Subs in premium sound question?

d_dot · 10-04-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Not to that OEM enclosure... the SWS-8 will, though. I have not started my upgrade yet to tell you how the SWS-8 sound with the rest of the Premium Sound components.

does it sound considerably better ? is the bass deeper?

Technic · 10-04-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_dot

does it sound considerably better ? is the bass deeper?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Not to that OEM enclosure... the SWS-8 will, though. I have not started my upgrade yet to tell you how the SWS-8 sound with the rest of the Premium Sound components.

d_dot · 10-04-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

ok well keep us posted thx again

rob612 · 10-15-2008, 11:41 PM

11 days and waiting...

M3Drivincraze · 10-16-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob612

11 days and waiting...

+1

Technic · 10-16-2008, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob612

11 days and waiting...

Damn... I did not know that I was on the clock.

I cannot install the 4ohms SWS-8s until I install the aftermarket amps. I don't want to cause any issue with the OEM amp by installing a lower impedance woofer to it. The OEM amp in the Enhanced Premium Sound drive a pair of 7 ohms underseat woofers, compared to the base OEM amp that drives a pair of 2 ohms underseat woofers. So just swapping the Premium woofers with any SWS-8 (be the 2- or the 4-ohms version) and let them be driven off the OEM amp is not as straight forward as in the base system; an aftermarket amp is required to avoid any overheating issues with the Premium OEM amp.

If you want to have an idea on how they will sound check the DIY thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163804 ... the result will be the same.

jlaw · 10-16-2008, 11:32 PM

Not to drag you off-topic here, but based on what you're saying about impedance being the sticking point, could those of us with the base/standard audio simply replace our underseat woofers with the 2-ohm SWS-8's without touching the amp?

rob612 · 10-16-2008, 11:52 PM

lol sorry technic.. i'm just anxious to see you install a good set of subs. GLUCK with that buddy..

808MGuy · 10-17-2008, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlaw

Not to drag you off-topic here, but based on what you're saying about impedance being the sticking point, could those of us with the base/standard audio simply replace our underseat woofers with the 2-ohm SWS-8's without touching the amp?

I wouldn't expect a significant difference from a 1-for-1 speaker swap. Right now, I'm looking for something a bit better sounding that the SWS-8 or even the Pioneer 8" shallow sub. I have come across 2 possibilities from other manufacturers but the cost is around $400 per woofer so I'll be waiting to see if I can get a little more info on those before I make a decision.

Technic · 10-17-2008, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlaw

Not to drag you off-topic here, but based on what you're saying about impedance being the sticking point, could those of us with the base/standard audio simply replace our underseat woofers with the 2-ohm SWS-8's without touching the amp?

Yes, you could direct swap the OEM woofers with the 2-ohms SWS-8. I don't think that there will be a radical of a sound improvement, as the standard OEM amp only puts out 40W max (some 20W RMS) to those OEM woofers.

However, the SWS-8 cone excursion is much longer than the OEM woofers (so much that the OEM grilles cannot be put back or the SWS-8 cone will hit it when it plays heavy bass), so there will be some improvement in "punch" over the OEM woofers.

d_dot · 10-23-2008, 11:40 AM

Hey Technic any updates????

Technic · 10-23-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_dot

Hey Technic any updates????

... I should install the SWS-8 this afternoon and test them for a very short time with the OEM amp to listen how they sound. I have not received a couple of parts that I need to fully finish my installation, but at least I can install these SWS-8 today and very briefly find out how much of a difference in bass they make over the OEM's.

d_dot · 10-23-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

... I should install the SWS-8 this afternoon and test them for a very short time with the OEM amp to listen how they sound. I have not received a couple of parts that I need to fully finish my installation, but at least I can install these SWS-8 today and very briefly find out how much of a difference in bass they make over the OEM's.

cool cant wait!

Technic · 10-23-2008, 04:10 PM

Waiting for the silicone to dry...

d_dot · 10-23-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Waiting for the silicone to dry...

sweet!

kyoshozx · 10-23-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Waiting for the silicone to dry...

What amp are you using to drive these?

jlaw · 10-23-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

... I should install the SWS-8 this afternoon and test them for a very short time with the OEM amp to listen how they sound. I have not received a couple of parts that I need to fully finish my installation, but at least I can install these SWS-8 today and very briefly find out how much of a difference in bass they make over the OEM's.

Awesome, eagerly awaiting the results.

Did you order new OEM enclosures to modify or did you cut up the factory ones?

Saturn · 10-23-2008, 05:39 PM

Very interested to see how these subs perform with the OEM amp in the premium sound set up.

808MGuy · 10-23-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saturn

Very interested to see how these subs perform with the OEM amp in the premium sound set up.

