3-way components for 1996 328is

tiger8mush · #1 (**permalink**) 04-21-2004, 07:05 PM

Hi ya'll!

Just got a 1996 328is! woo hoo!

Now, looking for a 3-way component setup for the fronts. I'll be giving them about 125W per channel (ppi amp). What do you guys recommend? I don't want the MB "midbass kit" that they have. I was thinking about the Dynaudio System 340, but I think the 7" midbass woofers are too big for the kick panels to be modified w/o destroying the stock look. Any suggestions? I think the door has enough room for a 1" tweet and 4" mid in the doors' factory locations, and 5.25" for the kick, which looks like it could be modified for 6.25".

thanx!
Rob

raceyBMW · #2 (**permalink**) 04-22-2004, 03:51 PM

You wouldnt even need to worry about getting a 3-way comp set if you didn't want. I have the same car as you and ended up just using a 2-way with a 1" tweet and 5 1/4" mid. I just disconnected the mid tweet, but left it in for looks obviously. it sounds great still. i think the mid-tweet for the door is a little different size than come with 3-way systems, and would mean you would have to make mods to the openings to get them to work. I even ended up removing the factory foam that was behind the stock mids in the kicks since mine are too deep (orion hcca's). you could even leave the mid-tweet hooked up to the head unit if you wanted, but this could cause some problems with sound staging, so i would stay away. hope this helps

tiger8mush · #3 (**permalink**) 04-22-2004, 06:19 PM

thanx for the reply, racey. I was concerned that the tweet would be too far away from the 5.25" and would mess up the imaging. If I can't find a 3-way then I may just have to go with that setup.

BTW, where did you mount your crossovers? And is there enough room to comfortably run new speaker wire into the door? And whatcha got for a head unit? (sorry for all the ?s, just trying to get ideas!) I was thinking of the new Nak cd400 - keeps a stock look and has clean cd playback.

thanx,
Rob

Billan · #4 (**permalink**) 04-22-2004, 06:35 PM

I do not have a 328 but this is the setup I went with and it sounds amazing. I have MBQ 4" PCE210 in the doors and the MBQ 5 1/4" PWE130 in the kick panels. I had to use a step out ring for the 4" speakers cause they hit the window when the door panel was put back on. I mounted all of the crossovers in the trunk by the amps. I have attached a picture where you can see the 4" speakers in the doors with the step out ring. I didnt like the way it looked at first but I dont mind it now.

tiger8mush · #5 (**permalink**) 04-23-2004, 08:49 PM

Hi Billan, sounds like a nice setup you have there. Just wondering, what are you using to x-over the 5.25"? And at what frequency are you x-ing them over at?

I was considering getting the Q series 5.25" 2-way components (QSD213) along with the Premium Series 4" add-on (PWE100), but wasn't sure how to cross everything over. Would it be easier to get the Q series 4" components, and get the Premium 5.25" add-on?

thanx!!
Rob

raceyBMW · #6 (**permalink**) 04-26-2004, 08:14 AM

Well, staging sounds fine in my car, and adding the other mid in there really wouldt help all that much, if you want the best staging you would need to mount your tweets down with the mid and build some custom kicks, but that is a lot more work as you probably know. I actually mounted my crossover (the orions combine it into one) in the trunk, kinda a pain, but i am building a false floor for my amps in the trunk, and though it would look nice to have the x-over back there too. I haven't ran new wire int the door yet, but i plan on it, right now i just spliced it right outside the door. sorry cant help you there. And I have a kenwood excelon x715 hu, its looks really nice in the existing location as the buttons can be turned red, which matches pretty well with whats there. You can see how it looks here The page is outdated as I now have all the wiring done for my subs and amps and have them temporarily installed until I have time to build the false floor.