Base sound upgrade - Match DSP amplifier?

[BEVbliss]

I've come across some interesting threads about the Match M 5.4DSP amplifier as a plug-n-play upgrade for the base sound system in the i3. Unfortunately most of them are for European buyers. It looks like an interesting option if I could only find the right cable to patch it in to the existing system. Here's a video that shows the process: .

Installation under the rear seat simply requires unplugging the Quadlock harness, using an adapter to pass the signal to the amp, then plugging other end of the harness back into the Quadlock to send the amplified signal to the speakers.

Unfortunately the US distributors for Audiotech Fisher don't seem to offer the harness shown in the video above. Those that I've spoken to have offered a much more convoluted (i.e. costly) path to installing this amp. It seems like a relatively simple process. Send the signals from the head unit to the amp, and then pipe the amped signals for the four front speakers back into the wiring harness, but perhaps I'm overlooking something obvious.

Has anyone here investigated the Match DSP amp?

 

[TheAirman]

This is what I have been looking into. I put the Match speakers in the front doors withe a few sound absorption mats.

I bought these from Crutchfield. It made a big difference over the stock speakers.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975X4BMW2/MATCH-UP-X4-BMWFRT-2.html

My next step is upgrading the kick panel speaker. But other mods and other car projects put this on the back burner lately.

Here's the amp you'll need.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co.uk/products/match-up-8-dsp-amplifer?_pos=3&_sid=1b7883b47&_ss=r

You can still get the Match UP 5.4 i think he uses in the video, but the 8 is just as costly and it's the upgraded unit.

Here is the harness you'll need for plug and play. Crutchfield might be able to get it, but I never got that far yet.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...-88-bmw-t-harness?_pos=4&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

Depending on how far you locate the amp from the base audio hookup underneath the back seat, here are some extension harnesses.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...ss-with-1m-length?_pos=1&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

The match system would make a big difference over the base audio and it would be plug and play, rather than ripping up the car interior and doing a custom upgrade. It's on my list.

 

[BEVbliss]

Thanks for the suggestions. I, too, found that the PAC 88 harness ($59) is the one that's needed to tap into the factory Quadlock system when installing a Match amp. I've also been told that I'll need a slightly different adapter to convert the outputs from the PAC 88 into the 20-pin system connector for the amp. That harness is the PP-MQS, which comes in different lengths. The shortest (1m) is relatively expensive at $116. If the PP-ISO harness can play the same role, it's a better option at $47.

I'm likely going to stick with the M 5.4DSP, since I'm not planning on adding any more speakers to my i3s. Once I solve the last of the wiring questions, I'm going to bite the bullet, put it in and tune it with the Match software. Hopefully it ends up being money well spent.

 

[tongsli]

This is what I have been looking into. I put the Match speakers in the front doors withe a few sound absorption mats.

I bought these from Crutchfield. It made a big difference over the stock speakers.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975X4BMW2/MATCH-UP-X4-BMWFRT-2.html

My next step is upgrading the kick panel speaker. But other mods and other car projects put this on the back burner lately.

Here's the amp you'll need.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co.uk/products/match-up-8-dsp-amplifer?_pos=3&_sid=1b7883b47&_ss=r

You can still get the Match UP 5.4 i think he uses in the video, but the 8 is just as costly and it's the upgraded unit.

Here is the harness you'll need for plug and play. Crutchfield might be able to get it, but I never got that far yet.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...-88-bmw-t-harness?_pos=4&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

Depending on how far you locate the amp from the base audio hookup underneath the back seat, here are some extension harnesses.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...ss-with-1m-length?_pos=1&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

The match system would make a big difference over the base audio and it would be plug and play, rather than ripping up the car interior and doing a custom upgrade. It's on my list.

I would love to see what you replace the kicker speaker with. I ended up adding a subwoofer into the trunk and replacing mid and tweeters up front including center channel.

I bought but did not replace the rear door speakers yet. Just lazy I guess. Not high on the list right now. I ended up using the Alpha One speakers they are better but I'm not "blown away" by the difference.

I have the Harmon Kardon system which is better than base but I wish we could find something that makes me go "holy crap".

I bought the amp from Bimmertech before this new version and It was worse than the HK amp. So I am leery of spending another grand (different car 2021 I3 with HK) to get the newest version.

 

[Chrism88]

This is what I have been looking into. I put the Match speakers in the front doors withe a few sound absorption mats.

I bought these from Crutchfield. It made a big difference over the stock speakers.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975X4BMW2/MATCH-UP-X4-BMWFRT-2.html

My next step is upgrading the kick panel speaker. But other mods and other car projects put this on the back burner lately.

Here's the amp you'll need.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co.uk/products/match-up-8-dsp-amplifer?_pos=3&_sid=1b7883b47&_ss=r

You can still get the Match UP 5.4 i think he uses in the video, but the 8 is just as costly and it's the upgraded unit.

