DIY: Speaker and Subwoofer upgrade. Harman Kardon based System

[whatheheck]

Very nice setup you have there Dave.

Thanks for sharing.

Dan

[buddster]

Technic - can you recommend a particular LOC that will work for this?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by buddster

Technic - can you recommend a particular LOC that will work for this?

Audiocontrol LC2i is the only one that I recommend and sell for the F-chassis HK system.

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by Technic

Audiocontrol LC2i is the only one that I recommend and sell for the F-chassis HK system.

LC2i is what I used and it works great

[kitw]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Do any of the replacement woofers allow for you to remount the speaker grills or do you have to mount them without?

The Jehnerts allowed the stock grills to be put on, but require a thicker (or doubling them up) adapter ring than the XE200 ships with. Don at Unexpected creations includes thicker adapter rings so you don't have to trim the stiffening ribs on the bottom. (and they simply drop in with longer screws)

[Technic]

Originally Posted by kitw

The Jehnerts allowed the stock grills to be put on, but require a thicker (or doubling them up) adapter ring than the XE200 ships with. Don at Unexpected creations includes thicker adapter rings so you don't have to trim the stiffening ribs on the bottom. (and they simply drop in with longer screws)

The F3x/8x OEM woofer enclosure use a smaller than the F10 and E9x current and past BMW OEM woofer enclosures diameter woofer opening. Therefore all aftermarket woofers that used-to-be PnP with those OEM woofer enclosures do not fit anymore as their mounting diameter is slightly bigger than the new enclosure opening.

Either a double spacer is required or trimming the OEM enclosure opening to a bigger opening (there is a groove guide bordering the underside of the opening that if followed in cutting will make the enclosure diameter bigger while still accommodate the OEM woofers sealing):

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

Well aware that those are mid bass. I have a trunk sub installed already. Of course, if I was really smart, I would have just looked at my own thread, where I specifically stated the Jehnert XE-200's were something I was considering. Sometimes, I'm too smart for my own good....

, better than being too dumb for your own good.

[whatheheck]

Drove my car for ~3 hours on Friday with the stereo on all the time at about 75% volume and no issues. My Sony subwoofer amp keeps on pushing those subwoofers hard.

Went for a long drive on Saturday with my wife, drove for over 6 hours with the stereo on all the time with various volume settings and the Sony amp just keeps on working. Barely even getting warm.

Drove for another 3 hours today with the stereo on the entire time with different volume levels and no issues with the Sony subwoofer amp.

I guess my luck continues.

Dan

[TMR]

Originally Posted by Technic

Your Sony aftermarket amp accepts up to 16V of high level inputs. Your HK OEM amp outputs 30V+ peaks, and about 21V on average.

Your Sony amp will be damaged.

No aftermarket amp high level inputs currently in the market can handle the HK OEM amp woofer outputs in the short or long run.

He is absolutely right!!!

[whatheheck]

Over 4 weeks now and my SWS subwoofers and Sony subwoofer amp set up just keeps on pumping hard bass. I actually had to turn the volume down lately as my ears starts to ring. Not a good thing.

It appears some folks here are experts on Sony amps on how high of speaker level voltage input the Sony amp can actually handle and concerned that I will be damaging my amp soon so I started doing my research, making some calls and visits from the local stereo shop and local audio experts and asked for their opinion.

My research says AudioControl makes excellent Line output converter and luckily their home base is only about 11 miles from my home so I stopped by after work yesterday. Very nice people.

I asked them to kindly listen to my set up. They told me my upgraded system sounds great and workmanship is excellent.

I asked them about other people’s concern about damaging my Sony amp as I understand the stock BMW HK amp output is almost twice as much voltage than what Sony specifies on their spec sheet. He said most amp’s specs are actually on the conservative side. Some amps out there can actually handle higher voltage line level inputs, and we really dont play our stereo system at 100% loud volume all the time so probably the reason why my amp still keeps on working.

They do however recommend I install one of their LCI2 to address the concern, make my Sony amp last longer and for even an improved bass sound. So I bought one.

