[DHDCF]

What a big let down is the hk system in my 21 base m5. As an audiophile for past 35 years I have to say this is a complete let down. Hopefully when I order my next one BW makes up for the time I'm going to lose to sound mediocrity at best. I suspected this since more air space than my last M3/M4s but now living with it sucks. Complete let down. Sounded better on show room floor and yes. I knew would of course. But couldn't really crank up up now could I?

PS best system: was my 2010 E93

[subterFUSE]

B&W is not good either.

[VPRKLR]

Originally Posted by DHDCF

What a big let down is the hk system in my 21 base m5. As an audiophile for past 35 years I have to say this is a complete let down. Hopefully when I order my next one BW makes up for the time I'm going to lose to sound mediocrity at best. I suspected this since more air space than my last M3/M4s but now living with it sucks. Complete let down. Sounded better on show room floor and yes. I knew would of course. But couldn't really crank up up now could I?

PS best system: was my 2010 E93

What specifically don't you like?

[windtendo]

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

B&W is not good either.

It's only not good if you don't know how to properly adjust the settings. Once adjusted, its phenomenal.

[subterFUSE]

Originally Posted by windtendo

It's only not good if you don't know how to properly adjust the settings. Once adjusted, its phenomenal.

It is not possible to tune the B&W properly because there are no independent speaker delays. The speakers are out of phase at the listening position. Without delays, that can't be resolved.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by windtendo

It's only not good if you don't know how to properly adjust the settings. Once adjusted, its phenomenal.

Agreed. I didn't think it was anything special until I read some recommendations for settings on these forums, and absolutely love it now. It's not ideal, for a number of reasons, but for a car system it's fine. The Model 3 honestly has the best system I've heard in a passenger car

[pbonsalb]

HK was good stuff about 30 years ago. Like everything it is not as good today.

[wesleyan92]

Originally Posted by DHDCF

What a big let down is the hk system in my 21 base m5. As an audiophile for past 35 years I have to say this is a complete let down. Hopefully when I order my next one BW makes up for the time I'm going to lose to sound mediocrity at best. I suspected this since more air space than my last M3/M4s but now living with it sucks. Complete let down. Sounded better on show room floor and yes. I knew would of course. But couldn't really crank up up now could I?

PS best system: was my 2010 E93

100% agree; my 2019 had the HK and I hated it from the moment I drove off the dealer lot. It was even more painful given how awesome the Bang & Olufsen was in my 2016 F10.

[Greer]

Originally Posted by windtendo

It's only not good if you don't know how to properly adjust the settings. Once adjusted, its phenomenal.

What settings do you use?

[FSHNGRY]

Originally Posted by windtendo

It's only not good if you don't know how to properly adjust the settings. Once adjusted, its phenomenal.

THIS.

Although I'd say there isn't anything "not good" about it. Even with both systems completely powered down, the b&w just looks 100x better

Curious as to where you have yours configured at. I've messed with the various sound types (studio, theater, concert, etc.)

[Alberta]

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

B&W is not good either.

It's amazing you mean.

[subterFUSE]

Originally Posted by Can-am

It's amazing you mean.

No it's not good at all. The speakers are poorly positioned and there is no delay compensation to correct for the locations. It does not image or stage properly. It also lacks overall bass response and there is a hole in the midbass response due to poor phase alignment between speakers at the seating position. The processing they offer is gimmicky and useless. It does little else than add reverb effects. I could go on and on.

[Alberta]

I had the HK in my X5M and the B&W in my M5 and the difference is night and day, in favor of B&W, believe me.

I couldn't be happier.

[Deleted Account]

I'm not an audiophile and I may not have the most discerning taste, but I find the BW to be excellent and aesthetically it is just killer.

With all that said, the sound system was not my first second or third concern when choosing my LCI M5C

[shellbmb]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Agreed. I didn't think it was anything special until I read some recommendations for settings on these forums, and absolutely love it now. It's not ideal, for a number of reasons, but for a car system it's fine. The Model 3 honestly has the best system I've heard in a passenger car

The M3 is above average, but I wouldn't say it's the best I've heard. I had a B&O system in an E63 that was very nice. Subjectively better than the B&W in our F90.

