Question about 10 speaker stereo

tomTVR · Post by **tomTVR** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 3:02 am

Hi guys, I'm really sorry to ask this question but I can't seem to get an exact answer from the search

I'm pretty sure I've got the 'basic' 10 speaker setup in my MR but I also had the basic 10 speaker (Hi-Fi) setup in my 3.0i roadster, what I want to know is why the system in my 3.0i was miles better than the one in the MR?

I also had the 6 speaker system in my 3.0si coupe and that was terrible - so when I say 'basic 10 speaker' I am aware it's not the most basic option, I'm just trying to differentiate it from the 'top spec 10 speaker' system i.e. carver/pro logic or whatever.

Hope that makes sense?

JAD · Post by **JAD** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:36 pm

I thought the basic system in my MR was 6 speakers? Two in/by the door and then two behind me? Can't fathom where the rest would be?

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:53 pm

The basic 6-speaker stereo has
- 2 door tweeters
- 2 low/midrange units in the footwells
- 2 midrange units in the bulkhead panel behind the seats

The 10-speaker system has the above plus
- 2 midrange speakers in the doors (with the 6-speaker stereo there is nothing behind the grills)
- 2 subs behind the seats (with the 6-speaker stereo this location is the storage cubbyholes)

If you have the basic 6-speaker stereo, you can add the door speakers very easily (write up here) for a worthwhile improvement in the sound and, if you wish, upgrade the footwell speakers - anything more than this tends to involve adding amps and a fair amount of additional work

tomTVR · Post by **tomTVR** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:16 pm

Oh dear, just taken the rear panel off and found this:

My guess is this is the 6 speaker system which someone has tried to upgrade to the 10?

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:35 pm

Yep that isnt a factory fitted Sub!

Do you have an Amp in the boot of the car at all?

Whats behined the door cards out of interest?

That speaker is a 2 way speaker so i doubt your getting much bass even!

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:43 pm

From the looks of it, it was definitely a DIY job and now it gets interesting as you're going to have to try to work out and unpick whatever a previous owner has done....

Best of luck....

tomTVR · Post by **tomTVR** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 3:24 pm

Argh, how am I supposed to know which bit to ugrade?!

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 3:38 pm

Oh dear that looks like a right mess, Shameful who ever decided that was a good idea!

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 3:40 pm

Oh dear... looks like you've got to work out what has been done to 'upgrade' the system

I'd suggest you start by (gently) removing the gaffer tape and

- trace the wiring to work out what has been rerouted/spliced/reconnected
- draw a diagram of the above to see what is connected to what/where
- look up the details of the amp and any other additions and try to download the manuals for them to see what their capabilities are

If you don't have the knowledge/ability to unpick/workout what has been done, you may have to bite the bullet and seek advice/help from a pro shop

tomTVR · Post by **tomTVR** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:24 pm

Thanks for the replies, to be totally honest I think this is well beyond my capabilities

It sounds like it's kicking out far too much power for the speakers to handle as the problem is distortion - perhaps fitting some bigger/higher quality speakers might solve the problem fairly simply?

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:30 pm

tomTVR wrote:Thanks for the replies, to be totally honest I think this is well beyond my capabilities

It sounds like it's kicking out far too much power for the speakers to handle as the problem is distortion - perhaps fitting some bigger/higher quality speakers might solve the problem fairly simply?

Very hard to say - from a basic PoV, it could be bad speakers, bad wiring causing signal degradation, earthing issues or a crap amp that's being driven too hard that's causing the distortion - alternatively there could be other equipment in the signal path (speaker level to line level converters, EQ boxes etc.) and any of those could be the problem

If it were me I'd trace everything, draw diagrams, compile an equipment list (amp, speakers etc.) then speak to a pro shop and ask their advice

Angelus666 · Post by **Angelus666** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:33 pm

Does it distort at quite low volume levels? If not, then it's probably worth testing an upgraded speaker to see if that cures the problem.

TBH, as you're not doing it from scratch I'd get it done by a pro.

Beedub · Post by **Beedub** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:08 pm

tomTVR wrote:Oh dear, just taken the rear panel off and found this:

My guess is this is the 6 speaker system which someone has tried to upgrade to the 10?

oh god!!! painful to see!! rip it all out and get it done properly, no ///M car deserves this type of shite! what worse is the damage done to the wiring to fit all this crap!

SamUK · Post by **SamUK** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 10:05 am

That is a an amplifier going into the boot? With the blue phono lead...see if you can get the brand & model number

CrazyOneToo · Post by **CrazyOneToo** » Sun Jun 14, 2020 4:02 am

PerryGunn wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:53 pm The basic 6-speaker stereo has
- 2 door tweeters
- 2 low/midrange units in the footwells
- 2 midrange units in the bulkhead panel behind the seats

The 10-speaker system has the above plus
- 2 midrange speakers in the doors (with the 6-speaker stereo there is nothing behind the grills)
- 2 subs behind the seats (with the 6-speaker stereo this location is the storage cubbyholes)

If you have the basic 6-speaker stereo, you can add the door speakers very easily (write up here) for a worthwhile improvement in the sound and, if you wish, upgrade the footwell speakers - anything more than this tends to involve adding amps and a fair amount of additional work

Hello all. I am trying to figure out what speaker system my car has. I can't go by the head since the car had a Kenwood unit when I bought the car. I now have an OEM unit installed (probably not the specific one OEM to my car). On the spec list I have it shows the "S676A HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM" option. When I go to RealOEM.com it shows 2 sets of speakers with the HiFi listing. Links listed below. One shows Top HiFi and one just HiFi. They have different part numbers for the lower subs behind the seats which I am wanting to replace. The previous owner installed some Sony speakers in their place. I'm guessing they are probably the wrong Ohms since they are 2 way speakers and the factory ones seem to be 10 Ohm subs. And yes....of course they are zip tied in place. I am assuming the speaker connectors were also cut off. Ugh! SMH

Thanks for any help on this fiasco.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=65_1218

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=65_1219

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