[krisabf]

Hello, hopefully one of you fine people might know the answer to this as i have found conflicting reports all over the net!

My car came with the horrendous base stereo which we all agree is absolute dog sh*t. Shortly after buying it i decided i couldn't live with how terrible it was and as i quite like my music i decided to fit some MB Quart QM-200.3 BMW which improved it massively. When fitting them i knew eventually i'd want to amp them but that was further down the line and i am finally getting round to it.
I have coded the headunit to HIFI which has removed the terrible EQ it was putting out and have an amp (Pioneer GM-D8604) that i am going to fit next weekend. What i am struggling to find out is if i will need a line out converter or if i can just use the speaker level inputs with this amp.

What i keep finding on various sites is now the headunit has been coded to HIFI it is putting out a low level balanced out put so i can't just put the RCA leads the amp comes with into the relevant bit on the amp. Bits i have found have said the term balanced is meant that the EQ is now flat and other bits say it is now definitely balanced and the speaker level inputs wont work; i'll need a line converter to make it all work?

These are the adapters the amp came with that plug into the RCA ports on the amp that allow you to use the speaker level input.



http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...eries/GM-D8604

The last thing i want to do is have the car all apart and it not work. I'd like to get everything together so there are no nasty surprises at the end!

Thanks for your help!

[ctuna]

Balanced Inputs does not have anything to do with the eq.
It means there are two signals of opposite phase used to reduce noise
as a opposed to one signal with a ground on the shield.
You need to ask Pioneer what to do .

[david in germany]

From the bottom of the link you provided;
SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS
What, you DON'T own a Pioneer headunit? Well, we won't hold it against you. In fact we'll even help you build onto your system. The GM-D8604's speaker level inputs allow you to connect your OEM unit (or any unit that doesn't have the typical RCA-type inputs) without having to buy add-on adapters. So, the install goes faster, you save money, and you've got a Pioneer amp in your vehicle.

Not to mention, the amp you linked has signal sensing, no need for a switched input to turn it on.
So no need for a loc and it should work great.

[krisabf]

Originally Posted by david in germany

From the bottom of the link you provided;
SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS
What, you DON'T own a Pioneer headunit? Well, we won't hold it against you. In fact we'll even help you build onto your system. The GM-D8604's speaker level inputs allow you to connect your OEM unit (or any unit that doesn't have the typical RCA-type inputs) without having to buy add-on adapters. So, the install goes faster, you save money, and you've got a Pioneer amp in your vehicle.

Not to mention, the amp you linked has signal sensing, no need for a switched input to turn it on.
So no need for a loc and it should work great.

Thanks for the help so far.

That's what was confusing me as coding to HIFI changes the outputs from high level to low level balanced ouputs so i didn't think it was compatible with the SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS anymore on the Pioneer?
I suppose i will have to fit it all and just try it and see what happens.
Once it's done i will feedback on this thread how i got on, or didn't

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by krisabf

Thanks for the help so far.

That's what was confusing me as coding to HIFI changes the outputs from high level to low level balanced ouputs so i didn't think it was compatible with the SPEAKER LEVEL INPUTS anymore on the Pioneer?
I suppose i will have to fit it all and just try it and see what happens.
Once it's done i will feedback on this thread how i got on, or didn't

Coding to hifi ONLY flattens out the frequency response unless you code it to a stock amp. They are still speaker level outputs. You will be perfectly fine! I did the exact thing to my e87 and ran the output to a couple of Fosgate PBR amps.

[krisabf]

That's what confused me as when i coded it to HIFI the i could tell instantly the EQ had been removed but the volume from the speakers was much lower. I thought to myself if the output had changed to low level balanced signals why was there sound still coming out of the speakers!

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by krisabf

That's what confused me as when i coded it to HIFI the i could tell instantly the EQ had been removed but the volume from the speakers was much lower. If the output had changed to low level balanced signals why was there sound still coming out of the speakers!

The volume is reduced a bit because it is now at a volume that will be un distorted output at all levels.

[krisabf]

Thanks for all the help and reassurance David, it is very much appreciated.

[david in germany]

Happy to help my friend.

[Willsbma]

I'm def gonna keep an eye on this thread so please report back. The audio section has WAY too much info for me to sort through.
I'll be adding a sub soon and was trying to figure out if I can just use the amps built in auto-turn on and speaker level inputs myself, looks like the pioneer amps are a win for this. (Alpine was only $30 more and also has same features)
I have the 676 hifi and don't plan on upgrading speakers yet, just adding a little bass. I read about adding signal processors so you can have a real EQ but I'm not sure if I would need it for just a sub.
You planning on any other upgrades?

[ctuna]

For Willsbma these for hi fi upgrades

HI Fi upgrades
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ighlight=level
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540446
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=technic
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=532585
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=833581
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=443043
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324214
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=level+3

The following is for equipment reference
In a Hi Fi system this stuff can be used minus the
processor or cleansweep.
Base System Upgrades
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445266
http://www.monsteraudiodesign.co.uk/
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634957
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003810
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=822366
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451941
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Dotech
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494299
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...morel-jbl.html
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+upgrade
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=550771
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904

If you bypass the under seats you will have no midbass or low midrange
but maybe that is what you want if you are a basshead.
And the hi fi system is mediocre at best so fix that first.

[krisabf]

I can confirm no LOC was needed and the amp turned on and works perfectly fine using the speaker level inputs provided.

It has made a massive difference to the under seat woofers that came with the MB Quart kit. They really thump now i'm putting 100w rms through them!

They're never going to replace a dedicated sub for low end response but for what i wanted the amp and speaker combo have transformed the sound from the horrendous base stereo. Sure, there are better combinations out there but i am happy with the difference and it hasn't really cost me a great deal. Probably around £350 which is what the Alpine upgrade costs over here in the uk and that doesn't include underseat woofers.

My friend has the Alpine upgrade in his e82 and we are both of the same opinion that mine plays louder and sounds nicer.

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Coding to hifi ONLY flattens out the frequency response unless you code it to a stock amp. They are still speaker level outputs. You will be perfectly fine! I did the exact thing to my e87 and ran the output to a couple of Fosgate PBR amps.

This is not correct. The base stereo output will go from approx 14v max to 5.5v max (low level with clipping)

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by taibanl

This is not correct. The base stereo output will go from approx 14v max to 5.5v max (low level with clipping)

Good to know, wish I had the proper measuring devices to test. I know on mine (before connecting up the amps) the volume was a bit lower but was still loud enough for normal listening.