I'm no audiophile, but like someone mentioned, there are no options for room correction. Wouldn't it be cool if you could introduce something like Audyssey in the car!! It's standard now with most home receivers. Would be cool.

I had HK in my F10 and it sucked. It was absolutely terrible. But I had HK in my wife's GL and it sounded perfectly adequate.

Search and there is a thread with recommended B&W settings for the F90. And as with most speakers, a little break-in helps too. I thought about adding a sub, but never went through with it. Might consider it again for my new F90 coming soon.

[Fantastic 5]

The B&W is excellent but it lacks bass to fill out the sound especially at speed. I listen to hard rock and metal and strong bass isn't required. Still it needs that little bit of thrust that lets you feel the bass in your chest.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by shellbmb

The M3 is above average, but I wouldn't say it's the best I've heard. I had a B&O system in an E63 that was very nice. Subjectively better than the B&W in our F90.

I'm no audiophile, but like someone mentioned, there are no options for room correction. Wouldn't it be cool if you could introduce something like Audyssey in the car!! It's standard now with most home receivers. Would be cool.

I had HK in my F10 and it sucked. It was absolutely terrible. But I had HK in my wife's GL and it sounded perfectly adequate.

Search and there is a thread with recommended B&W settings for the F90. And as with most speakers, a little break-in helps too. I thought about adding a sub, but never went through with it. Might consider it again for my new F90 coming soon.

No, I mean the Tesla Model 3. I have no idea how they did it, but it's spectacular imho for a stock system

[shellbmb]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

No, I mean the Tesla Model 3. I have no idea how they did it, but it's spectacular imho for a stock system

Sorry, that's what I was referring to as well. We have a model 3 and I really like the sound system too. Forgot on a BMW forum M3 could mean something else. Haha.

[footie]

Originally Posted by DHDCF

What a big let down is the hk system in my 21 base m5. As an audiophile for past 35 years I have to say this is a complete let down. Hopefully when I order my next one BW makes up for the time I'm going to lose to sound mediocrity at best. I suspected this since more air space than my last M3/M4s but now living with it sucks. Complete let down. Sounded better on show room floor and yes. I knew would of course. But couldn't really crank up up now could I?

PS best system: was my 2010 E93

So pleased someone else feels the same way as myself, my previously 740d had the BMW system and IMO it was far superior and a much better soundstage. This HK is too tinny with its surround mode engaged and the balance is either too far to the left or right depending on which seat you are in.

The only car brand that impressed me was Jaguar/LandRover, their Meridian systems are the dog’s bollocks.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by shellbmb

Sorry, that's what I was referring to as well. We have a model 3 and I really like the sound system too. Forgot on a BMW forum M3 could mean something else. Haha.

Ha! Sorry bout that lol

[stealth70mde]

The speakers needs quite a bit of breaking-in.
Also, the midrange speakers in the doors are too weak and they will easily distort.
To circumvent that, you need to cut a lot of the 200Hz region in the EQ.
You end up having a weird EQ visually where it looks like you’re over boosting the 100Hz and the 500Hz region but it solves the distortion problem.

I also adjust my EQ so it sounds proper at highways speeds (mostly for bass). This means that in my driveway or at slow speeds it becomes somewhat boomy but I’m okay with that compromise.

[subterFUSE]

Originally Posted by stealth70mde

The speakers needs quite a bit of breaking-in.
Also, the mid-bass speakers in the doors are too weak and they will easily distort.
To circumvent that, you need to cut a lot of the 200Hz region in the EQ.
You end up having a weird EQ visually where it looks like you're over boosting the 100Hz and the 500Hz region but it solves the distortion problem.

I also adjust my EQ so it sounds proper at highways speeds (mostly for bass). This means that in my driveway or at slow speeds it becomes somewhat boomy but I'm okay with that compromise.

The door speakers are midranges. I would guess they have an Fs value of 200 Hz or higher, which means they should be crossed over no lower than 400 Hz with a 24 dB slope.