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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > AUDIO/VIDEO + BLUETOOTH + Electronics/Alarm/Software > Earthquake SWS-8xi 2ohm review



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      06-29-2012, 02:35 PM   #1
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Earthquake SWS-8xi 2ohm review

I just finished installing my sws 8xis under the front seats in my e92. I swapped out the stock 4ohm subs for the earthquake 2ohms. The bass is so much more crisp and there is a 3dB increase over stock on top of the far greater excursion of the sub. I put the earthquake side by side with the stock and played them both. There is a large noticeable difference in the excursion and in the bass provided by the earthquake. I do not have an aftermarket amplifier but there is still a large increase over stock. I did not have any install issues the SWS subs just dropped right in with only some modification to the grill incase the cone hit the grill but that never happened. All I can say is the SWS shallow subs are phenomenal and are definitely worth the money for someone that has an e9x and is looking for a good increase in bass and sound clarity but does not want to spend too much.
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      06-29-2012, 03:00 PM   #2
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What stereo/head unit do you have?

My "business" system continues to impress me. I think I'm lucky (2006 E92 build before they started downgrading every piece in the interior...) Every now and then the right song hits the stock 8"s amazingly for a factory system. If I can get that much improvement from just dropping new 8s in the floor, I might not have to go the trunk route.

Did you have to remove your seats to swap them out?
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      06-29-2012, 03:29 PM   #3
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I have the upgraded bmw professional system and the sws still outperform them. Removing the seats is not required but it makes the install far less difficult and its 4 easy bolts to take the seat out. I honestly love the sws 8s and have had them in previous cars. Once i hookup an amp to it these subs will really shine but for now i am more than satisfied without the amp
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      06-29-2012, 04:21 PM   #4
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Oops, I have the "Professional" system or at least that's what the head unit says. I think my E46 might say "Business"

How do you know if you have the "upgraded" Professional? What year/build date is your car?

In any event, I believe my system is really good for a (base?) factory one.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=657255


Thanks....
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      06-30-2012, 09:17 AM   #5
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You are overloading your stock amp with a 2ohm load. I would expect an over heating amp with inevitable failure. This is of course assuming that the factory amp was designed for a 4 om load only (read not 2 ohm stable).
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      06-30-2012, 12:14 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smallseafishie View Post
You are overloading your stock amp with a 2ohm load. I would expect an over heating amp with inevitable failure. This is of course assuming that the factory amp was designed for a 4 om load only (read not 2 ohm stable).
Nope, the stock amp has been handling it just fine and if I do encounter amp issues i can always just get the upgraded one
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      06-30-2012, 01:03 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by sahyoun View Post
Nope, the stock amp has been handling it just fine and if I do encounter amp issues i can always just get the upgraded one
you're recommending others to upgrade their bass speakers while using the stock amp. if the stock amp fails because of the low resistance subs, then your recommendation is a bad one
--and it's in the wrong section--
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      06-30-2012, 02:17 PM   #8
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Sounds like you have the L7 system

You won't be able to replace the amp in that one because of the fiber optic
connection between the Head Unit and Amp which is proprietary unless you recode the head unit to analog and run a harness to the new amp. Or install a mobridge fiberoptic to analog converter.

Read the following thread for details.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27
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      06-30-2012, 02:26 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Verbatim View Post
you're recommending others to upgrade their bass speakers while using the stock amp. if the stock amp fails because of the low resistance subs, then your recommendation is a bad one
--and it's in the wrong section--
Earthquake recommends the 2 ohm xi for stock amp.
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      06-30-2012, 02:48 PM   #10
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I'd trust the people that frequently post on here, who have much more knowledge on BMW audio systems, than the Earthquake sales team. Or at least tell us your exact set up to confirm if your upgrade is ok or not.
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      06-30-2012, 04:15 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smallseafishie View Post
You are overloading your stock amp with a 2ohm load. I would expect an over heating amp with inevitable failure.
X2.

