E46 Setup Query

richlee7

richlee7

Well-Known Member
hi bros,

i'd wana tweak my ice a little ... but prior to dat, will just like to seek some opinion fm our respective hiadees' experience (esp e46 since sound characteristic of the car will be similar to mine) on your current setups:
1. anyone tried using the spare wheel well as a boxed-sub? how's the effect? whats your config? did you do a lowpass/bandpass config on this before?
2. anyone ripped off the rear speakers? is it better/easier for tuning?

As ref, my current setup is veri simple:
- 1x4ch driving my frontx2, rearx2
- 1x1ch driving my free-air 12'x1
- alpine701 dsp
- speakers & cables: non-stock
- head unit & changer: stock

any advise is appreciated.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

My car's setup will be different from yours, given the front-focused staging plus noise when the canopy is down. Nevertheless, my spare tyre gave way to the 2 amps, while the rear seats were modified to allow the bass to hollow through.

Oh, because of the front staging, the ERP IU was shifted to the centre of the dash to allow for symmetry.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

hi kenn,

thanks for your quick reply!
just to clarify:

1. do you have any rear speakers?
2. you have a sealed box in the boot? or in the well? (amps in the well, i understand..)
3. how about the bass effect w your canopy down? front? rear? not defined (surround)

How is your front staging? Actually for cabs, usually its good to hv fwd firing mids & tweets fm the rear as well. do you have these too? if so, wud luv to listen out...
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

richlee7 said:
hi kenn,

thanks for your quick reply!
just to clarify:

1. do you have any rear speakers?
2. you have a sealed box in the boot? or in the well? (amps in the well, i understand..)
3. how about the bass effect w your canopy down? front? rear? not defined (surround)

How is your front staging? Actually for cabs, usually its good to hv fwd firing mids & tweets fm the rear as well. do you have these too? if so, wud luv to listen out...
Click to expand...
Richlee7,

(1) Good question. I do not recall changing any rear speakers. Blur me.
(2) Yes. Aquarium-style housing for the sub-woofers. The well houses the two amps.
(3) Bass effect quite distorted with the top down. I listen to soft acoustics and jazz most of the time, so clarity and vocals more critical for my setup than bass. Since most of the time it is a 2-seater ride, the front staging counts for almost everything in my car.

The front staging has 3 "angles", depending on whether the top is down or not. I only have the DLS tweeters firing from the front. Most important distinction between a soft-top and a sedan is the sound absorption when the top is up. Appeared to me there are less resonance compared to my previous bimmer sedan.

You can join us for the upcoming morning drive to hear my system up. Actually I have tuned it so many times in my favour until I have not seek opinions on how it really sounds from an outsider's point of audio reception. Else we will meet in one of those meetups.

Cheers to audiophiles.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

hi Kenntona,
appreciate your feedback.
1. dun worry, MOST coupe ppl dun reali bother/care abt the rear speaks anyway, for very good reasons...
2. you must have an aesthetically great system in your boot!
3. cabs are built much stiffer especially your A-pillar, and where ur soft top is housed, and technically speaking, excellent for building a sub into the wheel-well, though its gotta hv huge overhead (power) to drive the sub enough to have up-front bass... not much choice too, if u wana hv minimal raised floor...
Just curious, are you also using the 701 for ur tuning? or u've got something better up your sleeve? ;) would luv to hear out your system... though this weekend, my car is going to carry 2 people out from freeeedom ---> marriage... wahahahaha...
hope to hear ur setup sometime :) thanks much for the offer!
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

This is how it looks.......
BS_09.jpg
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

hi! any other input fm ice modders? care to share your subwoofer configurations?
- sealed box? ported box? wheel well? free-air? under-seat? etc.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

a couple of considerations...

1. space, do u need the boot ? Either box-up or spare tyre has its own space considerations and trade-off
2. sound depends on hardware, tuning etc. good carpentry doesnt mean better sound.

3. budget. Would u rather spend on better hardware but with a sealed box or pay more for looks ?

anyhow, subs needs loads and loads of power....
rear speakers not necessary... easier for front staging in fact. Some may disagree with this, so if u die die must install rear speakers...go for midbass ONLY.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

hi oneheadlight:

1. space: yes. as much as possible. this is partly aesthetic and partly i'd like more space. actualli i do not like 2 flash, but i like good sound. so if i can hide a 15" in the wheelwell, it'd b good. but i think depth-wise, max shud be 12" fm ppi (shallow constuction + rear clearance) it think.

2. sound: my 1st priority, dats why i ended up w band-pass, instead of the easier low-pass. but i've never seen/heard a bandpass config using the wheel-well thus far... maybe too hard to design & build.

3. thinking of removing my rears, run active 2-way front (using my existing 4ch) and either porting/sealing my rear speaker holes. but i think i do not hv enuf power on my mono now to port...

4. budget: erm... usual: as cheap as possible, but realistically: none set. :yummie:

5. tuning: this is the MAIN actualli, in my opinion. its impossible to have mechanically perfectly installed positions & sub-enclosure constructions... that's why i wish i got the 901... but the 701 also not too bad la, i think...

btw, how's your own config, bro?
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

if u use the wheelwell, are u gonna be able to put things over it ? Probably not, or u risk damaging the sub with imbalanced pressure on the cone. I think sealed box is not inefficient use of space. 12"...i think 1.2 cubic ft should be sufficient ? JUst make sure u secure it with velcro if u want it removable , but should be secured for time alighnment.

