[BEM-S4]

For those who got Harmon Kardon thinking it was 16 speakers and 600W, would you still have purchased knowing what we do now?

I know less $ isn't an option as they still have it priced at $875 but curious if folks fall somewhere in the middle.

[jrstech]

Having lived with this HK system for two weeks I have to say it isn't much of an upgrade over the Hifi system I had in my e90 if any. If the two tweeters up front didn't have the HK brand on them you wouldn't give this sound system much thought. If I had to put a value to this upgrade over the true HK system in the 3 and 4 series I wouldn't pay more than $200 for it.

[tccox]

No, I would have spent money on active suspension

[damills]

I would have waited ordered if I had known and I did, cancelled my order waiting on 2015/2016 and as I said in another post, SURELY this sytem will not make it to the M2 for $875, I bet its surround sound or better. If not that is pretty cheap to put money in research and put a device costing more than surround sound in the car that makes it sound fabricated, now is the ultimate driving machine, its all fake, us enthusiasts are forgotten unless you can afford am M4. I also noticed on the M3/M4 the enhanced audio is no longer available which is no more than the individual audio. Why cant anyone get it with their production capabilities. JIT, don't understand, any part can be sent to any plant just in time to put it in the car, new wiring harness and 12 new speakers, not a big deal IMO, could have been done right from the start. It better on the M2 and I love the M4 since there is not the 423/435 side vent, now if during LCI they get rid of the headlights meeting the kidney grill, I will move up to it, at least it says surround sound

I just wished BMW would listen and do something about it, we will end up paying for what they offer or pass on it, don't see the problem with offering it, make a configurable car like other places in the world. I also don't like they way lump stuff together to make you buy ZPP, make it purely configurable would be a nice change, production cant handle it

Just my .02

[Demetrius Joel]

Just finding this out and I'm so butt hurt. Didn't have HK in my F30 so I made sure to order this one with HK. But now no equalizer are you shitting me. Ridiculous.

[HX_Guy]

What kind of equalizer are you looking for? More than just the standard Tone controls?

My wife's E350 with HK is the same, just Tone controls though it does have a Surround Sound mode you can turn on/off.

My old Audi A4 with Bang&Olufsen sound didn't have an equalizer either, but did have a few other controls like "Sounds Stage: Driver or All". Either way, not a lot of adjustability in either car.

[tccox]

Would have bought active suspension

[DanG]

Cheaper to buy your own upgraded speakers and you get better sound. HK is a ripoff in my opinion.

[phoenixbmwlife]

I would have still bought it. Even though it's not as good as in other models with HK, I still find it sounds a lot better than the one in my old Z4.
I guess it all depends on the sound system you've been used to.

[dredog1984]

I thoroughly enjoy the HK system in my car. I know the controls are limited, but it sounds good enough that I don't want to replace any of the components. Maybe I'm more ok with my decision because I went with the active suspension as well. If I had to pick one or the other and done the HK over the suspension, I probably would describe myself as butt hurt as well.

All of that being said, the balance of the system seems much better with the fader set halfway to the rear. Seems to pull in the baby subwoofers into the music a little sooner without those tweeters blasting in your face first.

[eBlue2]

Just had my M235i in for its first service and had a 320i with base audio as a loaner. After living with that for a couple of days, I would definitely opt for the h/k audio (even if it isn't the best system on the market).

[horsepower_and_hounds]

Since I do not know what the base system sounds like...yes. The 235 I tested had the HK and my wife's C250 has a much upgraded HK so I had to spec it. I do't do audo upgrades myself

[Vervain]

I would most likely choose it again, but it's not worth the price. If you're expecting deep bass, you will be disappointed. But the sound quality is great and the bass is more than enough for me. It's also very immersive compared to the standard audio.

It's funny that the 600W version in the F30 is cheaper as a standalone option than the HK in the F22

[W///]

Originally Posted by Vervain

I would most likely choose it again, but it's not worth the price. If you're expecting deep bass, you will be disappointed. But the sound quality is great and the bass is more than enough for me. It's also very immersive compared to the standard audio.

It's funny that the 600W version in the F30 is cheaper as a standalone option than the HK in the F22

I'm not a huge audiophile, but if I can save myself close to $900, I will.

