Kick Panel 5.25" Seal/Dynamat question - BMW Forum

mcasemo · 02-01-2009, 01:35 PM

Hi,

I'm upgrading the stock (10 speaker, non-HK) system in my e36 (1995 325is coupe). I have 2-way CDT components for the front (5.25" EF-51, with TW-25 Pro Tweeters), then some CDT 6x9's for the rear with the 6x9 adapters. New amp too.

While waiting for the rest of the drivers and adapters, I installed the 5.25" drivers in the kick panels while keeping the rest of the stock system in place. The nokia's are 4 ohm there, so didn't thing dropping these in with the existing setup would be a problem. I'm a novice with this stuff, buy have tried to read up as much as I can here.

The issues is the bass from the CDT's sound pretty muddy (not sure if that's the right term) compared to the nokias. The stock setup has black foam rubber cups in place, and I'm wonder if there is an issue with sealing here. I thought I could just drop them in place, but maybe not. Can the issue here be improper sealing? Any advice is appreciated.

Here is the black foam rubber cups in place.

Here it is removed

Sheet metal behind the cups

Nokia and CDT drivers

And the CDT driver in place (passenger and driver side)

da_bull · 02-01-2009, 07:14 PM

If the front and back of the speaker can "see" each others air space, it can lose a LOT of bass response making it sound muddy. Your factory speakers dont require much power and your aftermarkets may require more than the stock setup has to offer. Between both of these issues may lie your problem. Also are you sure you have the left and right in phase with each other (positives and negatives correct from side to side)

mcasemo · 02-01-2009, 08:38 PM

I have the polarity correct. CDT's are marked, and just checked the nokias using a c battery and the "pop test". The larger terminal on both is positive.

I wonder if I need to lose the stock "sound deadening" pieces and do something like this.

Hewi · 03-19-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcasemo

I have the polarity correct. CDT's are marked, and just checked the nokias using a c battery and the "pop test". The larger terminal on both is positive.

I wonder if I need to lose the stock "sound deadening" pieces and do something like this.

Yes that would be much better because the volyme in the original cup is much too small för your cdt speakers that are build to work playing out in a whole door and as da_bull said its wery importent that the sealing is 100% also the speaker must have a steady mounting surface that wont vibrate with the speaker.