Sound System Upgrade Advice

tavuslokus · 11-22-2010, 10:01 PM

Been gathering lots of information from many posts here on upgrades. But need to sum up in order to accommodate different options to my budget.

Upgrade will be for a base sound system 2010 E90 LCI. ($ from ebay)

Fronts-> Rainbow SLC210.25 NG $279.99
Rears-> Rainbow KX100 $99.99 (or OEM if $ is to be used for other H/W)
Under seats-> Earthquake SWS-8X $235.69
Processor-> JL CL441DSP *159.99

AMP (? - Most common on threads reviewed)
1) Pioneer GM6400F $133.00
2) JL Audio G6600 $290.00
3) Alpine PDX-5 $349.99

Trying to keep this as close or under $1k as possible.

On the tech side, which AMP you think would suite my upgrade best ? and install wise (remember this will be DIY), what other components would ease up the actual install process (some type of P&P harness, etc) ?

Any input is appreciated...

VP Electricity · 11-23-2010, 12:11 AM

That Pioneer was mentioned ONCE. That JL has been mentioned a handful of times, and I think is discontinued.

If that 2010 has base Stereo, you will need tweeter mounts. If it has HiFi (is it US spec?) you won't need them nor the CleanSweep. If it has Logic 7, you won't need them, but I think your path is flawed.

I think your budget is too low. Can't comment further until you verify the system in the car.

You can get ebay sellers to ship to Panama?

akhter · 11-23-2010, 12:13 AM

harness should be from technic since there isn't any other choice. i recommend going with a a 6 channel if upgrading the rears or 4 if not, to keep the underseats stereo.

you should also considering getting the oem tweeter sails and get 2 way comp speakers.

post upgrade, also i really recommending some kind of damping material (like dynamat) behind the door panels. made a huge difference for me.

VP Electricity · 11-23-2010, 12:34 AM

Akhter, the speaker PN he listed was for component speakers in front. He listed the woofers etc price. (OP, by the way, we sell for that same price WITH our BMW steel adapter rings, and for a little more we also machine the tweeters to snap into the BMW tweeter mounts.)

Akhter, how do you know that damping material made a huge difference, if it was done at the same time as the upgrade?

kaigoss69 · 11-23-2010, 06:13 AM

Dampening on speakers that don't play below 100Hz is generally a waste of time and money.

tavuslokus · 11-23-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

If that 2010 has base Stereo....but I think your path is flawed.

Euro Spec, without tweeters nor OEM amp. So Base stereo it is.
What other approaches you recommend? By flawed you mean speaker options? please explain...

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

You can get ebay sellers to ship to Panama?

Have US address, bought before no issues.

tavuslokus · 11-24-2010, 07:34 PM

Any other advice on AMP selection or another approach to this?...guys?

Technic · 11-24-2010, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tavuslokus

Any other advice on AMP selection or another approach to this?...guys?

Your plan is quite effective for your budget... the G6600 is the better deal for the price.

JSH3 · 11-25-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

If that 2010 has base Stereo, you will need tweeter mounts. If it has HiFi (is it US spec?) you won't need them nor the CleanSweep. If it has Logic 7, you won't need them, but I think your path is flawed.

Based on your quote above, and others I've seen, you state that the US Spec E90 has "HiFi". How do I tell if my car is US Spec? I am in the US (N.C.) and just purchased a 2007 328i six days ago, so I would assume my car is US Spec (duh), but it does not seem to have the "HiFi" version of the stereo, I don't believe, because the manual tells me "HiFi" has an EQ function and my stereo does not. Odd, but it confuses me a bit.

Can you clear that up for me? Thanks.

ctuna · 11-25-2010, 07:08 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970

JSH3 · 11-25-2010, 08:15 PM

Thanks for the pdf, ctuna. Very informative.

I guess I have only the base stereo, although I still cannot confirm it. How would I confirm it?

And, why would I have a base stereo if the HiFi is standard for the US, I wonder?

fdriller9 · 11-25-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSH3

Thanks for the pdf, ctuna. Very informative.

I guess I have only the base stereo, although I still cannot confirm it. How would I confirm it?

And, why would I have a base stereo if the HiFi is standard for the US, I wonder?

If you have tweeters in your front door sills, then you have Hi-Fi or L7.

If the amp in your trunk, drivers side is black, you have Hi-Fi. Silver amp=L7.

The standard stereo has changed from year to year, model to model (325, 328, 330, etc).

JSH3 · 11-25-2010, 08:29 PM

Ok. Thanks. I'll check for the amp in the morning.

I do have tweeters in my front door, or at least the grills. So I guess that means at least HiFi. I am curious why my radio does not have the EQ function, though. My manual says the HiFi option has the EQ function.

Technic · 11-25-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSH3

Ok. Thanks. I'll check for the amp in the morning.

I do have tweeters in my front door, or at least the grills. So I guess that means at least HiFi. I am curious why my radio does not have the EQ function, though. My manual says the Top HiFi option has the EQ function.

Fixed.

EQ = Logic7 or Individual Audio sound system = Top HiFi

Your car do not have either, it has HiFi.

JSH3 · 11-25-2010, 08:44 PM

The exact wording in my manual is "HiFi System Professional". So I assume that means Top HiFi, instead of just HiFi then.

Thanks.

bmw325i · 11-26-2010, 12:32 PM

I think you have hifi not top hifi. Is there a speaker in the middle of the dash?

ctuna · 11-26-2010, 04:06 PM

The one with the (oops telephone booth on the cover)piano keys. It just doesn't describe the HI FI very well. Also this is one question I have never got answered . In the Hi Fi menu there is a sub menu (set button has RDS and FM)for the radio the has RDS and FM in it . Its unclear to me what the FM function does is it a DX switch.

