Rode my friend's BMW and loved the sound... how can I improve mine?

General
1

I don’t remember the exact model of his BMW, but he told me it had a Bang & Olufsen sound system. I drive a 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero.

Here’s what I’m aiming for:

  • Get my sound quality as close as possible to his (without BMW money, obviously).
  • I want clearer voices, fuller bass, better instrument clarity, and a more realistic soundstage.
  • I’m not into vibrating bass—just want clean, full bass. My family prefers it that way too.
  • I care more about quality than volume, so I’m not sure if I need an external amp.

What I’ve done so far:

  • Played with EQ settings, but the sound still feels messy, like everything is blending together.
  • Installed soundproofing: MLV on panels, CCF on contact points, replaced old clips. The car was already pretty quiet, so I just built on that.
  • Current setup:
    • Head unit: Sony DSX-A410BT
    • Front speakers: Sony XS-XB1621C
    • Rear speakers: Stock Hertz HV165
    • No external amp.

My upgrade plan:

  1. Replace the head unit with a Kenwood KMM-306BT (has DSP, Drive EQ, and digital time correction for better soundstage).
  2. Upgrade speakers to something like JBL 64 CTP or Infinity Reference (heard they work well without an amp).
  3. Add an 8" sealed powered subwoofer (like JVC CW-DRA8 or Kicker Hideaway) for bass. Thinking of mounting it in the passenger footwell or under the seat.

Budget: $500–$1,000, excluding soundproofing. Planning to upgrade one step at a time to see how the sound improves.

Any advice or tips? Thanks a lot!

2

You should get a DSP amplifier like Helix or Match. Either have a pro tune it or learn to tune it yourself.

3

Gray said:
You should get a DSP amplifier like Helix or Match. Either have a pro tune it or learn to tune it yourself.

I think you’re overlooking his budget. My Helix DSP/amp cost me $1,600. He’s working with $1,000 max.

4

@Whit
You can find used Helix DSP amps for under $1,000.

5

Clayton said:
@Whit
You can find used Helix DSP amps for under $1,000.

You can grab a Helix MK2 for around $400 where I live.

6

Clayton said:
@Whit
You can find used Helix DSP amps for under $1,000.

That’s still his whole budget on just the amp, though.

7

@Whit
Helix M Six costs about €700, and Match PP62DSP is €500 here.

8

Your speakers are decent. Adding an amp will really bring them to life, and adding a sub for the lower frequencies will help a lot too.

9

Thorn said:
Your speakers are decent. Adding an amp will really bring them to life, and adding a sub for the lower frequencies will help a lot too.

Does my sub choice and placement make sense? If I use a powered sub or an external amp with a sub, is the footwell a good spot? I’ve seen others place it there.

10

@Ode
External amp with a sub would be better. A sub in the footwell can save space, but don’t expect super strong bass. It’ll still improve your sound because your door speakers won’t need to handle those low frequencies (make sure you set the crossovers right).

11

@Thorn
For sound quality in a big SUV, where’s the best spot for an amp and sub? I’m not confident building my own enclosure, so I’m leaning towards a powered sealed sub from a good brand.

12

Ode said:
@Thorn
For sound quality in a big SUV, where’s the best spot for an amp and sub? I’m not confident building my own enclosure, so I’m leaning towards a powered sealed sub from a good brand.

It depends on what you listen to. If you’re into music with deep bass (like hip-hop), go for a big sealed box. Most other genres will sound great with a smaller box. If your SUV is huge, a larger box will help. For SQ, something between 0.5–0.8 cu ft sealed (8" or 10" sub) with polyfill inside will work well.

13

Ode said:
@Thorn
For sound quality in a big SUV, where’s the best spot for an amp and sub? I’m not confident building my own enclosure, so I’m leaning towards a powered sealed sub from a good brand.

Not sure about placement. Someone else might know better.

I drive a 4Runner, and here’s my setup:

  • JL Audio C2-350
  • JL Audio C1-650 (just mids)
  • Alpine Type R 12" in an Alpine box
  • Focal FDP6.900V2 amp

It’s not a massive system, but it’s clear, has enough bass for me, and sounds great with all kinds of music.

14

Check your local junkyard for a 2010-ish BMW. I got my rear speakers that way, and my front ones are Harman Kardon from a Land Rover. Cost me about $15 per speaker.

15

Sage said:
Check your local junkyard for a 2010-ish BMW. I got my rear speakers that way, and my front ones are Harman Kardon from a Land Rover. Cost me about $15 per speaker.

That’s actually a really smart idea.

16

@Ode
Thanks! You can also find good tweeters in Lexus cars.

17

Sage said:
@Ode
Thanks! You can also find good tweeters in Lexus cars.

Volvos had nice Dynaudio gear too.

18

@Ode
That might not work as well as you think. The Bang & Olufsen system in BMWs is amplified and tuned specifically for those cars. Instead, consider something like these Morel Maximo Ultra 602. Pair them with an amp and the head unit you’re planning to buy. That setup will really improve your sound quality. Once that’s done, you can work on adding a sub.

19

You should borrow or buy an RTA (Real-Time Analyzer) to measure how your car currently sounds. This will show you where the sound is strong or weak, so you can adjust your EQ settings better and figure out what your car really needs.