Subwoofers

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
racer X
Posts: 97
Joined: Jan 02, 2007
Location: ATLANTA,GA

Post by racer X »

Cory wrote:Mine has just a simple self powered 200 watt Infinity sub. It's the perfect compliment to a simple system; not too much low-end - just right. The rest of my system is stock speakers and a Nak 400 head unit.
Disclaimer -
Not a fan of a lot of low end.
Infinity Basslink is tight. do you have the separate volume control for the dash?
Mless5
Posts: 4033
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Marblehead, MA

Post by Mless5 »

Teaser. Please, excuse cell phone quality:

Image

IDQ10 in sealed enclosure under rear seat with seat bracket untouched. Estimating around 0.5ft^3 after driver's displacement.
Mr. E28
Posts: 1166
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Woodbridge, VA

Post by Mr. E28 »

wkohler wrote:Bang and Olufsen makes shit - trendy looking shit.

Just because someone puts a name on something doesn't mean it is truly good. It's like the Lexus cars out there with the "Mark Levinson" system. It's just a name. Have any of you ever seen Mark Levinson stuff? It's incredible as far as solid state goes, but I highly doubt any of the technology that gives Mark Levinson the cache (pretend there's a ` over the "e") is in the amplification system in the car. And what are the speakers? Who knows? Mark Levinson doesn't make speakers. B&W makes speakers - but I'll bet you aren't getting a similar speaker to their famed Nautilus line. B & O makes speakers too, but they are shit - not crap - shit. Worst speakers I've ever heard - and they cost $10k. They also make the world's worst plasma TV (that's really saying something) - beautiful when it's off, but looks like crap when it's on. You can have all of that for $19k. I was a long-time B&O Beogram owner until I really started looking at them. My dad bought two in the '80s and most everything he had was really good quality - so I bought one. I'll never own one again - except to sell it to some idiot who thinks they're worth the cash they get on eBay. The only super high-end manufacturer whose car audio line I've been impressed with is McIntosh. Usually I hate everything they do that doesn't involve tubes, but I really think they did it right. People that shelled out the cash (or got lucky the PO installed it - like Mark in Houston) for it are quite happy with it. I would never spend the money though since I would rather put it into my home system.

I guess that last sentence really tells you how I feel. Keep in mind, the stock E28 speakers were made by Grundig. I didn't hear BMW harping on that point when they were selling these cars. My parents' E21s both have the stock Blaupunkts - no mention of that in any advertising material. It's all just a marketing ploy. Then there's Bose. Let's just stop before I bring out every rarely used adult word I know.

I have tremendous respect for anyone that engineers their own system. Especially if they are going for a quality sound - not just more power.
Sorry to have touched a cord there. :laugh:

Having heard each of the systems I mentioned, the B&O in the S8 sounded the best (an impossible possibility you say). When a car company decides to work with MBL, and designs some speakers similar to their 101e's, then I will be in heaven. That is the best speakers I've ever had the pleasure of demoing.
pro-535
Posts: 2
Joined: Aug 22, 2007
Location: Olalla,WA

Post by pro-535 »

try this; in s solo spearer box non ported mount some subs face to face and reverse the +/- on one of the subs. this method made pretty good low sound and good range that can be heard and felt insind the cabfrom the trunk.
lets just say that people will hear ya befor they see ya.
ElGuappo
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
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Post by ElGuappo »

pro-535 wrote:try this; in s solo spearer box non ported mount some subs face to face and reverse the +/- on one of the subs. this method made pretty good low sound and good range that can be heard and felt insind the cabfrom the trunk.
lets just say that people will hear ya befor they see ya.
um, thats called an isovent, and as such really should be a vented enclosure style. I have used that multiple times with my older Soundstream SS12's because they needed approx. 4cf ea of volume. But when you do an isovent you are able to cut the box volume in half for a single driver. However to enclosure MUST be ported.

This thread is not about BIG BASS, its about how to get SOME BASS, well defined tight bass in a tight package and well hidden also. 8" and 10" drivers are MORE than enough nowadays for just about anybody on this board (even me, and I likes my bass still) but it has to be quality, not just BOOM BOOM RUMBLE RUMBLE RATTLE RATTLE......(that last part was for the 'Merican cars rollin in 'da Hood)

Jay3
wkohler
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Joined: Oct 05, 2006
Location: Phönix, Arizona, USA
Contact:

Post by wkohler »

I've heard my fair share of Japanese Tin make the same sounds - once I saw the trunk vibrate open on an Altima. I wish I had a video camera.
philip1
Posts: 733
Joined: Jun 02, 2007
Location: Charlotte NC

Post by philip1 »

all of my systems are virtually silent outside the car while inside they are quite potent.
C.R. Krieger
Posts: 14507
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Halfway up the left side of Lake Michigan
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Post by C.R. Krieger »

wkohler wrote:For those people, you should have had a Barbie radio to sell them.
Hey, don't diss Da Barbie Radio! Unlike all your blingy BMW sound systems, you can take Da Barbie Radio out of Da Barbie Jeep and carry it around wit' you!

