lic Plate holder rattle because the bass is shaking the trunk lid.

Then I turn on my car, I shut off the Stereo system, and press the long black slim button on the floor. I raise the volume by pressing harder on the button, when I hit 5K rpm, the symphony wakes up and the orchestra prepares for a standing ovation. The difference between my sound and his... The bass in his shakes his trunk lid and Lic Plate holder. The sound out of my external bass shakes my tail pipes, neighbors windows, and rips women's clothes off right on the street!!! lol

I wish we lived closer Dinan, I would have loved to hear the system. Maybe with a premo system, I'd be able to hear the difference. I never understood DSP. My Acura Vigor had the system and switching between Jazz, symphony, hall, etc... the sound just sounded more echoed and not any better. But you paid more for DSP. Never understood that. It's right up there with if you bought an X5 with Nav, Standard was a tape deck... CD Was optional??? lol. So if you didn;t have tape to play, you needed to spend $1000 for a cd changer. I think it is weird.

Are you gonna post some pics of your new system?