audiophile

[jk6672]

I use to be an audiophile some years back, but seem to have gotten away from car audio as I have grown older and family flourished. I still have two PPI amps (PCX 4125 and PCX 2200) that are in great shape. I’d love to get some Focal components and two 10” or 12” subs. I haven’t done any research, but when I was into car audio I really liked Focal, Image Dynamics, CDT for components and JL, Focal, Planet Audio for subs, and I loved Alpine head units/ EQ’s. With my M I’m a little confused, can I take the signal from the idrive and connect to aftermarket or do I have to do away with the idrive as far as stereo/radio?

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by jk6672

I use to be an audiophile some years back, but seem to have gotten away from car audio as I have grown older and family flourished. I still have two PPI amps (PCX 4125 and PCX 2200) that are in great shape. I’d love to get some Focal components and two 10” or 12” subs. I haven’t done any research, but when I was into car audio I really liked Focal, Image Dynamics, CTX for components and JL, Focal, Planet Audio for subs, and I loved Alpine head units/ EQ’s. With my M I’m a little confused, can I take the signal from the idrive and connect to aftermarket or do I have to do away with the idrive as far as stereo/radio?

If you have idrive then forget about an aftermarket head unit. It's just not worth the effort. Pull the signal from the OEM HU into an aftermarket amp (if it cannot accept balanced line inputs you'll need something in between the can accept it and then pass the signal on to your amp as unbalanced) and then to your speakers.

[jk6672]

I'm wondering if the stock head unit has some output cables so there are no splicing and losing SQ. Also since there is no actual head unit, do I look in the same area the nav system is for a way to connect?

[bigjae1976]

You have to use some sort of line converter to step down the signal voltage. There are lots of products, I'd go with an audiocontrol LC6 or a digital EQ version.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

You have to use some sort of line converter to step down the signal voltage. There are lots of products, I'd go with an audiocontrol LC6 or a digital EQ version.

That's only true if you have enhanced premium sound. If he has the standard audio system, you can send the signal directly into an aftermarket amp provided it can accept balanced line inputs. If not, he'll need something that will accept a balanced input and output an unbalanced signal.

[jk6672]

I have the premium sound package, but I want more

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

That's only true if you have enhanced premium sound. If he has the standard audio system, you can send the signal directly into an aftermarket amp provided it can accept balanced line inputs. If not, he'll need something that will accept a balanced input and output an unbalanced signal.

It has to accept an amplified signal otherwise you'll just clip the input section even at minimum gain.

Not too many amps accept a high level balanced input. JL Slash series is one that I know of.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

It has to accept an amplified signal otherwise you'll just clip the input section even at minimum gain.

Not too many amps accept a high level balanced input. JL Slash series is one that I know of.

The signal for the standard audio system is line level not speaker level. In this particular application you are correct though because the OP has stated that he has EPS. I wasn't aware that JL could accept speaker level inputs through its line level inputs.

[jk6672]

So, I have to use something like the "Factory Integration Technology" that I have seen on the Alpine site in order to retain idrive, nav, and bluetooth as a building block if I want to upgrade sound?