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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > AUDIO/VIDEO + BLUETOOTH + Electronics/Alarm/Software > SWS 8 upgrade with MTX amp!



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      04-14-2008, 03:36 AM   #1
LaYzEe
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Talking SWS 8 upgrade with MTX amp!

This afternoon my uncle and I was able to install the Earthquake SWS 8” subs to replace the stock subs for my car. You can say we took like 7 hours or so to complete everything but we took our time, took breaks when we needed to, ate, read a few stuff before going ahead, etc, etc. No need to rush since we got the whole day right? I chose the SWS because they say that it’s a “direct fit” to our sub enclosure. So was it a Direct Fit? Yes and No: Yes because the holes are directly aligned so screwing it down was no problem BUT the SWS are a little bit taller for the enclosure so u have to find a way to make some sort of bracket so it doesn’t touch the bottom part. I placed dynamat all around and placed spacers around each holes as my way.

Here are my Sub and Amp specs:

Earthquake SWS-8 Shallow Mount Subwoofer
8" Shallow Subwoofer
1.8" Excursion 2-1/8" Mounting depth
Power Handling 150 RMS/ 300 Peak
1.5" Aluminum Voice Coil Single 4 Ohm Voice Coil

MTX Thunder 300XD
RMS Power Range : 200-300 Watts
Number Of Channels: 1
Maximum Power: 600 Watts
Low Frequency response: 20 Hz
High Frequency Response: 200 Hz
Built In Crossovers: Yes
Power (watts RMS into 4 ohms x channels): 200 x 1
Power (watts RMS into 2 ohms x channels): 300 x 1
Bridged power x channels (4 ohms): 200 x 1
Peak power x channels (watts): 300 x 1
Signal to noise ratio (dB): >75 db
Bass boost (0-12 dB at 40 Hz)

THE INSTALL: (My uncle was in charge of all the wire connections)

We actually didn’t even take out the front seats so we didn’t even need to disconnect anything. We just loosened the 4 torx under each seat (using T50 torx), tilted the seats back and took it from there.



Unscrew the grille over the sub:



Unscrew the sub and disconnect it:



How the new sub will look like in the enclosure



The comparison between the SWS and the stock sub



Same size BUT the SWS a little taller



Using dynamat for the enclosure





Made sure the ring has enough dynamat so nothing gets leaked



Placing the new sub in the enclosure, now its tight n snug with the dynamat!



Placing the new sub back in



Rawr!!! This amp ROCKS



Connecting the Amp to the battery



Testing the system to see if the amp starts to smoke or the sub blows up LOL



My uncle and I had a dilemma on how to hide all the wires, since its coming from under the 2 front seats. I was thinking we can just let it go around each side and to the bottom floor and meet and trunk but my uncle had a better idea…



Just go straight to the middle and go thru the center console! So we somehow were able to combine the wires to the middle through the inside of the handbrake and made sure all the wires were tucked in nicely following the center console to the back.



Then we had to take out one of the rear seats so we can hide all the wires



Make those wires "disappear." Tuck them in the center console!!



In the trunk, we also made sure all the wires n cables we all tidy too so lined them up with the other wires there. As for the Amp, I decided to mount the amp at the back of the rear seat.



After fixing all the wires, testing the sub, adjusting the sound settings to my liking, the INSTALL was complete!!!





SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN CLEAN!!!


The SWS upgrade was a MAJOR upgrade for me. I dunno if it’s the subs or the amp but DAMN! Bass can hit pretty hard now!! You can actually here the lows. The settings on the Amp are all on minimum because the Subs are too loud already! The bass settings on my Logic7 are now placed somewhat in the middle (before it was a few notches just below max) and my treble setting is all the way to the max. As for the equalizer settings, I also had to make the high freq (treble) higher than before so I can hear the voices more clearly. Overall, I’m very impressed on these SWS subs and this MTX amp. It makes listening to music 10x better for me!!

Cheers!

Last edited by LaYzEe; 06-19-2008 at 07:15 PM.. Reason: for clarification
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      04-14-2008, 06:07 AM   #2
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      04-14-2008, 09:02 AM   #3
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Great job!!
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      04-14-2008, 02:42 PM   #4
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Where did you find a remote wire for the amp?
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      04-14-2008, 03:13 PM   #5
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thanks for the comments guys!

I tapped the thin black wire that was coming out of the amp (left bottom side of the trunk). When you turn off the car (system off) the amp turns off after a few seconds. Good stuff
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      04-14-2008, 03:30 PM   #6
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Looks sick. I think I might just copy you! lol
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      04-14-2008, 03:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LaYzEe View Post
thanks for the comments guys!

