Harman Kardon option - did anyone notice?

[GTM_Challenge]

I ordered the HK option. If its better or worse than the premium sound from the E9X M3, It'll still be better than the "base" stereo

[BKMK5]

Originally Posted by GTM_Challenge

I ordered the HK option. If its better or worse than the premium sound from the E9X M3, It'll still be better than the "base" stereo

I had the base stereo in the e90 M and it was terrible. I stupidly thought "why pay for the upgraded stereo, i'll listen to the V8 all the time!" I forgot I had to drive around with the wife some times and S65 music wasn't the song of choice by the wife.

[aus]

The other thing to keep in mind, in the E9x, if you got the Enhanced, you couldn't add aftermarket amps or subs, but if you had the stock system, it was much easier to add aftermarket stuff.

.

[GTM_Challenge]

Originally Posted by BKMK5

I had the base stereo in the e90 M and it was terrible. I stupidly thought "why pay for the upgraded stereo, i'll listen to the V8 all the time!" I forgot I had to drive around with the wife some times and S65 music wasn't the song of choice by the wife.

Exactly. My M3 had the base stereo, and my brothers had the premium. Well worth it for the upgrade stereo no matter the label/brand on it

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GTM_Challenge

Exactly. My M3 had the base stereo, and my brothers had the premium. Well worth it for the upgrade stereo no matter the label/brand on it

I think the only premium sound an S65 equipped M3 needs is shown in the picture in your signature .

PS: I have opted for Premium Sound on my E92, but the radio is always off.

[tisme]

I've had HK in an e46 for 4 years and it was very good and a great improvement over the standard e46 sound system.

My e90 with Individual Sound system is even better, I've had that for 5 years, but I do not know the manufacturer if this system.

I've gone for HK with my first M3.

[neverbeentoofast]

my wifes 520d has hifi...good enough for news radio and kids music ,-)

in the convertible i have HK - much much better - especially when very loud against the wind noise.

[BRAISKI]

I wonder if they will have the Individual Sound Dirac sound system, I'm very happy with it in my N55 92. As much as I would like to have a B&O I don't think I would spend that money for a sound system of the car! I would for my homethreatre

Originally Posted by tisme

My e90 with Individual Sound system is even better, I've had that for 5 years, but I do not know the manufacturer if this system.

I always wonder the same but, but here some discussion...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167608

[TunedM2C]

I typically go with aftermarket exhaust systems which is my daily music. Plus I only listen to talk radio (Stern, sports) so no HK needed here.

[Alpine F31]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

... people should shy away from making definitive comments about something as subjective as sound.

Yep. It's the same as arguing about colors. A friend of mine just got a 2014 650i Gran Coupe. Alpine white with Individual brown leather and piano black trim (BEAUTIFUL!!!! ) His car has the Harmon Kardon Kardon stereo and he thinks it sounds amazing.... I thought it sounded "OK". It LOOKED amazing with a cool center speaker that raised up from the dash and aluminum speaker grills in the doors. But like colors, sound is definitely subjective.

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by RealStig

I have heard:
You should listen the B&O in the M5... I wish they offered it in M3.

I really wish they did too. I've never heard it in the M5.

Does anyone actually what the difference is with the B&O system vs the HK or stock system in the M5?? Mainly, I want to know if it's just upgraded speakers/processing/amp vs physical alterations of the car or something like that. I wish BMW would employ some sound designers/engineers to come up with an optimum sound. In my experience, when you mess with aftermarket stuff, you either have to alter the car too much to make it sound great, or it just doesn't sound significantly better because, as horrible as a stock system may sound, a proper seal/housing for a driver is one of the most important things, and that's hard to do with aftermarket gear that's different sizes.

Really wish they offered B&O in the M3/M4. Oh, did I say that already??

