If you were just able to spend $600 to upgrade the "hi-fi"?

[thumper88]

... what would you spend it on?
(2009 128i coupe)
You all know the story with the stock "hi-fi system" and I've read at least a dozen threads on upgrades, but most seem to be pushing more than $1,000 into it.
That's more than I want to spend, and I'm not an audiophile. And even after putting all that info into the hopper, it's not clear to me what to do. I see some say a speaker upgrade without an amp upgrade isn't all that helpful, and others say an amp upgrade alone isn't great because the existing speakers are marginal.
Is there even a way to get by spending $500-$600 and make a reasonable improvement? I think the current system is about a 3 or 4 on the dial and I'd like to hear sound that rates 5 or 6.
Also, I think what we're talking about here obviously is parts cost and DIY install.
All this is a bit of a shock, remembering the old days when I'd get a Honda Civic with blank plate where head unit went, pop in a $250 Kenwood AM/FM cassette , 5.25 inch door speakers and a pair of Jensen 6x9s in a box in the back and be the baddest mofo for 100 miles. Wouldve been 200 miles if I'd had a mullet.
Now I've got a computer-linked 12-speaker system with USB and DVD and it can't get out of its own way.

[Harlequin]

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...-Coupe-07-E82/

It's $699 - not $600 - but it's probably the best option out there unless you really know your stuff and can design your own system.

[GarrettF]

is it just speaker replacements?

[thumper88]

Yeah, i read through it. Replaces all the speakers except the little woofers under the seats....seems like reasonable recommendation, but I'm all ears.
It seems like for similar money, I could put 8-inch Jehnerts under the seats, and pretty high-end drivers and tweeters in the front...
but then maybe I'd need more power?

[cat-like]

Originally Posted by thumper88

Yeah, i read through it. Replaces all the speakers except the little woofers under the seats....seems like reasonable recommendation, but I'm all ears.
It seems like for similar money, I could put 8-inch Jehnerts under the seats, and pretty high-end drivers and tweeters in the front...
but then maybe I'd need more power?

To be honest, I think throwing $600 at it would not be a great return, save some more money & do it right. Don't put high end speakers in without giving them some more power. I have the Harman Kardan setup which is passable but still not great, the 4 inch drivers are not good. I will be upgrading this setup sometime this year, so I can only imagine what yours sounds like.....

Edit: Do you need to get the head unit coded for hi fi?

[Kdiddy007]

Focal France=best speakers period.

[thumper88]

Originally Posted by cat-like

To be honest, I think throwing $600 at it would not be a great return, save some more money & do it right. Don't put high end speakers in without giving them some more power. I have the Harman Kardan setup which is passable but still not great, the 4 inch drivers are not good. I will be upgrading this setup sometime this year, so I can only imagine what yours sounds like.....
Edit: Do you need to get the head unit coded for hi fi?

Nope, it's not the base, it's the Hi-Fi, so shouldnt need coding, as i understand it. Sound comes out flat.

[nato-main-man-5am]

Buy used. A $1000 speakers plus amp setup is now $600.