Car Audio Upgrade MKII

[pundit]

For those of you prepared to invest some time (and not too much money) I have been experimenting with 'E34 Audio Upgrade MkII' (for want of a better title).

The main requirements were to further improve the sound without spending a fortune while maintaining a 'stealth' installation using the stock speaker locations ('cept for a sub).
Here are some pics to whet your appetites... no detailed descriptions yet... just pics!! ;)

Factory tweeter on left / Peerless dome center / Vifa dome right (modifed with flange removed)

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/tweeters.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/tweeters_rear.jpg

[pundit]

Yes it is a new 2.5" midrange!
The stock factory Nokia (on the left) has very little compliance due to the rather stiff suspension.
The new speaker on the right has a far more compliant rubber surround... yes and they do fit in the stock dash locations... with a bit of work on the speakers themselves. ;)

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/midrange.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/midrange_rear.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/midrange_side.jpg

[pundit]

New speakers require a new custom built crossover...

NOTE: This is only a 2-way (mid-high) passive crossover as the bass-mids (in kickpanels) are now actively crossed.

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_1.jpg

Recognise the case?...

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_2.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_3.jpg

To be continued.... ;)

[BigKriss]

It looks good Rowan. We need to have a sound-off! Are you building the cross-overs yourself, they look like they are from a Jaycar kit.

[pundit]

It looks good Rowan. We need to have a sound-off! Are you building the cross-overs yourself, they look like they are from a Jaycar kit.
Worked out the crossover component values to suit the speakers and got all the bits from Jaycar including the PCB's.
So far another step up from the stock speakers and crossover... a lot more 'Hi-Fi' in sound quality. About to replace the factory mid-basses and fit a sub.
I'd been experimenting with alternate tweeters for some time but hadn't been able to locate a viable replacement for the factory 2.5" midrange until recently.
It was finding the midrange that prompted the new crossover to suit both it, and the Vifa tweeter.

This website is handy for calculating crossover values...

http://www.apicsllc.com/apics/Misc/filter2.html

Will post a link to a detailed description of the whole thing once it's finished.