I recently treated myself to a nice Ԛ£300 CD/MP3 player to replace the relic which was in the car, and it sounds amazing compared to the old one. But what it really highlighted was an absence of bass, and I wasn't quite ready to fit a sub yet, so somebody kindly flogged me some speakers which were supposed to be better than standard for next to nothing.
I replaced the original rear ones first (Blaupunkt), and noticed extra clarity in the music, though they needed a lot more volume from the head unit to make as much noise. The new ones are Alpine units BTW. But there is even less bass than before. I've tried various settings on the head unit.
The other pair I got are Sonys, but it's a bit of a bastard fitting them in the front as the holes aren't quite right, and the bonnet-pull is in the way, so I sort of squashed the right-hand one in, but it sounded crap when I swung the balance over from the orignal Blaupunkt one on the left to the Sony on the right, so I put the original back.
Any ideas for a poor struggling bollocks who knows nothing about car hi-fi?
Better speakers sound worse...
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AlpineCab
- E30 Zone Regular
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- Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Yvelines (78) FRANCE
I've replaced my stock speakers and initially found similar situation. Some things I did when playing around with the set- up:
1. Stating the obvious but really double check that you have got the polarity of the wires correct for all four speakers.
2. My stock were Nokias, and they were 8 ohms. My replacement speakers are MB Quatrs, and they are 4 ohms. I found that stock rear with Quart front components did not mix well. Sound was much better with all 4 stock speakers replaced. Even just Quarts on front with no rear speakers in at alll was pants sound.
3. Then, I got the tweeter pods (dealer part) for where the door mirrors are, and put the component Quart tweeters in there and they sound cool.
Only when I did all of these 3 things was I content with sound for pounds spent and it took a few hours of playing around.
Still tempted to go for a sub as well, but not sure about whether the sound will be any good in the boot as I do not think there is the hole for the skis in the cab. that can be cut out to let the sound in.
Hope that helps...
1. Stating the obvious but really double check that you have got the polarity of the wires correct for all four speakers.
2. My stock were Nokias, and they were 8 ohms. My replacement speakers are MB Quatrs, and they are 4 ohms. I found that stock rear with Quart front components did not mix well. Sound was much better with all 4 stock speakers replaced. Even just Quarts on front with no rear speakers in at alll was pants sound.
3. Then, I got the tweeter pods (dealer part) for where the door mirrors are, and put the component Quart tweeters in there and they sound cool.
Only when I did all of these 3 things was I content with sound for pounds spent and it took a few hours of playing around.
Still tempted to go for a sub as well, but not sure about whether the sound will be any good in the boot as I do not think there is the hole for the skis in the cab. that can be cut out to let the sound in.
Hope that helps...
Your not gona get decent bass, by changing stock for better same size speakers, for the back you need some 6 x 9 to add some bass, there could be a phase problem meaning the + should be - and vice versa, this can dramatically change the sound!
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Demlotcrew
- E30 Zone Team Member
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- Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: East Anglia
I seen a small sub that was bolted to the back of the rear centre arm rest hole that can be pushed out it looked good also it didnÔš't take much space from the boot.
To get more base for the front i have used dynomat the lighter more expensive stuff, for like Ԛ£10 you get two small squares, i then cut a round hole just small than the speakers and put the map over the whole panel which in effect sealed the speaker in which will help with base.
But i do have Nakamichi and KEF three way cross-overs, with Rockford and fosgate stealth cables all the same length with soldered connectors. All this adds to make a better sound. (while stationery with the engine off
)
Andrew
To get more base for the front i have used dynomat the lighter more expensive stuff, for like Ԛ£10 you get two small squares, i then cut a round hole just small than the speakers and put the map over the whole panel which in effect sealed the speaker in which will help with base.
But i do have Nakamichi and KEF three way cross-overs, with Rockford and fosgate stealth cables all the same length with soldered connectors. All this adds to make a better sound. (while stationery with the engine off
)Andrew
hogweed
the time and effort spent installing kit makes all the difference. have a read of the technical article on ice - there's a complete run down in there about how to make your replacement front speakers sound as good as they are ever going to get. a roll of dynamat will set you back Ԛ£15. it's an absolute bargain. use it all up....
paul
the time and effort spent installing kit makes all the difference. have a read of the technical article on ice - there's a complete run down in there about how to make your replacement front speakers sound as good as they are ever going to get. a roll of dynamat will set you back Ԛ£15. it's an absolute bargain. use it all up....
paul
i saw a doctor and she gave me some pills....
Now that you come to mention it... where do you take power off to feed amps, subs etc on these motors?
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hogweed
i suggest you buy/borrow the haynes ice manual - it'll guide you through the world of ice with step-by-steps and pictures. also read the technical ice article throughly - it's more specifically for e30s. you'll soon have a singing system.
paul
i suggest you buy/borrow the haynes ice manual - it'll guide you through the world of ice with step-by-steps and pictures. also read the technical ice article throughly - it's more specifically for e30s. you'll soon have a singing system.
paul
i saw a doctor and she gave me some pills....
...for the tips guys, especially Paul. I've read your article thoroughyl now, and it's very informative. You know what pisses me off though? I was n a foul mood anyway mind when I tackled the job (comes of giving up drinking 
), but it's not the technicalities of sound etc, I can get my head round that - it's bits of trim breaking off, not having enough self-tapping screws of the right size to finish the job, etc etc.
