BMW Alpina B7 Center Dash Speaker Size
The BMW Alpina B7 center dash location accommodates a 1 inch speaker size and 4 inch units. Compatible types for the audio system include tweeters and midrange units. The specifications cover a range of years from 2007 to 2017.
| Year | Type | Size (inch) |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2017 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2015 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2015 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2014 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2014 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2013 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2013 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2012 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2012 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2011 | Tweeter | 1 |
| 2011 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2008 | Midrange | 4 |
| 2007 | Midrange | 4 |
Speaker Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | A small driver built for high frequencies, typically from about 2,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz. It adds treble detail and clarity and is usually mounted near ear level or aimed at the listener. |
| Midrange | A driver for the middle of the audible range, typically from about 300 Hz to 5,000 Hz, where vocals and most instruments sit. It is often paired with a tweeter and a woofer. |
Additional Notes
- The center dash location in the BMW Alpina B7 accommodates 2 distinct speaker sizes across the listed model years: 1 inch and 4 inch.
- The center dash position is a centrally oriented mounting point, placing speakers along the vehicle's horizontal axis between the driver and front passenger, which supports focused stereo imaging toward the listening area.
- A 1-inch tweeter in the center dash handles high-frequency reproduction, generally covering the range above 2,000 Hz. Placement at the center dash positions high-frequency output at a relatively elevated and forward angle relative to seated occupants, which aids in perceived soundstage height and clarity of upper harmonic content.
- The 4-inch midrange driver in the center dash handles the mid-frequency band, typically spanning approximately 300 Hz to 5,000 Hz. At 4 inches, the cone surface area is sufficient to reproduce vocal fundamentals and instrument presence tones without the cone breakup that affects larger drivers at higher frequencies.
- In the center dash of the BMW Alpina B7, the 4-inch midrange driver operates in a shallow, constrained enclosure typical of instrument panel cavities, which influences rear acoustic loading and can affect low-midrange output efficiency.
- The 1-inch tweeter format is physically compact, making it suited to the limited depth and width constraints common in center dash panel cutouts, where larger high-frequency drivers would face fitment conflicts with the dashboard structure.
- A tweeter positioned at the center dash radiates high-frequency content with a relatively narrow dispersion angle, as high-frequency wavelengths are short and directional. Center placement along the dash axis distributes treble output symmetrically toward both front seating positions.
- The 2007 and 2008 model year rows for the BMW Alpina B7 center dash list only the 4-inch midrange type, without a corresponding 1-inch tweeter entry.
- From 2011 through 2017, excluding 2016, the center dash location specifies both a 1-inch tweeter and a 4-inch midrange as separate compatible installations, indicating a 2-speaker configuration at that position for those years.
- The 4-inch diameter of the midrange driver affects its directional behavior: at frequencies where the wavelength approaches the cone diameter, radiation becomes increasingly forward-focused, which is relevant in a center dash position aimed generally toward the windshield and cabin interior.