[izaazk]

So I've had harman kardon before and the volume mids and highs were decent but needed a little more

What is the best option for hifi without putting a hole in my wallet? I've looked into bimemrtech bavsound etc which easily add to 1500+

[sspade]

Im no sound engineer but Ive heard that a quality amp alone will be a significant improvement over stock HiFi setup. Supposedly the speakers are sufficient for most ears just not powered to their fullest capabilities.

Im going off Billfitz expertise... hopefully Im remembering correctly as I plan to upgrade my HiFi system someday as well.

[chowser51]

For plug and play, Match 7UP or Bavsound Revenant. Both are under $1000.

7Up allows you to fine tune. Revenant is just bam, more power easy setup.

i went with the Revenant in my F33. Music is loud and clear with the top down on the freeway.

[pierreye]

Depends on your budget below would be upgrade priority (which I had done to my wife X3).

1. UP 7BMW (Tuning is important to get the most out of the DSP amp)
2. Speakers and underseat sub.
3. Trunk Subwoofer.

[izaazk]

Originally Posted by chowser51

For plug and play, Match 7UP or Bavsound Revenant. Both are under $1000.

7Up allows you to fine tune. Revenant is just bam, more power easy setup.

i went with the Revenant in my F33. Music is loud and clear with the top down on the freeway.

Do you know if those amps have a virtual surround option? I miss that from the harman

So you think the factory speakers are okay with those amps? My problem right now is they sound really high and too boomy

[Billfitz]

Garbage in, garbage out. When the only control over what goes in to the speakers is bass and treble you can't get a fine tuned result. Even if you had speakers that are better than stock no speaker can overcome the lack of a good DSP EQ. Match 7Up is what I'd use.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by sspade

Im no sound engineer but Ive heard that a quality amp alone will be a significant improvement over stock HiFi setup. Supposedly the speakers are sufficient for most ears just not powered to their fullest capabilities.

Im going off Billfitz expertise... hopefully Im remembering correctly as I plan to upgrade my HiFi system someday as well.

I followed Billfitz advice to upgrade my H/K system and Bill was spot on. My H/K speakers were fine. I swapped out the underseat subs for Earthquake SWS-8Xi and powered them with their own secondary LOC/amp, AudioControl ACM-2.300. Technicpnp supplied a plug and play wiring harness, so no cutting/splicing. They also have spacer rings with the factory speaker wiring connectors.
My friends/family seriously thought that I had upgraded the entire audio system. This setup fills out the bass like it should have been from the factory.

[izaazk]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Garbage in, garbage out. When the only control over what goes in to the speakers is bass and treble you can't get a fine tuned result. Even if you had speakers that are better than stock no speaker can overcome the lack of a good DSP EQ. Match 7Up is what I'd use.

Alright I'll do that amp

Should I do speakers as well? I want a nice filling sound with notes I can feel!

[Billfitz]

See the post above from johnung. The Match 7Up has enough power to drive Earthquake SWS woofers. Get the 2 ohm version. There's nothing to be gained with changing the rest of the speakers, but adding tweeters to the rear doors is worthwhile.

[BigJoeyVtC23]

Originally Posted by johnung

I followed Billfitz advice to upgrade my H/K system and Bill was spot on. My H/K speakers were fine. I swapped out the underseat subs for Earthquake SWS-8Xi and powered them with their own secondary LOC/amp, AudioControl ACM-2.300. Technicpnp supplied a plug and play wiring harness, so no cutting/splicing. They also have spacer rings with the factory speaker wiring connectors.
My friends/family seriously thought that I had upgraded the entire audio system. This setup fills out the bass like it should have been from the factory.

@johnung I tried to PM you but your inbox was full!

[wilbur_the_goose]

Match 7UP

I went to a very highly regarded auto audio shop asking for new speakers. Owner laughed at me and said I didn't need new speakers - I needed a new amp. He suggested the Match 7UP, and it was like night and day.

