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      03-09-2017, 09:42 AM   #1
buldogge
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Focal Subs?

Hey guys...Has anyone installed the Focal IFBMW-SUB v2s in an E90?

I've got the subs (and door set)...but...the car won't be here until the end of the month.

I'm wondering if the supplied spacer ring is needed for the E90...obviously, I'll find out soon enough...just wondering what others have found.

I've also got a JL Audio XD600/6 + Technic's harness, so hopefully I will be GTG.

Last piece of the puzzle is changing the rear deck speaker sets...thinking of just swapping the HiFis for L7 or Individual pulls....thoughts?

TIA
-Mark in St. Louis

Last edited by buldogge; 03-09-2017 at 10:17 AM..
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      03-10-2017, 10:22 AM   #2
blu3wolf
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Ill Let you know. My two Under seat 8inch subs blew and these focals are direct fit replacement according to the shop. Ordered with a local shop Monday, hasn't come in. labor should be under an hour. hopefully ill know next week and let you know how the install went.
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      03-10-2017, 10:26 AM   #3
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I have ran Focal in a couple of past vehicles, and i can tell you that they are great speakers. I never ran their subs, but their mids and highs performed awesome!
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      03-10-2017, 12:50 PM   #4
buldogge
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I'm looking forward to hearing them...Hopefully I'll get them installed by the end of the month.

blu3wolf...I look forward to hearing what you find...LMK if they used the rings, please.

TA
-Mark
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      03-27-2017, 02:20 PM   #5
blu3wolf
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Hey Mark,

Finally got around to installing these (were back ordered here). i spoke to the tech and yes he mentioned they used the rings.
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      03-27-2017, 05:40 PM   #6
buldogge
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Thanks blu3wolf! I'm driving my E90 back from Utah right now (well, wife is driving...currently in Oklahoma), so hopefully I'll get around to installing them later this week.

TA
-Mark
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      03-28-2017, 02:55 PM   #7
qbnlykwhoa
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I just ordered these last week and they will hopefully be here this weekend except they will be going into an e93 along with Focal es100k's and a XD600/6v2 to power it all.

What's everyone paying for these in the states? Seem hard to find, had to order from UK.
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      04-03-2017, 10:23 AM   #8
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They're hard to find. Took over two weeks for mine (came from somewhere in western Canada? ) . Canadian it cost me about 500 cad per sub approx 375USD lets say
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      04-03-2017, 04:06 PM   #9
buldogge
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I installed the amp on Saturday, and these "subs" this morning...I used the rings, but I'm 99% sure they are not needed. Using them made re-installing the OE covers a bit of a PITA, FWIW.

Install is super simple, 2nd one took maybe 15 minutes...It takes longer to replace the OE cover and re-fasten the (4) seat bolts, than it does to install the "sub".

i really need to get the Focal mids + tweeters installed in the front door, now...as the stock HiFi speakers are really showing their weakness, at this point!

-Mark
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      04-06-2017, 08:05 AM   #10
qbnlykwhoa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blu3wolf View Post
They're hard to find. Took over two weeks for mine (came from somewhere in western Canada? ) . Canadian it cost me about 500 cad per sub approx 375USD lets say
I was able to get both subs shipped from the UK for about $350USD. I'll see if i can find the seller again.


Quote:
Originally Posted by buldogge View Post
I installed the amp on Saturday, and these "subs" this morning...I used the rings, but I'm 99% sure they are not needed. Using them made re-installing the OE covers a bit of a PITA, FWIW.

Install is super simple, 2nd one took maybe 15 minutes...It takes longer to replace the OE cover and re-fasten the (4) seat bolts, than it does to install the "sub".

i really need to get the Focal mids + tweeters installed in the front door, now...as the stock HiFi speakers are really showing their weakness, at this point!

-Mark
Installed mine this weekend too and the rings I think are for other models where the speaker doesn't clear the bottom of the enclosure. I used them originally and noticed that i couldn't put the oem grills back on properly so removed them. Also sound deadened the enclosures a little.

How much gain are you feeding them from the amp?

Thankfully, I'm putting in some ES100k's this weekend. Just waiting for my OEM speaker connectors to come in.
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      04-06-2017, 09:27 AM   #11
buldogge
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Quote:
Originally Posted by qbnlykwhoa View Post
Installed mine this weekend too and the rings I think are for other models where the speaker doesn't clear the bottom of the enclosure. I used them originally and noticed that i couldn't put the oem grills back on properly so removed them. Also sound deadened the enclosures a little.

How much gain are you feeding them from the amp?
I may go back in later, and swap them out.

What deadening material and placement did you use?

I've currently got the input sensitivity @ ~10-11 o'clock and the LPF @ ~250hz.

...but, I'm still playing around. Front channels (Focals, as well) are @ ~8-9 o'clock and 150hz, and the rear OE (fills) are @ min-7 o'clock and 200hz.

