E30 audio issues

[ejsjrnc]

Ok....summer is getting into full swing and I am looking to upgrade from the stock HU w/10CD changer in the trunk. I have an Aiwa HU model CDC-MP3. I had bought this unit a couple of years ago for use in my last car and it worked fine using only speakers with no amp or sub.

Seeing as how I am clueless about car audio.....my question is this: I have 2 sets of pre-outs on the back of the HU in addition to the wire-outs for the speakers. I believe that this means that I only have pre-outs for front and rear, NOT subwoofer. The Aiwa puts out 45Wx4 channels so I am not worried about using an amp for my speakers but I'd like to get either a 10" or a 12" sub to put in the trunk of my 325i to augment the <sarcasm>awesome</sarcasm> bass in the stock system.

Since I live in BFE, there are not too many good auto-audio shops nearby unless I drive for an hour. I'd like to do as much work myself to ease the pain in the wallet. How would I go about wiring a sub+amp to my HU? I am going to have to rewire the entire car from scratch anyway, because I have NO idea how the radio is wired now. I know that there is a fader and amp in there somewhere, but I have no idea where.

 

[jszar]

use front and/or rear rca's for the sub, it'll work fine.

i can help you with your own work. post any specific q's, or hit me up on aim : Jaiyrod

look on ebay, or online audio stores for equipment, you can get them for much cheaper. only buy brand new, and make sure its a STORE with a return policy/warrenty.

 

[ejsjrnc]

thanks for the advice. I have seen some Lightning Audio products in the big-box stores around here, but have not heard anything good or bad about them.

I may pick up a pair for my rears to see how they sound as they are not that expensive and I am sure that they will be an improvement over my existing speakers.

Would you happen to have a wiring diagram for the E30 with the premium audio package? I have been looking for a while and can't seem to find one.

thanks

 

[jszar]

what kind of diagram? behind the head unit? and the colors of the wires?

lightning audio is garbage for their products. wire is wire though. if buying, you dont have to buy the best, but the best would be determined by well shielded wires, and well twisted etc.

knukonceptz.com - best i have ever used. good prices. AWESOME customer service.

 

[ejsjrnc]

jszar....thanks so much for the replies...

Here is my current setup sans wiring as I don't know how it is wired. There are only 3 wires coming out of the radio and I am used to pos/neg for each speaker and various other power/antenna leads from radios that I have worked on in the past.

Per your advice, below is what I am thinking should work

I am a little unsure about wiring the tweeters and front speakers tho. I've wired speakers to radios before, but never tried to split the signal to a tweeter and midrange before.

I figured since this is the first really nice cars I've ever had, I'd like to do it right (concealing wires, mounting speakers and securing the sub box, etc).

What brands would you recommend I look for in subs, speakers and amp? I've been reading the posts on different message boards, and most of the brand names that I've been reading are a bit on the pricey side for my tastes.

 

[jszar]

What is your maximum budget, for everything? Personally, I wouldn't power those speakers off that Aiwa HU. Especially components. It'd be smart to have a crossover network, filtering frequencies that each speaker wont play.

My suggestions:
Get 1 bug amp, 5 or 6 channel. OR get 2 small amps, one 2 or 4 channel, and 1 mono for the sub.

For the sub, if you are on a fairly tight budget, look for a JL 12 w0.

Amps - the cheapest and best quality will come from the JBL Power series.

I am not sure where the amp is located in the car. I THINK its in the trunk somewhere though. Instead of rewiring everything, replace the stock amp with the amp you will power your speakers with, and use the existing wiring. OR 'cut and paste' the wires at the amp, ie the wires with the signal to the amp, and the ones that exit the amp....cut the amp out and bypass it.

Let me do some more research, but let me know what kind of budget you're looking at, and I will help you pick some good stuff out. You dont have to buy the expensive stuff to get quality, if you buy decent cheaper stuff, and wire it all properly, it will sound just as good. But by no means buy the cheapest. There are companies you just cant trust, ie Sony (new)RF Pyle Pyramid etc....

 

[jszar]

Alright - Jbl GTO Series

Good price. Use channels 1-4 for your speakers, and bridge channels 5&6 for the sub. I'll look at more subs that'll take 200wrms. Thats too much for a JL w0.

This setup is very ideal. One amp does it all, and that amp will last a LONG time, probably the life of the car.

EDIT: ok, best bet for the price is an Elemental Designs 13Kv.2 Dual 4. That will fit terrifically. It is on sale right now, but pre order. They arent shipping yet. You'd have to contact eD about that. And from what I have heard lately, eD's customer service sucks. Cant beat a $90 sub though, and it is OUTSTANDING quality.

Link to that page - http://www.edesignaudio.com/kv2.htm

 

[jszar]

Anyway, all that will run you just over $400, and then you need a wiring kit - www.knukonceptz.com - the best wire I've used, + their service is amazing. All in all with this setup your looking at $475, give or take a few bucks. Damn good deal IMO.

 

[jszar]

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