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      06-09-2012, 11:58 AM   #1
Fabio555
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Audio Upgrade on X1

Hi all,
I open this topic hoping to help someone to improve the poor audio system of our BMW X1.

My X1 is a s20d Futura and has the Business radio.

There are many option to improve the system, many people choose to install an audio dsp (like Audison Bit ten or Helix pdsp) connected to the source using speaker cables but i don't like this option for basicly 3 reasons:

-Many A/D D/A conversion.
-Poor quality of the Business source
-Noises caused by hi -level interface


SOURCE:
At the end i decided to install an aftermarket source, a Pioneer deh 80 prs
and create a parallel system that not need to remove the original source from the car because I installed the new source in the passenger compartment except the faceplate that i installed in the compartment at the center of the console. The faceplate is connnected to the source with a flat cable.
This basicly has many advantages:

-Integrated dsp that avoid multiple conversions
-CD,mp3,usb, Bluetooth,sd card reader all in one
-Hi level audio quality (Pioneer reference serie)
- Not loose the park sensors
- Not change the look of the console
- Invisible to the thefts

The Pioneer source is powered directly by the car battery, I took +12 and ground directly from the back so the ground is in the same point of the amplifiers ground, the switch on cable of the source is taken directly by the "cigar lighter" so the source is on only when engine is on.

AMPLIFERS:
I used for mid-hight section an Audison Lrx4.300 with the input stage modified using Burr Brown OPA, this amp is heavely modified and is completely different by a normal Lrx amplifier.
It assure a very precise soundstage reconstruction and a dettailled sound...really a great amp

I used for woofers a Zapco Z150s2, small amplifier but with a great midbass section.

Speakers:
Woofer: Rainbow w 200 xplain under the seats
Midrange: Res an100fco
Tweeter: Res Superdetector
There are many others possibilities, for example we can use a pair of udimension rm208sl under the seats or a Scan speak discovery midrage, we just look at the deepness od the speakers. I choose Res because are really good speakers and Rainbow because are a hight efficency, very fast and the price is good.

To install the woofer i create a wood structure composed by two layers of 19mm mdf wood, i dismounted the plastic box and tried to recreate a perfect structure (not nice to see ) but without vibrations and air loses.
I put a sheet of soundproofing material on the bottom of the box (under the speaker) and a gasket to avoid air loses between the wood and plastic. It sound very good, very deep bass and no resonance.

For the midrange i create a mdf support and another wood support on the front (better see the picture) and at the same put soundproof sheet on the back of the speaker.

The tweeter installation needed to modify the original support. i remove same plastic to have the necessary space from the tweeter. I used a dremel.

Last edited by Fabio555; 07-21-2012 at 02:19 PM..
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      06-09-2012, 12:03 PM   #2
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I show in the pictures the faceplate and the woofer adaptators.
The faceplate will be placed at the center of the console
Attached Images
     

Last edited by Fabio555; 01-01-2013 at 07:42 AM..
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      06-09-2012, 12:39 PM   #3
Fabio555
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Show how i fixed the Res an100

At the end a picture of the door that shows the tweeter integration too.
In this picture the door is yet dismounted, after fixed is impossible see the modifications. Just the tweeters are visibles throught the grills.


Next i show the woofers integration, I had mounted yet so i hope the pictures will be clear! I used some shaft to fix the wood structure to the original plastic box.
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      06-09-2012, 12:49 PM   #4
Fabio555
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In this picture can see the woofer final placed...i can't show you the shaft used to fix it...anyway, the important is you be careful to do a very stable wood adaptator and avoid air loses between plastic box and wood.
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      06-09-2012, 12:57 PM   #5
Fabio555
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To fix the amplifiers I used a 10mm wood, I create a support to hide the cables, I used audison bt4 cable for mid-hight signal and ft cable for woofers.
I used Audison cable for the speakers too.
The small dimension aff the 2 amplifiers allowed me to use a very low space.
I use a fuse for each amp and a fuse for the source, how told before the power supply for the source came directly from the battery.
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      06-09-2012, 01:07 PM   #6
Fabio555
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When I came back to Italy i'll post the pictures of the source placement.
For now the result is good, i know there are some compromise and the placing of the speaker is not ideal (my target was mantain the original place) but the response of the components is very good, there is absolute no noise and i'm working yet to improve the sound stage. The Pioneer sound is precise but not cold and the internal dsp allow to do many setups. The woofers are satisfying, deep bass, fast transients, and good power. The mid-hight section is awesome, the Superdetector not suffer for out of axis response, I did some RTA and the mid-hight response is quite flat even without using an equalizer.