I tapped the thin black wire that was coming out of the amp (left bottom side of the trunk). When you turn off the car (system off) the amp turns off after a few seconds. Good stuff
I just tested that plain black wire coming out of the amp..its only 6 volts, doesn't remote need 12?
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      04-14-2008, 03:45 PM   #8
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How much did you pay for the pair of Earthquakes??

Congrats on the install!!
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      04-14-2008, 03:46 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcarlucci1 View Post
I just tested that plain black wire coming out of the amp..its only 6 volts, doesn't remote need 12?
If so, use a relay...
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      04-14-2008, 04:28 PM   #10
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Wow! That's great! I've been looking for an alternative, other than putting a sub in the trunk.

Thanks!

Great writeup, btw!



Mods, you should put this in the DIY section!
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      04-14-2008, 04:34 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcarlucci1 View Post
I just tested that plain black wire coming out of the amp..its only 6 volts, doesn't remote need 12?
Through countless hours of searching and testing, I've concluded that, all 12V+ in my '08 328i's trunk (except for the battery terminal, of course) behaves the same way; turns on upon door-open, turns off after X minutes of inactivity.

The 12+V from the CD changer and the factory amp are among this 'user-activated' circuit.
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      04-14-2008, 05:08 PM   #12
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Nice write-up! Which wiring diagram did you use? I wish I were in your area so I could hear the difference...
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      04-14-2008, 06:23 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T i h o r View Post
Looks sick. I think I might just copy you! lol
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      04-14-2008, 06:39 PM   #14
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dang the setup looks pretty good, gj on the writeup

im interested in how much the whole setup cost you.
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      04-14-2008, 07:03 PM   #15
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LaYzEe, where in the Bay Area are you? I have the Reuss Audio system installed in my car, and wouldn't mind hearing how the 2 systems compare. I work in Menlo Park.
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      04-14-2008, 07:56 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTL Bimmer View Post
I'm sorry, I didn't know that my english was that hard to understand.

Would you like me to write that out again in French or Arabic?
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      04-14-2008, 07:57 PM   #17
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It was a long project but shit, it sure was fun installing it! I bought the 2 subs off from ebay a few months back, bought two for less than $140 shipped I think...I cant really remember any more. The amp i got hella lucky, I bought it from craigslist for cheap, brand new though! If u buy that amp from Best Buy its around $300ish. So the whole system was roughly around $300ish? (~$140 for subs, ~110 for the amp and ~50 for the amp kit.)

Kyee, I love in Daly City. If you wanna compare, Im down to meet up!

EDIT: subs were ~300 shipped, amp for ~120, amp kit for ~50, Dynamat ~60

Last edited by LaYzEe; 07-15-2008 at 03:49 AM..
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      04-14-2008, 08:10 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T i h o r View Post
I'm sorry, I didn't know that my english was that hard to understand.

Would you like me to write that out again in French or Arabic?
He meant "word up", as in agreement with what you wrote: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=word

You should learn urban, will go nicely with your French or Arabic.
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      04-14-2008, 08:22 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Technic View Post
He meant "word up", as in agreement with what you wrote: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=word

You should learn urban, will go nicely with your French or Arabic.
I know what word up means bro. Respect on the heads up, but I'm almost positive that that's not what he meant.

N if it is, that's the wrong damn smiley to use. lol
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      04-14-2008, 08:32 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by T i h o r View Post
I know what word up means bro. Respect on the heads up, but I'm almost positive that that's not what he meant.

N if it is, that's the wrong damn smiley to use. lol
I meant to say im with u on that one!! Thats all

Oh BTW i don't speak french!!
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      04-14-2008, 08:32 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eekthecat View Post
Nice write-up! Which wiring diagram did you use? I wish I were in your area so I could hear the difference...
Its like any other sub/amp wiring system but the amp also came with its own wiring diagram so i used that. The stock subs had these easy snap on connectors but since I replaced them you just have to use speaker wires and just connect them yourself and wrap it around with electic tape.(so no easy snap on)

I really havent been expirementing on the amp/sound settings too much since i just installed it, but later on, i'll do more adjustments. All i can say is...DAMN, loving these subs now!

Last edited by LaYzEe; 04-14-2008 at 09:56 PM..
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      04-14-2008, 11:19 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LaYzEe View Post

Kyee, I love in Daly City. If you wanna compare, Im down to meet up!
Daly City?! Shoot, I live just over the hill in So. City, right off of 280 and Hickey. should be easy to find some time to meet up.

kevin
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