05-21-2022, 06:51 PM | #1 |
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Bavsound long term review
Good - bad - ugly ?
Anyone upgrade the speakers from HK to Bavsound a while ago? Did it really make a difference? All thoughts appreciated - semi-retired bassist here and having a hard time with HK sound in the F90… Thanks in advance |
05-21-2022, 09:56 PM | #2 | |
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Worked flawlessly for months. One day, I got in the car and it sounded like there were no subs in the car. Filled out a warranty request online, received a notification that my new set was being mailed out before the end of the day. In 48 hours, the replacement set was at my door. I opened them up and it looked like screws had been torqued on the subs. Then I noticed a layer of dust. Reached out to their support team via email. They told me because they were sold out for about 30-45 days, they sent a pair that someone else had returned, but assured me that they were as good as new. I installed them and shipped back my original set. After the recommended break in period (which I actually think l was completed by the previous owner), I had a leg to stand on that they didn't sound great. I reached out to the same CSR that fulfilled my replacement order and before the end of the day, he had shipped me out another set. They arrived and were new. I installed them and was back to how my original set sounded after the break in period. Emailed them again and asked for a return label for the used (perhaps refurbished) set. They told me to throw them out and not worry about because of the trouble I had and that's exactly what I did. I've had that set in for a few months now, and a couple of weeks ago, I noticed only about 50% of the bass that they originally did. I haven't had the chance to reach out to them yet for another replacement set under warranty, but I will soon. I am sure they'll replace them again, and I'll update this post when I get around to contacting them. When they're at 100%, they're amazing as compared to HK subs. I get a punchy rumble under my seat without it being overbearing. But each set I had didn't seem to last that long. From the research I've done, my experience was atypical. Perhaps just a fluke, albeit more than once. And at least they replaced it without difficulty each time. Annoying to have to pull the seats out and uninstall and reinstall, but I've got it down to about 15 minutes per side by now. Three of my other cars have/had premium factory setups — Burmester, Meridian, and Bose. Burmester is the biggest waste of $5000 I've ever committed. The Merdian and Bose sound incredible for factory options. Does this make the sound comparable to the (clean, punch, no distortion) bass to my non-audiophile ears that those cars do? Absolutely not. Was it a million times better than the stock under seats? Without a shadow of a doubt. I realize you're probably looking for info regarding the whole system, and I can't provide that. But if you want to try to increase your bass, for a reasonable price, with a company that will take everything back within 100 days if you're dissatisfied, and offers incredible warranty service, I'd give it a go. Ordered BW on my incoming car, but obviously had to forego it. I will do the under seat kit in my new car for sure. I have been seriously contemplating the full stage one kit, but worry if I run into an issue that requires a warranty replacement as frequently as the under seat kit, it's going to be a lot more work to get the speakers out as opposed to just 8 bolts for the seats. Also, I test drove an X6M with HK a few days ago. I turned up the bass and didn't hear even a little bit of it. Even operating at the 50% of capacity I'm estimating the current set is putting out now, the under seat kit is exponentially better than the stock HKs. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide.
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05-21-2022, 11:36 PM | #3 | ||
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05-21-2022, 11:42 PM | #4 | |||
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05-30-2022, 11:32 AM | #5 |
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Just wanted to update you that I reached out to BavSound and they did immediately offer to send me another replacement underseat Ghost subwoofer kit under warranty!
EDIT — It seems as though I may have spoken too soon. After sending me an email telling me they were going to replace them, I just received another email telling me they think the failure rate is rather high and they have asked me to first send them the defective units for testing. I'll update this thread when I have more info.
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06-02-2022, 12:41 PM | #6 | |
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06-02-2022, 02:47 PM | #7 | ||
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Maybe you guys shouldn't have given me a crappy/defective product and it wouldn't need multiple replacements. Glad you were able to get is resolved eventually.
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06-24-2022, 04:06 PM | #8 |
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Took a little while (nearly a month all said and done), but I did receive a replacement set under warranty again in the end. Installed them yesterday and working on chipping away at the break in period hours. But they are already so much better than the stock HKs!
