[cvsnowboarder]

I have a 2009 335i e93 convertible which has the Hifi stereo. I have a Jl audio xd600/6v2 ( installed with Technic harness) powering Helix Match MS4C-BMW components up front , the rear stock components and a pair of Jehnert xe200 8" midbass under the seats. I also have a Jl audio xd600/1v2 pushing a 10" kicker comp sub. Today I put a AirEnabler (TP Link AirPlay) in my console via aux cord. I also replaced the D/A converter it came with with a Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC . It works flawlessly. Really nice sound, sounds waaaaay better than Bluetooth . With all this audio equipment installed I'm still not completely satisfied with the sound. It's making me wonder whether or not upgrading my Helix Match up front to Focals or Morels and putting the Helix's in the rear will give me a night and day difference in the sound. Are Focals and Morels that much better than Helix Match? Or will I be wasting my money?

Thanks, Genna

[ctuna]

Morels over Focals they play lower
and they have a more even warmer less harsh sound.

I have heard Gladens are pretty good to.

You could always try adding a processor to tweek the sound.

some processors have and aux inputs which are better than the BMW one.

I think you mean Jehnert xe-200's

USB is better than an aux.

[kaigoss69]

Best improvement from here on is addition of a DSP and a professional tune.

[cdgatti]

I agree with the above. dsp is next. you need to improve Soundstage and eq those less than perfect speakers.

being able to time align your bass to your underseats and your underseats to your mids at the crossover frequencies will give more oomph to the relatively weak xd600.

[taibanl]

I am about to swap my dac for a jdslabs odac. No gimmics and $170 for a dac that compares to $800 dacs. Im really anxious to hear the difference

[Nelson@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

Best improvement from here on is addition of a DSP and a professional tune.

+1

[cvsnowboarder]

What particular DSP should I look into getting? Thanks everyone for all your input.
Genna

[ctuna]

Seems like Helix is the no 1 choice now,
at least on this board. They have some standalone processors.
If you have an unlimited budget you might want to back out
of the Jl and get one of there amp/processor setups and or
go active with it.

[cvsnowboarder]

I'd like to keep my Jl Audio xd600/6v2. What do you think about me adding an Audison BitTen DSP?

[ctuna]

Don't know it seems like old technology almost never
comes up on here anymore.
Helix has a six channel standalone processor.
Also Audison bit 10 appears to have only 5 channels out you want at least 6

Here is a review or sales speal.
Also read ytube feedback underneath video full screen.

Less auto features and more control on the Helix.

[cdgatti]

I am running the helix dsp along with my jl amps. works great. if you already have the amps no need to spend more on the dsp/amp combos. but if I were to do it over I would have started with one of the dsp/amp combos.

[ctuna]

cdgatti can you describe the improvement with dsp.
And what did you start with.
Was it icing on the cake or a whole new layer with ice cream.
I see you have some kind or Morels for the doors but what about
the floors.

[Nelson@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by cvsnowboarder

I'd like to keep my Jl Audio xd600/6v2. What do you think about me adding an Audison BitTen DSP?

Get a Hellix DSP and don't look back!!!

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by ctuna

cdgatti can you describe the improvement with dsp.
And what did you start with.
Was it icing on the cake or a whole new layer with ice cream.
I see you have some kind or Morels for the doors but what about
the floors.

My 2 amps are both jl audio. The xd400 is powering bsw rears and the other 2 channels bridged powering a center channel where I have an xtant (made by morel). The other amp is the hd600/4 powering the doors and underseats. In the doors I have morel hybrid ovations and mt23 tweeters. The underseat woofers are kicker ssmb8. All these are fed from the Helix DSP.

The helix made 2 very large significant improvements over when I was running these amps alone. In CTUNA parlance, it was a whole new layer with ice cream! The sound is now all over, you can't tell where the speakers are and I have the Soundstage everyone talks about. The bass is coming from the front dash area like there is a drum set in there. The singer's voices are centered on my dash where they are supposed to be or set to one side or the other depending in the song. My mids and underseats play as one speaker since I have them time aligned at the crossover freq. The other huge advantage of a dsp is the equalizer. You know that nice waterfall curve you see when people talk about good systems, well you don't have it if you are just running amps. I had huge spikes in the 300 to 500 hz area and some really annoying spikes at around 2 and 4 k that made high volume not a pleasant experience. With the eq I can now turn up the volume and the sound stays very pleasant. The other nice advantage was being able to easily adjust output level of each speaker so they all match at my listening position although I do have the rears attenuated in volume and also time aligned way out so they don't have too much presence and eq so they don't try to duplicate too high or too low frequency, they provide almost an ambiance effect.

As you can probably tell I would highly recommend a dsp, and in my next car especially if it is a bmw, I'd go with the dsp/amp combo unit. Having good dsp control cuts down on the power you need.

[ctuna]

Thanks for the review one question
how did you mix a center channel I didn't know the Helix
could do that. With a 6 channel Helix wouldn't you be one
short if the rear channels get processed.

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Thanks for the review one question
how did you mix a center channel I didn't know the Helix
could do that. With a 6 channel Helix wouldn't you be one
short if the rear channels get processed.

My center with the helix is merely R + L. The helix has 8 channels of output; 2 doors + 2 underseats + 2 rears + 1 center is 7 channels so I could still feed a sub but don't use one.

Many say that the stage is better without the center, and this may be the case for the driver with the R and L speakers time aligned for him. BUt then the passenger has to suffer from sound emanating from their right knee. The reason I use the center is to make it sound a little better for the passenger. By pushing out the right speaker in time I can align it to the center for the passenger so the sound is coming from on top of the dash in front of the passenger seat. Not nearly as good as it is for the driver, but who's paying the bills ?

[e90bmw328i]

Originally Posted by cvsnowboarder

I'd like to keep my Jl Audio xd600/6v2. What do you think about me adding an Audison BitTen DSP?

I had an XD600/6v2 in my car with Hifi. Its way too powerful for the doors and rear speakers. Even after playing with cutoff frequency, I could not get the amp to play higher frequencies. It defenitely had lot of thump though. I ended up switching over to PP82DSP and sold my XD600/6V2. Even if you add a DSP with ur xd600, you may still want to consider changing the front doors esp to good components that can handle the power.

[ctuna]

My xd works good for the morel/ jehnert combo.
However I have to dial out ( o gain and -4 or 5 on the
fader). the stock rear hi fi speakers
and I agree its really to much for the stock speakers.
It would really be better if you could fit a 5.25 or 6.5 in the
door without having to cut or go through gyrations that make
it non OEM.

[cvsnowboarder]

Thanks everyone for the valuable advice. I believe I will upgrade the front door speakers to Morel Ovations and add a Helix DSP.

[mathematics]

Jehnert over morel every day of the week