Notes on a 2012 E92 M3 HiFi Audio Upgrade with Alpine PXA-H800

[cdgatti]

Technic - found it interesting that you said it sounds best with the Front/Hi and Front/Lo crossovers overlapped. What did you end up with for crossover points that sounded good to you?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by cdgatti

Technic - found it interesting that you said it sounds best with the Front/Hi and Front/Lo crossovers overlapped. What did you end up with for crossover points that sounded good to you?

I set it up to:

- fronts 100Hz at 24dB HP
- woofers 63Hz at 30dB to 180Hz at 24dB BP

[Technic]

Originally Posted by drubrew

So you are wasting one of your channels on the - Alpine PDX-5 amplifier, correct. Do you have the coupe or Sedan? I have the 08, M3, Sedan. I swapped all my speakers for Bavarian Soundwerks with the DIRAC setup. Should I parallel the rear doors with rear deck? Even though the rear deck has tweets and Mids and the rear doors only have mids? I have not changed the under seat subs yet and have not decided on the trunk sub yet. May do the JL Stealth box unless you feel what you used might be superior?

This is an E92 M3 (Coupe).

Your Dirac (EPS) OEM system has coaxials in the rear doors and components at the rear shelf. You swapped the OEM EPS system speakers with the BSW Logic7 sytem replacement speakers. Thus no coaxials anywhere.

IMO, there is no audio quality reason for swapping the OEM EPS speakers with the BSW Logic7 speakers.

I think that the MusicarNW sub box is a much better sub implementation in our cars -sound quality, fit and utility- than the JL Audio Stealthbox. One thing for sure, the Stealthbox blocks the folding rear seats.

Do you have back up sensors and GPS? I have been struggling with how to interface a system and cant decide between the Alpine you are using vs Mobridge. The iPod interface under the middle arm rest is god awful and if I use one of the extra digital inputs on the Alpine for my iPod then I loose GPS and backup sensor voicing. I have a way to pull digital from an iPod/iPhone and still send USB data for controls through the stock system. As this will be my primary source. With Mobridge there is only one digital input unless I splurge for the iPod interface too. But the price of doing Mobridge and DSP etc etc will be so much higher than the Alpine.

You should search a little bit more about the actual details of your EPS system and the differences between EPS and the other OEM systems (Logic7/Harman Kardon and HiFi). I have posted at least 2 full upgrade/decoding threads on the EPS system. The H800 cannot be installed in a EPS system by itself. This thread is not about an EPS system and the H800, this is a HiFi system integration.

[cdgatti]

Technic, can you control volume with the hifi head unit OR do you need to use the RUX controller? I think on the old alpine 701 unit volume had to be controlled on the RUX.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by cdgatti

Technic, can you control volume with the hifi head unit OR do you need to use the RUX controller? I think on the old alpine 701 unit volume had to be controlled on the RUX.

OEM volume... just set RUX volume to max without hiss.

[sunmans]

Technic, If one is considering an easy install on a 2008 E90 base, Which would you choose, MS8 or Alpine? I want something that I can set up once and forget. Simple is best for me.

Originally Posted by Technic

I would say that this H800 is the best sounding processor that I have installed so far -that's counting Audiocontrol DQXS, RF 3SIXTY.2 and 3SIXTY.3, Audison bit one.1 and JBL MS-8.

It has the best features of the bit one.1 and the MS-8 with none of their deficiencies (lack of autotune and bluetooth echo respectively).

[VP Electricity]

The question doesn't make sense, though. Both are the flagship pieces from their respective companies. Neither is "easy" and neither is "simple". I have had good results with both and each have certain strengths, but you're asking for iPad traits in a high-powered Linux box.

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

it may very well be the best processor that Alpine will ever make.

It's my understanding that previous Alpine Imprint processors used Audyssey technology while the PXA-H800 does not. I also have a PXA-H800 and am extremely happy with it but do wish they continued with Audyssey because I've read nothing but rave reviews of Audyssey - they specialize in audio tuning.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by sunmans

Technic, If one is considering an easy install on a 2008 E90 base, Which would you choose, MS8 or Alpine? I want something that I can set up once and forget. Simple is best for me.

Easy install? An Audiocontrol DQXS -discontinued but there is a brand new one at eBay.

[VP Electricity]

Oh, you're mean, you are.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

Oh, you're mean, you are.

Hey, I used to have two of those years ago and they sounded quite good... and simple to install. But overpriced compared to the new wave of DSP.

[sunmans]

Cool!! I can STILL get this in Japan!

Originally Posted by Technic

Hey, I used to have two of those years ago and they sounded quite good... and simple to install. But overpriced compared to the new wave of DSP.

[fullergoku]

Technic so would you recommend the Alpine over the JBL for someone with Logic 7 system ? Im just starting to build my system and plan to keep a center channel speaker.