[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by Beartato

So I did the rear deck speakers with the JL Audio C2-400xs. The rear seems brighter but that's about it. Maybe once they're broken in it'll sound better, though they already sound better than the stock ones. I can confirm that indeed the driver's side wiring is mixed up for those eBay adapters.

I noticed a significant improvement at the lower end with the JL speakers, as a number of other members have. I wonder what your tone settings are ...

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by selmeralto

I noticed a significant improvement at the lower end with the JL speakers, as a number of other members have. I wonder what your tone settings are ...

I messed around and got these settings.



So I may have been short-changing the difference, when I went to take this picture I swapped out Alice in Chain's Facelift to Trailer Trash Tracys' Ester and it sounded much better, like significantly better than before. The rear really lights up now and with the balance to the rear it really helps with the harshness of the front tweeters. I am happy now.

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by Beartato

I messed around and got these settings.



So I may have been short-changing the difference, when I went to take this picture I swapped out Alice in Chain's Facelift to Trailer Trash Tracys' Ester and it sounded much better, like significantly better than before. The rear really lights up now and with the balance to the rear it really helps with the harshness of the front tweeters. I am happy now.

Great.

Glad you got that sorted out.

My own settings are a little leaner from the bass standpoint but we are now at the fine-tuning point, where listeners' preference weigh heavily. Glad that you find the change worthwhile.

[kdog26372]

Agreed, the biggest difference I noticed with the rear JL's was the added base and significantly improved soundstage when balanced 3-4 notches to the back. Also, disconnecting the center was a vast improvement in soundstage while reducing harshness further. Everyone should do that free 5 minute mod, if you don't like the results it's 5 minutes back to stock setup.

[Beartato]

It still boggles me why that center speaker exists.

Originally Posted by selmeralto

Great.

Glad you got that sorted out.

My own settings are a little leaner from the bass standpoint but we are now at the fine-tuning point, where listeners' preference weigh heavily. Glad that you find the change worthwhile.

It's much better than the Bavsound Ghost Subs I installed. I wish I'd read your updates to this thread before buying them. I will admit they make a subtle difference but not for that price. These $80 speakers make a more meaningful difference.

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by Beartato

It still boggles me why that center speaker exists.


It's much better than the Bavsound Ghost Subs I installed. I wish I'd read your updates to this thread before buying them. I will admit they make a subtle difference but not for that price. These $80 speakers make a more meaningful difference.

I've seen several posts from people who had doubts that the change to Bavsound Ghosts would be worth the cost but it's very important to hear from folks who've actually installed them. So thanks for that.

(I should say I'm speaking only of using the Ghosts with the existing electronics. Perhaps they make more of a difference with 3rd party amplification.)

For people following this thread: There are many updates and comments in the posts. But I should mention that I have updated my initial post many times, so people checking up on the most recent posts might also want to look at the first post because edits to existing posts don't get recorded as "new" to thread subscribers.

[JohnnyCanuck]

About to pick up the JL Audio's for the rear, but will not be using the eBay pigtail connections. It's $30 to ship to Canada and we may well be having a Canada Post labour disruption (Canada Post has served lockout notice to its employees) so I might never get them.

Is it a proprietary connector or something I can pick up somewhere? Was thinking of making my own pigtails ... otherwise it's tap or cut.

[kdog26372]

I find this post thread to be the most useful when updating the HK unit in the 2 series. It's actual hands on experience vs. opinions. So many times people said replacing the rears was pointless and won't do much and will make the active exhaust sound intolerable.

I've found the change dramatic and I've left the active sound plugged in and don't experience any noticeable annoyances from that system. Just more base, more music from the rear and much better soundstage. For under $100 matched with unplugging the center speaker I don't think there is a better and more impactful mod for our cars.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

About to pick up the JL Audio's for the rear, but will not be using the eBay pigtail connections. It's $30 to ship to Canada and we may well be having a Canada Post labour disruption (Canada Post has served lockout notice to its employees) so I might never get them.

Is it a proprietary connector or something I can pick up somewhere? Was thinking of making my own pigtails ... otherwise it's tap or cut.

If I had to do it again I wouldn't waste the money on the pigtails. You could bypass them by cutting the factory connector and putting the speaker leads right on the wires.

