Speaker system ?

[Mmdt101]

First, thank you to all the contributors to this forum. Great information and entertainment on the threads!!

I just purchased a 2011 Z430i. It’s stunning and the photo doesn’t do it justice. I didn’t buy it for its stereo, that said, like many have mentioned, it’s audio quality is quite lacking. I’ve tried to do some research, but I’m perplexed. I have the 676 system which I think is supposed to have 6 speakers. It seems I have two in each door, two in the lower panels, but it seems there are two subwoofers behind the seats? Although, I really can’t tell if there’s anything coming from them? Is it possible these are aftermarket that may or may not be connected, or just dummy trim on where subs would go had they come with it?

 

[john-e89]

Hi there, very slick looking Zed you have, congrats...!

You have either the 11 or 14 speaker gramophone, with a separate amplifier. If you have idrive you’ll find a graphic equaliser on there so maybe you need to adjust to taste rather than the centre of each frequency setting that it could be adjusted to right now. The 14 speaker has a small mid and tweeter in the between the centre of the roll hoops and a mid in the dash top above the I drive screen extra to the 11 speaker system. Last point is don’t expect ground breaking sounds from either, the bass is shallow and lacks depth in both due to small subs in little plastic enclosures behind the seats. Only my opinion but for the initial outlay cost on build spec they’re ok and probably worth it but nothing more. Compare these to the Burmester in a Porsche Boxster and the difference is obvious, the Burmester costs 2k more but only someone with too much money or a serious serious audiophile would tamper with it, so £2700 all in is a very very good price for it given you’d spend easily the same or more on an aftermarket equivalent plus fitting cost. Such a shame BMW don’t offer a good system for those that want it.

Anyway hope you find some improvement but there are lots of upgrades out there so don’t sweat it. Hope you enjoy the forum to.

 

[Anonymous]

676 system has 11 speakers...central front speakers, two door tweeters, two door mid range, two woofers in foot wells, two sub woofers behind seats and two rear shoulder mid range..

There are a couple of high end direct replacement of the amps , Audison and Audiotec Fischer

Most people in that segment replace most it not all the OE speakers..

It looks like you have a US spec car which I think never had the 6 speaker system,...

 

[Mmdt101]

Thank you!! It is the 11 speaker set up. I haven’t had it long enough to notice the rear shoulder height speakers. I was hoping it was at least this set up in order to do direct plug and play replacements! I was originally thinking of hiring out the sound system, but the more I read, the less attractive going non-oem and the chance Of someone butchering harnesses. I always like being able to reverse anything done. And yes, I’m located in Missouri, USA.

I appreciate it!

 

[mr.tourette]

I have the lower end 6 speaker system in mine and am currently working round the car replacing the speakers, the quality of the speakers is frankly appalling, so far i have done the door and rear shoulder 4 inch midrange speakers and even using fairly cheap (but well reviewed) replacements it has absolutely transformed the sound quality, all the mids and highs are now punchy, crisp and clear, guitars and vocals actually sound like they should instead of muddy and distorted. well worth doing

 

[Jasonn]

I have the lower end 6 speaker system in mine and am currently working round the car replacing the speakers, the quality of the speakers is frankly appalling, so far i have done the door and rear shoulder 4 inch midrange speakers and even using fairly cheap (but well reviewed) replacements it has absolutely transformed the sound quality, all the mids and highs are now punchy, crisp and clear, guitars and vocals actually sound like they should instead of muddy and distorted. well worth doing

I've got the same poor speaker setup - what speakers did you use and are they "plug and play"?

Like the OP I also like to put things back to normal

 

[Silverstar]

I have the lower end 6 speaker system in mine and am currently working round the car replacing the speakers, the quality of the speakers is frankly appalling, so far i have done the door and rear shoulder 4 inch midrange speakers and even using fairly cheap (but well reviewed) replacements it has absolutely transformed the sound quality, all the mids and highs are now punchy, crisp and clear, guitars and vocals actually sound like they should instead of muddy and distorted. well worth doing

What speakers did you use?

 

[mr.tourette]

I have the lower end 6 speaker system in mine and am currently working round the car replacing the speakers, the quality of the speakers is frankly appalling, so far i have done the door and rear shoulder 4 inch midrange speakers and even using fairly cheap (but well reviewed) replacements it has absolutely transformed the sound quality, all the mids and highs are now punchy, crisp and clear, guitars and vocals actually sound like they should instead of muddy and distorted. well worth doing

I've got the same poor speaker setup - what speakers did you use and are they "plug and play"?

Like the OP I also like to put things back to normal

I have the lower end 6 speaker system in mine and am currently working round the car replacing the speakers, the quality of the speakers is frankly appalling, so far i have done the door and rear shoulder 4 inch midrange speakers and even using fairly cheap (but well reviewed) replacements it has absolutely transformed the sound quality, all the mids and highs are now punchy, crisp and clear, guitars and vocals actually sound like they should instead of muddy and distorted. well worth doing

What speakers did you use?

I have used German made Crunch dsx42, not quite plug and play but if you buy 102mm speaker ring adapters they should slot straight in meaning you will just have to cut and connect up the wiring as they don't use bmw plugs, think you'd have to pay silly money for that benefit and that's not what I'm aiming for.
The original speakers are so crap rather than tossing them straight in the bin I took a dremel to them to cut them up to use as the new mounting rings.. Saves 20 quid and as I'm doing this on a budget suits me fine.
I was planning to do a thread when finished but I'll be waiting until I have a week off at the end of the month to do the footwell woofers

 

[Silverstar]

I have used German made Crunch dsx42, not quite plug and play but if you buy 102mm speaker ring adapters they should slot straight in meaning you will just have to cut and connect up the wiring as they don't use bmw plugs, think you'd have to pay silly money for that benefit and that's not what I'm aiming for.
The original speakers are so crap rather than tossing them straight in the bin I took a dremel to them to cut them up to use as the new mounting rings.. Saves 20 quid and as I'm doing this on a budget suits me fine.
I was planning to do a thread when finished but I'll be waiting until I have a week off at the end of the month to do the footwell woofers

This is very interesting as I am not a huge audiophile but would like somewhat better sound and bass, I am very reluctant to pay the crazy prices that some manufacturers want for plug and play speakers. From what you have written above I assume you used the cut up old speakers as mounting rings instead of buying the 102mm ring adaptors? I wonder how much better or worse or if indeed the same these Crunch sound as opposed to the plug play options from the likes of Eaton Audison etc.

What do you plan to put in the footwells? Would be interested to see a thread on what you have done. Also do you have a link to the adaptor rings?

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you!! It is the 11 speaker set up. I haven’t had it long enough to notice the rear shoulder height speakers. I was hoping it was at least this set up in order to do direct plug and play replacements! I was originally thinking of hiring out the sound system, but the more I read, the less attractive going non-oem and the chance Of someone butchering harnesses. I always like being able to reverse anything done. And yes, I’m located in Missouri, USA.

I appreciate it!

The Match 7 BMW Audiotec Fischer is one of the ‘simplest’ plug n play options for the 676, Audison also do a version

Replacing the amp with these units and replacing all the 100mm speakers in the doors/rear shoulder and centre would have the biggest effect and is almost all plug n play ..but it’s a £850+ exercise..assuming you do it yourself which is relatively easy..