[DanG]

I thought I would upload a picture of the stock speakers. The bottom pair is the door speakers and the top pair are the rear deck speakers.

I also included a picture of the Focal ISC 100 speaker that replaced the stock ones. I used the same speakers in the door and in the rear deck. It produced a remarkably better sound.

[dmboone25]

^^^ awesome - thanks for the pics - I was checking those out on Crutchfield earlier today. They have gotten really good reviews.

Do you happen to have a pic of the spacer your installer made for you? I wanted to get an idea of what worked for you so that I could potentially replicate it...

Also, did you replace the subs? Or are you thinking about it?

Thanks my man...

[DanG]

I didn't get a picture of the spacer, sorry. I didn't replace the subs. But I now have great base so I don't plan on replacing them.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by DanG

I didn't get a picture of the spacer, sorry. I didn't replace the subs. But I now have great base so I don't plan on replacing them.

No worries - you have been a big help regardless.

I am going to get under there and take a look tonight and see what's what on the sub front...

[DanG]

A better picture of the new speakers from the Focal website:

[hyperzulu]

Did you buy a single Focal replacement for the center channel dash speaker as well?

Not bad on the Focals. I'm not a huge fan of coax setups since you can't amp and control the tweeters individually, but I trust Focal has a designed these properly. I'm putting these on my wish list and will probably drop in the 4" Diamond Audio Hex S400 speakers I have from an old install of mine, although those are a true component system. I won't really need the tweeters for rear fill.

[DanG]

Didn't bother with the dash speakers. Kind of like the center speaker on your surround sound at home. They are not very important to the overall sound experience.

And you are right that separate control of the tweeters may be nice. But I wanted to keep the price reasonable and separate tweeters increased the speakers from $129 per pair to $600 per pair. I listened to both combinations in the show room but my ears aren't sharp enough to detect any significant differences. I am sure that if I had perfect pitch I probably could have. But I don't.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by DanG

Didn't bother with the dash speakers. Kind of like the center speaker on your surround sound at home. They are not very important to the overall sound experience.

And you are right that separate control of the tweeters may be nice. But I wanted to keep the price reasonable and separate tweeters increased the speakers from $129 per pair to $600 per pair. I listened to both combinations in the show room but my ears aren't sharp enough to detect any significant differences. I am sure that if I had perfect pitch I probably could have. But I don't.

Don't forget you've also got ambient noise to deal with in a car, if you can't tell in acoustically perfect listening room no way you'd notice in a moving car. Smart to save your $.

[disco4me]

Do u think the Focal speakers sound better than the HK speakers?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by disco4me

Do u think the Focal speakers sound better than the HK speakers?

Quick answer, a big YES.

[bernstem]

Originally Posted by DanG

Didn't bother with the dash speakers. Kind of like the center speaker on your surround sound at home. They are not very important to the overall sound experience.

And you are right that separate control of the tweeters may be nice. But I wanted to keep the price reasonable and separate tweeters increased the speakers from $129 per pair to $600 per pair. I listened to both combinations in the show room but my ears aren't sharp enough to detect any significant differences. I am sure that if I had perfect pitch I probably could have. But I don't.

I would agree that the center speaker in a car audio system is probably not as important as the door speakers, but for a home theater system, the center speaker is critical.

The center speaker carries all the on-screen dialogue and anything happening in the central image will be routed through the center speaker. You can often send a lot of that information to the left and right speakers if you want, but it will throw off the soundstage for anyone not sitting centered on the screen. An ideal front speaker setup for a home theater will have identical or nearly identical speakers for the center, left and right front.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by bernstem

I would agree that the center speaker in a car audio system is probably not as important as the door speakers, but for a home theater system, the center speaker is critical.

The center speaker carries all the on-screen dialogue and anything happening in the central image will be routed through the center speaker. You can often send a lot of that information to the left and right speakers if you want, but it will throw off the soundstage for anyone not sitting centered on the screen. An ideal front speaker setup for a home theater will have identical or nearly identical speakers for the center, left and right front.

+1. In my main theater I've got Sonance everywhere with beryllium tweeters, 2 subs etc. In my smaller setup I have a VMPS center and sub with Gallo left and right no surrounds. It's literally shocking how good the mini system sounds just with a great center and sub with a few not great, albeit very nice sides.

[valentinbmw]

i would get this speakers in a heartbeatbut i am worried about the bmw warranty, do they void the warranty if you change the speakers?

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by valentinbmw

i would get this speakers in a heartbeatbut i am worried about the bmw warranty, do they void the warranty if you change the speakers?

Warranty on what exactly? The engine? If you blow one of your aftermarket speakers, no, they won't get you a replacement speaker, but if you blow a gasket, it wouldn't be due to the aftermarket speakers.

Warranties are voided when you have a problem caused as a direct result of something you did outside of normal. Changing a speaker only voids warranty of those parts. A very impossible scenario would be that you installed some crazy speakers that changed resistance on the amp so much that the amp caught fire and your car was lost as a result. Just not going to happen though.

[bman6074]

Are these Focal ISC 100 speakers a exact swap or does the door panel need to be cut/modified. How does it look once installed?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by bman6074

Are these Focal ISC 100 speakers a exact swap or does the door panel need to be cut/modified. How does it look once installed?

Exact swap except it need a spacer since they are deeper so they don't hit the window. No cutting and fits 100% behind stock door screen. Looks 100% stock.

[bman6074]

Originally Posted by DanG

Exact swap except it need a spacer since they are deeper so they don't hit the window. No cutting and fits 100% behind stock door screen. Looks 100% stock.

Great thanks for the info

[bman6074]

(Stock) How many speakers are there in the door? Is there a speaker in the triangle behind the side mirrors? Like in the 135i.

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by bman6074

(Stock) How many speakers are there in the door? Is there a speaker in the triangle behind the side mirrors? Like in the 135i.

I think there are seven total. None behind the sail panel with base stereo.

[bman6074]

Does anyone know if the sail panel location is wired for a speaker and if so is it hot (live). I want to possibly find the sail speakers from a wrecked 1 series and just install them in the M235i.

[FoxCrane]

Hey DanG, did you install these yourself or did you go somewhere? If you went somewhere, where did you go (assuming Seattle area)?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by FoxCrane

Hey DanG, did you install these yourself or did you go somewhere? If you went somewhere, where did you go (assuming Seattle area)?

Car Toys in Bellevue across the street from BMW Bellevue.

They have a life time installation guarantee.