Off the top of my head, I would guess the difference won't be significant and there's a small chance it might even get worse. We'll just have to wait and see.

808MGuy · 10-23-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

Waiting for the silicone to dry...

That's a lot of silicone. It looks like you have it under the mounting flange of the driver too. How do you get the driver out now if you need to remove it?

Technic · 10-23-2008, 06:56 PM

Installed...

Warning: This is a test of the SWS-8 driven by the Premium (Individual) Audio OEM amp. As I found out before, the OEM underseat woofers are approximately 7 ohms in impedance, so driving the 4 ohms SWS-8 by the OEM amp is not recommended, as it will cause the OEM amp to overheat.

Findings: Leaving all my EQ/Bass/Treble the same as before (OEM subs vs. SWS-8), I played three iPod songs with increasing heavy, techno bass that I knew sounded pretty well with the OEM woofers:

a) The Sound of Goodbye- Armin van Buuren
b) Submariner- Axwell
c) Mandarine Girl- Booka Shade

My very first impression is that with the SWS-8 there is a very apparent increase in bass at low volume that was not there before. The higher the volume the louder and deeper the bass became over the OEM woofers. By the time Mandarine Girl was playing the OEM amp went in protection (as expected).

I have to say that just before the protection shut down, I was very, very, very happy.

As anybody that has replaced the OEM woofers with SWS-8 can tell you, it is the best single upgrade that you can make to any of the BMW OEM audio systems. Just add a dedicated aftermarket amp and let it impress you.

Technic · 10-23-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIS4

That's a lot of silicone. It looks like you have it under the mounting flange of the driver too. How do you get the driver out now if you need to remove it?

Actually there is not that much silicone around the woofers themselves, just in the opening for the wiring. And even then it was enough to cover a piece of plastic covering that opening and around the wires coming out.

What you are seeing is old silicone from a past installation of these SWS-8 (they are not new).

10-15-2008, 11:41 PM	#26
rob612 Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 235 Posts Drives: e92 - m3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California iTrader: (1)	11 days and waiting...
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10-16-2008, 11:32 PM	#29
jlaw First Lieutenant 29 Rep 351 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Not to drag you off-topic here, but based on what you're saying about impedance being the sticking point, could those of us with the base/standard audio simply replace our underseat woofers with the 2-ohm SWS-8's without touching the amp?
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10-16-2008, 11:52 PM	#30
rob612 Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 235 Posts Drives: e92 - m3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California iTrader: (1)	lol sorry technic.. i'm just anxious to see you install a good set of subs. GLUCK with that buddy..
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10-23-2008, 11:40 AM	#33
d_dot 4 * General 55 Rep 644 Posts Drives: F12 M6,Audi R8 Lambo Gallardo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tri-State iTrader: (0)	Hey Technic any updates???? __________________ Nissan GT-R (Sold) E92 M3 + 335 (sold) F10 535 (sold) When Driving Nice Whips It Helps To Have Nice Kix!
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10-23-2008, 04:10 PM	#36
Technic Lieutenant General 2277 Rep 12,996 Posts Drives: 2021 i3S, 2024 i4 M50 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Florida iTrader: (18)	Waiting for the silicone to dry...
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10-23-2008, 05:39 PM	#40
Saturn Private First Class 4 Rep 177 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Very interested to see how these subs perform with the OEM amp in the premium sound set up.
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10-23-2008, 06:56 PM	#43
Technic Lieutenant General 2277 Rep 12,996 Posts Drives: 2021 i3S, 2024 i4 M50 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Florida iTrader: (18)	Installed... Warning: This is a test of the SWS-8 driven by the Premium (Individual) Audio OEM amp. As I found out before, the OEM underseat woofers are approximately 7 ohms in impedance, so driving the 4 ohms SWS-8 by the OEM amp is not recommended, as it will cause the OEM amp to overheat. Findings: Leaving all my EQ/Bass/Treble the same as before (OEM subs vs. SWS-8), I played three iPod songs with increasing heavy, techno bass that I knew sounded pretty well with the OEM woofers: a) The Sound of Goodbye- Armin van Buuren b) Submariner- Axwell c) Mandarine Girl- Booka Shade My very first impression is that with the SWS-8 there is a very apparent increase in bass at low volume that was not there before. The higher the volume the louder and deeper the bass became over the OEM woofers. By the time Mandarine Girl was playing the OEM amp went in protection (as expected). I have to say that just before the protection shut down, I was very, very, very happy. As anybody that has replaced the OEM woofers with SWS-8 can tell you, it is the best single upgrade that you can make to any of the BMW OEM audio systems. Just add a dedicated aftermarket amp and let it impress you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote