E30 Zone

Pondering getting front components just after some info -if you fit component speakers in front using the tweeter pods, do they wire in using the normal speaker wires ? What other wiring is needed and where do you put the crossovers ? Is it easy to put different brand tweeters in to the pods ?

I'm just waiting for delivery of a pair if focal performance speakers to see if they fit in the doors, and depending - will either get a second set for the shelf or maybe put these in shelf and go component

-if you fit component speakers in front using the tweeter pods

Yes, but you may have to modify the pod slightly to get it to fit. All depends on the tweeter size and design.

do they wire in using the normal speaker wires ?

I would say no as its 20+ year old wiring, run in new wiring from the crossovers.

What other wiring is needed and where do you put the crossovers

All depends on the size of the crossover, you may be able to fit in in the door cavity, my crossovers were hidden behind the dash with new cabling ran from the amp to the crossovers then new cabling from the crossovers to the mid \ tweeters via the rubber plug on the door.

Is it easy to put different brand tweeters in to the pods ?
See above

Thanks for the reply, never used components before so im not clued up on how they work and wire up, do they have to be used with an amp ?

I've not got any amp in the car at the moment, I have brand new decent quality speaker wire in the car ready to go, and a blaupunkt stereo , but no speakers in yet, so I'm just pondering what to do for the ice , hopefully the focal coax speakers will arrive tomrrow and il test them out and see what I think and what to do , ie just get another set if they fit the front reces and sound good, or if to get an amp and components

They don't have to be powered by an AMP but most head units are pretty low output in comparison, so components would not out perform coaxials most of the time off a head unit.

I ran vibe components in the doors, vibe coaxials in the rear cards and a 8" sub in the boot in my cab, whilst not max power loud gave good quality and with the in car speakers being fitted in the OEM location you wouldn't know they were there.

The fronts and Sub were ran off an old V12 Alpine 4 channel amp which was something like 4 x 30W RMS. The rears off the head unit.

If you don't plan any sub, the amp can be mounted under a seat, but you will want all the cabling routed neatly under the carpet.

I'm my old e30 I had 4x vibe slick 50s, on a modern head unit, an active sub, and it all sounded good for what it was

This time i wanted to try focals and go up that level, not too fussed about a sub just wanted some decent speakers and the old blaupunkt in oem holes with old oem grills, I do have an
Old blaupunkt period to head unit 4x (I think 25) amp , but had trouble getting the correct lead for it, then thought I don't really what an amp and loads of wiring as then il get a sub, etc, and its not a daily driver so loud audio isn't top of the list just want nice clear fairly decent sound with the old unit , which I've never actually heard with speakers other than 1 old 6x9 just to test

Given your probably talking 4 x 25W Power output, there is no exact mapping to RMS but expect that to be pretty low like 4x11W RMS.

It will sound OK at best regardless of what speakers you put in, the acoustics and sound deadening in a E30 is pretty minimal.

The better the sensitivity of the speakers the better chance you have of a good sound.

For example the factory Harmon Kardon setup in my 2002 SAAB is pretty low powered at 200W RMS from a 8 Channel amp, all 8 speakers run at 2 OHMS and have a high sensitivity rating rather than the standard 4 OHM speakers so you get a better output from a lower power.

Ok cool I see, if course in not expecting amazement from an old blaupunkt powering them but hoping it be good enough to accompany Sunday afternoon driving, but may look at adding an amp if need be

The pair I've got coming are -

Focal pc130

Partial horn loading tweeter
High sensitivity
High soundstage
Dynamics and neutrality
Cut-out diameter 5”a (130mm)
Tweeter Processed Aluminum inverted dome tweeter, rotating
Voice coil 1”a (25mm) x 0-7/16”a (11mm)
Magnet 3-1/3”a (80mm)
Frequency response (+/-3dB) 80Hz ”“ 20kHz
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 91.6dB
Nom. power 60 Watts rms
Max. power 120 Watts



http://caraudiosecurity.com/pc130-130mm ... l-speakers

diable wrote:Make sure you fit the correct tweeters for the left side of the car and the right side of the car and make sure they are the correct way up as the music will sound upside down and back to front, you'll know what I mean if you get it wrong.

Feck diable, now you've really done it.

Just messing, Karl.

polsta wrote:

http://caraudiosecurity.com/pc130-130mm ... l-speakers

Where are you going to mount these?????

In the shelf if they don't fit the front - 5.25 inch standard size

Use this and you can run any amp you want from the Blaupunkt SQR88.

What pin is that Barry ?

