My e30 sound system (pictures & info)

[Jordan]

Well almost everything is completed, only a few small things left. I want to get a new headunit (Nakamichi CD-700 or 400) and I need to run 3 pairs of RCA's back from the headunit.

Here is a quick technical layout diagram.


The system consists of:

Alpine CDM-9803 headunit

RTC 19 - MB Quart Neo Tweeter
RWC160 -6.5 MB Quart Midbass Driver
Custom kickpanels to mount the 6.5's
JL Audio 250/1 Amp
JL Audio 300/4 Amp
JL Audio 10W3v2 subwoofer - dual 4Ω
Custom rear deck with aeroport exit
False panel to hide wiring and box
Completely custom made enclosure for subwoofer (1.5 Cu.Ft port tuned to 30Hz)

Wiring from the 300/4 to the speakers is 16ga.
Wiring from the 250/1 to the 10W3v2 is 12ga
Wiring (power/ground) to the amps is 4ga. No inline fuses. Gold plated terminals at the battery and at the ground point. Ground wire is 6 inches long to termination on the body.


Pictures:










Questions, comments, suggestions?

[jeffrie]

Like how you secured your box!!!
Hated e30's vault syndrome with boxes in the trunk, Don't have the ummph that hatchbacks give you.
Was wondering if that PVC pipe setup of yours fixes that problem.
I had 1000 RMS of muffled distorted sound & vibrating metal in a e30 that could be heard from all outside only but nice when it makes you cough and choke in a Coupe Quattro.

[Slowered318]

How does the 30 hz tuning sound? i found for most music the single 12" setup works better with a 40-45 hz tuning..

You have the exact same setup as i do in my Toyota, ported through the rear deck but mine is fireing rearward (works fine in the tin can cars) I think i prefer the 3 speaker setup over more complicated 5-6-and 7, it's so simple and does the job great.

[T.Dot_E30]

Nice setup, what are the specs on the box you made?

any pictures of it outside the car?

I have a 10w6 that needs a better box, but im jealous of the amps you got. pretty sweet.

Also where are your rear speakers? I dont see them on the rear deck, unless they are there with no cutouts in the decklid.

never knew u either took out or dont have an OBC, and you dont use ur center vents? Is the weather there that nice? -30 degrees C here today...... no way i can live without my vents.

EDIT: never mind i jus saw that those two smaller speakers are tweeeters in ur diagram, which means u have no rear speakers. Before I jus thought there were jus a smaller pic

[Jordan]

No bass is audible outside the car. No licence plates or any other sort of rattles/vibrations outside the car either. All you can hear outside the car is the mids and highs.

Any other sub setup in a e30 (most bmw's for that matter) are for show first, sound second. I hate how car's sound with subs facing backwards wailing into the trunk makeing a zillion vibrations on the sheet metal.

[T.Dot_E30]

oh ya one more thing, how to you tune a box to an exact freq.? Using one of those software programs I assume?

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by Slowered318

How does the 30 hz tuning sound? i found for most music the single 12" setup works better with a 40-45 hz tuning..

I like it. I could adjust the port length at any time to change the port tuning. Where its at is good for now.

Originally Posted by Slowered318

I think i prefer the 3 speaker setup over more complicated 5-6-and 7, it's so simple and does the job great.

I actually have 5 speakers in the car total, but yeah.. no need to have a zillion speakers.

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

Nice setup, what are the specs on the box you made?

(outside dimensions, 3/4in MDF)

Height = 15 in
Width = 28 in
Depth1 = 7 in
Depth2 = 12.75 in

Gross box volume = 1.684 Ft³
Speaker Displacement = 0.05 Ft³
Net box volume = 1.64 Ft³
Port Diameter = 3 in
Port Length = 10.654 in
Port Frequency = 30 Hz
Port Area = 7.069 in^2
Port Volume = 0.044 Ft³

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

any pictures of it outside the car?

Nope, didn't take any the day the box was made/installed

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

im jealous of the amps you got. pretty sweet.

Thanks. The JL slash series amps are pretty damn awesome, both cosmeticly.. and their sound.

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

Also where are your rear speakers? I dont see them on the rear deck, unless they are there with no cutouts in the decklid.

No rear speakers. Prefer a front soundstage only. Don't much care how it sounds to rear passengers, only kids are going to fit in the back anyways with the Vaders up front.

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

never knew u either took out or dont have an OBC, and you dont use ur center vents? Is the weather there that nice? -30 degrees C here today...... no way i can live without my vents.

No A/C in this car. Removed the vents as well. I have plans to put other things in thier place, but for now just the blank filler panels. I still have totally fuctional heat through the top and side defrosters, and the floor vents. Just not the top ones. I absolutely hate hot air blowing in my face anyways.

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

oh ya one more thing, how to you tune a box to an exact freq.? Using one of those software programs I assume?

Port length and internal diameter determine port tuning. Its all realative. The mathmatics for it are actually pretty simple when you know all the variables.

[E30GOD]

really dig the amps...and the custom box.....i'm gonna be doin somethin like that soon...