Done.
Audio Control LCI2 installed. Gain setting set to optimum. Photos below.
http://www.audiocontrol.com/

Audio Control LCI2 is indeed an excellent line output converter as it made my subwoofer punch even harder and tighter.

I also bought their ACR-1 audio control remote. This is so I can adjust the subwoofers in real time and instantaneously as different sources like USB (I have iPod connected) / SiriusXM / FM-Radio / 3.5mm AUX audio input jack, Bluetooth / Pandora, etc have different sound level outputs so the wired remote control is a good thing to have.

Summary:
100% happy. What a difference compared to stock subs.

I thought my subwoofers already hits hard and tight. Its even tighter bass now especially the kick drum sound with the AudioControl LOC. Highly recommended. And its US Made built here in the pacific northwest.

The key again for best, clean & tight sound possible is proper wiring installation, optimum settings of the (components) Level matching / gain settings of LCi2 and Subwoofer Amp you are using.

Hope this helps some of you.

Dan

[kitw]

FYI - this wasn't completely clear to me so posting here so others know: the SWS-8xi and adapter rings from SWS fit fine in the f82. I didn't have to double them up.

Of course now, the side skirts buzz from the bass but you can't hear it inside the car

[whatheheck]

Im not sure I understand which part of my post is not clear. Can you kindly explain?

Also, just for clarification:
SWS-8x = 4 ohms voice coil.
SWS-8Xi = 2 ohms voice coil.

So if someone decides to use the SWS-8Xi model make sure your subwoofer amplifier can handle loads down to 2 ohms.

Originally Posted by kitw

FYI - this wasn't completely clear to me so posting here so others know: the SWS-8xi and adapter rings from SWS fit fine in the f82. I didn't have to double them up.

Of course now, the side skirts buzz from the bass but you can't hear it inside the car

[kitw]

Originally Posted by whatheheck

Im not sure I understand which part of my post is not clear. Can you kindly explain?

Also, just for clarification:
SWS-8x = 4 ohms voice coil.
SWS-8Xi = 2 ohms voice coil.

So if someone decides to use the SWS-8Xi model make sure your subwoofer amplifier can handle loads down to 2 ohms.

Sorry for being unclear when trying to clarify - your post was clear, but Technic's post made me think I would need to cut the housing or add different spacer rings.

[whatheheck]

Thanks for explaining. I was just wanted to know how I can make my posts clearer next time by hearing other people's inputs.

Thanks.

Dan

Originally Posted by kitw

Sorry for being unclear when trying to clarify - your post was clear, but Technic's post made me think I would need to cut the housing or add different spacer rings.

[whatheheck]

Perfect addition for controlling bass level of LC2i.

If you purchased the LC2i this is a must have to control and fine tune the subwoofer level as different sound sources have different bass levels. A must have.

Only $26.00 at Amazon.
Very well made and worth every penny.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Control-.../dp/B00IQ7OTOC

I waited a couple of weeks trying to decide where to permanently mount my bass level remote. I wanted it out of the way of getting in and out of the car.

Finally decided . The idea is the usual. Visible, within reach and professional installation. Photos below.

Hope this helps some of you.

Dan

[kitw]

^ that's an awesome panic button.

[Mandi90TT]

Missed that, hehe. What does/did it do?

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

Missed that, hehe. What does/did it do?

It engages the solid rocket boosters. For racing tricked out GTR's and 991 Turbo S's.

[whatheheck]

Thanks!

Dan

Originally Posted by kitw

^ that's an awesome panic button.

[whatheheck]

Hi Dave,

It's a conversational piece.

When passengers get into to my car I tell them that in the event they get motion sickness due to my spirited driving they can push that button, a barf bag will come out and they can use the bag should they feel the need to vomit so that they wont make a mess inside my car

Dan

Originally Posted by Dave 90TT

Missed that, hehe. What does/did it do?

[whatheheck]

I like it!

Dan

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

It engages the solid rocket boosters. For racing tricked out GTR's and 991 Turbo S's.

[dkuznetsov92]

What will happen if I drop this subwoofer in with stock amp?