Is the sws-8 upgrade worth it?

dgrott328 · 07-10-2010, 05:36 AM

I have read just about every post on the sws upgrade and yet i am still debating doing it. Some people say it is great, others seem to not be as happy with it. What is your experience with it for those who have done it? I want bass but im hesitant on taking up so much space with a trunk sub. How much better are the amped sws-8 subs than stock? Do the sound of the sws-8's make it obvious that you have aftermarket subs or does it hit just a bit than stock. Thanks

fdriller9 · 07-10-2010, 07:33 AM

It does make a difference compared to stock. You'll want to amp them....running them off stock power doesn't really help much. Actually the stock undersest woofer sound a bit better with more power. I blew my SWS-8s with a JL 500/1 because I was expecting too much out of them. You see an 8 inch speaker can only hit so low. And the depth of it limits it even more. If you want an improvement over stock but don't want TONS of bass the the SWS-8s are for you. As far as trunk subs....you can have a custom Fiberglass enclosure made for the side of your trunk and corner load it. Doesn't take up much space....although you can't fit golf clubs in the trunk anymore then.

dgrott328 · 07-10-2010, 09:19 AM

Ok great thanks. I think that the sws upgrade would probably be worth it then. I just want a solid noticeable bass increase and i want it to be obviously not stock. Were you using the 2 ohm or the 4 ohm subs? i was thinking of getting the 2 ohm subs with a jl 300/2... not sure exactly though. I dont understand the difference/ benefit of the 2ohm vs the 4 ohm. Also, where can you buy the fiberglass subwoofer enclosure so i can look just for prices?

dgrott328 · 07-10-2010, 03:52 PM

bump... any other opinions?

VP Electricity · 07-10-2010, 06:55 PM

You're bumping after less than 24 hours? You kids today need to back off the Red Bull

In the context of, "how much better than stock are the SWS-8?", the answer is tons. Hands down, a pair of SWS-8 and an amplifier will give you much better results than the HiFi 8" on the HiFi amp.

In the context of, "what the the shortcomings of the SWS-8?", the answer is longer.

It is the best fitting speaker for that location, it is durable, and it is loud. It has a bit of a one-note peak to its output, which quite honestly most people considering a trunk sub don't mind at all.

If you're upgrading the entire system and have more of an SQ sound quality orientation, the sound of the SWS-8 UNEQUALIZED might be lacking. Ditto if you are adding a trunk sub and are looking for underseat midbass woofers rather than subwoofers - SWS-8 do NOT excel at mid-bass.

We do three different levels of underseat upgrade:

- SWS-8 and an amp

- SWS-8 and new front mids and tweeters, and a 4-channel amp

- SWS-8 and new front mids and tweeters, and a DSP 4-channel amp. This helps tame the one-note boomy quality that some people want to tone down. Some people love it.

Now that the MS-8 is in the mix, we are changing that and adding "Ms-8 front and rear, and an amp on the SWS-8". But anyway, you will not be disappointed with the SWS-8 unless you are looking for a high-performance sound system and you don't carefully EQ the SWS-8 in the process.

That's what the JBL MS-8 does - optimize each speaker - so a system with an MS-8 and the SWS8 underseat can benefit from the output and robustness of the SWS8 and the sound quality of the MS-8 DSP.

zivyn · 07-11-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

That's what the JBL MS-8 does - optimize each speaker - so a system with an MS-8 and the SWS8 underseat can benefit from the output and robustness of the SWS8 and the sound quality of the MS-8 DSP.

Hi VP, the MS-8 sounds like a really nice piece of equipment. I was looking through their website (what's up with all the damn flash...sometimes I just want text that I can read at my own pace) and noticed that they have pull-downs for vehicle installs but don't have any documentation for the e90 despite model/body style. Is this a plug and play kit or are you chopping the OEM amp wires to feed the MS-8?

fdriller9 · 07-11-2010, 10:41 AM

Found this:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=406246

VP: Can you PM pricing for a fan cooled amp comparable to a JL 500/1. Mine gets way too hot in the summer heat and kills the performance of it. I can't play more than an hour of music without it getting over 150 degrees. It's properly mounted and radiates heat fine it's just that when parking my car in the sun for 8 hours at work keeps the amp hot.

VP Electricity · 07-11-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zivyn

Is this a plug and play kit or are you chopping the OEM amp wires to feed the MS-8?

We usually use the word "chop" to refer to something they do on Iron Chef.

As professional installers, we often hardwire, but we can also make harnesses, and Technic's harness also works great for this.

Wake27 · 07-11-2010, 02:51 PM

VP is definitely the man to talk to about this. If he hadn't chimed in I was gonna tell you to shoot him a pm. Too bad you got the coupe, otherwise he's got a pretty sick little setup for the sedans. I'm sure he'll get you squared away though.

Wakeboarder442002 · 07-12-2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wake27

Too bad you got the coupe, otherwise he's got a pretty sick little setup for the sedans.

Is that the corner mount single 10"?

Wake27 · 07-12-2010, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wakeboarder442002

Is that the corner mount single 10"?

Yup. Looks pretty friggin nifty.

