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      04-13-2014, 06:24 PM   #1
funkle
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DSP stereo sound quality...

...is not good. I have the '06 luxury package stereo, and I've finally had a chance to play some CDs and I gotta say, it is pretty terrible. The Harmon Kardon system in my '05 330i sounded hugely better that this. My other 2 current cars, a base Mini Cooper, and base Passat both sound much better too.

I am admittedly an audiophile, but but this is pretty bad even by non-audiophile standards. This sounds like a $60 boom-box.

I was going to do the Bavsound speaker retrofit, but now wondering if I should just pull and replace the whole system. But I really like to just listen to the engine, so not sure if I want to go to hat length.
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      04-13-2014, 08:04 PM   #2
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You can code the DSP to E85 spec and get some more punch on the bass. Or a combination E85 and E86 coding. There are 55 filter banks. Do you have the EQ? Making changes there can result in better sound. I'm just saying there are ways to get some better sound out of the stock system system.
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      04-13-2014, 08:09 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funkle View Post
...is not good. I have the '06 luxury package stereo, and I've finally had a chance to play some CDs and I gotta say, it is pretty terrible. The Harmon Kardon system in my '05 330i sounded hugely better that this. My other 2 current cars, a base Mini Cooper, and base Passat both sound much better too.

I am admittedly an audiophile, but but this is pretty bad even by non-audiophile standards. This sounds like a $60 boom-box.

I was going to do the Bavsound speaker retrofit, but now wondering if I should just pull and replace the whole system. But I really like to just listen to the engine, so not sure if I want to go to hat length.
Have you tried adjusting the graphic EQ? I ran pink noise through mine and measured it with a spectrum analyzer, then adjusted the graphics to get a reasonably flat response, with some increase in the lower frequencies to compensate for road noise. I also found dropping the bass control one notch helped take some of the subwoofer boom out of the system. I did replace my tweeters with a better product, and that improved things some as well.

Update: My bad, I see now you have a coupe. For some reason BMW changed the coding for the coupes. You are correct, they sound horrible. I had a good friend here in town who had a coupe, and he was amazed at how nice my system sounded compared to his, with just the tweeter replacements and adjusting it with the spectrum analyzer.
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      04-13-2014, 08:25 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antennahead View Post
I did replace my tweeters with a better product,with the spectrum analyzer.
What did you use?
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      04-14-2014, 11:28 AM   #5
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As a fellow audiophile, I completely understand your dilemma. I went with the Bavsound upgrade, and it's an improvement, but certainly not what you are looking for. Since I have the nav system and all, I wasn't willing to do the full "rip and replace" in my Z4MC.

I did that, however, in my Boxster - went with a Focal/JL/Alpine system that is REALLY nice, but starts to get into big elephant $$...does sound amazing tho!
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      04-14-2014, 12:01 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjbstewart View Post
As a fellow audiophile, I completely understand your dilemma. I went with the Bavsound upgrade, and it's an improvement, but certainly not what you are looking for. Since I have the nav system and all, I wasn't willing to do the full "rip and replace" in my Z4MC.

I did that, however, in my Boxster - went with a Focal/JL/Alpine system that is REALLY nice, but starts to get into big elephant $$...does sound amazing tho!
If I were to do the rip/replace, would it make sense to go through a place like BestBuy for the install? Or would it be better to go to some kind of BMW specialist?
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      04-14-2014, 12:03 PM   #7
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If I were to do the rip/replace, would it make sense to go through a place like BestBuy for the install? Or would it be better to go to some kind of BMW specialist?
I would NOT go with bestbuy. Bunch of high school kids that don't know what they are doing. I went with a custom installer for my Porsche, and they did a great job. Definitely look at their work, read the yelp reviews, and do your research before selecting...
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      04-14-2014, 12:28 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjbstewart View Post
I would NOT go with bestbuy. Bunch of high school kids that don't know what they are doing. I went with a custom installer for my Porsche, and they did a great job. Definitely look at their work, read the yelp reviews, and do your research before selecting...
Thanks. I've found a few shops here is SF that look pretty good.
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      04-14-2014, 12:31 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by funkle View Post
Thanks. I've found a few shops here is SF that look pretty good.
Ah, didn't read that you are in the bay area!

I used these guys for my Porsche -they did a great job:

Ams Car Stereo & Window Tinting
3910 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA 95129

planning on getting the Z tinted there as well...
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      04-14-2014, 12:58 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bjbstewart View Post
Ah, didn't read that you are in the bay area!

