DIY: Individual "M" Audio/Enhanced Premium Sound (Logic 7) Retrofit

[N54andS63TU]

Update part number of the amp 6815969, I believe its 600watt s688a amp going to replace s677 420 watt factory one

[WrathOTM]

Originally Posted by N54andS63TU

Update part number of the amp 6815969, I believe its 600watt s688a amp going to replace s677 420 watt factory one

Can you confirm the signal from radio to amp is good? Sometimes the fiber optic cable breaks in mysterious fashion. You can unplug one end at the amp and the other at the radio and put a flashlight to it on one of the ends and then check the other end to see if you can see the light. I hope you are successful as I want to upgrade again to the B & O amp.

[N54andS63TU]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Can you confirm the signal from radio to amp is good? Sometimes the fiber optic cable breaks in mysterious fashion. You can unplug one end at the amp and the other at the radio and put a flashlight to it on one of the ends and then check the other end to see if you can see the light. I hope you are successful as I want to upgrade again to the B & O amp.

Yes, the light turns on but no sound, connected it and unplugged multiple times, just to make sure still nothing

[N54andS63TU]

Got the 600 watt amp from e70/f01 its working now, it blows the 20amp fuse inside glove box at hight volumes, and sound distorts bad after 60% volume.

[WrathOTM]

Go for a 30amp fuse? Maybe increase gauge size on the power wire?

[N54andS63TU]

Originally Posted by WrathOTM

Go for a 30amp fuse? Maybe increase gauge size on the power wire?

going to plug it directly to the battery, will the amp stay on all the time? and will be it okay with car running getting 14.3-14.7v directly from battery?

[VickyK]

Originally Posted by N54andS63TU

going to plug it directly to the battery, will the amp stay on all the time? and will be it okay with car running getting 14.3-14.7v directly from battery?

Do you know what on earth are you even doing? You've introduced 600W Idv amp when the speakers are made for the 400W amp. What else do you think it would do instead of distorting? You probably have already damaged the speakers.

Now you want to run it directly to the battery and then what? Drain it until you cant crank your car anymore?

[Alongat]

Hello everyone - I’m new to this forum and already learning so much. I came across this thread and am hoping someone can help me as I’ve got a bit of a strange configuration. I’ve got a 2008 e82 that has the standard sound package (not logic 7 / Harmon kardon) but previous owner installed an NBT Evo head unit and console controller (and dash display). It’s also got an aftermarket CarPlay adaptor because my iPhone connects to it wirelessly.

What I’d like to do is:
1- upgrade to individual audio speakers (easy and I have access to some)
2- upgrade to the individual audio amplifier I have from an e90 sedan (year unknown)

So: I think I can get the wiring harness from the same e90 that the amp came from - this would be the wiring harness from the e90 head unit to the individual audio amp but I have no idea if it will plug into the back of my NBT evo. Does anyone know if they’re compatible?
Assuming the wiring cable is plug and play,
Does anyone know if I will require any coding or other configuration work to use the individual audio amp and speakers for improved sound quality?

Thanks in advance for anything you can offer to help.

[VickyK]

Originally Posted by Alongat

Hello everyone - I’m new to this forum and already learning so much. I came across this thread and am hoping someone can help me as I’ve got a bit of a strange configuration. I’ve got a 2008 e82 that has the standard sound package (not logic 7 / Harmon kardon) but previous owner installed an NBT Evo head unit and console controller (and dash display). It’s also got an aftermarket CarPlay adaptor because my iPhone connects to it wirelessly.

What I’d like to do is:
1- upgrade to individual audio speakers (easy and I have access to some)
2- upgrade to the individual audio amplifier I have from an e90 sedan (year unknown)

So: I think I can get the wiring harness from the same e90 that the amp came from - this would be the wiring harness from the e90 head unit to the individual audio amp but I have no idea if it will plug into the back of my NBT evo. Does anyone know if they’re compatible?
Assuming the wiring cable is plug and play,
Does anyone know if I will require any coding or other configuration work to use the individual audio amp and speakers for improved sound quality?

