Audio system upgrade advice/recommendations?

[f82_spooly]

Hello all! I recently bought a set of Earthquake SWS subwoofers for the underseats as I read these were a good upgrade. What is the easiest way to go about this? They are the 4ohm version. I also have a Alpine Type-R 12" subwoofer I'd like to install. What amp do you guys recommend and what DSP? Do I need a DSP? I'm willing to purchase whatever necessary to have a clean and easy to install set up to my OEM headunit of course.

I have the HK system.

S697 Area-Code 1 for DVD
S688 Harman/Kardon surround sound system

Thanks for the input!

[f82_spooly]

Anyone have any ideas?

[Budget M3]

Search “Integral Audio”. IMHO, it’s the best.

[FrankMstein]

Budget M3 recommends a $4k complete system. ooooohhhhkkkaaaay

[f82_spooly]

Originally Posted by FrankMstein

Budget M3 recommends a $4k complete system. ooooohhhhkkkaaaay

Yeah I'm not trying to spend 4k lol. I just need help with what else is needed to interface the subwoofers into my OEM system + having clean sound.

[FrankMstein]

You can buy the components separately, still pricey.

https://integralaudio.com/products/bmw.html

[1sickm2]

I have the bavsound stage 1 speakers, underseat woofers and revenant pro amp. I also have a 10w3v3-2 sub in a sealed enclosure powered by a JBL GTX500. The revenant pro has an output for the amp and sub.

Its not a cheap system but for something that didn't require me cutting my factory setup I am very happy with it. Lows, mids and highs are all excellent with this setup. Its great for playing a wide range of music which fits well for my tastes. The revenant pro amp has a DSP built in.

[G MONEY]

I have Bav sound with jl audio amplified 10" sub in trunk. F those under seat woofers. Lol

[f82_spooly]

Thanks for the responses guys I don't want to do bavsound. Im looking for what I need to run that setup. I read an LC2I. But I'm not sure what else I need ?

[1sickm2]

For the rear sub should just be LC2I and a kit to wire power to the amp. If you DM me I have a BNIB LC2I kit I'd send to you. My only ask would be for you to cover shipping costs.

[f82_spooly]

Originally Posted by 1sickm2

For the rear sub should just be LC2I and a kit to wire power to the amp. If you DM me I have a BNIB LC2I kit I'd send to you. My only ask would be for you to cover shipping costs.

Sent you a PM!

[5ABIVT]

I added a jl 12 in the rear. There is a plug and play plug from technip pnp I believe. Lc2i line converter, then add your amp and sub. I have a jl 600/1 and a 12w6v3 sealed in a custom box angled to fit the seat back and placed right in the middle for even weight and closest to the middle of the car. Can rattle my brain cells to death if i choose absolutely love it. Also dynomatted the entire rear floor, trunk lid, rear quarter panels etc.

[Budget M3]

Originally Posted by FrankMstein

Budget M3 recommends a $4k complete system. ooooohhhhkkkaaaay

OP asked for recommendations and this is mine. If you are going to replace everything, it is actually pretty close to the same price when compared with BavSound and others when doing speakers, plus amp, plus subwoofer. Well-engineered to integrate into our cars, too, and installation was a breeze.

You don’t have to buy the complete system, either. Speaker upgrades start at only $500. If that’s too rich for your blood, then you should rethink spending money on your car stereo.

[jmciver]

If all you want to do is add more bass, then I would recommend you get a trunk sub (with amp) OR get an amp to power the Earthquakes - but not both. The Earthquakes reportedly make good bass, better than most underseat woofer options, but the Earthquakes are not necessarily a good pair with a trunk sub for this reason.

As far as amps for a trunk sub or the Earthquakes, Audiocontrol makes good, compact amps with the LCI functionality built in. This could save some space regardless which route you go to add more bass. As far as interface harnesses, TechniquePnP makes some nice "add a sub" harnesses that makes installation easy without cutting/splicing anything.

Unless you want to replace the amp driving the main speakers, you don't need a DSP capable amp. But if you did want to replace your amp, which would be a good sound upgrade even if using the stock speakers, the only two PnP amps on the market now for H/K cars are Bavsound Revenant Pro and Match UP10DSP (with additional H/K harness). The Revenant Pro comes with a tune file made by Bavsound but the UP10DSP requires tuning yourself (or by a stereo shop) to get it to sound good (even though Match does provide some generic tune files to aid with amp setup). Tuning is not hard, but does require a few special tools to DIY. I have the UP10DSP in my car, installed and tuned by me, and I am happy with the results.