I used these guys for my Porsche -they did a great job:

Ams Car Stereo & Window Tinting
3910 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA 95129

planning on getting the Z tinted there as well...
Thanks. Do you think it would be possible/advisable to keep the factory head unit and just replace amps & speakers? I don't care about retaining Nav, but want to keep the understated stock look of the dash. I think an after marked head would really stand out.
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      04-14-2014, 01:39 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funkle View Post
Thanks. Do you think it would be possible/advisable to keep the factory head unit and just replace amps & speakers? I don't care about retaining Nav, but want to keep the understated stock look of the dash. I think an after marked head would really stand out.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the head unit for DSP with NAV systems puts out line out analog signals and the volume level is performed AT THE AMPLIFIER which receives its control signal from the head unit via the digital K - Bus. So, your choice is to either replace the head unit or have some type of multi-channel line out converter installed on the back end of the OEM amplifier.
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      04-14-2014, 01:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elerner61 View Post
have some type of multi-channel line out converter installed on the back end of the OEM amplifier.
That can be done, can't it? Seems there are some people doing that in the e46 forums. Is it the same type of system?
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      04-14-2014, 01:57 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funkle View Post
Thanks. Do you think it would be possible/advisable to keep the factory head unit and just replace amps & speakers? I don't care about retaining Nav, but want to keep the understated stock look of the dash. I think an after marked head would really stand out.
Give him a call - He has done a lot of high-end cars, and really gets the install can and can'ts. They have done a few of the 49er cars there...
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      04-14-2014, 01:57 PM   #14
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i think its great !! lmao..... I'm no audiophile , but i do like to crank the music.... seems more than adequate for my needs :-) the car is knocking on nearly a decade old.....
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      04-14-2014, 02:03 PM   #15
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i think its great !! lmao..... I'm no audiophile , but i do like to crank the music.... seems more than adequate for my needs :-) the car is knocking on nearly a decade old.....
You have the roadster, so there's basically nothing to complain about...from what I've found. It's a different story for us coupe guys
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      04-14-2014, 11:14 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
You have the roadster, so there's basically nothing to complain about...from what I've found. It's a different story for us coupe guys
The coupe guys can code to E85 spec. AFAIK the systems are identical with the exception of the coding. There are like 60 differences in the coding between the E85 and E86.
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      04-15-2014, 04:03 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by funkle View Post
What did you use?
JL Audio 3/4" Evolution C5 Series Silk Dome Tweeters. They are more efficient than the factory tweets, I had to crank down the EQ for the 5K and 12K sliders when I ran the pink noise through the system. The aluminium midrange speakers are actually not that bad. Replacing the tweets opened up the top end quite a bit.
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      04-15-2014, 08:35 AM   #18
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Quote:
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The coupe guys can code to E85 spec. AFAIK the systems are identical with the exception of the coding. There are like 60 differences in the coding between the E85 and E86.
What's involved in getting this coded?

Quote:
Originally Posted by antennahead View Post
JL Audio 3/4" Evolution C5 Series Silk Dome Tweeters. They are more efficient than the factory tweets, I had to crank down the EQ for the 5K and 12K sliders when I ran the pink noise through the system. The aluminium midrange speakers are actually not that bad. Replacing the tweets opened up the top end quite a bit.
Do these work with the BMW system? I thought there was some special impedance requirement.
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      04-15-2014, 04:55 PM   #19
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I was contemplating the Bavsound speakers, too.

At least I know it's not the final answer.
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      04-15-2014, 05:22 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by funkle View Post
What's involved in getting this coded?
Rename the attached file to FSW_PSW.TRC and use NCSExpert to write the file to the DSP module. Read up on cables, software and how to do it here. It's actually very simple once everything is set up. Also, once you have the setup, there's plenty of other stuff to custom program as well.

E86 DSP_E85.C02 FSW_PSW coded to E85.TRC.txt
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      04-15-2014, 07:44 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pungo View Post
Rename the attached file to FSW_PSW.TRC and use NCSExpert to write the file to the DSP module. Read up on cables, software and how to do it here. It's actually very simple once everything is set up. Also, once you have the setup, there's plenty of other stuff to custom program as well.

Attachment 1011687
Awesome...thanks for posting this!

Now...are there anyone in SoCal that has NCSExpert and is willing to help out a fellow Couper to get this programmed Willing to pay with beers
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      04-15-2014, 09:03 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pungo View Post
Rename the attached file to FSW_PSW.TRC and use NCSExpert to write the file to the DSP module. Read up on cables, software and how to do it here. It's actually very simple once everything is set up. Also, once you have the setup, there's plenty of other stuff to custom program as well.

Attachment 1011687
Thanks, how does it sound after the flash?
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