If you have L7 the amp is designed for a 4 ohm load. If you blow the amp, you will blow all channels, all 9! A new amp, from the dealer installed, is north of $1,000.

Don't trust Earthquake, trust us! Get a Technic harness and a cheap amp you can install yourself. Will cost you less than $300 and save your L7 amp and give you better bass.
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      06-30-2012, 05:17 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by mob17 View Post
Or at least tell us your exact set up to confirm if your upgrade is ok or not.
I'm not really looking for confirmation. It's been in my car working fine for 15 months. Have you actually seen a Logic 7 amp get damaged because of 2 ohm subwoofers?
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      06-30-2012, 05:53 PM   #13
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By cutting the impedance in half you are doubling the power, well trying to anyways. You are actually clipping the amp and I wouldnt be surprised if it overheats after listening at a high volume for a while. Its your car do whatever you want, but have you looked at the price to replace your amp, even a used one will be 400-500 dollars.
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      06-30-2012, 06:01 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryS View Post
I'm not really looking for confirmation. It's been in my car working fine for 15 months. Have you actually seen a Logic 7 amp get damaged because of 2 ohm subwoofers?
No i haven't seen that personally as I have never had Logic 7 and 2ohm speakers. But i would never try it as its bound to fail at some point. Have you read this thread? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185254

I just said that i'd trust people on here rather than sales people, who probably dont know as much about our systems. but obviously it's your car so good luck
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      06-30-2012, 07:25 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryS View Post
I'm not really looking for confirmation. It's been in my car working fine for 15 months. Have you actually seen a Logic 7 amp get damaged because of 2 ohm subwoofers?
You have been lucky, that's all.
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      06-30-2012, 07:27 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryS View Post
Earthquake recommends the 2 ohm xi for stock HiFi amp.
Fixed.
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      06-30-2012, 08:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Technic View Post
Fixed.
No. And in case there's doubt about the names, quoting the BMW sales document "1-series Audio Background 1.0":

Quote:
Top HiFi = Premium, Logic 7 or harman/kardon
So I guess I'll just enjoy my incredible luck that the version of Earthquake subwoofers that Earthquake specifically recommended to me are somehow working fine in my car despite your doubt based on the nominal impedance specs. Thanks for the concern.
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      06-30-2012, 08:40 PM   #18
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Look we tried to help you, and we warned you. good luck, and please let us know what Earthquake says when you write them about a blown L7 amp. My guess is they will probably say something like "oops, sorry" !
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      06-30-2012, 09:34 PM   #19
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its like trusting a monkey with your last banana. you just wouldn't.
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      07-01-2012, 02:05 AM   #20
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Did you even tell them you have logic 7 or did they even ask which system you have? Hifi has 2 ohm underseats and logic 7(or top hifi) has 4 ohm underseats.

Edit-I see you did tell them you have logic 7
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      07-01-2012, 02:22 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw325i View Post
Did you even tell them you have logic 7 or did they even ask which system you have? Hifi has 2 ohm underseats and logic 7(or top hifi) has 4 ohm underseats.

Edit-I see you did tell them you have logic 7
Well he said he had "top hifi". I can see how some knucklehead who was not paying attention, and/or who was only familiar with the term "Logic 7", could just read "hifi".

But after all, they are the BMW experts over at Earthquake, and we obviously know nothing, so it's all good.
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      07-01-2012, 06:50 AM   #22
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For those that by reading this thread want to try a set of SWS-8Xi (2ohms) in their Top HiFi (Logic7, Harman Kardon, Individual Audio, Premium system), just don't. The OEM amp powers 4ohms OEM woofers, not 2ohms.

Regardless of this thread, there is no OEM confirmation that the Top HiFi OEM amp is stable at 2ohms. A replacement OEM amp is about $1000 at the dealer, no labor included.

Example with the Individual Audio (7ohms OEM woofers) and the SWS-8X (4ohms): http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...3&postcount=43
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