Hi all, thanks for the great info.

I'm interested in QUALITY, CLEAN and BRILLIANT sound with enough power to be approaching uncomfortable. Listen to rock, pop, metal, alternative and classical. Usually set my EQ way up in treble, mod to high in bass and low in midrange. Not at all interested in showing off.

Seems from what I've read that 5 1/4 MB QSDs with Stealth boxes are the way to go for me, although I plan to explore by listening before any purchase.

Will be ordering 04 M3 with stock audio ASAP. Seems that a JL 500/5 should suffice with stock rears each getting 25 RMS. I'm Just worried that I may underpower the fronts from threads I've read.

Totally green, but want to do this myself following some of the great threads I've found. Plan to mount the amp/amps under the rear deck. I've seen some suggest bi-amp, but don't want to get too complex or need a capacitor. Price not too important.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris:dunno

u wont be able to use rear speakers in the deck with the stealthboxes....so take that into consideration...everything else sounds fine...
Kevin

Thanks a bunch Kevin, that sets my mind at ease. would you recommend replacing the rear side speakers in order to have fill, or just using the stock. I think they're 4 inchers, right? (Sorry don't have the car yet.)

Maybe it would be better to just use a four channel amp, and forget the rears. Would a JL400/4 be sufficient, and if so how would you split it, 125 to each front and 150 bridged to the rear, or the other way around (75 to each front)? Wouldn't this underpower the stealthboxes? Or would I need a bigger four channel and use a VEN4 with the stock HU?

Thanks,
Chris

i am lost on teh rear side speakers....where are those located? u can use factory speakers for any rear fill anyway if u develop the rest of the system and tune it properly....heck i used the STOCK midbass nokia drivers in my M3 with my very expensive aftermarket system(only 6 or 7 of the processors i was using is in the US) and everyone who heard the car thought it sounded really good at lower volumes..obviously at high volumes the stock speakers are gonna bottom out but with rear fill this should never be an issue....

i would do as u said and forget about the rears...as to underpowering the stealths...this is really a misunderstood phenomena...speakers are not light bulbs, they are MOTORS...hmmm...think of this..remember when you weer a kid and u had a battery operated car(if your into RC like i am then u still have battery operated vehicles, even if to just move the servos) and when the battery was gonig dead the motor would spin slower so the car of course would go slower...remember how u used the batteries till they couldnt even move the car at all? did u EVER burn up your car motor by using dead batteries in it? i bet not....well this is EXACTLY how speakers react to power...the less u give them the less they move so the less sound output u get...u cannot underpower a speaker and BURN it up...u CAN run a smaller amp into distortion so bad that it cant control the driver and tears it apart...i highly doubt u will have that situation with your setup because u obviously seem to care about sound quality so u wont get too happy with the volume control...that being said, its usually not a bad idea to get the most powerful amp u can afford and just turn the gains down..this way u dont run into distortion and if u dont get too happy with the volume control u wont BURN your driver.....
Kevin

What do you mean by "rear deck"? Careful, JL 500/5 gets hot, you don't want to over heat it.

Anyhow, I have a similar set up that you want. MB Quart 213 in the front, JL microsub 8.3 (basically 3 stealth woofers). Since you like your treble high and tinty, the MBQ would be perfect, definitly pick those over their lower syblings, not sure what the model number is, 113? The cross over is not as quality. IMO, MBQ QSD 213 is the best you can get. other wise, JL's components tend to give more prominent mid bass.

My entire car is powered by 500/5.

That's some fancy toys you are considering, can't go wrong.

the microsub 8.3 uses completely different drivers than the bmw stealthboxes....
Kevin
who has owned the microsub 8.1(sold two weeks ago) and stealths(installed 1.5 weeks ago in cousins car)....

You should REALLY consider mounting the amp under the trunk mat. There's a nice space under there since there's no spare.

When it comes to speakers, you have to bring your music to a shop, or better yet, someone's car with the speakers you want to listen too. Speakers are VERY subjective. And remember that the install is just as important as the components.

There are some recent threads listing some nice amps but I'd pick a set of speakers/subz you like and then pick the amps that will power them appropriately. Good luck.

Schwim:

How much do you want to spend?

I recommend the Stealthbox's and to not worry about rear fill.

I would go with something like the QSD's if you can afford it....but that remains to be seen.

BTW: The 450/4 is set on the way the power is divided 150X2 & 75X2

-Nate

Thanks Fellas,

I was planning on building a small suspended shelf that would hang from the "roof" of the trunk cabin to support the amp, in between the Stealths. I originally thought that I'd attatch the amp "upside down directly in this spot without a shelf, but someone informed me that th JL is not designed to operate upside down. ? heat disipation?

I'd probably allow for an inch of clearance above the top heat sink portion of the amp. I like the idea of putting it under the trunk floor mat, but worry about the heat if I don't use a fan. Anyone have heat problems with it mounted down there?

Chris

Thanks HK_M3, That's what I meant, 450/4. Will the bridged 75s be enough for the Stealths? QSDs are doable on price.