Audio upgrade options

[digicidal]

Full BAV kit will be here Tuesday.

I'm on the fence... $1500 isn't peanuts when it doesn't improve performance - but looking forward to your impressions. I'm obviously adapting to it pretty well, as the stock setup sounded better than it did originally when driving today. Likely I've just lost much of my bias coming from the ML setup in the RC-F or I was just listening to the music more than the system today.

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[Batman]

I intend to eventually drop the fake engine noise, but honestly the sound system is miles ahead of my previous 4C.

 

[digicidal]

I intend to eventually drop the fake engine noise, but honestly the sound system is miles ahead of my previous 4C.

That is truly tragic! I considered the 4C briefly... glad I waited. The active sound deactivation was worth the $35 for BimmerCode by itself IMO (though auto shutoff memory is a close second). It added nothing to the driving experience, and the audio is appreciably better without it.

 

[tadda]

It will interesting to hear from those replacing the subwoofers with Bavsound how much of an improvement there is...

My biggest complaint with the audio system had more to do with vibrational noise that the subs created rather than the sound quality of the system itself....After I eliminated most of the problem areas by adding sound deadening material and playing with the equalization settings the system sounds fairly decent....Also removing low freq faux engine noise (with Bimmercode) greatly improved sound as well...

As far as the rest of the speakers goes the front centers and the rear (behind the seat) tweeters and mids are almost useless ...If you fade the sound to the rears and listen the signal is greatly attenuated and really doesn't contribute much to overall sound...same goes for the front centers...

That said, if your looking to further improve the sound quality I would just replace the door speakers and rear woofers...But most importantly apply sound deadening material to rear to eliminate those low freq vibrations and rattles which is the primary complaint about our audio system...

 

[Dick]

I'm on the fence... $1500 isn't peanuts when it doesn't improve performance - but looking forward to your impressions. I'm obviously adapting to it pretty well, as the stock setup sounded better than it did originally when driving today. Likely I've just lost much of my bias coming from the ML setup in the RC-F or I was just listening to the music more than the system today.

I had the ML system in my IS-F and it was fantastic — but the JBL audio in a fucking Tacoma sounds way better than this. (Even my 2019 trd pro 4Runner who’s jbl system was last updated in 2007 isn’t as bad)

My hearing is kind of shit, so take my opinion with a grain of salt — but it sounds like the issue is 100% with the low end and the subs. Fade out the subs and the mids/highs are ok. Anyone know if the Z4 has the same poor quality audio?

 

[JasonO]

It will interesting to hear from those replacing the subwoofers with Bavsound how much of an improvement there is...

My biggest complaint with the audio system had more to do with vibrational noise that the subs created rather than the sound quality of the system itself....After I eliminated most of the problem areas by adding sound deadening material the bass and playing with the equalization settings the system sounds fairly decent....Also removing low freq faux engine noise (with Bimmercode) greatly improved sound as well...

As far as the rest of the speakers goes the front centers and the rear (behind the seat) tweeters and mids are almost useless ...If you fade the sound to the rears and listen the signal is greatly attenuated and really doesn't contribute much to overall sound...same goes for the front centers...

That said, if your looking to further improve the sound quality I would just replace the door speakers and rear woofers...But most importantly apply sound deadening material to rear to eliminate those low freq vibrations and rattles which is the primary complaint about our audio system...

Bavsound will not sell just the doors. I have asked. With that said, I’m considering the Helix Match (250 pair), Parts Express (200-300 pair), and Focal ($600 pair) direct drop ins. I’m also considering several parted out or full three way systems and possibly a second amp.

It is just hard mentally to pay for speakers I know are almost unnoticeably used on this setup, which is what the crux of my problem with the Bavsound drivers are. That additional $400 or so dollars would cover Resonix panels to get rid of the vibrational issues.

 

[tadda]

Bavsound will not sell just the doors. I have asked. With that said, I’m considering the Helix Match (250 pair), Parts Express (200-300 pair), and Focal ($600 pair) direct drop ins. I’m also considering several parted out or full three way systems and possibly a second amp.

It is just hard mentally to pay for speakers I know are almost unnoticeably used on this setup, which is what the crux of my problem with the Bavsound drivers are. That additional $400 or so dollars would cover Resonix panels to get rid of the vibrational issues.

Agreed...

I figured as much with the Bavsound kit not selling components separately but as you mention there are other options available...

 

[JasonO]

Agreed...

I figured as much with the Bavsound kit not selling components separately but as you mention there are other options available...

I think there is a similar kit that has the doors and center for around $500. I have to look and see which model it was tied to.

 

[tadda]

For those that have removed the rear woofers do you happen to have pics of the underside of the enclosure? Is this enclosure sealed?

 

[JasonO]

BTW, I'm taking the BAV stuff to my regular audio guy and he is going to look it over and decide if it is worthwhile - he has been doing this a long time and had seen it all and is always of the opinion that better amp and tuning trumps anything speaker related. Might pick and choose from the kit, but he has used upgraded amps matched perfectly to these type systems and come out with much better sound. (I'm thinking we may just change out subs and do a better amp that covers all frequencies.)

I think the factory amp did not have good power delivery to the amp or the power section in the amp is undersized. I no longer run the sub channel from the factory amp and the mids and highs are definitely cleaner and have better response than when the factory amp had to push the subs.

Whether that is enough for lower sensitivity speakers for the mids and highs is an entirely other story that I’m waiting for someone with the Bavsound setup to tell me.

 

[digicidal]

BTW, I'm taking the BAV stuff to my regular audio guy and he is going to look it over and decide if it is worthwhile - he has been doing this a long time and had seen it all and is always of the opinion that better amp and tuning trumps anything speaker related. Might pick and choose from the kit, but he has used upgraded amps matched perfectly to these type systems and come out with much better sound. (I'm thinking we may just change out subs and do a better amp that covers all frequencies.)

That can definitely help depending on whether or not the DSP is configurable and/or allows the same EQ filtering at the head unit. On the other hand, there's not a lot you can push on the low end from a 4" mid. That's really the Achilles heel of this system IMO and likely helped significantly by an improved driver with better motor assembly and stiffer cone. On the other hand, the tweeter is the opposite, being metal it's unlikely to reach down much at all, and is probably best defined more as a "super-tweeter".

It's too bad that rather than replicating the same 1"T+4"M configuration in the B-pillar area - they didn't just stick 6" midwoofers there and make it a full 4-way system. That would likely be almost perfect in dispersion and tone.

 

[jopfer]

Has anyone installed the BAVsound system yet? Any install pictures/guides? Received mine last week but currently the only thing I can find is the TJ hunt video which isn't really an install guide. Thanks.

 

[tadda]

Has anyone installed the BAVsound system yet? Any install pictures/guides? Received mine last week but currently the only thing I can find is the TJ hunt video which isn't really an install guide. Thanks.

I was curious as to if Bavsound was going to provide detailed instructions....If that buffoonery video posted by Hunt is supposed to be their instructions it's pathetic and poorly done...

 

[JasonO]

I was curious as to if Bavsound was going to provide detailed instructions....If that video posted by Hunt is supposed to be their instructions it's pathetic and poorly done...

That was honestly a terrible review. It left me less willing to buy the product.

 

[jopfer]

This is the reply I received when contacting bavsound:

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