Good luck!

[f82_spooly]

Originally Posted by 5ABIVT

I added a jl 12 in the rear. There is a plug and play plug from technip pnp I believe. Lc2i line converter, then add your amp and sub. I have a jl 600/1 and a 12w6v3 sealed in a custom box angled to fit the seat back and placed right in the middle for even weight and closest to the middle of the car. Can rattle my brain cells to death if i choose absolutely love it. Also dynomatted the entire rear floor, trunk lid, rear quarter panels etc.

Is it a clean sound? Will I be able to use my amp to replace the stock amp to power my speakers this way?

[f82_spooly]

Originally Posted by jmciver

If all you want to do is add more bass, then I would recommend you get a trunk sub (with amp) OR get an amp to power the Earthquakes - but not both. The Earthquakes reportedly make good bass, better than most underseat woofer options, but the Earthquakes are not necessarily a good pair with a trunk sub for this reason.

As far as amps for a trunk sub or the Earthquakes, Audiocontrol makes good, compact amps with the LCI functionality built in. This could save some space regardless which route you go to add more bass. As far as interface harnesses, TechniquePnP makes some nice "add a sub" harnesses that makes installation easy without cutting/splicing anything.

Unless you want to replace the amp driving the main speakers, you don't need a DSP capable amp. But if you did want to replace your amp, which would be a good sound upgrade even if using the stock speakers, the only two PnP amps on the market now for H/K cars are Bavsound Revenant Pro and Match UP10DSP (with additional H/K harness). The Revenant Pro comes with a tune file made by Bavsound but the UP10DSP requires tuning yourself (or by a stereo shop) to get it to sound good (even though Match does provide some generic tune files to aid with amp setup). Tuning is not hard, but does require a few special tools to DIY. I have the UP10DSP in my car, installed and tuned by me, and I am happy with the results.

Good luck!

Thank you for the clarification just what i needed! I guess I'll do my Alpine sub/JL amp/L2CI and which technik PNP harness? Will this be a clean sound ?

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by F82.Bully

Thank you for the clarification just what i needed! I guess I'll do my Alpine sub/JL amp/L2CI and which technik PNP harness? Will this be a clean sound ?

How well or good something sounds will always be subjective. But as long as you install a sub in a properly sized enclosure for that sub, use an appropriately powered amp, and set the gains properly on the amp for the sub, you are at the best starting point for "good" sound. As far as the harness you need, it would be this one here for H/K equipped cars:

https://technicpnp.com/product/logic...sub-t-harness/

[FrankMstein]

And don't use MP3's.

[dmanb2b]

Originally Posted by Budget M3

OP asked for recommendations and this is mine. If you are going to replace everything, it is actually pretty close to the same price when compared with BavSound and others when doing speakers, plus amp, plus subwoofer. Well-engineered to integrate into our cars, too, and installation was a breeze.

You don’t have to buy the complete system, either. Speaker upgrades start at only $500. If that’s too rich for your blood, then you should rethink spending money on your car stereo.

Shameless plug, but we have a group buy going on right now, which may very well get to a $1k discount. This is the last sale before Kevin increases the price to $4,199.

[pfrederi]

Originally Posted by darkknightm4_

Thanks for the responses guys I don't want to do bavsound. Im looking for what I need to run that setup. I read an LC2I. But I'm not sure what else I need ?

I understand your plight bro. I too went the route of doing a custom setup because i dnt want to spend 4-5 grand on a stereo upgrade. Ive posted several times (M4 HK System Upgrade Question) with no response, oh well.

Similar to you I bought and installed:
- 2 SWS Underseat Woofers
- 1 JL Audio 10WV3 Sub woofer (with ported enclosure)
- 1 LC2i line converter
- 1 SONY XM-GS4 4 Channel AMP (using as a 3 channel amp to power the 2 underseat woofers and 1 Subwoofer)


The system sounds much better. It is bass heavy however but I havent figured out how to tune the system. Currently Im just using the LC2i gain and left the AMP controls turned all ythe way down and its still bass heavy. My amp has crossoverss and low and hoigh pass filters along with gain adjustments but Im not sure how to tune this sytem yet. But currently Im happy with the setup and I saved. I spent approx $1300 total.

[djpeetur]

Change out all speakers to focal. And 2 12s w6. Sealed box. Will sound like a club.

[FrankMstein]

Originally Posted by djpeetur

Change out all speakers to focal. And 2 12s w6. Sealed box. Will sound like a club.

Do you have part numbers?