At the end the result is absolutely incomparable with any kit that you can buy from BMW

Last edited by Fabio555; 08-04-2012 at 01:58 PM..
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      07-09-2012, 11:21 AM   #7
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Here a picture of the final placment of the faceplate.
To connect it to the source i use a flat cable soldered directly to the pin of the source and the faceplate, disacluped by db25 connectors.

In the picture we can see a small grill on the left of the structure, it's for the bluetooth microphone.
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      08-07-2012, 10:54 AM   #8
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I'm actually works in a upgrade (my hobby is install car audio systems)
so i sell speakers and amplifier...i've avaliable:

-Complete speaker kit that you see in the pictures (woofers,mid,tweeters and wood adapters) 400 euro (SOLD)
-A/D/S PQ20 amplifier (80wx4 and 160wx2 bridged) 180 euro (SOLD!!!)
-Audison Lrx4.300 heavily tweaked and in mint conditions (really hi-quality sound incomparable with a normal one) (SOLD) 250 euro
-Orion Xtr2150 (150wx2 rms and 730w bridged) recapped 180 euro (SOLD!!!!)
-Zapco Z150s2 (75wx2) mint conditions 180 euro (sold)
-Pioneer Prs d800 (125wx2)mint conditions 160 euro (SOLD)
-Zapco Z100sv1 (goes protection sometimes but is in very good conditions, i sell like "no working") 40 euro

Shipment from Italy, payment with paypal (+4% commissions) or bank transfer.

Last edited by Fabio555; 01-12-2013 at 02:00 PM..
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      09-30-2012, 12:56 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleJuz View Post
Hi Fabio I really appreciate your post it was very informative and helpful. I was just wondering if adding in a Pyle Dual Speaker System to add more power be advisable? Thanks, I'll beiting for a reply.
Thank you for compliments
depends what you are searching for.... a dual 12inches sub not responde to my standard of hi quality...i prefer a single fast 10" (maximum 12") in a sealed box and setted up well on phase with the rest of components.
Sincerly I don't need to use a subwoofer on the back.
Anyway if you like power and pressure maybe the 2 woofers under the seats are not enaught you can think to install that type of subs.

Actually i changed some components...i used mbquart qm100 midrange, Proaudio tweeters and pioneer prs d800 amplifier...when i finish completely the new upgrade i'll post some pictures.

bye
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      10-08-2012, 06:57 PM   #10
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Interesting thread. I've always wondered whether someone could be successful installing a parallel audio system, or would even try.

You clearly say that you haven't lost the parking sensor tones, but I can't tell how you avoided losing them. If you are essentially hijacking the speaker cables for use with your parallel system, how are you channeling the car's operational audio (tones unrelated to entertainment) into your system? Or are you somehow connecting both the OEM and parallel systems to the same speakers?
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      10-09-2012, 10:28 PM   #11
Fabio555
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Hi, i hope to understand your question...
Well, i don't use the rear speaker (that for an hi-fi system are only deleterious), I'm lucky that the BMW use the rear speakers for all sounds (parking sensors, belt not fasted...) So the front speakers are connected to my system and rear remain connected to the original business radio...
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      10-17-2012, 03:51 AM   #12
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I ordered my X1 Xline Xdrive a couple of weeks ago thru motability I couldnt affors the extra £2k for the professional multimedia pack and wondered if anyone had bought off ebay or found another nav system or option that usefully uses the cubby box? I have heard that the series1 fascia plate fits the cubby box to make it a single din size
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      11-21-2012, 11:02 AM   #13
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How about this units:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Screen-Navig...3517272&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=A59OO3NF467ZG
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      12-10-2012, 12:43 PM   #14
Fabio555
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small upgrade.... i removed Zapco and installed a Pioneer prs d-800, now I've much control on the bass section and more power.

