The dreaded "base audio" upgrade...
 

So... I'm hoping for some clarification on a few things.

1) I've read plenty about the Focal 100KRSs, IFBMW-S and Cs, but both seem to have a pretty high price to value ratio...and I'm wondering how they compare to something like a Infinity Kappa setup? Any thoughts?

2) Since I have the base audio "system" and the stock head unit outputs "processed" signals to the fronts, rears, and subs... should I get something that advertises to sum the signals first before amping it? Would something like the Zapco DC 656 do that for me? Or the Audison Bit Ten? Or the JL CL-SSI??????? It's all so confusing!

I suppose the speakers are trivial if I can't work out how to process the signal first. I'd really appreciate any suggestions all of you could offer me!!

I've got the stage 1 upgrade and ghost sub and the spec dock from www.bavsound.com it's amazing!

Anyone else? I've heard mixed reviews about the Bav upgrade.

No experience with BAv but I can vouch for the JL stealthbox for the e70. It sounds so good and the fitment under ther rear hatch is perfect.

I just upgraded the front stage in my 11 x5 with a Gladen One 201 Extreme speaker set and a mosconi 120.4 DSP amp. Its a real nice setup that works well as an upgrade to the base stereo in the 3,5 and x5. I've only run it a few days but its a huge improvment over the base system with allot more clarity, sharp highs, and strong bass.

In the x5 the thing thats a challenge is that the 4" mids have to be rather shallow to fit in the door, there are only a few models that fit (Bav sound, Focal's, Gladen's) without much modification.

The above kit replaces the 4" mid's, adds tweeters and crossovers that fit in the oem location and replaces the underseat 6" woofers with a 2 ohm 8" version. Everything is almost a direct fit but you need longer screws for both the 4" and 8" speakers and washers to raise the oem cover on the 8" woofers.

The install is pretty easy and you dont even have to take the iDrive out, you can just intercept the signal under the seat and run the Hi-level to the amp and then just run new lines for the 8" woofer (and use the existing lines to drive the door mids/tweeters).

One thing that is really good about the amp is that it has onbaord DSP which I would say is a must as the base system modifies the front signal (+6 ~50hz, etc, etc) and the DSP allows you to correct for this. Also the DSP level adjustment lets you tune the levels such that the gongs and PDC are as oem and not painfully loud as allot of people have had problems with the alpine upgrade. Also the DSP has a full crossover built in so you can isolate Hi/Lo freq to the 4"mid/tweeters and 8" woofers respectively.

sounds amazing! I wonder how the Gladdens sound compared to the MB Quart... I see that they have a similar upgrade with the QM200.3. Where did you find them in the US?

Im in Canada and actually had mine shipped from Germaniks in europe (they were really helpful and got the package here in just over a week). In the states you can try Musicar Northeast in Seattle, I believe they are the authorized dealer

eh, i just did the bavsound upgrade on my wife's base audio x5 and was not overly impressed. their speakers seem to be of ok quality, but are nothing amazing. note that what looks like a hefty magnet online is actually just a thick rubber cosmetic magnet surround that seems to serve no purpose. if you are looking for a cheap solution for speaker replacement while keeping everything else stock, it might work. it sounds like you are looking for something more though. i'll probably leave them in as it is my wife's car and she didn't even mind the base system. only other thing i'll say is there is no way in hell i'd swap out my stock logic7 speakers in my e90 for the bav speakers. just my .02

Sorry to hear this, but I'm not surprised given what I've read on this BavSound package. Most people have said the same thing as you….

What year is your X5 BTW? Do you have the legit 'base' sound system (S645A - BMW US Radio) or do you at least have the 'Hi-Fi' sound system (S676A)? In 2012 BMW ditched the 'base' system (S645A) and every X5 got at least S676A (Hi-Fi Speaker System), unless you opted for the Premium Sound Package (S677A). I've done no research on pre-LCI models, but I do know 2011 35i's without Premium Sound have the 'base' system (S645A) which I've heard, and it's terrible. If you have a 2011 50i, or a 2012 35i or 50i, you don't have to worry about this awful sound package even if you don't have the Premium Sound Package. Hopefully that made sense…

that does make sense.... i've done a fair bit of research and did not realize that was the timing of everything. indeed i am 99% sure i do have the true "base" (not hifi) system. my x5 is a 2011 35i 10/10 build lci, with no tweeters. pretty sure that makes it the base system. btw one of the lamest moves yet i've seen bmw make to have tweeter pods in car with a $63k sticker (premium package, technology, and some other stuff) and no tweeters in there. haha at least they fixed that soon after by at least giving hifi as the entry level.