And it's something you can take with you when you sell the car. I went from a '14 F30 to an '18 F34, and the BMW dealer swapped amps on the cars for me while I waited (great dealer - BMW of Reading (PA)). After I got home, I changed the tune with my PC to the Match 7UP's default GT settings, and it was even better.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by johnung

I followed Billfitz advice to upgrade my H/K system and Bill was spot on. My H/K speakers were fine. I swapped out the underseat subs for Earthquake SWS-8Xi and powered them with their own secondary LOC/amp, AudioControl ACM-2.300. Technicpnp supplied a plug and play wiring harness, so no cutting/splicing. They also have spacer rings with the factory speaker wiring connectors.
My friends/family seriously thought that I had upgraded the entire audio system. This setup fills out the bass like it should have been from the factory.

I believe the amp is under the seat as well. Is there a plug and play option for that too?

[izaazk]

Originally Posted by wilbur_the_goose

Match 7UP

I went to a very highly regarded auto audio shop asking for new speakers. Owner laughed at me and said I didn't need new speakers - I needed a new amp. He suggested the Match 7UP, and it was like night and day.

And it's something you can take with you when you sell the car. I went from a '14 F30 to an '18 F34, and the BMW dealer swapped amps on the cars for me while I waited (great dealer - BMW of Reading (PA)). After I got home, I changed the tune with my PC to the Match 7UP's default GT settings, and it was even better.

A few questions:

Did you get more volume out of the system?

Did the underseat subs stop sounding like they were "farting" at high volumes?

Does 7bmw amp have an option to emulate surround?

[johnung]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I believe the amp is under the seat as well. Is there a plug and play option for that too?

H/K amp is in the trunk under the left alcove. Car battery is under the right alcove

[chowser51]

Yeah. Pretty much standard setup.
Even my daughter’s 13 year old Chevy has the amp in the left rear.

[eleven11]

Another vote for the Match UP7BMW amp. It's simple plug-and-play, and your best bang-for-buck option for the HiFi. With the DSP, you can tune it exactly to your liking.

Regarding the surround sound option... not exactly (but close). There's a "StageXpander" feature to widen the front processing, adjustable in the DSP. You can also tweak the blend of the center channel related to left/right.

Here's a link to the manufacturer's site: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...ifiers/up-7bmw . Inside, there's a link to download the DSP software (DSP PC-Tool V4). You can run the software without the amp in demo mode to get an idea of the format and capabilities (select the proper amp before choosing demo).

[sick_guy]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Another vote for the Match UP7BMW amp. It's simple plug-and-play, and your best bang-for-buck option for the HiFi. With the DSP, you can tune it exactly to your liking.

Regarding the surround sound option... not exactly (but close). There's a "StageXpander" feature to widen the front processing, adjustable in the DSP. You can also tweak the blend of the center channel related to left/right.

Here's a link to the manufacturer's site: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...ifiers/up-7bmw . Inside, there's a link to download the DPS software (DPS PC-Tool V4). You can run the software without the amp in demo mode to get an idea of the format and capabilities (select the proper amp before choosing demo).

Is there a diy post for this? Also how much does this amp go for?

[FaxData]

Another vote for the Match Up 7BMW, it really transforms the HiFi (S676A) system. I appreciate all the various threads and advice esp Billfitz. Equalizing the DSP is intimidating but other forum members have kind of already done it for you (link here - the PP82DSP settings are compatible).

Equalizing is tricky, but turning the "effect" features on and off are simple. Bass expander, center signal processing etc. And you can get a tape measure out, measure distances to your speakers and input them into the software, and it will calculate delays so you have the soundstage.

Before I started research I contemplated replacing speakers, but now I don't think I will. If I decide to spend more money, it will probably be on a calibrated microphone, crossovers for the front doors, and/or the wifi control module.

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by sick_guy

Is there a diy post for this? Also how much does this amp go for?

Several posts on the forum - search.

Crutchfield (one of the only authorized online dealers) has it currently for $999. You can also find them on eBay.

[chowser51]

open trunk.
remove paneling.
amp is left side.
unscrew mount stuff
remove amp
replace amp
put stuff back together

this is in my f33, it will be much easier for everyone else, no convertible mechanism to get in the way. it took me longer to get around it then it was to swap the amps.





I didn't even disconnect the battery.

[Zack1uk]

Isn't teh HK amp supplied by the MOST system? ie the Match Up7 isn't Pnp?

[pierreye]

Match UP 7BMW only PNP for HIFI 676A. It's not meant for MOST system.