I got one of the blaupunkt amps you know the one, I got the alpine lead or whatever it was that was said to fit and it doesn't , ive tried 2 different ones and couldn't find the lead anywhere

8 pin DIN.

You got the wrong lead then as im using an Alpine M bus lead with my blaupunkt SQR88 and blaupunkt BQA80 amp.

That's the one I got, can't remember what end didn't fit but 1 end was ok the other not, its a nightmare of a lead to find I looked for ages I'd like to get one

Does one end have 8 pins and the other two rectangle pins?

I can't remember off hand it was months ago I looked, but I think from memory I got the alpine bus lead as linked in a thread before, and it was din plug on each end (I think but could be wrong) but one end didn't fit, can't remember if stereo or amp

But basicly I could really do with that correct lead

Do you still have the lead?

If so, take a pic of both ends and post it up.

Yeah still got it il dig it out and take a pic tomrrow

This the lead I've got, didn't have time to dig out the amp and see what end didn't fit what

Right - the above focals arrived today , sound nice via just the head unit and a surprising level of bass

Bit of a dilema - the fit the front wells with the tweeter only just pushing out the grill a touch, but it fits - is it a no go if that central tweeter touches the kick grill ?

In the shelf - they will not fit with the oem blaupunkt grilles I have

So its either the front with tweeter touching the grill

Or in the rear with the focal grills

No go in the front - speaker diaphragms move, and they need to do that without obstruction.

That's a female to male plug, ie for extending a shorter lead

You need one which is male to male as all the head units, eq's and amps are female.

Basically you need a lead with both of the right plugs.

polsta wrote:Right - the above focals arrived today , sound nice via just the head unit and a surprising level of bass

Bit of a dilema - the fit the front wells with the tweeter only just pushing out the grill a touch, but it fits - is it a no go if that central tweeter touches the kick grill ?

In the shelf - they will not fit with the oem blaupunkt grilles I have

So its either the front with tweeter touching the grill

Or in the rear with the focal grills

I thought they wouldn't when I asked you where you were going to mount them in the car.

bss325i wrote:That's a female to male plug, ie for extending a shorter lead

You need one which is male to male as all the head units, eq's and amps are female.

Basically you need a lead with both of the right plugs.

Any idea where ? Can you see the right one on ebay ? Although that lead I've got there is long,

beemerbird wrote:No go in the front - speaker diaphragms move, and they need to do that without obstruction.

The center tweeter thing is rigid doesn't move or effect the speaker cone, and has its own grille/protection on, only issue it would cause is vibrating from the speaker maybe, which would be a no go

Try it out and see if you like it then.

Rav335uk wrote:

polsta wrote:
I thought they wouldn't when I asked you where you were going to mount them in the car.

Well with their own grilles they fit fine in the shelf, its only slight on the blaupunkt grills

Although I had a look and it may be possible to take the shelf out, mount them below/under the speaker holes with the fasteners under the speakers holes and screws from
Above, and the blaupunkt grills will fit over the top without touching

Or just use the focal grills

Karl. Just send them back as ordered in error and buy some lower profile speakers

eBay item number 261434463255

bss325i wrote:eBay item number 261434463255

Thanks for that , but what would I do look how short it is ? That's never going to be able to go from the stereo to the amp

beemerbird wrote:Karl. Just send them back as ordered in error and buy some lower profile speakers

They sound great tho defo keepers

I've put them on shelf with the focal grills for now, need to get the amp lead and some front speakers and il re think weather to keep the grills or take the shelf out and mount them from under rather than over the shelf holes

I wired them in the front to test the sound and they sounded no where near as good as the rear, not sure why but it was like more stereo power goes to the rear speakers , yes I checked the fader and balance etc

Barry I know you have the same stereo, I got a cheap (£5) aux bluetooth dongle thing from ebay to test , pop it in the front aux and can play music from iPhone via air play, works a treat and sounds much clearer than an aux cable for some reason, recomended

The footwell's in the E30 are not really an optimum position for sound in the front as all the sound is playing at your feet. Also if I am reading correctly this is the coax speakers so the tweeter which is integral is also pointing at your feet.

Most new cars now have the speakers either further up in the door or angled towards the driver upwards hence why they don't sound as good up front on an E30.

Components are really the way to go, but don't expect a great sound without soundproofing behind the mid driver and the tweeters angled in the correct direction.

Wasn't really much to do with the position although I know what your saying , even holding the speaker with head down there they just didn't seen to produce the same level of sound ? The tweeter is adjustable to point any direction

But made the choice easy, just need some front speakers now

Its an old head unit but I've found a place that can give it a full service and refurb for £50 so going to get that done