what's up fellas,
well, i'm gonna buy a 1997 BMW 328is tomorrow, and i want to immediately get to work on the sound. here's what i have so far:
Head Unit - Pioneer AVIC-N1 DVD/Navigation blah blah blah
Rear Speakers - 4" Eclipse Coaxials
i thought i had more than that. oh well. anyway, i have a few questions about my future setup.
1) has anyone ever actually heard a set of Rainbow component speakers?? they are german and there is a set that is $350 and is built specifically for my car.
2) any suggestions about the rear fill?? it is a coupe, so no one will ever be in the back seat. i want the cleanest sound possible. should i even hook up my eclipse speakers??
3) i am going to get a JL1000 and a JL W7 once i get my tax returns. the car already has an optima yellow top battery. is the alternator upgrade a must?? the battery is in the trunk.
i am looking for some good opinions, and especially curious about the rear fill because i don't know too much about it.
-UK
Replies (5)
swez on 11/13/2004 20:52:38
Rainbow is rarely mentioned on this site due to the high cost of them. Are they a good deal better than your Eclipse speakers? In a 4" format, probably... but not much better. In a larger format, I think they would really shine with enough amp power. A very high quality product like MB Quartz... but a few notches up the scale in price and performance. A great front stage system is essential if you want a great sound system in a great little coupe. Don't scrimp here on power or quality Comps. Does not have to be Rainbow though.
To improve MB performance on this setup a pair of kicks or custom door mounted 6.5" - 8" drivers would help a lot. Obviously, some real power will be needed to keep up with that sub system mentioned. The MB drivers can also be mounted behind the front seats and they will become your rear fill.
As for that sub system... do you really need all that bass? The selection is excellent to be sure... but do you need all that SPL power in the trunk? A 500/1 is plenty and a single 12 W6 v2 is plenty of sub and less current draw too.
What say you?
Swez
UKinstaller on 11/13/2004 22:15:33
very interesting. well, i have no idea how good the rainbows sound, but word on the street is that they are second to none. and the $350 is the MSRP, i can order them direct from this guy that comes around to my work and get accomidations price for them. the thing is, they are specifically designed for my particular BMW, so i think they would so good, and the name sure is respectable.
on the other hand, i can get infinity perfect components direct from infinity, again through my work, for $150. i heard that they are like $500 a pair. should i check into those??
midbass i have not really thought about, but i know the car comes with kick panels. can i do something with those??
as for the sub, i am dead set on this W7. i know a guy that powered his with a JL500/1, and it still pounded. maybe i should check into that. the JL website says it can be done, but they recommend like 800-1000w. not only are they loud, but they have incredible quality to them. i usually don't listen to bass that loud, but i like having it for when i do want to bump loud.
thanks for the response
-UK
swez on 11/14/2004 11:09:30
UK,
The kick panels are there already? Then by all means, make use of them. It's the best mounting format for front stage speakers. What size speakers will they accept?
Just realize that there are many quality speakers out there to choose from. However, each vehicle has its' own unique audio characteristics. What we hear in a showroom demo wall is often very different than what we get in a typical car install. (am sure you know that already)
So many great brands to choose from too. Focal, Diamond, Rainbow, MB Quartz, CDT and the list goes on. Which is better? Depends on what you are willing to pay, how much amping power they get, EQ features in the system and speaker location. What sounds best to your ears, is all that matters. Afterall, you have to pay for it.
If using small format Comps in front (under 6.5" MB/MR) adding some MB drivers to the system are a definite plus. When done well, can expect good kick from the bass drum, pluck from a bass guitar and nice harmonic bass tones that most small format speakers just cannot deliver.
Sub system: The W7 is an excellent bass driver. It can handle high SPL and remain pure and solid with as little as 100 watts and as much as 1000 watts of input power. But honestly, is +3 dB more bass worth all the added costs?
1. Cost of the amp (several hundred bucks)
2. Upgrades to electricals (300 - 500 bucks here too)
3. All that extra time/labor needed
Only you can say if it is worth it or not. Think it through carefully as you decide. But I would personally consider a smaller sub amp to make room for a decent 4 channel amp to power your front stage Comps and maybe a set of MB drivers in the rear. The rest is up to you.
Comments?
Swez
PS To go with your shiney new Beemer, you can hang a nice Gold medallion on the mirror and watch it swing with the bass. Congratulations! You have been added to the Golds list per Walter. Where it proudly... Semper - Phi
UKinstaller on 11/14/2004 23:01:20
thanks again for the gold medallion. i wrote more in another post.
well, i have decided on the W7. i am hoping to build a superior sound system, and i think that the W7 is one of the best subs on the market. you make an excellent point in going with a W6 however, i can save the cost of some electrical upgrades and the cost of an amp by using a JL500 instead of a JL1000. that will save me several hundred dollars. i have an excellent 4 channel alpine amp that i think i am going to use for the components and possibly the midbass drivers as well.
i am going to definitely look into using the kick panels for some good component action and totally disregard the front door speakers. i have narrowed it down to the rainbows or the infinity perfects.
gotta go to sleep, write more later.