Just to be clear, I'm more interested in non HK vs HK in the 2 series. Can you hear the difference? If not really, then I'll skip too.

[Vervain]

Originally Posted by W///

I'm not a huge audiophile, but if I can save myself close to $900, I will.

Just to be clear, I'm more interested in non HK vs HK in the 2 series. Can you hear the difference? If not really, then I'll skip too.

I had the standard audio in my F30 for three years, and I'm assuming that it shares the same standard system to the F22. It sounded very boomy but decent enough for me to live with it, despite not being an audiophile myself.

The benefit of the HK is definitely heard when the volume is high. But at regular levels it's still much better than standard imo. You should definitely go hear the two in person anyway. The cool-looking HK branded tweeters is a nice addition to the interior too lol.

[SmallTownBoy]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

For those who got Harmon Kardon thinking it was 16 speakers and 600W, would you still have purchased knowing what we do now?

I know less $ isn't an option as they still have it priced at $875 but curious if folks fall somewhere in the middle.

Driving the car for almost a year now, I'm very glad I stuck with the stock HiFi system. Aside from fewer speakers and lower power, the 2 Series HK eliminates the L7 Surround and the equalizer.

Shame on BMW and HK for charging $875 for a system with only treble and bass adjust, etc. They shouldn't put their names on it.

[W///]

Originally Posted by SmallTownBoy

Driving the car for almost a year now, I'm very glad I stuck with the stock HiFi system. Aside from fewer speakers and lower power, the 2 Series HK eliminates the L7 Surround and the equalizer.

Shame on BMW and HK for charging $875 for a system with only treble and bass adjust, etc. They shouldn't put their names on it.

It seems like the consensus is that you are better off spending $875 towards your own solution than going with HK.

I'd have to hear it for myself I guess. Historically, cars with tweeters by the mirrors have usually sounded better to me than ones without. Plus everyone keeps comparing the F22's sound system vs F30's, which I'm not sure is valid. I'd like to see more F22 to F22 comparisons.

[SmallTownBoy]

Originally Posted by W///

It seems like the consensus is that you are better off spending $875 towards your own solution than going with HK.

Right.

Originally Posted by W///

I'd have to hear it for myself I guess. Historically, cars with tweeters by the mirrors have usually sounded better to me than ones without.

The mirror triangle tweeters can be added to the upgrade for a reasonable price. The most popular Focal upgrade has the tweeter integrated in a 2-way speaker. I haven't seen any comparos.

Originally Posted by W///

Plus everyone keeps comparing the F22's sound system vs F30's, which I'm not sure is valid. I'd like to see more F22 to F22 comparisons.

Apples and oranges.

[NEUE02]

I'm not an audiophile of any sort. I wouldn't have ordered HK but it came with my car. I have no complaints with it and certainly no intent to upgrade it.

$875 is not peanuts. But when I ordered my Carrera S I had the option to upgrade to the Burmeister audio for a mere $6000. I passed.

[kd0t]

Instead of the 16 speakers and 600w as advertised. What did we get instead?

[s1uma1]

Originally Posted by dredog1984

I thoroughly enjoy the HK system in my car. I know the controls are limited, but it sounds good enough that I don't want to replace any of the components. Maybe I'm more ok with my decision because I went with the active suspension as well. If I had to pick one or the other and done the HK over the suspension, I probably would describe myself as butt hurt as well.

All of that being said, the balance of the system seems much better with the fader set halfway to the rear. Seems to pull in the baby subwoofers into the music a little sooner without those tweeters blasting in your face first.

interesting. never thought about doing that to enhance the bass... gonna give it go tonight on my way home

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Instead of the 16 speakers and 600w as advertised. What did we get instead?

12 speakers and 360w w/o graphic EQ available on the upper series vehicles (despite those not being any more expensive of an option).

I took my $875 and put it toward a 3way speaker kit. It isn't as loud as my old HK system in my e92, but that was the 600w system with 16 speakers. My car is using the 240w system that comes with the HiFi. Even so it sounds better than the HK in my opinion. Just need a more powerful amp to drive the speakers. The plus side is I can remove the system and introduce it into a new car when that time comes, saving me more money down the line.