H701 is better than ok... since u going active, just make sure enough power goes into the midbass.. i would suggest u separate the amp for tweets, for mids, and for subs..

i m changing my car...intending to do a very modest setup... i may skip the processor, get a headunit, go 2 or 3way..and a sub chucked in the boot... that's pretty much. I suppose the selection of the headunit and front speakers would be crucial...
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

ya, exactly, dats why i'm wondering if anyone's done a good setup with the wheel-well, which i'd luv to listen out. (me abit kiasu, though often i end up guinea-pig myself...:lol2: )

anyway, for sub, i'll stick to bandpass, as it's a little more controlled, need less juice, and basically personal taste.

ideally, i'd luv to do ur suggestion, just dat it's gonna blow my wallet... hahaha...

wats your next ride? modest setup... hmmmm i doubt leh, brother... dun chuck the processor la... 3 way front without a good processor, ur staging is gonna be tuff. unless u wana sacrifce aesthetics and hv all the funny angle for ur woofers n tweets...

luv to hear out ur 'modest setup' :lol2: when u're done :)
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

I am beginning to think the pursuit for staging is tiring, and so have the ice hardcores i know. I reckon i dont need the pinpoint centre-ring of the vocals. Get a proper headunit with time alignment and abit of tuning capabilities, a good set of speakers and a normal sub. As long as the bass blend nicely... i am not too particular. Processor at times affect the "natural" sound of the speakers...

as for u... if u do in wheelwell..its gonna cost money, and then u must make sure your boot is super neat. Use the money on hardware instead, if u are not gonna show off or drive with your boot open :)
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

haha... actuali, the main thing is:
- good sound: my listening pleasure :)
- invisible hardware: no one (esp wife) knows how much i spent ... :lol2:

dun give up on staging la... its not so difficult w a good ta la, seriously... most good processors (701, audiocontrol, and above) shud hv minimal effect on sound purity... amps n speaker do affect a lot though...
happi icing, n keep the pursuit...! hardcores getting to be like dinosaurs... :lol2:
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

Hi oneHeadlight,

I read about your intended setup in your new ride and is currently also keen on similar configuration for my existing E46 sedan. Care to share what options of head unit and front speakers are you considering at the moment and if you are planning to go active for the front speakers?

Cheers! :laughlik:
Jenn
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

e46.... this is wat i would do, which by no means, is the only way, just personal preference.

1. headunit. - budget ? alpine should be good enough.
2. processor - some like it some don't. some got hissing, most can't hear.
so it could either (1) or (2). Previously, i would go for both. but now, perhaps (1).

3. front speakers - again budget. metal tweets respond faster mostly. Silkdome sounds less "sharp" so to speak. Or bright in industry terms. Whole range, from SEAS - think some swear by it, despite a spike at about 4khz region i think.
Morel ( which i like very much) cos i used to have them.
Focal - i've heard champion car with it, and i refused to get out of the car.
Scanspeak - some also swears by it. Make for Alpine F1 the last i know.

2 way or 3 way.... 2 way easier, cheaper cos less amp power needed. 3 way seems to have picked up interests the past 2 years.

active vs passive.... again, many are getting lazy, and one or two award winners even think passive is less headache. I would go active i suppose.

Then get a sub, and a standalone monoblock to go with it. If any installer tells u otherwise, walk.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

Oh ya...tennis player... there is a whole lot of speakers out there. If u are not really an audiophile, no need go for mid-high or high-end stuff.

just to share, recently i heard a $17 000 setup by a very reputable installer... generally opinion ? Sounds like a $3k setup. So, expensive doesnt mean good.
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

Hi oneHeadlight,

Thanks for sharing. i am one of those who like to keep the setup simple so the processor is out for me. Wish list includes perhaps a Alp 9965 and Morel(Active setup) with a sub in the boot might just work out fine for me. (Budget still pending approval by the 'finance minister'. If kanna cut, then gotta scale accordingly liao) :juggle:

By the way, which installer did you go to for your existing system? Would you go back to them again? (Maybe you can PM me on this if it's not convenient)

Cheers! :nehnehhh:
Jenn
 
Re: E46 Setup Query

Your setup sounds perfectly fine to me... just make sure enough power goes to the midbass. MOrel tweets are very very nice, i used to own them, but the prices have gone up alot due to a not-very-nice distributor.

As for installer... hong guan is quite a favourite here... dynasty soundcraft is quirky, arrogant but can be nice and generous. I may go to cartoon ... depends on wat i gonna use.

For instance, if i am gonna put focal...i will go to jason at dynasty, he is widely regarded, even by the Focal dunno-wat president , that jason can tune focal to its most truest form so to speak...

if i m tuning or getting my masters to tune for me... i will go to whoever can install, maybe hong guan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 590 (members: 0, guests: 590)

Forum statistics

Threads
82,758
Messages
1,019,360
Members
78,670
Latest member
oxbett2com

Latest posts

Back
Top