$2,000 - $3,000 Budget for Awesome Sound for my BMW M3. .... Help Please

[Pianist718]

Hi guys,

So, seems like there is a ton of info on home theater sound but not that much on Car Audio.

I am looking to do this once and if I ever change cars to be able to reuse most of the set up.

Anyway .... stock sound ***** even in BMW M3,. We know that. I value quality of sound, crisp, detail and a accurate punch. Not looking to blow the roof off my car or make others hear my bass 3 blocks away.

I listen to dance, pop, jazz, etc.

I have 2-3K to spend on good speakers, sub, amp, etc.

What do you guys suggest?

is there a website where they sell high quality car audio gear?

Click to read more...

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

Not enough $$$ for a serious sound quality setup.

 

[nu2spl 10+ year member]

Not enough $$$ for a serious sound quality setup.

this^^^^

you want a serious SQ setup think about doubling that amount

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

Thats a **** good start though... What is the stock speaker layout? Do you wanna do an aftermarket deck?

 

[mat3833 10+ year member]

for a serious SQ settup its more like 9K. im talking rainbow drivers, the whole deal. now, you can pull off one hell of a "budget"(i use that term VERY lightly since 3K is a fair bit of cash for a system) SQ system for that price.

Matt

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Is that the convertable or coupe?

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Dont listen to these people. If you do the install yourself and are only paying for equipment, you can get some KILLER sound for $3k.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Dont listen to these people. If you do the install yourself and are only paying for equipment, you can get some KILLER sound for $3k.

This...3k will get you very VERY far. Keep in mind up to a point the equipment isn't what bottlenecks your setup, it's how everything is installed and laid out. You can get a $2,000 pair of speakers and it wouldn't sound any better than a $300 pair if you didn't install it correctly.

 

[mat3833 10+ year member]

Dont listen to these people. If you do the install yourself and are only paying for equipment, you can get some KILLER sound for $3k.

this is very true. but a hardcore SQ system(by audiophile definition) is crazy expensive. personally, if ic ould spend 3K on a system i would be more than happy. you can get some really good 3-way sets for ~600 2-way fills for the back, and 2 8" subs and thats basicly done. just throw in a good quality HU and amps and ur done.

Matt

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

3000 is plenty enough to sound fantastic. You won't be into snobophile territory, but you can get some really good equipment for half that.

Keys to having really good sound in a car is location of front speakers (I'd avoid anything in the rear at your budget... If you knew how to make rears sound good you wouldn't be asking, and the type of install and processing needed isn't cheap), sound deadening as needed (door or kickpanel locations), and some good EQ, Crossover, and Time Alignment control.

Ideally if you're not a DIY type of guy, budget @ 800-1000$ for a good install (do your homework on who you use!) and use the rest for equipment. Trying to just throw 2000$ components in factory locations with no sound deadening will be a colossal failure and sound worse than 150$ worth of drivers in good locations.. I would suggest buying a high quality amp, source unit (or integration solution if you want to keep stock). Either will be worth the money in performance, reliability, and resale value. 350-500$ should be plenty to get into some great sounding separates, and 250$-350$ should get you into a nice substage that'll keep up with your fronts and be well balanced.

Considering all the limitations of a car as an accoustical environment, elite priced (my d!ck is bigger than yours) components are about the least bang for the buck you'll get out of all the money you can throw at this hobby.

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

Kangaroux and G/money hit it dead on the head. The man didn't say he was trying to compete or anything. If you're able, do the install yourself. If you've got the hard top then look at a set or two of the Hybrid Audio Clarus components, a Zed Audio Leviathian and maybe a single 10" or 12" sub. Depending on what year car you have the factory deck is pretty clean single wise and you now have a pretty dang good sq setup.

 

[zako 10+ year member]

I am not sure about $3000 not being enough.. It almost sounds like some guys don't even want to try. Perhaps if you pay for labor, that may not be enough for some of higher grade setups. I would recommend a simple 2 or 3 way active front stage plus a subwoofer. Add rear speakers if you have a surround sound processor.

