[Socket]

Im sure this topic has been covered before but just wondering what people suggest as a replacement for the stock head unit?

I read replacing the head unit causes all kinds of problems, but I'm sure it can be done, or a piggy back installed in the glove box so the stock unit can remain in place....

Any advice appreciated

[ctuna]

What do you hope to accomplish ?
Are you looking for better sound quality or
more features .

What do you have now ?
Pro Radio or idrive?
Logic7,Hi Fi or stereo?

[Socket]

Originally Posted by ctuna

What do you hope to accomplish ?
Are you looking for better sound quality or
more features .

What do you have now ?
Pro Radio or idrive?
Logic7,Hi Fi or stereo?

Better sound quality
I have a HiFi system and have done a NBT retrofit
Upgraded speakers and amp (see below)
Sound is good but not great, hoping a head unit upgrade will give better quality sound
Thanks for your help

Audison prima bit 8.9 sound processor
Alpine pdx 1.600 sub amp
Critical Mass CM454a front mids and tweeters
Focal IFBMW-S rear mids and tweeters
Focal IFBMW 8" under seat subs
Alpine R10 sub woofer

[ptpending]

headunit will not get you any benefit with such audio system
you need to tune processor or get match pp82dsp or pp86dsp which have profile for our cars
did your nbt was coded for hifi system ?

[Socket]

Originally Posted by ptpending

headunit will not get you any benefit with such audio system
you need to tune processor or get match pp82dsp or pp86dsp which have profile for our cars
did your nbt was coded for hifi system ?

Really appreciate your help with this PT

Yes NBT coded for HiFi
Sound stage has been tuned on the Audison processor and it seems to be adjusted pretty well, but not sure if replacing the Audison amp with a Match amp would help (specs look similar)
Only issue with the sound stage is the under seat woofers are barely audible and at max volume, it just isn't that loud

Interested to know why a different head unit would have no effect. I'm a novice when it comes to car sound systems and how they work. Is it because the head unit simply provides a signal and its the processor/amp that does all the work??

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by Socket

Is it because the head unit simply provides a signal and its the processor/amp that does all the work??

Pretty much this

[ptpending]

Originally Posted by Socket

Really appreciate your help with this PT

Yes NBT coded for HiFi
Sound stage has been tuned on the Audison processor and it seems to be adjusted pretty well, but not sure if replacing the Audison amp with a Match amp would help (specs look similar)
Only issue with the sound stage is the under seat woofers are barely audible and at max volume, it just isn't that loud

Interested to know why a different head unit would have no effect. I'm a novice when it comes to car sound systems and how they work. Is it because the head unit simply provides a signal and its the processor/amp that does all the work??

yes, when bmw headunit coded to hifi, it is provide balanced low-level signals
but not every aftermarket processor or amp with processor work with balanced
from the specs of the processor and midbasses (focal ifbmw) i see that midbasses want 90W at 4Om but amp can do only 35W at 4Om
so you need to change amp/proc to more powerful

[Socket]

Originally Posted by ptpending

yes, when bmw headunit coded to hifi, it is provide balanced low-level signals
but not every aftermarket processor or amp with processor work with balanced
from the specs of the processor and midbasses (focal ifbmw) i see that midbasses want 90W at 4Om but amp can do only 35W at 4Om
so you need to change amp/proc to more powerful

Makes sense, thanks
So the Match amp pp86dsp would be a more powerful amp/processor then the one im running now?

[ptpending]

Originally Posted by Socket

Makes sense, thanks
So the Match amp pp86dsp would be a more powerful amp/processor then the one im running now?

actually your amp support bridged configuration when 2 channels bridged in 1 pair, then power will be doubled, so you may try in a such way
1-2 channel - front doors and tweeters
3-4 channel - rear speakers
5-6 channel - bridged for left midbass
7-8 channel - bridged for right midbass

[ctuna]

Is this what you have now?

Audison prima bit 8.9 sound processor
(Is this and amp processor or just a processor)
Alpine pdx 1.600 sub amp
Critical Mass CM454a front mids and tweeters
Focal IFBMW-S rear mids and tweeters
Focal IFBMW 8" under seat subs
Alpine R10 sub woofer

I agree with what pt is saying.
I don't see and amp for anything but a sub amp in this list.