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by Beartato

If I had to do it again I wouldn't waste the money on the pigtails. You could bypass them by cutting the factory connector and putting the speaker leads right on the wires.

Yes and my recollection is that the JLs come with lugs for the speaker terminals so all you have to do is crimp the lugs onto the wires and then slide the lugs onto the speakers. The lugs are of two different sizes, one for + the other for -, to match the corresponding + and - terminals on the speakers.

You want to be sure not only that the speakers are consistent with each other but that your JL system polarity is consistent with the car's. Otherwise the JL system will be out of phase with the rest of the car.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Just did the JL's. Most noticeable change is the mid-bass is completely alive. As well, fading towards the rear improves the soundstage and helps with the harshness of the tweeters.

For me, I think I am going to leave as is for now and not do the doors. My changes so far are Technic's ASD bypass, centre speaker disconnect, and JL's in the rear. Each element was incremental improvement, but the overall impact is well worth the money (even if things cost more in Canada).

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

(even if things cost more in Canada).

Well, Canada has other compensating virtues.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Just on the Canadian cost thing. Technic charges $30 USD for international shipping, so the bypass harness is $95 USD or about $120 CDN. The JL's were a bit of an issue because I decided to do this piece on the eve of a postal shutdown in Canada (Canada Post has served lockout notice on its employees so mail service will likely shutdown at midnight on Sunday freezing everything in the system). So, I was limited to Canadian retailers and the best Canandian online price was about $150 but would have to add shipping. I got mine from Visions for $159. Could have done better with Amazon or eBay but not with the postal shutdown looming.

As for our other virtues ... I think I'll go enjoy a craft one of those about right now

[ggabriele3]

Interesting stuff.

I installed 4 Focal IC100 in my car, and while the sound is better than the stock paper-cone garbage, it could be 100 times better. I had to turn the treble way down to compensate for the stock amp's settings.

I am sure a new, adjustable amp would help things.

But almost $1000 for an amp that may cause me more headaches with firmware updates, just totally unreasonable. I haven't messed around with car audio much since I was in college, but this really is ridiculous. You can get a passable desktop speaker amp that will rattle your house for under $100. Put it in a BMW and now it's $1000? Come on.

[djarchow]

Originally Posted by ggabriele3

Interesting stuff.

I installed 4 Focal IC100 in my car, and while the sound is better than the stock paper-cone garbage, it could be 100 times better. I had to turn the treble way down to compensate for the stock amp's settings.

I am sure a new, adjustable amp would help things.

If you look at the frequency response of the IC100, the tweeter is already 5-12db louder than the mid on axis(depending on the frequency) before any EQ already in the stock amp. I am sure the treble was hot.

[Beartato]

So I cannot for the life of me find the part numbers for the door seal things, can anybody help me out?

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by Beartato

So I cannot for the life of me find the part numbers for the door seal things, can anybody help me out?

Hi Beartato,

If you write to Jason Reighard (jreighard@mileone.com) at getbmwparts.com, he can help you. He had the right parts, at a good price, and sent them out right away. He's helped a number of forum members. He's based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

I think the part numbers are

51487300493 $14.78

51487300694 $14.37

but you should double check with Jason.

[selmeralto]

Sorry, I think I might have made a typo. The second number might be

51487300693 $14.78.

Jason can straighten this out.

[selmeralto]

I think the part is called a Sealing Side Pan. The part number for each door is unique.

[Beartato]

Awesome, thank you.

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by ggabriele3

Interesting stuff.

I installed 4 Focal IC100 in my car, and while the sound is better than the stock paper-cone garbage, it could be 100 times better. I had to turn the treble way down to compensate for the stock amp's settings.

I am sure a new, adjustable amp would help things.

But almost $1000 for an amp that may cause me more headaches with firmware updates, just totally unreasonable. I haven't messed around with car audio much since I was in college, but this really is ridiculous. You can get a passable desktop speaker amp that will rattle your house for under $100. Put it in a BMW and now it's $1000? Come on.

Look into the JL 600/6

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by BentZero

Look into the JL 600/6

OK but note that the possibilities of ECU flash failure and dealer threats about the warranty may still exist for this amp. See http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...4#post20053574 .

It would be very helpful if we could hear from a JL 600/6 owner who had a dealer flash. Absent that, the risk remains. Some may find this an acceptable risk.