[vilord]

I have a USA HiFi audio system car.

One of the subs and one of the door mids have torn paper cones.

I used a technic harness and jl audio amp for a couple years but got tired of the annoying electrical whine coming through the speakers.

I can get a full logic 7 system, including amp, underseats, and all the speakers for about $300.

I'm told I can get a much better system than this.
Is that true?
I've looked at a number of posts here, but the dollars always add up to at *least* double the cost, if not reaching into the thousands and the improvement over the factory L7 system doesn't seem phenomenal.

So... Tell me what I'm missing? L7 sounded quite excellent in all the cars I've listened to it in, and while I don't have the ears of an audiophile, I do appreciate decent sound.

[bluewater328]

Your electrical whine is probably because of a poor ground connection somewhere. So that actually can be remedied.

Assuming the amp is good, focus your efforts on a set of used separates for the front. Used Focal, MB Quart, Morel, Jenert, Rainbow, even the BavSound (sorta) has speakers around that price range, esp used. I think I even saw a few for sale in the Private Sale section.

That said, if you just need some replacement stock speakers, there are a bunch of people that could sell you the set; including myself.

[vilord]

Well, I'm planning to junk the whole oem paper crap system.
I'm buying L7/HK replacements because to my mind they sound good and I can get them for 10 bucks per speaker, and 45 per sub. With 15 speakers, that's about 220, plus 80 for an old L7 amp.

As a note I sold the JL + Technics harness for 250 and went back to the HiFi amp, and while it sounds like poop, there is no whine, and they were grounded to the same place, so I expect that once I wire in the L7 amp it will also have no whine.

Basically I'm asking how much better the mb quart/focal/etc stuff really is, considering it is at least 75 per speaker and 200 per sub used on a good day... Which adds up to... $1400. Plus an amp. And a processor. And time to tune it. And hope it doesn't bring back the whine.

[vilord]

(I tried two other aftermarket amps I have and they both also had the whine, and were also overdriven because of not handling differential audio)

[vilord]

Or were you saying I could get a 15 speaker system plus amp and processor for 300 bucks used? If yes, yay! I'm all over it!

[ctuna]

The best technic could do for a low cost system years ago
was around 800 bucks . The average cost for some high quality
stuff is around 1500 if you can self install . That does not include
a New Head Unit its just amp or amp DSP and speakers . plus the
stuff you need to mount them and wire them in. That's if you self
install.

Technic's standard quick fix for the Hi Fi system was
a JL xd600/6 mine works well but I have Jehnerts and Morel
doors it is a MusicarNW system cost me about 1500 and my
time years ago. I think something like that runs 2k now.

If I was doing it now I would probably do a Helix 86dsp or BMW7
and the same speakers or a Jehnert slimline speaker set.

[j.f.leonard]

I have the Match BMW component speakers in the front doors and although they are not as popular as other brands, they sound extremely good with my JL JX400/4d amp. That kit is $250 I believe.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by vilord

I have a USA HiFi audio system car.

One of the subs and one of the door mids have torn paper cones.

I used a technic harness and jl audio amp for a couple years but got tired of the annoying electrical whine coming through the speakers.

I can get a full logic 7 system, including amp, underseats, and all the speakers for about $300.

I'm told I can get a much better system than this.
Is that true?
I've looked at a number of posts here, but the dollars always add up to at *least* double the cost, if not reaching into the thousands and the improvement over the factory L7 system doesn't seem phenomenal.

So... Tell me what I'm missing? L7 sounded quite excellent in all the cars I've listened to it in, and while I don't have the ears of an audiophile, I do appreciate decent sound.

I have the L7 system powered by a JBL MS-8 and a separate amp for the subs.

It's good but not great, if you are a purest.

The very best system that's sort of a hybrid OEM & after mkt system, IMO, is probably something like this :

1) the BMW Individual Audio Speakers (BMW IA) minus the underseat subs

2) a DSP processor
A) JBL MS-8
B) Alpine PXE-0850S
C) JL Audio VX800/8i
D) Rockford Fosgate 360.3

3) a 6 channel Amp
A) JL Audio XD 600/6 v2

3) a separate 5 channel amp used just to power the underseat subs & a trunk subwoofer. You'd probably end up bridging channels 1&2 / 3&4.
A) JL Audio XD 700/5 v2
B) Alpine PDX v9

4) Good or Great after mkt underneath front seat subs
A) Jenhert xe200
B) kicker SSMB 8
C) Bav Sound Ghost

5) a corner based trunk sub enclosure. There are a couple companies on eBay, who are out of Great Britain, that can get one in your hands for under $200.00 shipped.

6) 10" or 12" Subwoofer that's either 2 or 4 ohm.
A) JL Audio
B) JBL
C) Rockford Fosgate
D) Alpine

Be prepared to spend around $2000.00 plus dollars should you go this route.

I'd look at Technique's ultimate upgrade in the sticky's, if you want a clearer idea of what I'm talking about.

You can save $$$, if you can find a JBL MS-8 in good/great condition. They usually sell for $200/300 or buy one that's been refurbished for around $399.00.

