POLL Which aftermarket speakers do you recommend?

[chadwickked]

Hello fellow Zeeders, looking to upgrade the stock speakers in my car (1999 BMW Z3). Forgive me in advance if I'm incorrect on all of this, I'm new to installing anything to a car. Thought this would be good practice.

Based on my research, there are four 5.25" speakers, two tweeters and one sub woofer. I was thinking of upgrading the four speakers and was told that the car can support aftermarket speakers without installing an amp. Anyone have recommendations on aftermarket speakers? Comment below if you have other recommendations that aren't listed.

 

[WaveyDavey]

Bavsound stage one over here when they were selling their plug and play set. Love it. Great quality

 

[137699]

I have the factory HK audio upgrade on my Coupe which sounds unbelievable so I won't be changing my speakers.

But if you have the non-HK setup (i.e. the standard stuff) and you want better, I have recently discovered the Alpine Type-R series speakers which are quite simply stunning.

They work best if you have a high powered headunit or amp but my god the volume they can take & the bass reproduction is something else.
They're not cheap mind... SPR-50C I think are 5.25" components with tweeters.

All that said, if you have the subwoofer then it suggests you already have the HK audio which also means you have an amp already - in which case you will struggle to improve on them. But if they sound bobbins then it's probably because you don't have the original BMW radio installed - as that's needed to fire up the amp and make those HK units sing.

 

[chadwickked]

Bavsound stage one over here when they were selling their plug and play set. Love it. Great quality

I'm seeing a whole list of Bavsound Stage One speakers. Which one did you get?

I have the factory HK audio upgrade on my Coupe which sounds unbelievable so I won't be changing my speakers.

But if you have the non-HK setup (i.e. the standard stuff) and you want better, I have recently discovered the Alpine Type-R series speakers which are quite simply stunning.

They work best if you have a high powered headunit or amp but my god the volume they can take & the bass reproduction is something else.
They're not cheap mind... SPR-50C I think are 5.25" components with tweeters.

All that said, if you have the subwoofer then it suggests you already have the HK audio which also means you have an amp already - in which case you will struggle to improve on them. But if they sound bobbins then it's probably because you don't have the original BMW radio installed - as that's needed to fire up the amp and make those HK units sing.

I'm pretty sure the speakers blew out since the sound is horrible. Below is the head unit I currently have. This is the factory unit right? Would this support upgraded speakers?

 

[137699]

Yes that's a factory unit - so as you say, either damaged speakers or no HK audio system.
Do you have the subwoofer - that's the telltale if you have the HK system or not...

 

[Sajk]

I have the factory HK audio upgrade on my Coupe which sounds unbelievable so I won't be changing my speakers.

But if you have the non-HK setup (i.e. the standard stuff) and you want better, I have recently discovered the Alpine Type-R series speakers which are quite simply stunning.

They work best if you have a high powered headunit or amp but my god the volume they can take & the bass reproduction is something else.
They're not cheap mind... SPR-50C I think are 5.25" components with tweeters.

All that said, if you have the subwoofer then it suggests you already have the HK audio which also means you have an amp already - in which case you will struggle to improve on them. But if they sound bobbins then it's probably because you don't have the original BMW radio installed - as that's needed to fire up the amp and make those HK units sing.

Did these Alpine speakers fit in the panels in the front foot wells no problem?

 

[IanA]

Pyle speakers are very good and reasonably priced. They tend to be 4ohm impedance- not sure if that exactly suits your existing unit.

 

[137699]

Did these Alpine speakers fit in the panels in the front foot wells no problem?

I have the factory HK system in my coupe so have not upgraded them, but I have used the same SPR-50C speakers in my other car which requires shallow mounting depth (as they go in the doors and need to clear the window glass when it's lowered) and they're fine so they should be ok I would think.