Image

Of course, your song selection is limited ... :roll:
pro-535
Posts: 2
Joined: Aug 22, 2007
Location: Olalla,WA

Post by pro-535 »

you can say it all comes down to personal spesification, it all comes out at the track anyway
M5BB
Posts: 1567
Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Location: Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Subs and stereo upgrades

Post by M5BB »

I have two E-28's, a 533 DD and an M5.
Here's a link to the M5 discussion and what I did.
http://mye28.com/viewtopic.php?p=268757 ... 1c687deb09
BTW the Infinity Bass link sub is wonderful. I have the control at the dash so I can change the level of bass with the selection of music.

My 533 has a Kenwood head unit with CD player under rear deck. Infinity 4" in the kick panels and Infinity 6x9's in the rear deck. Yes, I cut out the deck to fit the speakers.
I also cut the deck to put in a 10" freeair sub. It has over 100 watts to it and with the 6x9's and extra power to them too it all sounds pretty good.
I listen to jazz and classical as well as R&R.
It does not sound as good as the new system in my M5 (see link above)
Mr. E28
Posts: 1166
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Woodbridge, VA

Post by Mr. E28 »

Hmm..decisions, decisions.
thirdworldman
Posts: 109
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Location: southeastern Connecticut

woof,woof.

Post by thirdworldman »

I installed an 8 inch Bazooka (self-amplified tube) in the trunk of my 86 535i, takes up little usable space, sounds great, provides fullness of bass response and punch, not boom, at about $100.00 is well worth it. Sounds fine along with Sony 6x9s in rear, 4inch oval Sony three way speakers that fit in the same holes in the front left by the originals. Blaupunkt 250 watt deck. Overall low dollar, but very satisfying; everyone who sits in my car is noticably impressed with the sound when I turn it up a little.
Hope this is helpful, Doug in Ct.
Kieran
Posts: 126
Joined: Jan 25, 2007

Post by Kieran »

In my 535i I have a completely non stock system
MB Quart 3 ways, 6 inch woofers, mids and tweeters. The mids and tweeters are run through a Kenwood amp and through the MB Quart crossover. The 6 inch woofers are run through a separate crossover through the Kenwood. The rears are Infinity 2 ways being run by the Alpine Deck. And an Infinity Perfict 12 in a sealed box in the trunk being run by a RockfordFosgate 450.2. The system can get real loud and sounds great. I am kinda disapointed with the sub, its loud but sounds unclear as it is in a sealed trunk. I am contemplating putting 1 or 2 10inch shallow pioneers under the rear seat. And mount the amps and crossovers on some carpeted MDF mounted under the rear shelf.

But thats just a plan.
Mr. E28
Posts: 1166
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Woodbridge, VA

Post by Mr. E28 »

Under the rear seat sounds the best, but the whole idea of having to make an enclosure with the optimum volume doesn't sit well with me. I wish there was a little 8" sealed enclosure that just plain fit in there.
Mless5
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Location: Marblehead, MA

Post by Mless5 »

idq10.

Image
Eric_V
Posts: 233
Joined: Feb 12, 2006

Post by Eric_V »

Mr. E28 wrote:Under the rear seat sounds the best, but the whole idea of having to make an enclosure with the optimum volume doesn't sit well with me. I wish there was a little 8" sealed enclosure that just plain fit in there.
Same here. I believe someone on this board was planning on fabricating/selling these.
ElGuappo
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Post by ElGuappo »

Uh, yeah, the guy who posted above you posted a while back to gauge interest, but there wasnt enough for him to do it.

Jay3
Eric_V
Posts: 233
Joined: Feb 12, 2006

Post by Eric_V »

Hm, yeah, you're right, thanks for the wake up call.....shame there wasn't enough interest, I'd want one.
jimoreno
Posts: 1662
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Location: Land O Lakes, FL

Post by jimoreno »

+2!
ElGuappo
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
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Post by ElGuappo »

Just remember guys that custom glass enclosure are NOT cheap, so be ready to put your $$ where your mouth is.

I know Igor was disappointed that more people were not actually interested enough to put $$ together to make things happen as he was pretty excited about the project.

Jay3
Cory
Posts: 894
Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Location: USA
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Post by Cory »

racer X wrote:
Cory wrote:Mine has just a simple self powered 200 watt Infinity sub. It's the perfect compliment to a simple system; not too much low-end - just right. The rest of my system is stock speakers and a Nak 400 head unit.
Disclaimer -
Not a fan of a lot of low end.
Infinity Basslink is tight. do you have the separate volume control for the dash?
I do. The previous owner very cleanly installed a volume control knob in the dash. I keep it turned all the way up and it's perfect.
Mr. E28
Posts: 1166
Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Location: Woodbridge, VA

Post by Mr. E28 »

Well...I've completed my system. I had a .80cu.ft sealed enclosure made. M5less had the right idea. I decided on installing an Image Dynamics IDQ10v3, currently being fed 400watts @ 2ohms, and WOW! Nevermind the underseat setup, the output of this combo is exactly what I wanted: utmost sound quality with serious kick. Best of all..it has seemingly low output from outside, but your chest will resonate once you sit inside lol...24hz sweep ftw. I don't understand how people say they can't hear/feel their subs from these trunks.
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