[expl0de]

I'm thinking of adding a third tweeter to my car for the dashboard mid. There is the empty space which is used with the Harmon Kardon system.
Also the Hi-Fi speaker has the socket to connect tweeter, so it is plug and play.
I can purchase the H&K tweeter, but my others are just hifi and not sure if it will perform well. (8 ohm vs 4ohm in hi-fi) So I found that the Hi-Fi tweeters from e60 bmw will fit. The part number is: 65136919362
What do you guys think about that? I don't have the parts yet to show pictures.

[Billfitz]

I put one of these in mine, using some foam to secure it in place:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Even buying a pair you come out way ahead on the price, which is off the wall for the BMW tweeter. The JBL sounds a smidge better than the BMW, and the included high pass filter is much better. The picture shows the tweeter mounted in the included swivel bezel, which you wouldn't use in the dash location.

[sspade]

Can you post pics of your install if you do this? Im considering adding a tweeter as well, especially if its plug and play.

[Billfitz]

I didn't take any pics, and it's not exactly convenient to pull the grille now. It's not quite plug and play, as you have to tap the wires going to the mid driver, but otherwise no big deal. I made a small cradle of soft foam for the tweeter to sit in, works fine. I used a pair of the same JBL tweeters in the back doors with the swivel bezel shown and they work very well. There are tweeters from Infinity that are identical save for the name plate, so shop for the best price. If you question if they're as good as Harmon, JBL and Infinity are both Harmon companies, but by buying JBL or Infinity you don't pay the BMW tax.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by expl0de

I'm thinking of adding a third tweeter to my car for the dashboard mid. There is the empty space which is used with the Harmon Kardon system.
Also the Hi-Fi speaker has the socket to connect tweeter, so it is plug and play.
I can purchase the H&K tweeter, but my others are just hifi and not sure if it will perform well. (8 ohm vs 4ohm in hi-fi) So I found that the Hi-Fi tweeters from e60 bmw will fit. The part number is: 65136919362
What do you guys think about that? I don't have the parts yet to show pictures.

Don’t put in a center speaker. In fact, consider disconnecting the midrange.

Most aftermarket systems take out the center.

It screws up stereo separation.

[expl0de]

I did the retrofit, everything is P&P. The difference is very noticeable. For those who want even better sound the E92 rear tweeters can be retrofitted, but some cutting of the rear doorcard is necessary. Photos are attached.

[expl0de]

I ended up buying new tweeter, because on the one above, the membrane has lifted in one place. Also most tweeters in ebay have the same issue.
I also found out that the tweeters in the front and rear doors are the same part number when HK is installed. This means that hifi front tweeter will fit in rear door when oem bracket and grill are installed. I personally dont like the tweeter grill in f30, it doesn't match the midrange grill.

[howe9191]

Done mine. In my case I prefer the tweeter facing windscreen. The tweeter was from E60 rear deck tweeter.

Overall soundstage improved and the vocal becomes more focus.

[ramparts]

I would replace the mid range speaker - the hifi ones are made out of cereal packets !

[devil84]

Is the centre speaker just the rear door coaxial from hifi set up?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by davidoff86

I would replace the mid range speaker - the hifi ones are made out of cereal packets !

The OEM drivers are high quality. Replacements may claim to be better in their advertising, but those claims aren't backed up by anything.

Is the centre speaker just the rear door coaxial from hifi set up?

They're different. The dash isn't deep enough for the rear door speakers to fit.

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

The OEM drivers are high quality. Replacements may claim to be better in their advertising, but those claims aren't backed up by anything.
They're different. The dash isn't deep enough for the rear door speakers to fit.

I replaced mine with focals and they made the world of difference !

[Billfitz]

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. One of the first things you learn when studying acoustical engineering is that if you think something will sound better it will.

[Littlebear]

Do the stock speakers have Neo magnets?

Murf

[Billfitz]

They do. That's one of the signs of high quality drivers. But the average person doesn't know neodymium from neolithic, and far more often than not wrongly assumes that a larger magnet indicates a better driver. One outfit has an installation video where they say that the large magnets they use give much better results than the small magnets of the OEM drivers. That's just not true. Maybe they just don't know this themselves, maybe they're capitalizing on the general public's ignorance of how loudspeakers work, either way it's an inexcusable error.

[micstar]

Originally Posted by howe9191

Done mine. In my case I prefer the tweeter facing windscreen. The tweeter was from E60 rear deck tweeter.

Overall soundstage improved and the vocal becomes more focus.

Is this just plug n play? And is it any kind of tweeter in the same size that fits?

[howe9191]

Originally Posted by micstar

Is this just plug n play? And is it any kind of tweeter in the same size that fits?

Im using original BMW hifi tweeter, its definitely plug and play and perfect fit.

You can use aftermarket product of cause but need some modification on wire and fitting.

[rcaso26]

Just installed the tweeter (part no. 65136919362 purchased for $15 on eBay). Took about half an hour to install due to the tight space between the speakers and the windshield. Pretty nice improvement in sound for $15! I'd say it's a no brainer for anyone with the hi-fi speakers.

[ChrispyGER]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Don’t put in a center speaker. In fact, consider disconnecting the midrange.

Most aftermarket systems take out the center.

It screws up stereo separation.

Is this right?

[NealfromNZ]

Originally Posted by ChrisBreGER

Is this right?

Yes and no

Yes

Centre tweeter can help centre the image in a similar manner that you’d use a centre speaker in home theatre. Also helps with center if the image for both driver / passenger position.

No
A properly time aligned stereo setup will give better results but you have to pick one listening position to anchor it to.

In our series the NTB doesn’t run true 7.1 audio channels, its running algorithms on a stereo signal via either the lexicon surround matrix algorithm or Dolby pro logic 2 depending on version of idrive. Personal I find both these have nuances that detract from a good stereo image, but can add ambiance to live recordings.

So basically, if your a fan of surround sound. add middle and rear tweeters. If you like stereo then grab and install a dsp to pull the image more to the center for your listening position.

[ChrispyGER]

Thanks for your response NealfromNZ .

I was able to get a HK center Tweeter for 15bucks (15euros) and tought to give it a try because it wouldn´t be a loss of money. I installed it and noticed that vocals come way more from the front, specially from behind the iDrive screen. Also it felt that the system turned the front door tweeters down because of the added HK center tweeter. That´s why I got curios about that.

Right now I´m using matchup 7 amp with Hifi system and the added HK center tweeter. i already testing the sound files from this forum. Yesterday i got test a lot and learned that the right sound file will get me to a good sound experience.
But i dont like the sound "only from the front". I´m prefering a good surround sound... will see how i get this done.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by NealfromNZ

A properly time aligned stereo setup will give better results but you have to pick one listening position to anchor it to.

And that's the problem for everyone other than the driver. When your ears are a foot from the radiating plane on one side and four feet from the radiating plane on the other side there's only one spot in the car where you can get reasonably good stereo imaging, and that's the one you're sitting in. Everyone else is out of luck. The purpose of the center speaker is the same as that of the rear door and rear deck speakers, to make the sound more tolerable to all of the passengers. Perfect? No. It's not Carnegie Hall, it's a car. To paraphrase Harry Callahan, 'Man's got to know his (car's) limitations'.