-Mark
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      04-06-2017, 11:18 AM   #12
qbnlykwhoa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buldogge View Post
I may go back in later, and swap them out.

What deadening material and placement did you use?

I've currently got the input sensitivity @ ~10-11 o'clock and the LPF @ ~250hz.

...but, I'm still playing around. Front channels (Focals, as well) are @ ~8-9 o'clock and 150hz, and the rear OE (fills) are @ min-7 o'clock and 200hz.

-Mark
I used Stinger Roadkill I had from my last install. You can get it for a good price on amazon.

I placed some strips inside the enclosures in-between the ribs. And a few sections on the backsides but made sure it didn't restrict them fitting back in correctly.

I have the gain for the subs sitting at around the same, 10-11 O'Clock.
I have the LPF at around 200 though.

Focal spec says they're frequency response is between 38hz - 200hz.

https://www.focal.com/sites/www.foca...tion_sheet.pdf

Did the fronts make a big difference for you?

I have the stock hifi speakers in the front and back still, so gains are set to min and HPF's set at around 175hz.
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      04-06-2017, 02:13 PM   #13
buldogge
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Thanks.

Fronts made a big difference...HiFis were getting hammered, even on min. gains.

I would say the tweeters are the biggest achilles heel...but I was also getting some distortion from the mids.

I think for the rears, if I can't find some BMW Individual speakers for a good price, I may just swap out the tweeters.

I'll have a closer look at the Focal specs...I was just going by ear...seemed smoother, less muddy, around 250hz LP.

-Mark

Quote:
Originally Posted by qbnlykwhoa View Post
I used Stinger Roadkill I had from my last install. You can get it for a good price on amazon.

I placed some strips inside the enclosures in-between the ribs. And a few sections on the backsides but made sure it didn't restrict them fitting back in correctly.

I have the gain for the subs sitting at around the same, 10-11 O'Clock.
I have the LPF at around 200 though.

Focal spec says they're frequency response is between 38hz - 200hz.

https://www.focal.com/sites/www.foca...tion_sheet.pdf

Did the fronts make a big difference for you?

I have the stock hifi speakers in the front and back still, so gains are set to min and HPF's set at around 175hz.
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      04-06-2017, 02:50 PM   #14
qbnlykwhoa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buldogge View Post
Thanks.

Fronts made a big difference...HiFis were getting hammered, even on min. gains.

I would say the tweeters are the biggest achilles heel...but I was also getting some distortion from the mids.

I think for the rears, if I can't find some BMW Individual speakers for a good price, I may just swap out the tweeters.

I'll have a closer look at the Focal specs...I was just going by ear...seemed smoother, less muddy, around 250hz LP.

-Mark
Cool thanks, I'll try out 250hz tonight and see how it sounds.

Can't wait to put my es100k's in! Are your focals a comp set or the Focal integration set? I have to figure out a spot for the x-overs in the door.

I also don't have tweeters in the back unless the speakers are just 2 way. Not sure if they changed that after a certain year.

Last edited by qbnlykwhoa; 04-06-2017 at 02:58 PM..
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      04-06-2017, 02:54 PM   #15
buldogge
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Integration set.

Let us know what you find!

-Mark

Quote:
Originally Posted by qbnlykwhoa View Post
Cool thanks, I'll try out 250hz tonight and see how it sounds.

Can't wait to put my es100k's in! Are your focals a comp set or the Focal integration set? I have to figure out a spot for the x-overs in the door.
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      04-10-2017, 10:26 AM   #16
buldogge
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Quote:
Originally Posted by qbnlykwhoa View Post
Cool thanks, I'll try out 250hz tonight and see how it sounds.

Can't wait to put my es100k's in! Are your focals a comp set or the Focal integration set? I have to figure out a spot for the x-overs in the door.

I also don't have tweeters in the back unless the speakers are just 2 way. Not sure if they changed that after a certain year.
Did you get the es100ks installed?

Did you play with the XD settings, anymore??

What did you find???

-Mark
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      04-16-2017, 08:10 AM   #17
qbnlykwhoa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buldogge View Post
Did you get the es100ks installed?

Did you play with the XD settings, anymore??

What did you find???

-Mark
Finally have the ski pass sub in and tuned the whole system again.
System sounds great with the current setup.

Fronts:
Focal ES 100k - 120hz - gain a little before half way

Underseat:
Focal IFBMW Subs - 200hz - gain a little more than half way

Rear:
OEM Speakers - 120hz - A pinch more than flat

Ski Pass:
Image Dynamics IDQ 10V4 - 100hz - A little less than half way

XD600/6v2 powering the front and underseats
XD600/1v2 powering the ski pass sub

Last edited by qbnlykwhoa; 08-02-2017 at 02:50 PM..
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