I'm in heaven..

MarcoZandrini · 12-11-2022, 03:00 PM

....I've finished upgrading the audio system in my car. The car came equipped with the Harmon-Kardon audio system. Pretty mediocre, to say the least. My first upgrade was to replace the front 2-way component speakers with Eton 2-way components. These were a major upgrade to the HK speakers. I then replaced the factory H/K amp with the Audiotec-Fischer (AF) MATCH 7UP-BMW amp (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...ifiers/up-7bmw). It's a direct plug and play with the car's amp wiring harness. Well, a almost. It seems that there was an "extra" internal "rib" in the AF amp connector. I sharpened a cheap blade screwdriver and chiseled it off. This amp is completely tunable using AF free software (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/tools/dsp-pc-tool-4/). The software is a bit daunting but there are tutorials on the AF website (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/k...e/DSP-PC-Tool/). I then replaced the rear speakers with JLs. Another improvement! But no quite "there"! As I've noted in other threads the digital to audio converters (DACs) in the factory head unit are not very good. The result is rather "muddy" audio. So, I then added the AF USB module (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...-usb-interface), after trying the AF BT module which didn't play with my iPhone

! I ran a USB cable (15') from the console to the amp using existing wire routing to the trunk. This USB module has high end DACs. Using a FiiO M3 Pro digital streamer really improved the audio clarity. I then swapped out the Eton front speakers with Focal Inside IC component speakers. Another improvement. But, the FiiO device was a bit finicky, and its battery capacity wasn't satisfactory. So, I replaced it with a HiBy R3 Pro Saber (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCJ48F7K...roduct_details). The sound difference between the FiiO and the HiBy devices is unbelievable!! The clarity and depth of the music is much better than when using the FiiO device! My last step was to replace the JL rear 2-ways with Focal 2-way speakers.

Heaven!

jv92red · 12-11-2022, 07:44 PM

Nice! Which FiiO DAP were you using? I've been looking to get a DAP and had my eye on that Hyby player as well.

MarcoZandrini · 12-12-2022, 08:26 AM

It was the FiiO M3 Pro. A nice feature of the HiBy is the Mage Sound 8-Ball tuning. It's quite different than an equalizer. This explains it: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...by-mseb.10385/.

Pr0ximity · 12-17-2022, 05:56 PM

That sounds like a pretty sweet setup - thanks for including all the links!

12-11-2022, 03:00 PM	#1
MarcoZandrini Major 444 Rep 1,264 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I'm in heaven.. ....I've finished upgrading the audio system in my car. The car came equipped with the Harmon-Kardon audio system. Pretty mediocre, to say the least. My first upgrade was to replace the front 2-way component speakers with Eton 2-way components. These were a major upgrade to the HK speakers. I then replaced the factory H/K amp with the Audiotec-Fischer (AF) MATCH 7UP-BMW amp (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...ifiers/up-7bmw). It's a direct plug and play with the car's amp wiring harness. Well, a almost. It seems that there was an "extra" internal "rib" in the AF amp connector. I sharpened a cheap blade screwdriver and chiseled it off. This amp is completely tunable using AF free software (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/tools/dsp-pc-tool-4/). The software is a bit daunting but there are tutorials on the AF website (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/k...e/DSP-PC-Tool/). I then replaced the rear speakers with JLs. Another improvement! But no quite "there"! As I've noted in other threads the digital to audio converters (DACs) in the factory head unit are not very good. The result is rather "muddy" audio. So, I then added the AF USB module (https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...-usb-interface), after trying the AF BT module which didn't play with my iPhone ! I ran a USB cable (15') from the console to the amp using existing wire routing to the trunk. This USB module has high end DACs. Using a FiiO M3 Pro digital streamer really improved the audio clarity. I then swapped out the Eton front speakers with Focal Inside IC component speakers. Another improvement. But, the FiiO device was a bit finicky, and its battery capacity wasn't satisfactory. So, I replaced it with a HiBy R3 Pro Saber (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCJ48F7K...roduct_details). The sound difference between the FiiO and the HiBy devices is unbelievable!! The clarity and depth of the music is much better than when using the FiiO device! My last step was to replace the JL rear 2-ways with Focal 2-way speakers. Heaven! Last edited by MarcoZandrini; 12-12-2022 at 11:08 AM..
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12-11-2022, 07:44 PM	#2
jv92red Second Lieutenant 143 Rep 213 Posts Drives: F22 M240i (SOLD) E92M3 (SOLD) Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Nice! Which FiiO DAP were you using? I've been looking to get a DAP and had my eye on that Hyby player as well.
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12-12-2022, 08:26 AM	#3
MarcoZandrini Major 444 Rep 1,264 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	It was the FiiO M3 Pro. A nice feature of the HiBy is the Mage Sound 8-Ball tuning. It's quite different than an equalizer. This explains it: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/f...by-mseb.10385/.
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12-17-2022, 05:56 PM	#4
Pr0ximity Registered 2 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW M235i XDrive Join Date: May 2022 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	That sounds like a pretty sweet setup - thanks for including all the links!
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