Don't get hung up on that book look at your tweeter or lack , center speaker and eq adjustments or lack of it.

tavuslokus · 11-27-2010, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the input guys.

It's so sad having to crank up the volume all the way high on this luxury automobile to feel/enjoy the music playing and sing along.

11-22-2010, 10:01 PM	#1
tavuslokus New Member 1 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 Lci Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Panama iTrader: (0)	Sound System Upgrade Advice Been gathering lots of information from many posts here on upgrades. But need to sum up in order to accommodate different options to my budget. Upgrade will be for a base sound system 2010 E90 LCI. ($ from ebay) Fronts-> Rainbow SLC210.25 NG $279.99 Rears-> Rainbow KX100 $99.99 (or OEM if $ is to be used for other H/W) Under seats-> Earthquake SWS-8X $235.69 Processor-> JL CL441DSP *159.99 AMP (? - Most common on threads reviewed) 1) Pioneer GM6400F $133.00 2) JL Audio G6600 $290.00 3) Alpine PDX-5 $349.99 Trying to keep this as close or under $1k as possible. On the tech side, which AMP you think would suite my upgrade best ? and install wise (remember this will be DIY), what other components would ease up the actual install process (some type of P&P harness, etc) ? Any input is appreciated...
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11-23-2010, 12:11 AM	#2
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	That Pioneer was mentioned ONCE. That JL has been mentioned a handful of times, and I think is discontinued. If that 2010 has base Stereo, you will need tweeter mounts. If it has HiFi (is it US spec?) you won't need them nor the CleanSweep. If it has Logic 7, you won't need them, but I think your path is flawed. I think your budget is too low. Can't comment further until you verify the system in the car. You can get ebay sellers to ship to Panama?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-23-2010, 12:13 AM	#3
akhter Lieutenant Colonel 419 Rep 1,690 Posts Drives: 911 992 C2S Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW X5 M Sport ... [0.00] 2007 335i M Sport E90 [10.00]	harness should be from technic since there isn't any other choice. i recommend going with a a 6 channel if upgrading the rears or 4 if not, to keep the underseats stereo. you should also considering getting the oem tweeter sails and get 2 way comp speakers. post upgrade, also i really recommending some kind of damping material (like dynamat) behind the door panels. made a huge difference for me. __________________ Current 2021 Porsche 911 992 C2S Sold 2021 X7/2018 X5/2014 X5 Sold 2013 520i/2010 325i Sold E90 335i M Sport Alpine White\|Tokyo Sold E36 328i Jet Black\|NYC
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11-23-2010, 12:34 AM	#4
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	Akhter, the speaker PN he listed was for component speakers in front. He listed the woofers etc price. (OP, by the way, we sell for that same price WITH our BMW steel adapter rings, and for a little more we also machine the tweeters to snap into the BMW tweeter mounts.) Akhter, how do you know that damping material made a huge difference, if it was done at the same time as the upgrade?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-23-2010, 06:13 AM	#5
kaigoss69 Brigadier General 300 Rep 3,969 Posts Drives: '08 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: JAX iTrader: (6)	Dampening on speakers that don't play below 100Hz is generally a waste of time and money.
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11-24-2010, 07:34 PM	#7
tavuslokus New Member 1 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 Lci Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Panama iTrader: (0)	Any other advice on AMP selection or another approach to this?...guys?
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11-25-2010, 07:08 PM	#10
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,102 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	JSH FYI http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970
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11-25-2010, 08:15 PM	#11
JSH3 First Lieutenant 54 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 2010 328i E92 and 2011 X3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (2)	Thanks for the pdf, ctuna. Very informative. I guess I have only the base stereo, although I still cannot confirm it. How would I confirm it? And, why would I have a base stereo if the HiFi is standard for the US, I wonder?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-25-2010, 08:29 PM	#13
JSH3 First Lieutenant 54 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 2010 328i E92 and 2011 X3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (2)	Ok. Thanks. I'll check for the amp in the morning. I do have tweeters in my front door, or at least the grills. So I guess that means at least HiFi. I am curious why my radio does not have the EQ function, though. My manual says the HiFi option has the EQ function.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-25-2010, 08:44 PM	#15
JSH3 First Lieutenant 54 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 2010 328i E92 and 2011 X3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (2)	The exact wording in my manual is "HiFi System Professional". So I assume that means Top HiFi, instead of just HiFi then. Thanks.
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11-26-2010, 12:32 PM	#16
bmw325i Major General 223 Rep 5,120 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	I think you have hifi not top hifi. Is there a speaker in the middle of the dash?
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11-26-2010, 04:06 PM	#17
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,102 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	That manual describes the L7(Top Hi Fi) and the Hi Fi The one with the (oops telephone booth on the cover)piano keys. It just doesn't describe the HI FI very well. Also this is one question I have never got answered . In the Hi Fi menu there is a sub menu (set button has RDS and FM)for the radio the has RDS and FM in it . Its unclear to me what the FM function does is it a DX switch. Don't get hung up on that book look at your tweeter or lack , center speaker and eq adjustments or lack of it. Last edited by ctuna; 11-26-2010 at 08:55 PM..
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11-27-2010, 06:18 PM	#18
tavuslokus New Member 1 Rep 21 Posts Drives: E90 Lci Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Panama iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the input guys. It's so sad having to crank up the volume all the way high on this luxury automobile to feel/enjoy the music playing and sing along.
	Appreciate 0 Quote