01-17-2022, 05:23 PM | #1 |
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2018 M4 1st Upgrade Stereo
So Ive been doing a lot of reading on the forum since ive got my M4 for a few moinths now. To be honest the site is very helpful but i find myself suffering from TMI overload. Just when iu think im on the right track i read something else and confuses me. Anyways I was on the wy to see what upgrades i would tackle first but i decided on starting with the stereo. I have the HiFi system in my M4 with the HK system. It sounds ok but its lacking in power and umph!! i dnt just want tpo slap a subwoofer in there i would like to have pretty much all the sound upgraded if that means using some of the existing speakers thats fine because I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR STOCK looking as possible.
In my reading i found this company called Musicar but thyere VERY expensive and Im not sure what the spund is really like for their different tier upgrades. Ive seen one guy mentioned he did the premium upgrade and his sounded ok. I expect if i drop 4 grand my system better be better than ok. Anyways can anyone recommend a ggod route to take to get more power out of this system and more bass while keeping the car looking stock as possible and possible reusing the HK speakers? I saw one post where they reused the subs under the seats but wired it for mids instead of subs. Thanks |
01-18-2022, 01:32 AM | #2 |
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01-18-2022, 07:47 AM | #3 |
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01-18-2022, 01:25 PM | #4 |
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I do appreciate the feedback but looks like more of the same. The retrofit is good to keep it looking stock but i may have to add a bigger sub than a 10inch. I guess im leaning more towards having a bigger sub in the back\trunk then to give more deeper bass. Im not trying to have my trunk rattle and shatter windows but i do want a much better sounding system covering the spectrum from deep bass to mids to highs and the 10s and 8s inch dnt cut it for me. Especially the ones with the flat form factor. I Also want to have a higher volume output than the stock HiFi system i have now. the majority of the sytems im seeing on the websites provided look like direct replacements which are great for keeping it stock but if im just swapping out the same size speakers i dnt see that as a significant improvement. Although i do know that some brands offer better sound quality at the same size i dnt think its a significant enough improvement justifying thousands of dollars. Ill deviate from stock if i have to but still want to minimize having to do that.
Additionally i notice that these systems are using the processed (DSP) signal vs using the analog signal say for the bass. i want a system that can use the direct signal if possible so i can also rechannel the signals to the underseat speakers to be more for mids and have an added subwoofer (12" poss) to handle the sub bass if im making sense. I want be able to still use the stock head unit. Thanks |
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02-08-2022, 07:26 PM | #5 |
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Ok so im going to pose this question. So as i mentioned I dont see spending close to 5k on a stereo system for my M4 stereo "upgrade". I have the premium HK sound system with the Logic 7. In my research Ive found 3 different options on how to approach my stereo upgrade:
1) Replace the stock AMP with for example BavSound AMP while leaving everyhting else stock (Has anyone done this and how was the sound improvement? Was the Bass improved in the stock underseat woofers enough as well??) 2) Replace ALL the stock speakers including underseat woofers (with say BavSound speaker upgrade) Is this a significant sound upgrade vs just replacing the AMP only?? 3) Add a trunk SubWoofer with Sub AMP while leaving everything else stock Of the 3 which one gives the most bang for your buck??? Because Im not uograding my whole system for 5 grand but i do want more bass and more volume. Thanks |
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02-08-2022, 10:11 PM | #7 |
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Since you want more bass and volume as opposed to sound quality, then I would upgrade the amp and under seat wolfers first and see how you like it.
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02-08-2022, 10:34 PM | #8 |
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I went for the Eton speakers. I did it in stages so I could tell what was changing. I went with Eton for two reasons, you can't get the bavsound speakers separately and they were out of stock in November so I just got the Etons from Germany. I started with the center channel, then front doors then eventually rear doors. I did Dynamat around the mid speakers on the doors and am extremely satisfied. The OEM mids that came out of the car are a joke and should be used only for CB radio at best.
Overall for me I don't see any reason to upgrade the subs unless I really want it to hit harder. The Eton mids do such a fantastic job of filling in the mid to low frequencies it's just that good. |
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02-09-2022, 11:56 AM | #9 | |
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1. Don't do this. the speakers themselves in the stock system are the weak spot. This is a waste. 2. This is a significant upgrade, IMO. I have the BavSound full kit + under seat woofers and it made a huge difference to the audio quality as well as gave the ability to go louder. I did this while the new amp was 'coming soon', so skipped any amp upgrade. I might add it on at some point, but for now the speaker swap alone has made me pretty satisfied. Definitely use dynamat in the enclosures if you can, especially making sure the under-seat baskets have some material/baffling/deadening in them before you bolt the seats back down. 3. You'd just be adding a speaker that hits very low notes to a system that has poor quality speakers handling all other tones. This is a waste too, IMO. I would advise following a path similar to me. If you're not ready to do the underseat speakers, just replace all others with the vendor of your choice. See what you think and go from there. Next steps would be upgrading the under-seat woofers, the amp, then if still not happy - think about adding a dedicated preamp and sub to the system. One more thing; you make a comment about 'swapping them for the same size speakers' and thinking that's not going to get you a better sounds. The size/profile of the speaker itself is one of the last determinants on its quality. You can find incredible speakers (MBQuart anyone) in a 3.25" 2-way size. You can also find horse-shit quality 6x9's. It's about what product you buy, not the size of it. There's some age-old wisdom nugget tucked in there somewhere too.
