My new amplifier upgrade

[GreyM340i]

Thanks for clarifying.

I'm looking for improvement of stock sound quality on my 2005 e46 m3. Would you say the amp improved mainly power / volume or clarity? Thank you so much!

My car has the upgraded Bav Sound speakers and I will say it improved the clarity at higher volume. Technically it did improved all 3 in my opinion. It’s exactly what I was looking for. The powered sub I installed also helped the overall sound quality. Both together were a great upgrade overall.

[jylee05]

Thanks for clarifying.

I'm looking for improvement of stock sound quality on my 2005 e46 m3. Would you say the amp improved mainly power / volume or clarity? Thank you so much!

[GreyM340i]

Just double checking - does this work for the standard e46 m3 (non-HK) audio system? I ask because your username suggests you have a M340i. Thanks in advance!

My daily drive is the M340I however my E46 M3 didn't have the HK system. I had the step down Hi-Fi system with the factory amp so I installed this in place of the factory amplifier. Works perfectly. Plug and play.

[jylee05]

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my experience with upgrading my audio in my M3. The original system was a Hi-Fi system however the previous owner upgraded the speakers to BavSound speakers and a older Dynavin double din head unit. After receiving the car I changed the head unit out to a just released Sony XAV-AX6000 unit and even found a great deal on a now discontinued BavSound 10” powered subwoofer that mounts to the rear deck.

Well even though it is a way better experience the sound wasn't amazing and the power for the interior speakers was lacking. I kept trying to read about people upgrading the factory amp to a JL audio or AudioControl amp however I didn't want to cut any of the factory wires to make that work. And not many posts with upgrading the Hi-Fi system most were with the HK. Then I reached out to Audiotec Fischer and asked if they had any plug & play amplifier upgrades for the older E46 platform that uses the Hi-Fi 676 option. Well they forwarded my email to the USA side of their business and it said that the Match UP7BMW amplifier would work without any issues. It’s expensive at $1100 however I used to work at a dealer and a friend that works there got me a better price. I took the chance and today after installing it and uploading a pre-made sound setup file this thing is amazing. The power is unbelievable for such a small digital amp. I will need to learn more about tuning it however I might just pay to have it done next year. Hope this helps someone in my situation.

Just double checking - does this work for the standard e46 m3 (non-HK) audio system? I ask because your username suggests you have a M340i. Thanks in advance!

[GreyM340i]

So the signal from the headunit to the amp is a powered signal? In other words, you're not using pre-amp signal from the headunit?

I have the amplified Hi-Fi system so might be different if it’s the HK however yes I just plugged the Sony head unit right to the factory harness and then plugged the Match amp into the factory hardness that my original amp used to plug into.

[I M Legend]

Not sure it would make a difference from what I’m using now. I recently installed a new Sony double din. It’s using the factory wires and harness. I just ran RCA cables from the sub pre out for the Audison powered subwoofer.

So the signal from the headunit to the amp is a powered signal? In other words, you're not using pre-amp signal from the headunit?

[GreyM340i]

Anyone use the MATCH BMW amp with an AVIN unit? If yes, did you use preamps? Curious what set up you're using.

Not sure it would make a difference from what I’m using now. I recently installed a new Sony double din. It’s using the factory wires and harness. I just ran RCA cables from the sub pre out for the Audison powered subwoofer.

[I M Legend]

Anyone use the MATCH BMW amp with an AVIN unit? If yes, did you use preamps? Curious what set up you're using.

[GreyM340i]

So is the general consensus that there is nothing for us h/k guys out there to upgrade with?

Seams like not plug and play. Best would be a JL 6 ch amp and wire into the factory harness.

[YYC ///M3]

So is the general consensus that there is nothing for us h/k guys out there to upgrade with?

[Tbonem3]

Maybe so (and yes I think that is correct). But what difference does it make if the replacement amp can drive the impedance and is fully tuneable?

Because the speakers' impedance will determine crossover point and even phase shift iirc. If you're powering each driver individually (individual amp channel) with active or passive crossover, then it won't matter and you'll just have to tune by ear and adjust the channel's gains to match the volume/output of drivers with different nominal impedance. If they're on the same channel, like the factory 2" mid and 1" tweet (maybe it's 3/4"), then impedance will affect frequencies iirc.

Drivers with different resistance are chosen as a way of tuning I believe. And none of us are going to tune better than Harmon/jbl employees.

Perhaps one driver might have lower resistance, but has lower sensitivity so it's output could be same as a driver with greater resistance, but also greater sensitivity. I'm not 100% sure, I never got that deep into car stereo.

Personally, stick with OE setup or go full custom imo.

[Shonky]

As far as I am aware, the HK / non-HK have different speaker impedance's but maybe I'm missing something!

Maybe so (and yes I think that is correct). But what difference does it make if the replacement amp can drive the impedance and is fully tuneable?

[EnzoAtMonza]

From what I remember the hk were a mix of 2,3 and 4 ohm and the non are 8 ohm. If this is true, been a while, then then the Audiotec Fischer should be better suited to the HK being a 4 ohm amp..
I have a pp82dsp 8 channel amp out of a f10 5 series with hifi and it appears to share a harness with the e46. I don't have my car with me but bought a hk amp pigtail to trace it out sofar it seems like it should work, not pnp. Bad pics attached for reference.

[GreyM340i]

As far as I am aware, the HK / non-HK have different speaker impedance's but maybe I'm missing something!

I’ve also heard this.

[t3ddftw]

Why would you do this? You're replacing the amp with something with a DSP and full eq across all the channels. Just tune the amp properly.

As far as I am aware, the HK / non-HK have different speaker impedance's but maybe I'm missing something!