Thanks in advance for anything you can offer to help.

If my understanding is right, you won't be able to do any.
1. If you wire just the individual speakers they have lower impedance compared to base. Hence swapping it can potentially ruin your headunit.
2. E90 amps communicate with different protocol compared to nbt system. It won't fire up though using the same fiber optics.

[Alongat]

Originally Posted by VickyK

If my understanding is right, you won't be able to do any.
1. If you wire just the individual speakers they have lower impedance compared to base. Hence swapping it can potentially ruin your headunit.
2. E90 amps communicate with different protocol compared to nbt system. It won't fire up though using the same fiber optics.

Lower speaker impedance will impact my existing amplifier and should not bother the head unit and, if the protocol between my NBT evo head unit and the individual audio amplifier is completely different and not compatible then it sounds as though I need an amplifier from the same era as my NBT evo. With that said, I’m curious how my system is currently working given that my car is using the NBT evo head unit and my original e82 amplifier - somehow sharing the same protocol to enable things to work…

[VickyK]

Originally Posted by Alongat

Lower speaker impedance will impact my existing amplifier and should not bother the head unit and, if the protocol between my NBT evo head unit and the individual audio amplifier is completely different and not compatible then it sounds as though I need an amplifier from the same era as my NBT evo. With that said, I’m curious how my system is currently working given that my car is using the NBT evo head unit and my original e82 amplifier - somehow sharing the same protocol to enable things to work…

You didn't indicate what kind of amplifier you are running. Seems you are running Hifi amp , not TopHifi/Ind. That hifi amp is a dummy amp, where it takes the low level balanced signal and amplifies it. Your previous owner probably rewired to cater it. Doesn't need any communication protocol. Whereas L7 and Individual amp is connected via MOST fiber optics and communicates together with all the options it came with.

[Alongat]

Correct - my car has the black amplifier (hifi not logic 7)

[Alongat]

This is my current amp and an unused cable you can see in this photo

[VickyK]

Originally Posted by Alongat

This is my current amp and an unused cable you can see in this photo

Attachment 3481018

Ok, foremost you will definitely require coding to even attempt to use E90 Ind amp to your setup. Check out youtube clips on coding and understand the process. Can be learned, but make no mistake in rushing to learn it. Take your time.

Since you already purchased e90 amp and if you are really obsessed in getting good quality audio in your setup, i can suggest this:
Get the wiring loom from the same guy.
Check behind the headunit, there should be fiber optics behind your headunit. See if its connected, otherwise connect it.

Code NBT with Indv audio config (frankly, im not sure if you can code it as the retrofit would have used some protocol decoder module, im not sure if you are able to write code back to the headunit. Someone else who has experience please chime in)
I can see the taped fiber above your black hifi - meaning car was provisioned for CD-Changer or someone removed the cd-changer unit.
Use that fiber to connect e90 amp. Get the wiring diagram for the individual amp, power it externally with 12V. Check if you are getting signal /light. Using the wiring loom that you got, just connect one of the Indv speaker that and see if youre getting sound. If you do, congrats, that amp works and you can safely take apart the car to install the new wiring looms and speakers.

If you cant, well you have to troubleshoot further. This is why i didnt even consider retrofitting NBT, because all other dependencies like amp etc. Potential screwups, so many unknowns.

[Alongat]

This is super helpful, thank you.

I’m going to do the following in order:
1- get the individual audio speakers
2- get the e9x cable from the head unit to the individual Audio amp from the same source as the speakers
3- check for physical compatibility of that cable to the back of my NBT evo head unit
4- follow the other steps you’re suggesting

I’ll report back my findings but I figure worst case, I can install the individual audio speakers and use a multi channel aftermarket amplifier if the individual Audio amp doesn’t work or coding and wiring can’t make all this work.

Thank you for your help and patience with me and all my questions.