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Thread: The ongoing E36 sound system build

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    The ongoing E36 sound system build

    What's up everyone.

    I had started a thread a while back about redoing my entire system due to the previous owner botching some of the wiring and doing some janky installations. I had put a Powerbass 4 channel basic amp in for the speakers, a rockford fosgate punch p300.1 amp for the sub, a Phoenix Gold Radial SD 4 ohm dual voice coil 10" sub, and I did the speakers as follows:

    Remove rear speakers
    Old School MB quart 5.25 kick panel woofers
    Kicker 41KST254 1" silk dome tweeters
    Vifa NE65w-4 2" mid range speaker
    audiopipe passive 3 way crossovers

    At first I wasn't as impressed as I really felt I should be, considering I ran all new 12 gauge oxygen free copper wiring (properly ran through the door's harness)
    I went with the overkill size because if I chose to change out my speakers, I wanted the wiring to be able to handle it. I had spliced in butt connectors and detachable connectors where applicable just for ease of installation/maintenance of the door panels.

    I also fixed loose felt in the doors where the rails for the window were located, as well as adding sound deadening and felt to any potential rattling wires and cables.

    Recently I came into possession of a lot of old school equipment. Now honestly I was around for the 90's but I hadn't played with car audio at the time. I'm really learning as I go, and I'm really into the concept that not only is the equipment period correct, but it just works so damn well.

    Here's some of the equipment that I got, just for you audiophiles:
    Precision Power A204 Art series amp with all original plugs, excellent condition, which was a nice surprise.
    Xtant 202m Amplifier, excellent condition
    Dynaudio 8" midrange woofers
    Avi Canadian built beastly 5.25 component woofers, the magnet is gigantic.
    Audio Control EQT 1/3 octave sound processor
    Precision Power OMX-432 equalizer (sold quick for top dollar)
    3 JL audio 8" subs in a custom box, sold
    JL audio 10w3v3 Sub, repaired surround and missing dust cap. I blew the rest of the surround when I pushed it hard with my JL 500/1 amp!
    Alpine CDA-9815 Receiver

    So, I had some new toys to play with. Honestly, I had no idea what I had because I thought it was old crap. I was very wrong. My friend (Cblock) told me that what I had was actually very good stuff back in the day. I decided to swap the amps and give the setup the power it deserved. I put the PPI art series amp in there to power my speakers, swapped out one of the blown MB quart (blown voice coil speakers with some JL coaxials I had laying around. I disconnected the tweeter so it was just powering the woofer temporarily. I will need to figure out a better long term solution. I picked up a another JL 500/1 as a spare and just ran that to my subwoofer. The prefab box isn't really my first choice, but it will do for now until I pick up some wood working tools to build my own. I plan on getting a 12" powerful sub to match the amp.

    So far it changed the sound completely, the speakers up front sound more full and they get pretty damn loud. I haven't gotten any clipping from the sub or the speakers at all with the gain turned up. I decided to just adjust it to a safe level for now, but it's definitely a different setup from when I hooked it up the first time.

    I'll post some pictures of everything. I'm in the process of designing an amp rack that's worthy of the equipment, because right now it seriously just seems thrown together for my taste. I like hidden cables and tucked amps while still being able to disperse the heat properly. That's the next project, but for now I'm just happy to be diving into this new old school world.

    I'll be updating the pictures as I go:

    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Last edited by Jaws; 08-18-2017 at 11:49 AM.
    Instagram: Jaws.garage
    2007 Saleen S331 Supercharged #133 Oxford white
    2002 Mercedes E55 AMG Tectite Grey/Black, Kleemann upgrades, Supersprint muffler
    2007 Buell XB12scg Cherry Bomb

  2. #2
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    That's some nice stuff to play around with (the recent acquisition), will blow a lot of newer stuff out of the water.

  3. #3
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    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on FlickrUntitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr

    Yesterday I got tired of the clutter and quickly built some amp racks with MDF and some spare carpet we had lying around. I have them facing backwards just because the wiring seemed to fit better this way. The amps get a little hot so I'm going to build a new floor with some plexiglass windows and a few computer fans to cool it down.
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr

    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr

    Now it's nice and tidy in the trunk, but that sagging floor is an eyesore. I would love to find a good SPL old school sub to fit the period correct build.
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr

    This thing sold quick. It had all the cables too.
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr

    Here was the old setup that I had disassembled. It was some crazy competition setup. I'm not even sure what was going on here. It's beyond my skill set Lol
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr

    I ran the JL w3 for like 10 minutes just to see what it could do.
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Last edited by Jaws; 08-18-2017 at 11:52 AM.
    Instagram: Jaws.garage
    2007 Saleen S331 Supercharged #133 Oxford white
    2002 Mercedes E55 AMG Tectite Grey/Black, Kleemann upgrades, Supersprint muffler
    2007 Buell XB12scg Cherry Bomb

  4. #4
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    More PPI goodness for you audiophiles. Now I kind of want to swap the JL for another Art series! haha someone stop me.

    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr


    Here's the comparison of the old school MB quart and the Avi Speakers. You can tell the difference in the magnet is significant. I think I'm going to hang onto these just in case I decide to run them. I did test them, they work. It just looks like they got exposed to moisture in the doors. I wish they had used baffles!! Speaking of, I just ordered some baffles for my kick panel speakers..
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr


    Pretty cool that Audio Control is in Mountlake Terrace, which is like a 40 minute drive from me.
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Untitled by andrew johnson, on Flickr
    Instagram: Jaws.garage
    2007 Saleen S331 Supercharged #133 Oxford white
    2002 Mercedes E55 AMG Tectite Grey/Black, Kleemann upgrades, Supersprint muffler
    2007 Buell XB12scg Cherry Bomb

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Peoria, AZ
    Posts
    7,696
    My Cars
    03 zhp, 97 e36m3, 04 zhp
    Still wishing I never sold my Art stash!

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