I have a convertible that I am looking to upgrade the sound system. I have been out of the Car Audio scene for about 8 years, so I am looking for some feedback on people's experiences with front speakers. I have a ZAPCO Model 200 (100 watts per channel) to drive my front speakers. I don’t want to build custom kick panels nor do I want to hack up my doors. I do want high quality sound when cruising at high speeds. I realize it is a convertible, so with the top down I am going to have issues…

However, I am looking at the Dynaudio 220mk2 vs MB Quart QSD 213 because both will fit in the factory 5.25” location very well.
The Dyn’s have a 90db efficiency rating vs the MB Quart’s 85 db. This tells me I will get more sound per watt from the Dyn’s. My memory of MB Quart speakers is that the tweeters are quite bright and in my convertible, this could be a plus. Any thoughts?

You have picked two speakers that are TOTALLY different sounding. The Dyns are too mellow for me and the MB's are a little too bright for me. You can tune down the tweets a little at the crossovers. I'm surprised the Dyn's are rated more efficient because they are known for needing a LOT of power to get them to sing nicely... some give up to 300 watts/channel.

Good luck deciding, but you'd really need to try them out since they are so different sounding.

Try these: http://www.focal-fr.com/gb/car/utopia/136w.htm

Thanks aus. I know they are different and I thought the Dyn's were power hungry as well. The numbers seem to contradict. I like the laid back sound. I had Dyn's in my Jeep and they worked cleanly in the open air. However, I had Dyn Tweets, Mids and two 7" per side on the same amplifier. Also the high frequency location was pointing right at me from the dash, so I had a direct sound wave. The BMW will not be so good and it won't have the Mid's.

As for Focals, they are my first choice for a speaker. I built my home speakers with Focal drivers. Unfortunately, I don't think the drivers will fit in the factory location and I don't want to give up my foot room. Where have folks been installing their Focals?

why wont they fit in factory location? ur talkin about ur M3 right... it should have kick panels. There is a ton of room of mounting depth in the kicks. Go with focal utopias.

I have a 1999 M3 convertible. I remember the depth of the factory location was limited, especially if I want to keep the factory kick panel in place with no cutting. If this isn't true, then life is good!:redspot

I am assuming you are referring to the Focal 136W component set. Do you have pictures?

A/d/s

I'm pretty sure the 5.25 Utopia's will fit but I doubt the 6.5 will fit without some work. Just spend some money on some kicks to get better imaging. Check out the second page on my link.

a/d/s speakers are sweet too.

Those Focals look great. Thing is, I have a convertible. Any thing flashy in the cockpit is begging for a thief to cut my top and/or trash my custom kicks. I know I am trying to do the impossible; keep the factory look while improving the sound dramatically, but stealth is my goal...

The dynaudios arent power hungry at all. I had the 3ways in kicks on my acura legend with just 75watts to each side fed by an xtant 604x. They never sounded under powered at all. Maybe it was because I had an audiocontrol 3.1 which bumps the preout voltage to roughly 10volts. Also the volume is controlled through the audiocontrol so the speakers are never getting a clipped signal. Thats all there is to having clean sounding system, do not clip the signal.
I spent a long time deciding between the dyns and the utopias and choose the dyns because of the oh so smooth sounding midrange. Yes the tweeter is a bit toned down but thats how i like it. Both speakers are very high end and there is no better one, just personal preference.
Too bad my 5k competition system got stolen along with my car 5 months ago. Now i just listen to the music of the M engine.

Originally posted by ystress
Those Focals look great. Thing is, I have a convertible. Any thing flashy in the cockpit is begging for a thief to cut my top and/or trash my custom kicks. I know I am trying to do the impossible; keep the factory look while improving the sound dramatically, but stealth is my goal...

i dont understand. Do u have kick panels or not. I have an e36 (93' 318i) and i have kickpanels where the factory 5 1/2 speakers go. I took them out and replaced them. and popped the factory grills back on. no one looking could tell i have aftermarket speakers...

a/d/s/

i agree with randy, if you want a happy medium between mbquart and dynaudio check out a/d/s/. they have a whole new line of 3 series components and 2 series coaxial/component convertibles for '04. they are dicontinuing the amplifiers in '04 (which is a huge shame, they make really nice amps) so you can find some good deals on them right now. directed, a/d/s/'s parent company, has refocused a/d/s/ solely on speaker design for the forseeable future. a/d/s/ makes the perfect speakers for bmw applications.

http://www.goldenearmafia.com/index.php?module=photoshare&func=viewimage&iid=166&viewkey=

Originally posted by capone28
i dont understand. Do u have kick panels or not. I have an e36 (93' 318i) and i have kickpanels where the factory 5 1/2 speakers go. I took them out and replaced them. and popped the factory grills back on. no one looking could tell i have aftermarket speakers...

I have the factory kick panels as depicted in the picture below(without the tweeter). In my past life as a installer, the magnet from a speaker like one of the focal's depth, would be touching the outer body panel. This meant the vent on the pole would not be able to breath and would impact the speaker's ability to perform. Also, the speaker would slap against the factory kick panel/grill. But I am getting old and perhaps my memory is fading... Please correct me if I am wrong, cause I would like to go Focal.

As for a/d/s, they look good on paper, but I wouild want to hear them to help me decide. I will look in to it. Thanks.

http://www.visi.com/~jeffroth/IMGP0542.jpg

If you open up the packaging on A/d/s you will see BMW's ion their instructions and manuals, that kicks A**!

yeah. same kick panels. There is plenty of room for mounting DEPTH for 5 1/4 speakers. but if ur saying that the diameter of the focal speaker will cause a problem then thats something im not aware of and u may be right.

i'd get a 3 way dynaudio or focal if i were you, and mount the larger driver on the kicks

Thanks capone. I will look in to the Focals a little more.