-UK
ttocs on 11/15/2004 10:26:40
that W7 is an impressive beast. We have done alot of them at my current shop and they sound good with 500/1, great with a 1000/1 as long as you ears can take it..........
well, i'm gonna buy a 1997 BMW 328is tomorrow, and i want to immediately get to work on the sound. here's what i have so far:
Head Unit - Pioneer AVIC-N1 DVD/Navigation blah blah blah
Rear Speakers - 4" Eclipse Coaxials
i thought i had more than that. oh well. anyway, i have a few questions about my future setup.
1) has anyone ever actually heard a set of Rainbow component speakers?? they are german and there is a set that is $350 and is built specifically for my car.
2) any suggestions about the rear fill?? it is a coupe, so no one will ever be in the back seat. i want the cleanest sound possible. should i even hook up my eclipse speakers??
3) i am going to get a JL1000 and a JL W7 once i get my tax returns. the car already has an optima yellow top battery. is the alternator upgrade a must?? the battery is in the trunk.
i am looking for some good opinions, and especially curious about the rear fill because i don't know too much about it.
-UK
Replies (5)
swez on 11/13/2004 20:52:38
Rainbow is rarely mentioned on this site due to the high cost of them. Are they a good deal better than your Eclipse speakers? In a 4" format, probably... but not much better. In a larger format, I think they would really shine with enough amp power. A very high quality product like MB Quartz... but a few notches up the scale in price and performance. A great front stage system is essential if you want a great sound system in a great little coupe. Don't scrimp here on power or quality Comps. Does not have to be Rainbow though.
To improve MB performance on this setup a pair of kicks or custom door mounted 6.5" - 8" drivers would help a lot. Obviously, some real power will be needed to keep up with that sub system mentioned. The MB drivers can also be mounted behind the front seats and they will become your rear fill.
As for that sub system... do you really need all that bass? The selection is excellent to be sure... but do you need all that SPL power in the trunk? A 500/1 is plenty and a single 12 W6 v2 is plenty of sub and less current draw too.
What say you?
Swez
UKinstaller on 11/13/2004 22:15:33
very interesting. well, i have no idea how good the rainbows sound, but word on the street is that they are second to none. and the $350 is the MSRP, i can order them direct from this guy that comes around to my work and get accomidations price for them. the thing is, they are specifically designed for my particular BMW, so i think they would so good, and the name sure is respectable.
on the other hand, i can get infinity perfect components direct from infinity, again through my work, for $150. i heard that they are like $500 a pair. should i check into those??
midbass i have not really thought about, but i know the car comes with kick panels. can i do something with those??
as for the sub, i am dead set on this W7. i know a guy that powered his with a JL500/1, and it still pounded. maybe i should check into that. the JL website says it can be done, but they recommend like 800-1000w. not only are they loud, but they have incredible quality to them. i usually don't listen to bass that loud, but i like having it for when i do want to bump loud.
thanks for the response
-UK
swez on 11/14/2004 11:09:30
UK,
The kick panels are there already? Then by all means, make use of them. It's the best mounting format for front stage speakers. What size speakers will they accept?
Just realize that there are many quality speakers out there to choose from. However, each vehicle has its' own unique audio characteristics. What we hear in a showroom demo wall is often very different than what we get in a typical car install. (am sure you know that already)
So many great brands to choose from too. Focal, Diamond, Rainbow, MB Quartz, CDT and the list goes on. Which is better? Depends on what you are willing to pay, how much amping power they get, EQ features in the system and speaker location. What sounds best to your ears, is all that matters. Afterall, you have to pay for it.
If using small format Comps in front (under 6.5" MB/MR) adding some MB drivers to the system are a definite plus. When done well, can expect good kick from the bass drum, pluck from a bass guitar and nice harmonic bass tones that most small format speakers just cannot deliver.
Sub system: The W7 is an excellent bass driver. It can handle high SPL and remain pure and solid with as little as 100 watts and as much as 1000 watts of input power. But honestly, is +3 dB more bass worth all the added costs?
1. Cost of the amp (several hundred bucks)
2. Upgrades to electricals (300 - 500 bucks here too)
3. All that extra time/labor needed
Only you can say if it is worth it or not. Think it through carefully as you decide. But I would personally consider a smaller sub amp to make room for a decent 4 channel amp to power your front stage Comps and maybe a set of MB drivers in the rear. The rest is up to you.
Comments?
Swez
PS To go with your shiney new Beemer, you can hang a nice Gold medallion on the mirror and watch it swing with the bass. Congratulations! You have been added to the Golds list per Walter. Where it proudly... Semper - Phi
UKinstaller on 11/14/2004 23:01:20
thanks again for the gold medallion. i wrote more in another post.
well, i have decided on the W7. i am hoping to build a superior sound system, and i think that the W7 is one of the best subs on the market. you make an excellent point in going with a W6 however, i can save the cost of some electrical upgrades and the cost of an amp by using a JL500 instead of a JL1000. that will save me several hundred dollars. i have an excellent 4 channel alpine amp that i think i am going to use for the components and possibly the midbass drivers as well.
i am going to definitely look into using the kick panels for some good component action and totally disregard the front door speakers. i have narrowed it down to the rainbows or the infinity perfects.
gotta go to sleep, write more later.
-UK
ttocs on 11/15/2004 10:26:40
that W7 is an impressive beast. We have done alot of them at my current shop and they sound good with 500/1, great with a 1000/1 as long as you ears can take it..........
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