Speaker layout

C

CYCLONE2

Member
What exactly is the speaker layout for the premium audio system? I guess more specifically, there are 4 speaker grills behind the seats. The top two are about 4" in diameter and I'm assuming they are midrange speakers, maybe high/mids. I don't think they're tweeters. So what are the 2 larger retangular below them? I would assume low mid or even woofers. The reason I'm asking is I put my head up to the larger ones to hear if they're working and they don't seem to be. Maybe some kind of passive radiator?
The system sounds good to me. Plenty of low end and even too much at times(depending on the CD).

So, anyone know the layout of where the sub, mids, and tweeters are?
 
Those two large rectangular panels house 10" subwoofers.

Every Z4 roadster gets a very wide and oddly shaped single-disc CD player in the dash and 10 speakers. Where do they put that many speakers in this small car? Well, four are mounted behind the seats. There's a built-in subwoofer and a large midtweeter speaker mounted in the cubbies behind each sport bucket. The other speakers include midrange and bass drivers in the door panels and tweeters up near the side mirrors.
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and remember that the subs are part of the "front" speakers, so if you're messing with the fader, move it to the front and crank it up. And of course, the low end stereo doesn't have the subs. It has cubbies.
 
Just out of interest...
Can the subs be retro fitted? i.e the cubby holes removed, parts bought from BMW and the speakers put in?
Im guessing you would need an Amp aswell unless the stereo was upgraded?
 
Dreamer said:
Just out of interest...
Can the subs be retro fitted? i.e the cubby holes removed, parts bought from BMW and the speakers put in?
Im guessing you would need an Amp aswell unless the stereo was upgraded?
Click to expand...
Since the UK system configuration is so much different (don't know why) than the US version, I can't comment.
 
My system is the Carver system. The only reason I know that is because I had the black rectangular box out of the battery box and saw it said "Carver". Is Carver the premium system or do they also make the standard system? I assumed I had the premium system because it is the 3.0 sport version with the 18" wheels and just about every option that I can think of.

One thing I hadn't thought of while testing, when I tested the rear speakers I did have the fader panned all the way to the back. Tonite I'll pan to the front and give a listen to the woofers in the back. "YAL", thanks for that tip.

If it's not the premium system, does that mean there is nothing mounted in the rectangular boxes behind the seats? Also the car is a 2005. I don't know if that makes a difference. I thought I saw somewhere that the systems Z4s used were Harmon/Kardon?
 
If you have the real Carver system and you crank it up, you'll definitely KNOW you have it. Carvers move more "air" than standard style speakers. I have the M seats and I can feel it through them. It's the premium system. Do you have the "concert hall" settings or the graphic equalizer?
 
The Carver upgrade was a separate line item on the sticker so it wouldn't be part of any of the upgrade packages available AFAIK. I don't believe that the subs (large speakers behind the seat) work with the fader in the traditional way one would expect. I have the Carver upgrade in my 06 btw.

The US standard system (does not apply to UK Z4's) utilizes 10 speakers:

2ea door sails,
2ea 4" mids in the door,
2ea 6" (approx) in the kick panels,
2ea 4" mids behind the seat,
4ea 6" low range behind the seat

Note that some of these speakers are not 4 Ohm. Also if you decide to replace the 4" door speakers you have to be careful not to exceed space needed to accomodate the glass window. It is tight.

The US premium (Carver) utilizes the exact same amount of speakers and their location. They are much higher quality and output. It is a world of difference between the standard vs premium. I am very satisfied with this upgrade. Will it bounce you out of your seat? No.
I tapped into my rear subs with a high quality line converter and connected an Alpine monoblock sub amp. This powers a removeable sub that does make the neighborhood know you are around. :oops:
Best photo I have to illustrate what I did:
DSC_2743.JPG

I remove the sub for all track events or whenever I need to.
 
Smokin said:
If you have the real Carver system and you crank it up, you'll definitely KNOW you have it. Carvers move more "air" than standard style speakers. I have the M seats and I can feel it through them. It's the premium system. Do you have the "concert hall" settings or the graphic equalizer?
Click to expand...
Yeh, I have DSP, Concert hall, jazz club(Ithink it's called that). There is no graffic EQ, just bass and treble settings. I don't care for the special effect sounds myself. Just a personal thing. I always thought the system was at least very good. PLENTY of bottom end. I usually set the bass at the center or one notch above depending on the CD I'm listening to. Beyond that it gets too woofy and way beyond a natural sound. The treble is usually set the same way. I do wish I had a graphic EQ though because sometimes I feel a little more mid would make it sound a little more natural. The majority of the time, I like the system just fine. :)
I do electronic repair for a living. Many years ago (mid 80s) I worked for a store that sold car audio components and also did installations. I was able to buy the stuff at cost so I had a few killer systems in my vehicles. Now I'm in commercial audio repairs so I kinda got away from the killer car audio systems. Technology has come a long way.
 
CYCLONE2, with your background in this field you may want to check just for grins if your system is digital or analog DSP. BMW in their infinite wisdom changed some systems to analog DSP which from an audiophile's point-of-view is obviously less quality sound processing IMHO.
 
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