[Bmw175]

The sound on the audio is rubbish. I have enquired about a HK type retrofit.

The prices quoted are so high. In order to get an amp, 2x 8" sub woofers under seat and replacement all round speakers, the cost is between 1250-1650 depending on who u ask. I've been advised that this is a rainbow system and it actually sounds better than the HK.

Has anyone had this retrofit installed, what did u pay and does it sound spectacular?

[Panchoa]

Inhave installed the MB Quart speakers and an Audison 5.9 amp in my wifes F10 - its sounds better than the HK in my car!!

[Bmw175]

How much did that cost you? I'm going to be keeping the car for another 7-8 years so reckon I could justify the outlay but I'm finding 1250 hard to swallow.

[Soul_Glo]

You could do a lot or all of this yourself and save on labour. 1100-1600 is the ballpark dependent on what brand is installed professionally.

Many audio shops do us a favour because the true cost of the install would mean no one would have it done.

My friend had a subwoofer installed in the boot of his F30 with HK. He was charged 90 and the job took 3-4 hours.

The Rainbow can take down the HK. Other brands that are close if not better: Focal, Gladen, MB Quart and, Eton. Personally, I would look to the Eton.

If you are keeping your car you may as well invest and enjoy. You can always sell the gear after or transfer some or all to your new car.

The HK is not all bad. The centre channel is a phasing disaster and the underseat subwoofers come into their own on a higher power amp.

You could even get used HK subs and a pre loved JL amp. Slap on some JL tweeters and now you have a banging set up with crystal clear highs and deep lows for less than 800.

[teaston]

Gladen 201 kit & Mosconi amp is the most popular upgrade.

[Bmw175]

Thanks for your comments. Problem is that I don't have a clue about fitting the system myself. I'm just debating whether to go with a 1250 price tag, I've not even heard it. I've been advised that the rainbow is much better than HK. Does anyone know of any decent fitters in the Birmingham uk area?

[Bmw175]

How does the following pack look?
Hertz Dpower amplifier to run the system along with Audison prima mid-range and tweeter and Eaton under seat woofers

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Bmw175

How does the following pack look?
Hertz Dpower amplifier to run the system along with Audison prima mid-range and tweeter and Eaton under seat woofers

That would make for an awesome set up

[Dyl]

Just change the mids and add tweeters to begin with, makes such a massive difference and you might find that is enough for you.

Made enough of a difference to stop me doing anything else and is a relatively cheap solution.

[Bmw175]

Dyl- will u get a bassy sound with that?
The cheaper option is around 800 and has the following;
upgrade the front door speaker with the Audison Prima range, which includes a 4″ speaker and tweeter. Then a 4 channel rainbow or hertz amp is used.
I don't want the whole road to shake when I drive by, I just want strong and clear bass, alongside nice sound. Will this be the equivalent of a HK?

[Soul_Glo]

The standard subs if you have them are pathetic. You need HK subs or other. They won?t rattle the car next to you in traffic but fill the cabin nicely.

What system do you have? Do you have tweets in the door frame and subs underseat?

[mcoops]

As ever with these things, I think it's worth auditioning 2 or 3 options. The HK is pretty good, certainly a step up from the standard audio set up. However I'm often struck (irritated) by how much better the Meridian system is in my wife's Evoque. I find the HK does well with simpler music, but the soundstage can get a bit muddled when there is a lot going on. It's fine as a factory fit, but I'd look around if you are are retrofitting.

[Bmw175]

I just have the standard system. Not sure what tweeters or subs are installed, all I know is that sounds very sub par. The system in my yaris sounds better which to me is an absolute joke given the level of the BMW i.e. M Sport.

[Dyl]

Originally Posted by Bmw175

I just have the standard system. Not sure what tweeters or subs are installed, all I know is that sounds very sub par. The system in my yaris sounds better which to me is an absolute joke given the level of the BMW i.e. M Sport.

If you've not got HK chances are it is just the 'base' system. Do you have tweeters in the corners of the front windows?

I came from a Golf GTI with a factory audio upgrade, I owned it alongside my 4GC for about 9 months. Stepping between the two the audio was miles apart.

I decided initially to just add tweeters (and change mids) to see if it made any difference, and it does. A massive difference. I did one side first then used the fader L&R and check. The side without the tweeter sounds underwater.

I'm happy enough with it now, and wouldn't go to the effort and large cost of adding an amp or changing the under seat subs. Incidentally the subs in a 'base' system are in a sealed housing that is impossible to get into without damaging it.

I'm not saying it's going to be as good as any of the previous suggestions but I believe the very nature of adding tweeters is the biggest jump in improvement you can do to the 'base' audio.

