BMW 5 series factory system sucks; advice on total replacement please.
I have a BMW 5 series ESTATE car. 523i Touring. 1999 E39 model. The sound system in it is the standard BMW factory one; and it sucks big time.
There is bugger all bass, mid range is hollow and totally lacking in any detail at all, whilst the top end sounds like glass shattering in your ears; totally painful and crap system.
I'm pretty fussy about audio quality and my home hi-fi system is state of the art Linn, Meridian, Naim gear.
I have a maximum of £1,500 to spend on this and was looking to do the following.
Oh, I don't like bright/brittle/glassy sounds, I prefer the smoother/velvety soft of vinyl quality that doesn't shatter my ears in agonizing pain.
Also, I listen to rock mainly.
Replace head unit with much better one, perhaps Alpine of JVC, I've heard JVC is not as bright and might be better suited to my musical ears taste. I also want a unit that is reliable. I've been recommended the JVC kdlhx552 model; anyone have this, is it good/reliable?
I am sure I'll need to replace the speakers in the car, which consists of a (could be between 5 and 6") speaker in each front doors with a tiny separate tweeter in each front door too. Also has small tweeter in each rear passenger doors as well as 2 more (I think 6 inch ish) speakers mounted in the ceiling of the car just behind the rear seats going slightly into the estate/boot area.
I'm assuming by replacing all the speakers and tweeters that I'll get better overall quality and clarity and hopefully smoother sounds. I've been advised by the guys at Cambridge Audio in Newmarket Road (England, UK) that JL Audio are the best in the world, but no other dealers in the UK even know who JL Audio are. Cambs Audio tell me they are much bigger in USA. Personally I'd rather go for something by a known company, but which one? Are Alpine any good for speakers or should I go with this guys advise and get the JL Audio JL VR 525 csi speakers he recommends?
Anyone recommend a better speaker system than JL Audio?
I'm also confident that if I'm to achieve a decent smooth bottom end I'll have to put a sub-woofer in the back of the car. However, it is an estate car so I'm not sure how this works. Again, I've been recommended the JL Audio 12w3v34 in a box. Is this 12" any good?
They have also recommended JL Audio A1400 amp.
I'm not that clued up with car audio gear and don't know what the good makes are and what is total pants so I'd really appreciate any advice on this one.
The above system is coming in at £1,500 including fitting, not sure if I can do better than this with other components etc.
Finally, I would rather not fill half the load area of my estate car with sub-woofer if I can help it. I noticed Alpine do a SWD-1600 small sub-woofer that might just fit under the passenger seat. Is this a crap option, or is it a workable solution? Or perhaps the Alpine SWD-2000 8"? or does it really have to be something bigger like JL Audio 12"?
Thanks for advice guys.