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02-09-2022, 03:41 PM | #10 | ||
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I've been reasonably happy with the HK in my 2018 F82 comp but after I retrofitted the entire Bowers and Wilkins in to my G30 530d I've been itching to change the speakers in my M4 So I've always heard great things about Etons so I'll start with the doors and do sound proofing and the do the rears over time. Cheers. |
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02-09-2022, 05:08 PM | #11 | |
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Thanks. I tried getting in contact with them but never got an answer. I also sent an email with questions but they told me to call. SMH |
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02-09-2022, 05:15 PM | #12 | |
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Someone else mentioned upgrading the speakers but i dnt see how that would add power. I know better quality gives better quality sound but what about the power. for me its going to come down to either upohgrade the speakers or swap the AMP (work with the stock HK speakers) and leave the subwoofer\amp combo for a later date if im still not satisfied. Thanks |
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02-09-2022, 05:22 PM | #13 | |
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But their amps are shit
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02-09-2022, 05:29 PM | #14 | |
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Ok so I have the "Harman/Kardon DSP Professional" system with Logic 7. 1) Are the speakers in this system that i have that weak that installing a better more powerful AMP would not give better and more powerful sound out of these same speakers?? 2) Ok thx I will consider this as my 1st step but im skeptical as to swapping out the speakers making the system more powerful. More clarity i can see that but more powerful with more powerful bass i guess ill have to see but thanks either way. BTW i dnt necessarly want my trunk rattling down the street i just want more powerful bass and all aorund sound. 3) This one in hindsight i will leave way last at some point if i want to get added bass out of the system. Thanks for ecveryones input. I have a lil more info now than before but i basically still back at square one but at least with more added info now to help me make a better decision. Im leaning towards going the speaker route first. |
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02-09-2022, 10:40 PM | #15 | |
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Pic attached of difference in magnet size, similar to the BavSound speakers. And yes the Harmon Kardon factory speakers are pretty much useless at high volume, have poor frequency response and just can't handle what the factory amp is putting into them. |
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02-09-2022, 11:41 PM | #16 | |
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02-10-2022, 12:18 AM | #17 | ||
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Did you have to use the B100XHP crossovers for the tweeter/mid? I am thinking of doing Eton front mids/tweeters/center channel to start and adding the underseat woofers and rear fill down the line.
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02-10-2022, 02:00 AM | #18 |
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I did not use the B100XHP crossovers. The speaker kits include passive crossovers for the tweeters. It's a bit confusing on their website but everything works and sounds wonderful right out of the box. I do recommend using the Dynamat. I initially installed the front door speakers without it then went back and installed it before getting the rear door speaker set and it did make quite a difference.
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02-10-2022, 09:25 AM | #19 | |
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I hear ya man. I kinda have my suspicions that these plug-n-play systems being sold for 5K might be suspect. Im sure they sound better quality than stock but 5Grand better??!!! I have my suspicions. Hopefully i find someone locally that might have this system. I know they have return policy but i might be too lazy to go thru the whole install and return if iu dnt like fiasco. uninstall system, repackage and ship, reinstall stock, but we'll see. Can you describe your system and what you finally ended up with and how you got to where you finally like your M4 and turned it into a "music car"?? For instance what speakers and AMPs and\or subwoofers combination?? Thanks Appreciate it. |
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02-10-2022, 12:11 PM | #20 |
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put a W7 in the trunk and call it a day, upgraded underseat subs will never move a substantial enough amount of air to hit hard.
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02-10-2022, 01:14 PM | #21 | ||
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Yeah, sure - follow this recommendation if your only care is how people outside your car perceive it. This is the worst reco in the thread, IMO. This will do NOTHING to help your quality of sound or peak volume, and only serve to unbalance the rest of your audio response. And rattles galore if you just toss a W7 in your trunk..
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02-10-2022, 01:26 PM | #22 |
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I followed this path
1. replaced underseat woofers with the Ghost Bavsound - definite improvement, but not to the level of a 10" sub in the trunk 2. replaced all speakers with the Bavsound kit - another good improvement - distortion is down to a level where I can put the system at full volume.... it is fairly loud 3. not performed yet, but the Bavsound amp will be my last step - this will help improve the volume and lower the distortion even more - I have a convertible so sound is lost pretty quickly with the top down I have swapped out the underseat woofers on 3 cars so far - 2016 228 - 2015 M4 and now the 2019 M4 - obviously I think it is worth it I replaced the amp in my 228 with a Bavsound and it was a great upgrade - able to download custom tunes based on your listening style - change them via a laptop and usb cable - after the first week and about 4 different tunes tested, I never touched it again
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