If you haven't already bought this stuff I would go with the
86dsp or a Helix V8 to run the stock speaker locations.
Not familiar with Critical Mass

I would have gone with something other than Focals for the stock
positions to . Still almost anything will get you way beyond the stock sound.

If you want to go crazy Jehnert door panels.

Audison prima bit 8.9 sound processor OK 35 watts a channel x8
Helix 86 dsp is 55 and there V8 is 75 plus they are genraly recognized
as having one of the better DSP sections out there.

No sense in looking at different head units for better sound especially if you have
NBT. Idrive cars are effectively nearly impossible to put aftermarket head units in.
Head Units do not increase sound quality that much on average.

Also if you started out with the base stereo system did you split the parallel connection
between the doors and floors.

[jeffb335]

As ctuna said.....replacing the head unit in your car is going the wrong direction. I doubt you even need any new equipment, you never mentioned who did the tune on that system, you may start over with someone who is familiar with the Audison processors and how to properly tune them, and then see where you end up.

But yeah....more power wouldn't hurt either!

Just to back up what was said above, I personally have a Helix V8 and it is fantastic.

[Socket]

Originally Posted by ptpending

actually your amp support bridged configuration when 2 channels bridged in 1 pair, then power will be doubled, so you may try in a such way
1-2 channel - front doors and tweeters
3-4 channel - rear speakers
5-6 channel - bridged for left midbass
7-8 channel - bridged for right midbass

Thanks. Mine is set like this
Is this as suggested above?

[Socket]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Is this what you have now?

Audison prima bit 8.9 sound processor
(Is this and amp processor or just a processor)
Alpine pdx 1.600 sub amp
Critical Mass CM454a front mids and tweeters
Focal IFBMW-S rear mids and tweeters
Focal IFBMW 8" under seat subs
Alpine R10 sub woofer

I agree with what pt is saying.
I don't see and amp for anything but a sub amp in this list.

If you haven't already bought this stuff I would go with the
86dsp or a Helix V8 to run the stock speaker locations.
Not familiar with Critical Mass

I would have gone with something other than Focals for the stock
positions to . Still almost anything will get you way beyond the stock sound.

If you want to go crazy Jehnert door panels.

Audison prima bit 8.9 sound processor OK 35 watts a channel x8
Helix 86 dsp is 55 and there V8 is 75 plus they are genraly recognized
as having one of the better DSP sections out there.

No sense in looking at different head units for better sound especially if you have
NBT. Idrive cars are effectively nearly impossible to put aftermarket head units in.
Head Units do not increase sound quality that much on average.

Also if you started out with the base stereo system did you split the parallel connection
between the doors and floors.

Audison prima bit 8.9 sound processor = digital processor & amp

Alpine pdx 1.600 sub amp = amp for subwoofer in trunk

Critical Mass CM454a front mids and tweeters = front speakers
Focal IFBMW-S rear mids and tweeters = rear speakers

Focal IFBMW 8" under seat subs = under front seat subs

Alpine R10 sub woofer = sub woofer in trunk

Not sure what you mean by this "Also if you started out with the base stereo system did you split the parallel connection between the doors and floors"
Was installed by an audio shop so not sure what they did tbh

[Socket]

Originally Posted by jeffb335

As ctuna said.....replacing the head unit in your car is going the wrong direction. I doubt you even need any new equipment, you never mentioned who did the tune on that system, you may start over with someone who is familiar with the Audison processors and how to properly tune them, and then see where you end up.

But yeah....more power wouldn't hurt either!

Just to back up what was said above, I personally have a Helix V8 and it is fantastic.

Thanks guys Ill see if I can source a more powerful processor/amp combo like the helix 8

[ptpending]

Originally Posted by Socket

Thanks. Mine is set like this
Is this as suggested above?

no, your mids and tweeters are on bridged channels but not woofers
but if you front mids and tweeter also want near 100W then you definitely need more powerful amp

[Socket]

Originally Posted by ptpending

no, your mids and tweeters are on bridged channels but not woofers
but if you front mids and tweeter also want near 100W then you definitely need more powerful amp

Got it, thanks

[soulgod123]

i wonder how does your underseats sounds with band pass @20-500hz, when on manual it says Frequency response: 38Hz-200Hz
i couldnt find any signal at bandpass sounding well to my ears, i sticked to LPF 60-150hz +12db