Here is the harness you'll need for plug and play. Crutchfield might be able to get it, but I never got that far yet.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...-88-bmw-t-harness?_pos=4&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

Depending on how far you locate the amp from the base audio hookup underneath the back seat, here are some extension harnesses.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...ss-with-1m-length?_pos=1&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

The match system would make a big difference over the base audio and it would be plug and play, rather than ripping up the car interior and doing a custom upgrade. It's on my list.

Is this an upgrade for the 2019 and newer LCI base sound system also? Or just the pre-LCI? I have an LCI and want to upgrade, but the stereo is already a lot better than the pre-LCI base. I’d want to make sure this is truly an upgrade for the LCI and not just the older cars.

Also have you considered the Audison k4e speakers? I think those might be a decent fit, but I don’t know how they compare to the Match…

 

[TheAirman]

Is this an upgrade for the 2019 and newer LCI base sound system also? Or just the pre-LCI? I have an LCI and want to upgrade, but the stereo is already a lot better than the pre-LCI base. I’d want to make sure this is truly an upgrade for the LCI and not just the older cars.

Also have you considered the Audison k4e speakers? I think those might be a decent fit, but I don’t know how they compare to the Match…

On the video it looks like he is doing the upgrade on a pre-LCI. I don't think much changed on the base radio. When I contacted crown customs car audio, they gave me all the numbers for the 2019 and new base radio. Only thing that changed was the amp upgraded from the 5.4 to the 8.

 

[TheAirman]

I would love to see what you replace the kicker speaker with. I ended up adding a subwoofer into the trunk and replacing mid and tweeters up front including center channel.

I bought but did not replace the rear door speakers yet. Just lazy I guess. Not high on the list right now. I ended up using the Alpha One speakers they are better but I'm not "blown away" by the difference.

I have the Harmon Kardon system which is better than base but I wish we could find something that makes me go "holy crap".

I bought the amp from Bimmertech before this new version and It was worse than the HK amp. So I am leery of spending another grand (different car 2021 I3 with HK) to get the newest version.

I pulled the rear door cards and the factory speaker wires were already there. I couldn't get them to work, though. Maybe with the match amp upgrade? There is a guy doing an extensive, deep upgrade to his i3 over on one of the other BMW forums. I think he's trying to install the complete HK system in a base audio car. I don't want to go that deep.

As for the kick panels, they have a whole lot that work over here. It just a tough job getting to the speakers and they all seem to be a modified fit, but it shouldn't be to hard. They supply instructions.

https://www.crutchfield.com/g_400/All-Car-Speakers.html?tp=105&l=B

 

[Chrism88]

Have you guys considered

On the video it looks like he is doing the upgrade on a pre-LCI. I don't think much changed on the base radio. When I contacted crown customs car audio, they gave me all the numbers for the 2019 and new base radio. Only thing that changed was the amp upgraded from the 5.4 to the 8.

The base stereo between pre LCI and post LCI is night and day. The LCI is about 90% of the HK tbh. It’s just missing mids at ear level and rear speakers tbh. It does some things better than HK, I’d still prefer the HK but after 2019 it got way better.

 

[tongsli]

Have you guys considered

The base stereo between pre LCI and post LCI is night and day. The LCI is about 90% of the HK tbh. It’s just missing mids at ear level and rear speakers tbh. It does some things better than HK, I’d still prefer the HK but after 2019 it got way bette

my 2018 was base audio. When I moved up to the 2021 I made sure to order HK. When the 2021 was totaled, I looked for a used I3 with the HK and am glad I did.

The stock kicker speakers on the HK are pretty good. The addition of the sub supported the bass and makes them sound even more "full". I'm not sure if I replaced the stock kickers if I would be able to tell given the addition of my subwoofer.

But Ive found on Reddit a replacement/installation and it does look involved.

 

[Chrism88]

This is what I have been looking into. I put the Match speakers in the front doors withe a few sound absorption mats.

I bought these from Crutchfield. It made a big difference over the stock speakers.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975X4BMW2/MATCH-UP-X4-BMWFRT-2.html

My next step is upgrading the kick panel speaker. But other mods and other car projects put this on the back burner lately.

Here's the amp you'll need.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co.uk/products/match-up-8-dsp-amplifer?_pos=3&_sid=1b7883b47&_ss=r

You can still get the Match UP 5.4 i think he uses in the video, but the 8 is just as costly and it's the upgraded unit.

Here is the harness you'll need for plug and play. Crutchfield might be able to get it, but I never got that far yet.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...-88-bmw-t-harness?_pos=4&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

Depending on how far you locate the amp from the base audio hookup underneath the back seat, here are some extension harnesses.
https://www.crowncustomscaraudio.co...ss-with-1m-length?_pos=1&_sid=8007da636&_ss=r

The match system would make a big difference over the base audio and it would be plug and play, rather than ripping up the car interior and doing a custom upgrade. It's on my list.

What year is your i3? You had base audio or HK before the upgrade?