The Audison amplifier has been changed with an old A/d/s Pq20

But the most important modification is the tweeter placed on a directed structure...soon I'll relize a structure to direct the midrange too..ah, actually the midranges are a pair of mb quart qm 100 adapted for BMW and tweeter are the famous Technology Ls29 a really hi-quality product made from Scan Speak
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Last edited by Fabio555; 01-12-2013 at 02:04 PM..
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      12-10-2012, 12:48 PM   #15
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Midrange ....
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      01-12-2013, 11:57 AM   #16
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Nice job. Please keep posting on your progress.

Could you please share a picture of your battery connection. Are you using a capacitor? Have you had any issues with the BMW battery monitoring because of the amplifiers drawing current from the battery?

I just recently got my X1 and have been making plans on improving the Hifi-system (which is the non HK Hifi option).
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      01-12-2013, 01:58 PM   #17
Fabio555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuotee View Post
Nice job. Please keep posting on your progress.

Could you please share a picture of your battery connection. Are you using a capacitor? Have you had any issues with the BMW battery monitoring because of the amplifiers drawing current from the battery?

I just recently got my X1 and have been making plans on improving the Hifi-system (which is the non HK Hifi option).
Thanks, I'm glad to help you...
Tomorrow i try to post the picture of the battery, I used a couples of awg 8 cables, for my amplifiers are enought. I'm using Pioneer d class amplifier.
Actually i don't use a capacitor, my amplifiers require very low current.
Never had issues with Bmw system, I just recharge sometime the battery with a C tek mxs 5.0 just to increase its life.
My last upgrade is the installation of a 13cm midwoofer (Focal 5k1) in the door. Maybe next idea is create a reflex box on the lower part of the door to install a Scan Speak 15w revelator.
Depend how much you want to improve...if you install a gladen bmw system with 4 channel amplifier you can obtain a nice sound, if you want more (detail, stabel and precise sound stage etc...) i suggest to install a processor and create a multiamplified system with oriented speakers.
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      01-12-2013, 02:09 PM   #18
Fabio555
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For anothe upgrade i'm selling some product again
-Pair of MB quart qm100 adapted for bmw, pair of proaudio twa26 tweeters, woofer rainbow w200 xplain with adapters ( all togheder 300 euro) !!!SOLD!!!!
-A/d/s Pq20 amplifier 4x80w old school amplifier (200 euro) !!! SOLD!!!!
-Complete Proaudio kit Wf165+twa26+xover aria. (170 euro) !!!!SOLD!!!!
-Pair of Focal 5k1 (100 euro)
-Pair of Mb quart rwe 130 (70 euro)
- A/d/s ps5 amplifier, incredible amplifier for a mid hight unit (100 euro)
I sold all the rest of the components.....

Last edited by Fabio555; 05-28-2013 at 02:42 PM..
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      05-21-2013, 01:18 PM   #19
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Hi everyone.
Just came across this setup http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11051...TQ%3AGB%3A1123
Would like your opinion if is a reasonable upgrade option? Or may be somebody had any experience with similar set up?
Help advice very much appreciated.

Last edited by ballofgold; 05-21-2013 at 01:45 PM.. Reason: Completing post
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      05-25-2013, 02:28 PM   #20
Fabio555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ballofgold View Post
Hi everyone.
Just came across this setup http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11051...TQ%3AGB%3A1123
Would like your opinion if is a reasonable upgrade option? Or may be somebody had any experience with similar set up?
Help advice very much appreciated.
It is considered a good kit...is similar to a gladen kit...consider that the new mb quart are very different from the old that i've.. but aniway good kit (just little bit expensive)
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      06-27-2013, 04:10 PM   #21
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Hi

Can you tell me the maximum depth of speakers you can fit into the front doors of the X1?

I see the MB Quart 100's are 35mm, but there are loads of other makes around 45mm.

Thanks. J
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      06-30-2013, 07:51 AM   #22
Fabio555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fdpxfunix View Post
Hi

Can you tell me the maximum depth of speakers you can fit into the front doors of the X1?

I see the MB Quart 100's are 35mm, but there are loads of other makes around 45mm.

Thanks. J
I think about 40mm
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