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08-18-2022, 09:35 PM | #9 | |
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08-19-2022, 07:52 AM | #10 |
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I can tell you the big difference in sound will come from adding their DSP/amplifier.
The ability to delay and EQ speakers independently is the largest single improvement that can be made. Without a DSP we can't tune the system properly. |
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08-19-2022, 07:44 PM | #11 | ||
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This new set is better sounding, and has a wider range of bass than my previous sets did. As I conceded here before, I am not audiophile by any means. I might not even be using those terms right. But I just hated not having bass with the stock HK. The Ghost kit added the much needed and lacking sound to my otherwise stock setup, and I can hear and feel (a little bit) the difference. It's not rattling bass by any means. But it does provide a decent amount of bass if you manage your expectations and understand that you're not changing the amplifier that powers the stock woofers. Prior to install, the HK was the worst higher end (relative term, I guess) factory audio system I've had in any of my numerous high end vehicles. The Ghost kit makes it pretty good under most circumstances for the music I listen to, with more marginal improvements for some other genres. Overall, for a mere $600, and being able to do the install yourself, not having to go with custom fabrication, and it being backed up by a 100 day no questions asked return policy, it's great. If you're looking at it from the perspective of, "its WAY better than it was," you'll be pleased I think. There is literally no harm in trying, they'll take it back, while being really nice about it, and you'll get all of your money back besides the shipping if you don't like how it sounds. But, ROI is fantastic here! If you're on the fence, I really recommend you try them if you want a minimally involved audio upgrade. Again, I'm no audiophile. But it sounded like complete crap before, and now it sounds reasonably good; my ears didn't change, so I know the sound did. Still not where it should be for a car of this price that is the subject of marketing such that it is a luxury product. Also worth noting, I've since come to find other direct replacements that use the original BMW wiring harness, and require no modification to the stock enclosure like the BavSound, and I may try the Rockford Fosgate ones at some point; probably purchased through Crutchfield because of their strong return policy and excellent customer service to attempt to match the service experience I've had from BavSound. But for now, I'm not fixing what isn't broken. Hoping this set will last longer than previous ones. I'll report back if any issues arise. Good luck! Take the plunge.
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08-19-2022, 07:51 PM | #12 | |
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I still can't seem to find any amp on their website that isn't intended for either of the two HiFi systems — "standard" and "top."
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08-19-2022, 07:55 PM | #13 |
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I have not attempted any audio upgrades to my M5 because it is a lease, and the level of audio upgrades that I do to my cars take years to implement. I just won't own this car long enough to install a stereo in it.
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08-19-2022, 07:57 PM | #14 |
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If the amp upgrade doesn't work on the F90 then I cannot recommend anyone attempt to upgrade the audio in their car.
Just live with it. Or buy another car. |
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08-19-2022, 08:08 PM | #15 | |
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Admittedly I'm not an audiophile — maybe you hear the difference such that I can't comprehend, that even with the Ghost kit, it's "bad" sound to your ears. The M5, to me, is perfect in every other regard (except the squeaky brakes). The presence of a marginally good, but an easily improved audio system is not reason for most buyers to pass on the car entirely.
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08-19-2022, 08:10 PM | #16 |
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So were both of mine! That's why this makes so much sense! It's entirely reversible, on top of all the other perceived (by me) benefits. And you can put that set in your next leased car!
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08-28-2022, 10:20 PM | #17 |
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Just ordered the subwoofers and maybe /probably should have just ordered all of them.
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08-28-2022, 10:48 PM | #18 |
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I think you'll be super pleased! Keep us posted!
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09-11-2022, 11:51 AM | #19 |
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Just ordered the full kit. Figured I would do the whole thing at once. Plan is to install in 2 weeks…
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09-21-2022, 06:40 AM | #20 |
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Let us know how it goes! I'm contemplating the same for mine.
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09-21-2022, 10:07 AM | #21 |
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09-21-2022, 09:37 PM | #22 | |
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