Front Speaker/Amp Replacement?

Temple · 09-17-2008, 10:01 PM

I am trying to find a good replacement for the front door speakers (mid-woof/tweet). Any ideas of what would be a good drop in fit? Brands I have heard about thus far are diamond focal and mb quart. Any other ideas? Also would like to find a nice solid amp to power the fronts and two subs under the seats. Would I just need a 4ch amp for that? and what are some good choices for a compact amp?

wa128 · 09-18-2008, 02:07 AM

If you are near the Seattle area check out the folks at Speakerlab. They're located near the U-district. Back in July they installed new MB Quarts for my doors and a 4-channel 500W Zapco amp. This amp powers the doors and the underseat subs. The subs are still the factory ones but the Zapco transformed their sound significantly. I can feel the hits in my chest if I turn up the gain too much. The amp is not really compact or smallish but it's a more slimline design. It is installed upside down beneath the rear package tray in the trunk.

The new gear didn't come cheap though. I paid full retail but I'm very happy with this investment. The folks at Speakerlab did a wonderful job.

Temple · 09-20-2008, 12:15 AM

So I am now torn between MB Quart QSD210 or Diamond Audio S400s. Anyone have experience with both?

I am also leaning towards a JL Audio amp 300/4V2 or a Focal Solid 4.

Any input on these would be great...

Temple · 09-25-2008, 12:49 AM

Does anyone know what size speakers are in the rear deck? and are they coaxial?

Bye Bye GTI · 09-25-2008, 08:57 AM

they are 4 inch seperates with a 1inch tweeter. Same as up front. Mounting depth is about 50mm too.

Heres a photo that was on my camera from when I took it apart a few weeks ago to see what else would fit in there. (not much!)

Temple · 09-25-2008, 09:47 AM

Thanks for the pic! Very strange that they would use a mid/woof with a separate tweet. Seems like the could have gone with a 5 1/2 coaxial at least... Not sure what I would put in there as a replacement or if it is even worth it when its just rear fill. That tweet does not look all that bad though. I might just replace the mid/woof driver. Do you have a pic of the mid/woof?

Bye Bye GTI · 09-25-2008, 12:46 PM

I didn't end up taking a pic of the actual speaker for some reason. If i remember - the 5 1/4 wont fit unless you modify the grill covers and that doesn't seem worth it. If you look right behind the top of the 4 inch hole - that is where the space constraint is.

Temple · 09-25-2008, 12:53 PM

Did the woof driver look pretty lame? small magnet, stamped basket, paper cone, foam surround?

Bye Bye GTI · 09-25-2008, 05:51 PM

actually it was a bit better than I expected. Magnet was a decent size however it was a paper cone. The surround allowed for some travel without looking ultra cheap too.

I would say that it was halfway between an el cheapo and aftermarket.

Its not that hard to get at...there are 6 or so clips (2 top, 2 bottom 2 and on the side) on the cover that come off by inserting a thin screwdriver to pry them out. The side ones may break when removing it but as long as you are gentle with the top and bottom - it goes back on perfectly. You can see the clip locations on the pic.

Temple · 09-28-2008, 03:07 PM

Has anyone tried mounting the DLS R4 in the 135i?

Temple · 09-30-2008, 05:05 PM

So I am leaning towards the PDX-5 and wanted to know if there is a way for me to hook this amp up without having to cut into the stock wire harness? Is there a harness that I could plug into the OEM harness at the amp side and then splice off of that? This way I leave the stock harness in tack...

On a side not I think I am going to try out the DLS speakers. Could go with the S400s but this will save a lot.

So far this is what I have come up with:

Alpine PDX-5
AudioControl LC6i
DLS PS4 Components

Am I missing anything?

09-17-2008, 10:01 PM	#1
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Front Speaker/Amp Replacement? I am trying to find a good replacement for the front door speakers (mid-woof/tweet). Any ideas of what would be a good drop in fit? Brands I have heard about thus far are diamond focal and mb quart. Any other ideas? Also would like to find a nice solid amp to power the fronts and two subs under the seats. Would I just need a 4ch amp for that? and what are some good choices for a compact amp?
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09-18-2008, 02:07 AM	#2
wa128 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2012 AW 135i DCT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: wa state iTrader: (0)	If you are near the Seattle area check out the folks at Speakerlab. They're located near the U-district. Back in July they installed new MB Quarts for my doors and a 4-channel 500W Zapco amp. This amp powers the doors and the underseat subs. The subs are still the factory ones but the Zapco transformed their sound significantly. I can feel the hits in my chest if I turn up the gain too much. The amp is not really compact or smallish but it's a more slimline design. It is installed upside down beneath the rear package tray in the trunk. The new gear didn't come cheap though. I paid full retail but I'm very happy with this investment. The folks at Speakerlab did a wonderful job. __________________ 2012 135i \| AW on Blk \| 7DCT \| M-Sport + Premium \| Nav \| Harmon Kardon \| BMW Performance Exhaust & Kidney Grilles
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-20-2008, 12:15 AM	#3
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	So I am now torn between MB Quart QSD210 or Diamond Audio S400s. Anyone have experience with both? I am also leaning towards a JL Audio amp 300/4V2 or a Focal Solid 4. Any input on these would be great...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2008, 12:49 AM	#4
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Does anyone know what size speakers are in the rear deck? and are they coaxial?
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09-25-2008, 08:57 AM	#5
Bye Bye GTI Private First Class 8 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0)	they are 4 inch seperates with a 1inch tweeter. Same as up front. Mounting depth is about 50mm too. Heres a photo that was on my camera from when I took it apart a few weeks ago to see what else would fit in there. (not much!) Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2008, 09:47 AM	#6
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the pic! Very strange that they would use a mid/woof with a separate tweet. Seems like the could have gone with a 5 1/2 coaxial at least... Not sure what I would put in there as a replacement or if it is even worth it when its just rear fill. That tweet does not look all that bad though. I might just replace the mid/woof driver. Do you have a pic of the mid/woof?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2008, 12:46 PM	#7
Bye Bye GTI Private First Class 8 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0)	I didn't end up taking a pic of the actual speaker for some reason. If i remember - the 5 1/4 wont fit unless you modify the grill covers and that doesn't seem worth it. If you look right behind the top of the 4 inch hole - that is where the space constraint is.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2008, 12:53 PM	#8
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Did the woof driver look pretty lame? small magnet, stamped basket, paper cone, foam surround?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-25-2008, 05:51 PM	#9
Bye Bye GTI Private First Class 8 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0)	actually it was a bit better than I expected. Magnet was a decent size however it was a paper cone. The surround allowed for some travel without looking ultra cheap too. I would say that it was halfway between an el cheapo and aftermarket. Its not that hard to get at...there are 6 or so clips (2 top, 2 bottom 2 and on the side) on the cover that come off by inserting a thin screwdriver to pry them out. The side ones may break when removing it but as long as you are gentle with the top and bottom - it goes back on perfectly. You can see the clip locations on the pic.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-28-2008, 03:07 PM	#10
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Has anyone tried mounting the DLS R4 in the 135i?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-30-2008, 05:05 PM	#11
Temple Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	So I am leaning towards the PDX-5 and wanted to know if there is a way for me to hook this amp up without having to cut into the stock wire harness? Is there a harness that I could plug into the OEM harness at the amp side and then splice off of that? This way I leave the stock harness in tack... On a side not I think I am going to try out the DLS speakers. Could go with the S400s but this will save a lot. So far this is what I have come up with: Alpine PDX-5 AudioControl LC6i DLS PS4 Components Am I missing anything?
	Appreciate 0 Quote