2012 Strange Audio Issue

[EpicWomble]

My first post, and have read through the forums (and other places) to try and see if anyone else experiencing this, but not much luck

Just bought a Z4, 28i with 55k KM on it, I have scanned the VIN and it has 676 HiFi Option. and can confirm this with tweeters in door, and the subs behind the seat as well as center channel at front.

The car is fitted with a 625 Snap Dragon Android HU, no idrive just a Professional Radio/HU

1) I seam to have speakers in the kick panels, and I see conflicting info should they be there (Depending on country), or is this something added?

2) the sound quality from mids and high are generally pretty good, but the subwoofers behind seats sound horrific. almost like they are being asked to play full range and clipping/distorting.. This happens low to mid volumes. At higher volumes they punch pretty hard, but at a volume where can talk to passenger they just sound like some old speaker that has had its voice coils blown. I have tried with CD to eliminate the Android HU, but the issue is still there. Only way to remove it, is to drop the bass on the HU down to maximum negative.

Any ideas or suggestions? to remove the subs appears to be a right headache. Other than taking apart the whole car to see if previous owner has done something special, I'm at a bit of a loss.

Cheers

 

[mr.tourette]

1) yes you should have speakers in the kick panels

2) Bmw are not known for great quality speakers even in the top hifi models folk often replace them, youre certainly not the first person I've heard complain about the quality of the subs..dont have much in the way of suggestions on this as I'm not that familiar with that system, Pete B21 has decent knowledge of it though, hopefully he will chime in.

The Poweramp app is worth a try, it has a very good highly tweakable graphic equalise interface which may help you iron out the system a little, I think you can still get a 2 week free trial on the play store but tbh the pro version is only a few quid and totally worth it if like me you use your phone as your main music player..good luck

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Have you adjusted the EQ for more bass?

 

[B21]

The 676 speakers are all pretty piss poor quality..the subs are very cheap and nasty…

Even with premium quality subs, which are a pain to fit, there’s not a massive improvement….

You can get get good bass from the footwell woofers especially with better speakers like Fosgate Punch, Hertz etc…

Amplification is not really the issue, you can get an off board amp to drive the subs but IMHO opinion not with a lot…off all areas in the sound system the sub area costs more money for the least rewards..

 

[EpicWomble]

Have you adjusted the EQ for more bass?

Its HIFI not the HIFI professional, the unit only has Treble and Bass adjustment. I ruled out the Android HU by using a old school CD in the drive and the results are the same. Only way to get it to sound better is to reduce the bass to the far left. pushing more bass into it makes it even worse

 

[EpicWomble]

The Poweramp app is worth a try, it has a very good highly tweakable graphic equalise interface which may help you iron out the system a little, I think you can still get a 2 week free trial on the play store but tbh the pro version is only a few quid and totally worth it if like me you use your phone as your main music player..good luck

Many thanks, was hoping it was something wrong rather than just by design Yeah have power amp pro from years back and tested that, knocking down the first two sliders helps a bit. Its a shame, I have a G01 with HK system that actually sounds pretty good once you tweak the EQ, was kinda hoping the HIFI in the Z4 would be ok.

 

[EpicWomble]

You can get get good bass from the footwell woofers especially with better speakers like Fosgate Punch, Hertz etc…

This might be a good (and easier to fit option), but I notice fader F/R does not cut off the ones behind. I would be happier if I could just unplug them/disable them if it was easy. But removing the entire bulkhead is to much trouble. Unless there is another way you can think of?


Thanks also for the reply by the way. Good (I think) to see I am not the only one who thinks they sound pants, my wife can't tell the diff between any of the cars and says I complain to much lol

 

[mr.tourette]

You can get get good bass from the footwell woofers especially with better speakers like Fosgate Punch, Hertz etc…

This might be a good (and easier to fit option), but I notice fader F/R does not cut off the ones behind. I would be happier if I could just unplug them/disable them if it was easy. But removing the entire bulkhead is to much trouble. Unless there is another way you can think of?


Thanks also for the reply by the way. Good (I think) to see I am not the only one who thinks they sound pants, my wife can't tell the diff between any of the cars and says I complain to much lol

You could snip the feeds at the loom into the back of the head unit and insulate the wires?

Pete's right about the footwells, I have put Hertz mid woofers in mine, and even on a basic 6 speaker system (although now running an amp) they now put out quite healthy bass

 

[B21]

As mr.Tourette says the multi-way connector that carries the audio feeds in and out for the DSP/amp sits on the boot side of the rear bulkhead and is easily accessible behind some trim..you can snip the subwoofer cables..it will most likely flag an ECU error (probably only visible to a code reader)

The DSP / amp has 8 channels and how it controls them is a mystery and not user accessible..

For the 676 system the best rewards in order of priority are..

Door mid range speakers
Door tweeters
Kick well woofers
Centre full range speaker
Rear full range speakers
Subwoofers..

Most of the problem is the subwoofer volume in the sealed unit is pitiful in size..plus the seats are pretty much up against them ..

 

[EpicWomble]

Good plan, I bet could use a pick tool, and remove the connector from the plastic plug on the amp out side. Then if ever need to put back in it would be easier than rejoining wires.

Think I will try this first and see how that goes, if stops the blown speaker sound can then proceed to replacing the other speakers with something more meaty.

Many thanks

 

[B21]

Good plan, I bet could use a pick tool, and remove the connector from the plastic plug on the amp out side. Then if ever need to put back in it would be easier than rejoining wires.

Think I will try this first and see how that goes, if stops the blown speaker sound can then proceed to replacing the other speakers with something more meaty.

Many thanks

Yes good move..standard 42 pin I think connector so yes you can pop the relevant pins out..I assume you have a wiring diagram…?

 

[EpicWomble]

Yes good move..standard 42 pin I think connector so yes you can pop the relevant pins out..I assume you have a wiring diagram…?

I found one for a E90, that showed the subwoofer colours, but not one yet for an e89. will keep on looking, but if you have one to hand that would be much appreciated thanks.

 

[B21]

Yes good move..standard 42 pin I think connector so yes you can pop the relevant pins out..I assume you have a wiring diagram…?

I found one for a E90, that showed the subwoofer colours, but not one yet for an e89. will keep on looking, but if you have one to hand that would be much appreciated thanks.

Be very very careful…on the E89 and this applies to many things ..the E89 is based on the E90 but they changed things..so the 676 wiring harness on an E90 is NOT the same as an E89..

If you pm me your email I will send you an invite to newTis where you can get almost all the detail you would ever wish for

 

[EpicWomble]

If you pm me your email I will send you an invite to newTis where you can get almost all the detail you would ever wish for

Many thanks for the invite.

Cheers