Let's start with the most important thing, a capable DSP. There are plenty. JBL MS-8, Arc, BitOne, Alpine H800, 3sixty3, etc. JBL MS-8 and Alpine H800 can tune themselves which is a good start for a beginner. MS-8 costs in the neighborhood of 700-800. Alternatively, a high end head unit like P99RS could work. Sound treatment: $200 should be plenty if using a budget supplier such as raammat.com. Amplifiers: one high performance 5-channel amplifier such as Hertz HDP5 or Alpine PDX V9 or JL HD900/5 ($600-800)? Wiring: $100. This leaves just over $1000 for speakers and sub. Start with nice proven relatively budget products. A set of very nice 2-way components that cost in the neighborhood of $500-600 (e.g. Focal Polyglass line, HAT Clarus, Hertz HSK165, etc). If you can't afford the best speakers, you can always throw in a set of $300 HAT Imagine or JL Audio C5, both proven performers and should sing well running active with good processing. A good SQ subwoofer can be obtained for under $300. E.g. Image Dynamics IDQ/Peerless XXLS/Scanspeak. Put it into a prefab sealed box with volume close for reasonable box qtc. In fact heck.. if you don't need to vibrate things outside of a car, Alpine SBR for $200 will give impressive SPL and SQ (this is Alpine's Rype R8 in Alpine's own prefab ported box, 0.6 cu ft total space used or so. This is a proven SQ subwoofer robust enough to handle subwoofer channel on a typical 5-channel amp, )

$3000 should be enough.. assuming you do the installation. One issue is that a lot of speakers may not fit due to peculiarities of European cars. It may be worth checking out HAT's Legatia Carbon edition woofers which were made with European cars in minds. They do cost a lot more, and that's just woofers without tweeters.

 

[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

Are you people smoking crack? Since when will $3k not get you an amazing setup? I have waaaay less than that into my gear and I have some sick shit. I mean, I source used and do all the install myself but Clarion drrz9255 3 way active on Dynaudio System 340 on Tru Tech and Linear Power is no joke.

Let's see...

For ease of use and budget let's go with a Pioneer 80prs or Alpine 9887 for the HU - $300ish

Zed Leviathan to run the whole damn system - $800

Woofers- low end - Exodus Anarchy - $180ish/pair.

Tweeters - ScanSpeak Illuminators - $300ish/pair

Subwoofer - $300-400 can get a pretty sick SQ sub.

That's less than $2k. Do the work yourself and you can get a processor or use that money for install, deadener, wire, etc.

 

[Falcons 5,000+ posts]

Are you people smoking crack? Since when will $3k not get you an amazing setup? I have waaaay less than that into my gear and I have some sick shit. I mean, I source used and do all the install myself but Clarion drrz9255 3 way active on Dynaudio System 340 on Tru Tech and Linear Power is no joke.
Let's see...

For ease of use and budget let's go with a Pioneer 80prs or Alpine 9887 for the HU - $300ish

Zed Leviathan to run the whole damn system - $800

Woofers- low end - Exodus Anarchy - $180ish/pair.

Tweeters - ScanSpeak Illuminators - $300ish/pair

Subwoofer - $300-400 can get a pretty sick SQ sub.

That's less than $2k. Do the work yourself and you can get a processor or use that money for install, deadener, wire, etc.

The Taylor gang strikes again!

 

[Fi-brations 10+ year member]

$3k?

Headunit(stereo): Eclipse CD7200mkii, Pioneer P99rs or 80prs, Alpine 9887

Front Stage Speakers: Hybrid Audio Clarus, Hertz MLK

Rear Stage Speakers: None, they color the sound

Subwoofer(s): I.D. Idq v3/v2, I.A. Flatlyne, Dayton HO, plenty more

Amplifiers Brands: Zed is very nice (like Taylor said), Zapco, Arc, PPI Art, hertz, many more