 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 377,316 Views | |  |  |  |  07-17-2006, 12:10 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lake George, NY Posts: 338 |  Stock Amp with new HU
I'm currently trying to do some upgrades to my sound system, but i'm not really sure what i'm doing. I understand that my 97' has a stock amplifier to power all 10 of the crappy nokia speakers. I've decided on the ALPINE CDA-9856 which has a built-in amplifier (18 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels). The question is how do i power all 10 speakers with a 4 channel amp? Is the sound quality going to be any better with just a new headunit if i have to use the factory amp? |  |  | | 07-18-2006, 12:27 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lake George, NY Posts: 338 |
where are all the audiophiliacs?? | | | | | 07-18-2006, 12:33 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 395 |
I did not have a factory amp, that I know if... unless it's hidden under something I haven't taken apart yet.
I just hooked in my own amp for a sub and use my head unit (also an alpine CDA, similar to yours) to power all of my brand new door, floor, and rear pioneer speakers. I basically lowered the bass on all of them, and upped it on the sub. This way, the speakers can play louder without scratchyness. It sounds great.
I know nothing about stock AMPs. | | | | | 07-18-2006, 12:33 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Great White North! Posts: 701 |
It will definitely work well, but you'll need an ouput converter. __________________ 
Engine: 2.1L Hartge conversion (bored to 86X91mm, ported & polished head, new valves, new crank, & upgraded ECU), Supersprint SS headers, Hartge exhaust, custom cat bypass (track), KV85 wires, Bosch platinum plugs, Vitesse cf spark plug cover, Vitesse cf CAI, Samco hoses, Fiamm air horns. Drivetrain: custom ssk, Vitesse adj. clutch stop, Redline D4 ATF & 75W90. Chassis: 18x8.5 Hartge Classics on 225/40/ZR18 Direzza DZ101s, 17x8 Hartge 7 spokes on 235/40/17 Direzza Z1 *specs and 17x9 Enkei MT1-R on 235/40/17 Direzza Z1 *specs(track), Vitesse 10mm spacers with cf/billet hub extenders, Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, Hartge sway bars & strut brace, urethane offset LCABs, Vitesse rsb, billet/urethane RSMs, X-brace, ATE BBK, ATE slotted rr. rotors, Goodridge ss. lines, ATE Superblue. Exterior: Violettschwarz, Hartge lip spoiler, window spoiler, hatch spoiler & mirrors, Vitesse cf door pillars, Vitesse cf fog light blanks (track), ZKW ellipsoids, HIDs in headlights, highbeams and foglights, and much more... Performance BMW Magazine feature car March 2003 www.vitessetuning.com | | | | | 07-18-2006, 03:11 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lake George, NY Posts: 338 |
i think all the 10 speaker systems have an amp under the carpet of the driver side boot area | | | | | 07-18-2006, 03:02 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London Posts: 120 |
It would be very difficult to power the 10 speakers through the Loewe amp provided by bmw with an aftermarket headunit.
The setup bmw provides amplifies some of the speakers from the headunit, then splits the high voltage outputs and amps the rest of the speakers from the Loewe amplifier.
The amplifier itself its probably quite good, but the bmw headunit is obviously not the best.
It would be very complicated to set it all up with the Alpine headunit, which ideally wants an amp that accepts RCA inputs and not high-level inputs.
Personally I would just not bother about the rear speakers, which are only really there for rear fill and the car is not that big anyway. Then install a nice set of 5 1/4 comps up front powered by a or 4 channel amp.
This is what I have done and I am more than happy with the result. | | | | | 07-18-2006, 03:16 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 |
All the responses I'm ready are really confusing the issue. I removed my stock head unit and installed a Blaupunkt head unit in it's place. I didn't add any fancy sub or rear amp to my system. What I can't remember for sure is whether the front speakers are powered by the head unit, and the rear by the OEM amp, or the OEM amp powers all the speakers. There is definitely an amp in the car provided by BMW. The install is very easy, and doesn't require any additional equipment or bypassing anything. I'm very surprised by the replies I've read; I have very little knowledge or interest in car audio. Let me ckeck one of my earliest posts, if they still exist, I know I talked about this. Quote: | Originally Posted by rendoll911 i think all the 10 speaker systems have an amp under the carpet of the driver side boot area | __________________ 
1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd
OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | | | 07-18-2006, 03:48 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 885 |
+1, the stock amp is on the trunk in the drives side behind the carpet, in my opinion you fing better sound with a new system , you know new amp, speakers and radio. __________________ BMW...MY NEW TOY  Mods: Some plastic parts, ///M Wheels and me | | | | | 07-19-2006, 02:44 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lake George, NY Posts: 338 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by FATHER +1, the stock amp is on the trunk in the drives side behind the carpet, in my opinion you fing better sound with a new system , you know new amp, speakers and radio. | I figured i would get better sound with a new system, im just under a strict budget. Ive never even installed a HU on a normal car with out the fancy bmw amp and 10 speaker system... this is all sounding a lot more complex than i expected | | | | | 07-19-2006, 02:49 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 885 |
well i remember about a one year ago when i buy my TI i change the stock head unit by a kenwood i use a conector adaptor and only match the color of wires from the radio to the conector and work better than oem, the audio was more clearly, but i think that metod not use the power of the head unit, use only the bmw amp, but work fine.The system is 10 speakers but is 4 channels system like others, the amp have 4 chanels thas is subdivided close to the speakers.So if you need to change the head unit only, i think the only you need is the conector for your car(about $20.00) and the new head unit... __________________ BMW...MY NEW TOY Mods: Some plastic parts, ///M Wheels and me | | | | | 07-19-2006, 06:57 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lake George, NY Posts: 338 |
When you say i need the connector, you mean the wiring harness? Anyone know what wiring harness ill need? | | | | | 07-19-2006, 07:21 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 885 |
__________________ BMW...MY NEW TOY Mods: Some plastic parts, ///M Wheels and me | | | | |
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