[Bmw175]

Originally Posted by Dyl

If you've not got HK chances are it is just the 'base' system. Do you have tweeters in the corners of the front windows?

I came from a Golf GTI with a factory audio upgrade, I owned it alongside my 4GC for about 9 months. Stepping between the two the audio was miles apart.

I decided initially to just add tweeters (and change mids) to see if it made any difference, and it does. A massive difference. I did one side first then used the fader L&R and check. The side without the tweeter sounds underwater.

I'm happy enough with it now, and wouldn't go to the effort and large cost of adding an amp or changing the under seat subs. Incidentally the subs in a 'base' system are in a sealed housing that is impossible to get into without damaging it.

I'm not saying it's going to be as good as any of the previous suggestions but I believe the very nature of adding tweeters is the biggest jump in improvement you can do to the 'base' audio.

Very useful. No I don't have any tweeters in corners of front doors. With the upgrade you had, did the bass become stronger? That's my main issue, I want stronger and more bassy sound.

[mcoops]

If you don't change the subs you're not changing performance at the very lowest frequencies. But, by replacing the tweeters and mids, you should get better separation with more distinct highs, mids and lows (less muddy). So your perception of bass may be improved. You may also be able to go louder without everything becoming messy.

[Bmw175]

Originally Posted by mcoops

If you don't change the subs you're not changing performance at the very lowest frequencies. But, by replacing the tweeters and mids, you should get better separation with more distinct highs, mids and lows (less muddy). So your perception of bass may be improved. You may also be able to go louder without everything becoming messy.

I think I need to listen to it to make my mind up. They're saying it's the equivalent of a HK and that there is an amp included. I get what you mean about not improving the sound at the very lowest frequencies.

[Dyl]

Originally Posted by Bmw175

Very useful. No I don't have any tweeters in corners of front doors. With the upgrade you had, did the bass become stronger? That's my main issue, I want stronger and more bassy sound.

Pretty much as mcoops said. You can then also up the bass up in the idrive settings without it having too much detriment to the higher frequencies coming from the tweeter. There is no crossover between the HK mid and tweeter but there is a decent capacitor to do the same job.

First mod I did to my car, and the best.

[ColinDuff68]

Originally Posted by Dyl

If you've not got HK chances are it is just the 'base' system. Do you have tweeters in the corners of the front windows?

I came from a Golf GTI with a factory audio upgrade, I owned it alongside my 4GC for about 9 months. Stepping between the two the audio was miles apart.

I decided initially to just add tweeters (and change mids) to see if it made any difference, and it does. A massive difference. I did one side first then used the fader L&R and check. The side without the tweeter sounds underwater.

I'm happy enough with it now, and wouldn't go to the effort and large cost of adding an amp or changing the under seat subs. Incidentally the subs in a 'base' system are in a sealed housing that is impossible to get into without damaging it.

I'm not saying it's going to be as good as any of the previous suggestions but I believe the very nature of adding tweeters is the biggest jump in improvement you can do to the 'base' audio.

I did this in my car and the sound is much improved

[matty81]

I had the base system, then I had John Klies audio fit and set up their stage 3 package, which consists of Rainbow speakers and tweeters, Rainbow subs under seats and an Audison Prima 8.9 amp which has a digital sound processor, it was 1600 which wasn't cheap, but the parts alone are like 1200, so for a few hundred more id rather someone do it all properly, they also spent half a day tuning the sound and doing the timing for each speaker which makes all the sound come from infront of you even though there is no front speaker.

[matty81]

Originally Posted by Bmw175

Thanks for your comments. Problem is that I don't have a clue about fitting the system myself. I'm just debating whether to go with a 1250 price tag, I've not even heard it. I've been advised that the rainbow is much better than HK. Does anyone know of any decent fitters in the Birmingham uk area?

I looked at options for around this price, but if you want really good sound then you need a digital sound processor, it makes a massive difference, so I thought fuck it spend the extra and get the Prima 8.9 which has a built in DSP

[Bmw175]

Originally Posted by matty81

I had the base system, then I had John Klies audio fit and set up their stage 3 package, which consists of Rainbow speakers and tweeters, Rainbow subs under seats and an Audison Prima 8.9 amp which has a digital sound processor, it was 1600 which wasn't cheap, but the parts alone are like 1200, so for a few hundred more id rather someone do it all properly, they also spent half a day tuning the sound and doing the timing for each speaker which makes all the sound come from infront of you even though there is no front speaker.

I've just gone and listened to a couple of systems at an audio specialist. The HK equivalent upgrade is not good enough for what I'm looking for. I also heard the equivalent of this option 3 upgrade which includes new door speaker, tweeters, subs under seat, amp and a digital processor. I must say it sounded phenomenal and is in line with what I'm looking for. I have been quoted 1850!