Advice on setup

[mynameisjeramy]

I'm looking to replace the front and rear stock speakers in my 98 BMW 318ti. I have a Kenwood HU that I am going to install but otherwise, I am still looking at my speaker/sub options. In the door of the car, there is a 1inch tweeter and a 2.5inch mid that I don't plan on replacing. The front only has room for 5.25s, but in the rear I can fit up to 6.5s. I am looking for a full range of clarity and quality without spending more than I need to. Also I am trying to get away without an amp.

I am currently leaning towards this setup: Polk Audio db521 for the front and db651 for the back with no sub. Will 5.25s and 6.5s provide enough low end sound?

If not, I was thinking about going to a powered sub for my main source of bass. If I go with a sub, I might do db461P in the back for more mid and high. If I do this, I'm worried the highs coming from the back might not sound good, so should I stick to the 6.5s.

I know there are a lot of variables going on, but I guess my main questions is, what is the best setup I can create with my current options? Again I'm not really looking for max volume or bass, just a clear and balanced setup.

Thanks!

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[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I'm looking to replace the front and rear stock speakers in my 98 BMW 318ti. I have a Kenwood HU that I am going to install but otherwise, I am still looking at my speaker/sub options. In the door of the car, there is a 1inch tweeter and a 2.5inch mid that I don't plan on replacing. The front only has room for 5.25s, but in the rear I can fit up to 6.5s. I am looking for a full range of clarity and quality without spending more than I need to. Also I am trying to get away without an amp.
I am currently leaning towards this setup: Polk Audio db521 for the front and db651 for the back with no sub. Will 5.25s and 6.5s provide enough low end sound?

If not, I was thinking about going to a powered sub for my main source of bass. If I go with a sub, I might do db461P in the back for more mid and high. If I do this, I'm worried the highs coming from the back might not sound good, so should I stick to the 6.5s.

I know there are a lot of variables going on, but I guess my main questions is, what is the best setup I can create with my current options? Again I'm not really looking for max volume or bass, just a clear and balanced setup.

Thanks!

They will not play sub-bass so you'll always feel lacking in the 20-80hz region. You will need to amp those speakers if you want anything good out of them, or else they might not even be a noticeable improvement from stock. You can acoustically treat the doors with sound deadener to improve midbass but its no substitute for an actual sub. Doesnt mean you'll need a big box taking up your trunk space though, You can just do a 100-200 watts rms, 8 inch or 6.5 inch subwoofer in a small stealth enclosure to fill out your bottom end. Get a 4 channel amp that does 100 watts rms each channel, hook your front speakers to the front channels and bridge the rears to power the subwoofer.

 

[CSCStang]

I'm looking to replace the front and rear stock speakers in my 98 BMW 318ti. I have a Kenwood HU that I am going to install but otherwise, I am still looking at my speaker/sub options. In the door of the car, there is a 1inch tweeter and a 2.5inch mid that I don't plan on replacing. The front only has room for 5.25s, but in the rear I can fit up to 6.5s. I am looking for a full range of clarity and quality without spending more than I need to. Also I am trying to get away without an amp.
I am currently leaning towards this setup: Polk Audio db521 for the front and db651 for the back with no sub. Will 5.25s and 6.5s provide enough low end sound?

If not, I was thinking about going to a powered sub for my main source of bass. If I go with a sub, I might do db461P in the back for more mid and high. If I do this, I'm worried the highs coming from the back might not sound good, so should I stick to the 6.5s.

I know there are a lot of variables going on, but I guess my main questions is, what is the best setup I can create with my current options? Again I'm not really looking for max volume or bass, just a clear and balanced setup.

Thanks!

Where in Cali are you? I build enclosures local here in SoCal. Hmu if you need something custom built.

 

[mynameisjeramy]

They will not play sub-bass so you'll always feel lacking in the 20-80hz region. You will need to amp those speakers if you want anything good out of them, or else they might not even be a noticeable improvement from stock. You can acoustically treat the doors with sound deadener to improve midbass but its no substitute for an actual sub. Doesnt mean you'll need a big box taking up your trunk space though, You can just do a 100-200 watts rms, 8 inch or 6.5 inch subwoofer in a small stealth enclosure to fill out your bottom end. Get a 4 channel amp that does 100 watts rms each channel, hook your front speakers to the front channels and bridge the rears to power the subwoofer.

If I go this route, what do I do with the rear speakers, 4x6 or 6.5? Also, do the rear speakers get amplified?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

If I go this route, what do I do with the rear speakers, 4x6 or 6.5? Also, do the rear speakers get amplified?

no, you'll leave them on head unit power, just keep the old speakers and focus on your front stage which is more important since that makes the biggest impact on your soundstage and the rear is just so passengers have something to listen to, you dont sit back there as a driver, dont waste money on it. Most sound quality competition vehicles get rid of the rear completely as it destroys your soundstage and imaging.

Behind the head unit there will be RCA outputs for the amps, check to see how many pairs you got.

Also if you are in socal, hit up cscstang, he can do a quality custom stealthbox for you a lot cheaper then you can buy online and definitely a lot cheaper then the ripoff artist stores around here in California. Get a demo of his setup while you are at it too!

 

[mynameisjeramy]

no, you'll leave them on head unit power, just keep the old speakers and focus on your front stage which is more important since that makes the biggest impact on your soundstage and the rear is just so passengers have something to listen to, you dont sit back there as a driver, dont waste money on it. Most sound quality competition vehicles get rid of the rear completely as it destroys your soundstage and imaging.
Behind the head unit there will be RCA outputs for the amps, check to see how many pairs you got.

Also if you are in socal, hit up cscstang, he can do a quality custom stealthbox for you a lot cheaper then you can buy online and definitely a lot cheaper then the ripoff artist stores around here in California. Get a demo of his setup while you are at it too!

So the amplified 5.25s plus a sub will provide enough sound? Any suggestions for which amp to get?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

So the amplified 5.25s plus a sub will provide enough sound? Any suggestions for which amp to get?

will need a budget in Dollar amount before I can make any suggestions.

 

[mynameisjeramy]

will need a budget in Dollar amount before I can make any suggestions.

I'm looking to spend less than 300 for everything. I'm willing to build my own sub box if that makes a price difference.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I'm looking to spend less than 300 for everything. I'm willing to build my own sub box if that makes a price difference.

Dayton Audio SD215A-88 8" DVC Subwoofer

here's a box calculator, Subwoofer Enclosure Calculators, Parallel, Series, Port Length and Volume

You'll need around .4 cubic feet to account for the space the sub takes up.

MB Quart OA800.4 Onyx Series 800W 4-Channel Amplifier (OA8004)

around 30-70 dollars for the amp kit depending on what quality you want. Go for 4 gauge if possible. 8 gauge works too, just get less power out of the amp.

Should leave you some money for the front speakers.

 

[mynameisjeramy]

Dayton Audio SD215A-88 8" DVC Subwooferhere's a box calculator, Subwoofer Enclosure Calculators, Parallel, Series, Port Length and Volume

You'll need around .4 cubic feet to account for the space the sub takes up.

MB Quart OA800.4 Onyx Series 800W 4-Channel Amplifier (OA8004)

around 30-70 dollars for the amp kit depending on what quality you want. Go for 4 gauge if possible. 8 gauge works too, just get less power out of the amp.

Should leave you some money for the front speakers.

Thanks a lot man, I really appreciate the help.