And not being able to get at the bonnet pull to remove it, grrr...
Yeah, I know about the polarity/phase issue. I mean, the new speakers have much greater clarity etc, but apparently zero bass... the I sometimes think that poxy BM fader that everything goes through might have something to do with it... I know, I know, you're all going to tell me to bypass it direct to the Head and use its fade capability... but I can never find the wires, then I get all wound up and smash something.
), but it's not the technicalities of sound etc, I can get my head round that - it's bits of trim breaking off, not having enough self-tapping screws of the right size to finish the job, etc etc.And not being able to get at the bonnet pull to remove it, grrr...
Yeah, I know about the polarity/phase issue. I mean, the new speakers have much greater clarity etc, but apparently zero bass... the I sometimes think that poxy BM fader that everything goes through might have something to do with it... I know, I know, you're all going to tell me to bypass it direct to the Head and use its fade capability... but I can never find the wires, then I get all wound up and smash something.
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Guest
Yep, bigger speakers equal more bass. Could also be your head unit, just 'cause it's new and supposedly better than the old one it doesn't mean the bass is going to be banging. I've got stock speakers and an old Pioneer head unit.....the bass is spot-on. I'm really into home hifi and know that the car is never going to match it unless I spend thousands but having said that, I couldn't do with zero bass. Your stock speakers should give reasonable bass when coupled with a decent head unit.
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Sextons_Cardiff
- E30 Zone Newbie
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- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:00 pm
Hiya fella...
Just out of curiosity, what brand is the Ԛ£300 H/U that you bought?
I would of gone for either Pheonix Gold mids and tweeters or MTX mids and tweeters to be honest, they have a MUCH better sound re-production quality than most others that ive heard, adn thats powered off the H/u, NOT amped....
The bass transfer, as most people will probably know on here, in the E30 is CRAP from the boot, so id go for the best mids and tweeters that your budget will allow, as this will vastly improve your chances of getting the sound that your want....
Dynamat WILL improve your sound re-production even more, but will also keep some un-wanted noise from your speakers away, so they will get a better chance to pump out the quality that you want....
One thing i will admit, the mainstream brands (such as alpine or pioneer for example) are UTTER SHITE when it comes to either coaxials or component speakers, so id steer clear of those type of brands and go for the brands that are dedicated speaker only types....
Just out of curiosity, what brand is the Ԛ£300 H/U that you bought?
I would of gone for either Pheonix Gold mids and tweeters or MTX mids and tweeters to be honest, they have a MUCH better sound re-production quality than most others that ive heard, adn thats powered off the H/u, NOT amped....
The bass transfer, as most people will probably know on here, in the E30 is CRAP from the boot, so id go for the best mids and tweeters that your budget will allow, as this will vastly improve your chances of getting the sound that your want....
Dynamat WILL improve your sound re-production even more, but will also keep some un-wanted noise from your speakers away, so they will get a better chance to pump out the quality that you want....
One thing i will admit, the mainstream brands (such as alpine or pioneer for example) are UTTER SHITE when it comes to either coaxials or component speakers, so id steer clear of those type of brands and go for the brands that are dedicated speaker only types....
Bit of an update. Having been forced to listen 0for a few weeks now, I've reaslised that the main reason there's no bass is probably that the old speakers had so little treble I was forced to turn the volume right up, thus squeezing a little bass out of their last gasp. This didn't hurt the ears, as there was very little treble.
The new speakers produce fairly intense treble, but I guess no more bass than the old ones, so if turn them up high enough to get a little bass, my ears bleed from all the treble!
I think, if I get some sort of woofer in the boot, all will become clear...
I wouldn't agree that the quality of the Alpines is shit, although funny enough my local Sexton's slags everything off that hasn't been bought from them for thousands too.
The new speakers produce fairly intense treble, but I guess no more bass than the old ones, so if turn them up high enough to get a little bass, my ears bleed from all the treble!
I think, if I get some sort of woofer in the boot, all will become clear...
I wouldn't agree that the quality of the Alpines is shit, although funny enough my local Sexton's slags everything off that hasn't been bought from them for thousands too.
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Sextons_Cardiff
- E30 Zone Newbie
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LOL, im just stating my personal opinion about the alpines, they make stunning and powerful H/Us but i find their component and coaxial speakers leave alot to be desired....
And id rather someone spend Ԛ£50 and be very happy with what they got than Ԛ£5000 and not really like or want what they got ;)
But I agree, I find most of the people I work with always try and sell people the best of the best of the best... when they dont need it! lol
I just try and be honest and call a spade a spade
And id rather someone spend Ԛ£50 and be very happy with what they got than Ԛ£5000 and not really like or want what they got ;)
But I agree, I find most of the people I work with always try and sell people the best of the best of the best... when they dont need it! lol
I just try and be honest and call a spade a spade
I don't know, all I can say is they make Deep Purple sound a lot better than the originals, if only I had some bass... trouble is, I don't fancy a wardrobe in my boot, and a National Grid running from the head unit to the back.
And I, too, always call a spade a manual long-handled flat-bladed agricultural excavation instrument!
And I, too, always call a spade a manual long-handled flat-bladed agricultural excavation instrument!
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