E36 Stock Speaker Problems

[4wheelfreak]

I'll start this off by saying that I would NOT call myself an audiophile, and I know nothing about speaker systems.
I bought my '98 328is a few months ago. It came with an aftermarket head unit (a Panasonic CQ-DP133U, which seems to me to be really cheap) and stock speakers. The only specs that I know are from the head unit manual: 45Wx4 channels, 4-8 ohm speaker impedance, 200 ohm output impedance. It looks like it was initially installed for its CD player, but I use an iPod, so that capability is useless with me.
Now the problem- every single speaker in the car emits some sort of interference noise when playing music. The front speakers crackle with treble and pop with bass. The rear deck speakers rattle with bass, but have consistently better sound quality than the fronts. The problems don't seem to be consistent, however, as the same song can produce different levels of sound quality issues on different days. Could my problems with interference be the sole fault of a crappy HU? And for that matter, is my current aftermarket HU a POS? Could I fix my problems by replacing it or putting the stock HU back in? Or have my speakers simply been blown, warranting a replacement? If I replaced the speakers, should I replace the HU also?
Again, I am no audiophile, and don't really care all that much about audio quality, but as it is, I can't stand listening to anything but the engine (not a bad soundtrack, LOL). Please help!

[Undrstm8ed]

Originally Posted by 4wheelfreak

I'll start this off by saying that I would NOT call myself an audiophile, and I know nothing about speaker systems.
I bought my '98 328is a few months ago. It came with an aftermarket head unit (a Panasonic CQ-DP133U, which seems to me to be really cheap) and stock speakers. The only specs that I know are from the head unit manual: 45Wx4 channels, 4-8 ohm speaker impedance, 200 ohm output impedance. It looks like it was initially installed for its CD player, but I use an iPod, so that capability is useless with me.
Now the problem- every single speaker in the car emits some sort of interference noise when playing music. The front speakers crackle with treble and pop with bass. The rear deck speakers rattle with bass, but have consistently better sound quality than the fronts. The problems don't seem to be consistent, however, as the same song can produce different levels of sound quality issues on different days. Could my problems with interference be the sole fault of a crappy HU?

No need to be an Audiophile when its simple that your hearing an unpleasnt noise in any audio. I live in SoCal so to me Radio stations arent what i enjoy because the interfernece and in/out of signals. To me thats extremly annoying... Some of the interference could be many variables. Are you using a direct connect with your iPOD or are you using an FM transmitter like iTRIP? Does the speakers reproduce the same sounds in any format, I.E. Radio, CD, and the iPOD modes? WHere are you getting your music from your iPOD? Are you D/L from the net or from existing CD's? Not all D/L music is inputted or uploaded the same and because of that results may vary in reproduction.
Also what are the Audio settings? Are bass and treble set flat, ( at 0)?

Originally Posted by 4wheelfreak

And for that matter, is my current aftermarket HU a POS? Could I fix my problems by replacing it or putting the stock HU back in? Or have my speakers simply been blown, warranting a replacement? If I replaced the speakers, should I replace the HU also?

If you put the stock head unit in and you get the same results then i would say you may actually have a speaker issue but from the early description i think its on the input side more. but just a guess without seeing it in person.

Let us know what the outcome is....