The Kicker SSMB - 8's are very rare to come by.
Jenhert Xe 200's can be bought in the US, but there are only 2 vendors that sell them . Prices tend to be around $450.00 new & $350.00 used. The ghost's are highly rated on the M3 forum.

It's better to have channels you may not use vs not enough channels when considering amps. The JL Audio VX800/8i would eliminate the need for a separate 6 channel amp, at but at $1300.00.... ouch!!
You can save money by going with sub models like choosing the alpine PDR or MVR series vs going with the PDX. You will need to locate the ground on either the left or right wheel well and use it exclusively for all of your amps & processors. You will also need to get a fused power distributor & ground distributor. You will need quality speaker wire & quality ground & power wire most likely 4g & 2g.

As far as BMW IA speakers go, there's plenty of complete kits and semi complete kits on eBay. You will need a 1 7/8th inch hole saw for the rear door tweeter. You will need cross overs for the front door speakers and a special harness for the tweeters & speakers in the front doors (65137840987). You will need Technique's logic 7 harness. You will need lots of butt end type connectors and a ratcheting crimper.

You will need at least 20 Interior Trim Moulding Clips (07-14-9-158-194) & Door Panel Trim clips (51-41-1-973-500). You'll need a good trim removal tool (set).

That's all I can think of 🤔

[kaigoss69]

Can you do that without replacing the head unit? Does it require coding? Are the wiring harnesses PnP? Will you need to run a wire for the center speaker?

Those are some of the questions you should know the answers to before attempting this. If you can do everything for 300 I'd say go for it.

[ctuna]

MS-8 is now ancient tech.
Many company's are offering 8 channel dsp/amp combo's
with decent to great power per channel.
A lot of these company's offer speakers that are superior
to most BMW speakers.
It does come at a cost though.
The money cost and the cost of your time to actually tune
and understand them.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by vilord

I have a USA HiFi audio system car.

One of the subs and one of the door mids have torn paper cones.

I used a technic harness and jl audio amp for a couple years but got tired of the annoying electrical whine coming through the speakers.

I can get a full logic 7 system, including amp, underseats, and all the speakers for about $300.

I'm told I can get a much better system than this.
Is that true?
I've looked at a number of posts here, but the dollars always add up to at *least* double the cost, if not reaching into the thousands and the improvement over the factory L7 system doesn't seem phenomenal.

So... Tell me what I'm missing? L7 sounded quite excellent in all the cars I've listened to it in, and while I don't have the ears of an audiophile, I do appreciate decent sound.

I'd you want to stay away from after mkt amps and what not, for the most part, you could get the BMW IA speakers in a kit or just collect them as you go. Get the BMW IA amp. You will have to either figure out how to code it to your VO and write the vin number to it and then enable it through NCS experts OR pay someone to remote connect in and do it.

The BMW IA subs under the seat are louder than the Logic 7 subs but I haven't seen anyone say that they are ALOT better than the logic 7 subs.

So, I think you will need to get after mkt under the seat subs & maybe a trunk sub, if you really want it to sound fantastic.

The above is probably the cheapest route to an awesome sounding system.

BMW IA speakers - $600.00 includes cross overs, special wiring harness for the front doors etc. that's collecting them in pairs. If you don't have a logic 7 system now, you will have to look into running quality speaker wire & perhaps attaching OEM connectors to the wire via crimping.

Amp (used) - $500.00 - $700.00

Or

Helix -

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/speakers...ifier-for-bmw/

[lnxguy]

Originally Posted by ctuna

MS-8 is now ancient tech.
Many company's are offering 8 channel dsp/amp combo's
with decent to great power per channel.
A lot of these company's offer speakers that are superior
to most BMW speakers.
It does come at a cost though.
The money cost and the cost of your time to actually tune
and understand them.

I just did a MS8 upgrade, night and day difference for $300.

[ctuna]

Pretty sad that an ms-8 with only 35 watts a channel can sound
better than the stock Logic 7 amp.
But it was reported regularly that this was the case although some added
amps on strategic channels.

[vilord]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

Can you do that without replacing the head unit? Does it require coding? Are the wiring harnesses PnP? Will you need to run a wire for the center speaker?

Those are some of the questions you should know the answers to before attempting this. If you can do everything for 300 I'd say go for it.

The speaker harnesses are pnp. Front center speaker needs wiring, but there are 8 wires running from the hu to the trunk unused after switching to optical audio.

Coding yes, to tell the radio to talk to the amp over MOST

Amp has a completely different harness. Spliced one in cut from a scrapyard car.

It sounds great, with just ten of the 13 speakers. I'll wire up the center this coming weekend.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by vilord

The speaker harnesses are pnp. Front center speaker needs wiring, but there are 8 wires running from the hu to the trunk unused after switching to optical audio.

Coding yes, to tell the radio to talk to the amp over MOST

Amp has a completely different harness. Spliced one in cut from a scrapyard car.

It sounds great, with just ten of the 13 speakers. I'll wire up the center this coming weekend.

Are you taking about going to logic 7 or BMW Individual Audio?

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by vilord

I'll wire up the center this coming weekend.

Add a tweeter to the midrange, it will be a big plus.