MendotaMike · 07-12-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgrott328

I have read just about every post on the sws upgrade and yet i am still debating doing it. Some people say it is great, others seem to not be as happy with it. What is your experience with it for those who have done it? I want bass but im hesitant on taking up so much space with a trunk sub. How much better are the amped sws-8 subs than stock? Do the sound of the sws-8's make it obvious that you have aftermarket subs or does it hit just a bit than stock. Thanks

I love my SWS-8 subs. A HUGE improvement over stock. Hits plenty hard for me, though there is certainly some room for criticism in terms of "boominess" and a certain "droniness" (sorry, hard to describe this stuff sometimes) with certain source material. All in all, though, I'm very pleased.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=392400

zivyn · 07-12-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

We usually use the word "chop" to refer to something they do on Iron Chef.

As professional installers, we often hardwire, but we can also make harnesses, and Technic's harness also works great for this.

hehe, of course; my mistake. Maybe I should have said "modify"

I figure Technic will have that harness ready anyday now, just have to keep being patient!

07-10-2010, 05:36 AM	#1
dgrott328 Private First Class 15 Rep 144 Posts Drives: '07 328i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	Is the sws-8 upgrade worth it? I have read just about every post on the sws upgrade and yet i am still debating doing it. Some people say it is great, others seem to not be as happy with it. What is your experience with it for those who have done it? I want bass but im hesitant on taking up so much space with a trunk sub. How much better are the amped sws-8 subs than stock? Do the sound of the sws-8's make it obvious that you have aftermarket subs or does it hit just a bit than stock. Thanks __________________ BLACK SAPPHIRE CORAL RED
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07-10-2010, 07:33 AM	#2
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	It does make a difference compared to stock. You'll want to amp them....running them off stock power doesn't really help much. Actually the stock undersest woofer sound a bit better with more power. I blew my SWS-8s with a JL 500/1 because I was expecting too much out of them. You see an 8 inch speaker can only hit so low. And the depth of it limits it even more. If you want an improvement over stock but don't want TONS of bass the the SWS-8s are for you. As far as trunk subs....you can have a custom Fiberglass enclosure made for the side of your trunk and corner load it. Doesn't take up much space....although you can't fit golf clubs in the trunk anymore then.
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07-10-2010, 09:19 AM	#3
dgrott328 Private First Class 15 Rep 144 Posts Drives: '07 328i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	Ok great thanks. I think that the sws upgrade would probably be worth it then. I just want a solid noticeable bass increase and i want it to be obviously not stock. Were you using the 2 ohm or the 4 ohm subs? i was thinking of getting the 2 ohm subs with a jl 300/2... not sure exactly though. I dont understand the difference/ benefit of the 2ohm vs the 4 ohm. Also, where can you buy the fiberglass subwoofer enclosure so i can look just for prices? __________________ BLACK SAPPHIRE CORAL RED
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07-10-2010, 03:52 PM	#4
dgrott328 Private First Class 15 Rep 144 Posts Drives: '07 328i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (2)	bump... any other opinions? __________________ BLACK SAPPHIRE CORAL RED
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07-10-2010, 06:55 PM	#5
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	You're bumping after less than 24 hours? You kids today need to back off the Red Bull In the context of, "how much better than stock are the SWS-8?", the answer is tons. Hands down, a pair of SWS-8 and an amplifier will give you much better results than the HiFi 8" on the HiFi amp. In the context of, "what the the shortcomings of the SWS-8?", the answer is longer. It is the best fitting speaker for that location, it is durable, and it is loud. It has a bit of a one-note peak to its output, which quite honestly most people considering a trunk sub don't mind at all. If you're upgrading the entire system and have more of an SQ sound quality orientation, the sound of the SWS-8 UNEQUALIZED might be lacking. Ditto if you are adding a trunk sub and are looking for underseat midbass woofers rather than subwoofers - SWS-8 do NOT excel at mid-bass. We do three different levels of underseat upgrade: - SWS-8 and an amp - SWS-8 and new front mids and tweeters, and a 4-channel amp - SWS-8 and new front mids and tweeters, and a DSP 4-channel amp. This helps tame the one-note boomy quality that some people want to tone down. Some people love it. Now that the MS-8 is in the mix, we are changing that and adding "Ms-8 front and rear, and an amp on the SWS-8". But anyway, you will not be disappointed with the SWS-8 unless you are looking for a high-performance sound system and you don't carefully EQ the SWS-8 in the process. That's what the JBL MS-8 does - optimize each speaker - so a system with an MS-8 and the SWS8 underseat can benefit from the output and robustness of the SWS8 and the sound quality of the MS-8 DSP.
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07-11-2010, 10:41 AM	#7
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Found this: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=406246 VP: Can you PM pricing for a fan cooled amp comparable to a JL 500/1. Mine gets way too hot in the summer heat and kills the performance of it. I can't play more than an hour of music without it getting over 150 degrees. It's properly mounted and radiates heat fine it's just that when parking my car in the sun for 8 hours at work keeps the amp hot.
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07-11-2010, 02:51 PM	#9
Wake27 Lieutenant Colonel 46 Rep 1,681 Posts Drives: '06 330i ZPP ZSP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NoVA missing SoCal iTrader: (1)	VP is definitely the man to talk to about this. If he hadn't chimed in I was gonna tell you to shoot him a pm. Too bad you got the coupe, otherwise he's got a pretty sick little setup for the sedans. I'm sure he'll get you squared away though. __________________ 2006 JB 330i/ZPP/ZSP/I-Drive/Heated Seats/L7/Blacklines/19" Gunmetal V710's on Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas/BMS PBX/Red MFD Scoops/Matte black grilles/Matte black Amber Gone 2.0s/BSW center midrange speaker/35% tint/Black and white roundels
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