E46 system ideas?

[wildpanda86]

Hi guys... I am new to the group, I just got a new 325 ci with the Harmon kardon System. Originally I did not want the Harmon Kardon system, but it was the only stick shift 325 ci. Consequently it had every option available.

I'd like to consider myself a serious audiophile, the system in my other car consisted of an Eclipse 5303R head unit, a 4 channel eclipse amp bridged to push 120 rms to each 6.5 in MB quart component up front... and another 2 channel eclipse amp with abt 180 rms to a reference series 10 in Bazooka in the back.
It was a very clean sounding system with great staging created by the MB Quarts and clear seperation and sound from the 5 volt preout on the eclipse deck coupled with 2 seperate D/A converters for each channel. And it got really loud... but at speed the clarity got muffled by a very load exhaust.

With the new E46 I want to stick with the stock head unit because of aesthetics... and was rather surprised by the staging & clarity of the speakers. But at louder volumes some of the notes bottoms out and it also does not scream as loud as my MB Q's.

Would you guys recommend just amping up the speakers? Does the HK system have a seperate amp for the speakers? if so... can I just replace that with a better amp instead of having to use line level from the head unit?

Lastly... I have this idea of having all of my songs with me on an Apple iPod. I figure that it is possible to plug it into a seperate equalizer that has aux inputs. Is it possible to hook this equalizer up to the stock deck? If so, that means I could carry a weeks worth of cd's in my car...

any ideas would be great!!!

[Jun]

I kept the OEM head unit. I have a/d/s 345is component in the front powered by a Rockford Fosgate Power 800/4 amp. I am using all 4 channels for the front speakers and they are wired in the bi-amp mode. I am using 2 a/d/s 310rs subs powered by a Rockford Fosgate Power bd500. The fronts are drop-in replacements for the OEM speakers. I also installed last week an Alpine 6 disc cd changer. I am very happy with what I have.

[wildpanda86]

So you only have the speakes up front for the staging... and no rear fill right? (Similar to what I have in my other car)

How did they wire your amp in... I noticed something that looks like an amp for the Harmon Kardon system by the subwoofer... are the wires going to that like preouts? but they seem alittle thin for that.

Also... does anyone have any ideas abt playing an iPod through the system. I am thinking of wiring a seperate equilizer into the stock system that has aux inputs... and then hiding it in one of the little storage compartments with the flip up doors.