E61 UK Standard Audio Amp/Speaker Question
10-17-2005, 07:31 AM
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My Ride: 2004 525d E61, Silver Grey, 17 Inch 116's on Non-Run Flats, Black/Amethyst Leather, Dark Poplar Wood Trim, Bi-Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Bluetooth Phone Prep.
First of all my apologies if this has been asked before. I've searched through other threads without finding a definitive answer.
I'm enjoying my first week as an E61 owner and love the car, however the UK spec standard radio amp leaves a little to be desired. It's a little better than the one on my E46 but not much. As far as I can tell I've found 6 speakers, 1 under each front seat, 1 in each front door and 2 in the roof lining above the load area. I believe the tweeter grills in the front doors hide an empty space.
Does anyone know if the cabling for the HiFi (US Standard) is already there and can it be utilised for additional speakers. Is it possible to add a sub somewhere in the car or possibly add another amp. It doesn't have to be anything out of the ordinary just better than what's there.
I'm enjoying my first week as an E61 owner and love the car, however the UK spec standard radio amp leaves a little to be desired. It's a little better than the one on my E46 but not much. As far as I can tell I've found 6 speakers, 1 under each front seat, 1 in each front door and 2 in the roof lining above the load area. I believe the tweeter grills in the front doors hide an empty space.
Does anyone know if the cabling for the HiFi (US Standard) is already there and can it be utilised for additional speakers. Is it possible to add a sub somewhere in the car or possibly add another amp. It doesn't have to be anything out of the ordinary just better than what's there.
12-18-2005, 10:11 PM
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My Ride: Booked: E70n X5 40d M. Carbonblack, oyster, comfortseats, Nav Pro, Active Drive, Panoramic, Hifi PRO DSP, HUD, Alutrim, Satin ext, gloss rails, towconnector, elctric lid, alarm and more.
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If there are cables back the grills, I'm quite shure that you need som amps as well as the missing speakers. It shuld be 4 more in your car becouse the HiFi have 10 speakers as total. It will most probabvly be quite expensive to fit becouse the amps have to be special from BMW to fit in the car's special bus.
07-06-2006, 08:16 AM
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My Ride: E61 520d SE, Black Dakota, Bluetooth
Originally Posted by Robert J' post='213070' date='Dec 19 2005, 08:11 AM
If there are cables back the grills, I'm quite shure that you need som amps as well as the missing speakers. It shuld be 4 more in your car becouse the HiFi have 10 speakers as total. It will most probabvly be quite expensive to fit becouse the amps have to be special from BMW to fit in the car's special bus.
However, I'd be interested to know what parts are needed to upgrade the standard audio to the HiFi 10 speaker system as I'm loathed to lose the space under the boot floor if the same effect can be achieved by adding the additonal four speakers and amplifier.
07-07-2006, 04:37 AM
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My Ride: e39 525i Touring, will order e61 as soon as I can decide on engine and options...
I think you should drop the idea of upgrading to HIFI-system since this system is built up using a different topology (all speakers are active, powered by discreet amps etc).
Instead, buy an active sub (300 EUR) and keep it in the trunk. Easy to disconnect if you have to use the complete load area. Also, replace the front speakers with better elements (anothe 300?). These two quite simple things should improve sound qualite dramatically.
/M
Instead, buy an active sub (300 EUR) and keep it in the trunk. Easy to disconnect if you have to use the complete load area. Also, replace the front speakers with better elements (anothe 300?). These two quite simple things should improve sound qualite dramatically.
/M
Originally Posted by sguilliard' post='307530' date='Jul 6 2006, 06:16 PM
I'm sure there must be aftermarket solutions out there that can be installed. I spoke to a HiFi specialist (www.prestigeudio.co.uk) who told me that the best upgrade would be to install a subwoofer under the boot floor (around ?500-?700 depending on what you want). This involved adding an additional amplifier.
However, I'd be interested to know what parts are needed to upgrade the standard audio to the HiFi 10 speaker system as I'm loathed to lose the space under the boot floor if the same effect can be achieved by adding the additonal four speakers and amplifier.
However, I'd be interested to know what parts are needed to upgrade the standard audio to the HiFi 10 speaker system as I'm loathed to lose the space under the boot floor if the same effect can be achieved by adding the additonal four speakers and amplifier.
07-07-2006, 05:10 AM
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My Ride: E61 520d SE, Black Dakota, Bluetooth
Originally Posted by tegel' post='307906' date='Jul 7 2006, 01:37 PM
I think you should drop the idea of upgrading to HIFI-system since this system is built up using a different topology (all speakers are active, powered by discreet amps etc).
Instead, buy an active sub (300 EUR) and keep it in the trunk. Easy to disconnect if you have to use the complete load area. Also, replace the front speakers with better elements (anothe 300?). These two quite simple things should improve sound qualite dramatically.
/M
Instead, buy an active sub (300 EUR) and keep it in the trunk. Easy to disconnect if you have to use the complete load area. Also, replace the front speakers with better elements (anothe 300?). These two quite simple things should improve sound qualite dramatically.
/M
07-07-2006, 11:04 AM
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My Ride: e39 525i Touring, will order e61 as soon as I can decide on engine and options...
HIFI have 4 more speakers than standard. My guess is that they are placed in the 4 doors and act as tweeters.
/M
/M
Originally Posted by sguilliard' post='307913' date='Jul 7 2006, 03:10 PM
I agree; this is what the guy at Prestige Audio suggested. However, I'm interested to know where the speakers are located with the 10-speaker system. I think that the front doors could accommodate some more speakers in the bottom of the door and I'm told that there are two speakers under the front seats?
07-25-2006, 06:33 AM
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My Ride: 2004 525d E61, Silver Grey, 17 Inch 116's on Non-Run Flats, Black/Amethyst Leather, Dark Poplar Wood Trim, Bi-Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Bluetooth Phone Prep.
Originally Posted by tegel' post='307990' date='Jul 7 2006, 08:04 PM
HIFI have 4 more speakers than standard. My guess is that they are placed in the 4 doors and act as tweeters.
/M
/M
I'd probably be happy with changing the subs and the front door speakers. I may consider adding a 'speaker level in' amp but unsure.
A bit off topic but does anyone know if it's possible to retro fit either NAV Bus or NAV Pro to a standard Business Radio non NAV car?
07-28-2006, 10:45 AM
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I had an Infinity basslink in my E46 tourer that had the professional sound system. The basic sound was crap in the E46 and it's just as bad in the E61. Thinking of putting the Basslink in the E61 but need to locate the amplifier. I picked the car up today so will give it a few days before I pull the car apart !!!
If anyone has any idea where I can find the amp and the colour coding for the speaker outputs it would be great.
If anyone has any idea where I can find the amp and the colour coding for the speaker outputs it would be great.
07-28-2006, 02:21 PM
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There's a company in Germany called i-Sotec that manufactures a 4-channel amp together with the requisite MOST bus adaptor for the E60/61 w/standard 6-spk system. Maybe u can ask them for advice.
I'm looking for solutions for the 10-spk hi-fi system as well. Basically I just want sth that's easy to fit & sounds good, unfortunately, i-Sotec does not make anything for the 10-spk system.
I'm looking for solutions for the 10-spk hi-fi system as well. Basically I just want sth that's easy to fit & sounds good, unfortunately, i-Sotec does not make anything for the 10-spk system.