[Tonymiabmw]

my wifes 520d has hifi...good enough for news radio and kids music ,-)

[neverbeentoofast]

Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw

jeajea...we ordered 530d, adaptive, 19" and HK(!) last week - because she wanted "something faster" to "easier flash slow guys" from left lane to rigth lane on german autobahn.

the 520d really is a totally boring cruiser car. 100% wrong decision 3 years ago.
having said that - it still is an amazing engine. we drove 830km in 5:48:00 with no fuel stop coming from autria and going full speed whenever is was allowed.

[MPakE90]

Originally Posted by RealStig

I have heard:

- HK in E9X
- HK in F3X
- HK in F10
- B&O in F10 M5
- HK in F80 M3
- EPS in E9X M3

I can tell you right off the bat that HK in E9X was absolutely terrible compared to everything else up there. It was just low quality.

I'd also say the HK in F3X and F10 are pretty much the same, I could not spot any differences at all.

The B&O in M5 is far more superior, it's like comparing a 328 to a Porsche 911 GT3. It's in a different league of its own, so let's just say that and move on.

The HK in F80 M3 is certainly better than HK in F30 and F10 and it's pretty close to EPS for my taste. That being said, it's a system that is very easy to use and it has a lot of low bass. It's a great system and for the average joe who listens pop and techno at %35-40 volume at most, it's an amazing system. The EPS was not a system that was optimized for the average joe though. You had to really turn it up, play around with the EQ and even then it wasn't a system that was suitable for everyday use. This isn't about the subwoofer or the overall wattage of the system, the base EQ was not tweaked that way and I can see why a lot of people think the new HK is better than EPS.

As others have said, to each his own. But I wouldn't say the old HK in E9X (335is) is better than EPS, no, there is no way.

You should listen the B&O in the M5 and then come back to HK. That thing is amazing. I wish they offered it in M3.

I thought the HK in the F80 is the same as the F30 no? I agree that the HK in the E90 was not ideal. Much better than the one in the E46 though. I love the EPS because of how crisp it is and how it handles at a higher volume. Unfortunately this crispness is what I feel leads to its lack of versatility across various genres of music. Hip-Hop/Rap is the absolute worst on the EPS while Classical, Jazz, Pop and some genres of Electronic music sound amazing. The HK in the F30 that I heard is pretty good all around with a grittier bass but unfortunately lacks a bit up top. I guess anything is better than the standard audio. Really wish B&O was offered though.

[EmArAsOnS]

H/k is Worth every penny, Period

[DukeCapitalM3]

Originally Posted by aus

Just keep in mind, many HK systems on BMW's were pretty bad.

.

My E46 premium HK system sounded like an AM radio from Radio Shack; it was pretty unbearable and I was angry to have paid so much for it; my previous 330i with HK was amazing.

I now have the E93 with enhanced sound and it is pretty damn good. I can only hope they at least do the same or better for the F8x models.

BMW really screws some things up sometimes, its mind blowing

[bob330i]

My experience with E46 HK was it's ok and definitely an upgrade over the base package; worth what I paid for it (~$875 at that time?). However, coming from my 97 Outback (upgraded sound package w/sub, $500 upgrade), it sounded horrible. The sound in the HK E46 is very "anchored" to the speakers whereas in the Outback, the soundstage seemed to be "floating" in front of us. You could hear each instrument in that broad soundstage in a different location

I think the differences can also be attributed to the interior acoustics and may not just be the electronics only. Most interiors and speaker placements are different which has a major effect on how they're perceived.

I'll probably end up shelling out for the HK as stock stereos tend to suck in general. However, I'm not so much a sound snob (at least in my car) to go for base and have someone tear up my interior for upgraded electronics/speakers.

[tuareg67]

Originally Posted by cksv

Did anyone else notice the option on the F80/82 for the "Harman Kardon surround sound system"? On the E90/92 the audio upgrade was "Enhanced Premium Sound". Having owned both a 335is with the Harman Kardon and an M3 with the Premium Sound I'm really happy that they are bringing the Harman Kardon to the F80/82 M3. Personally I think the Premium Sound is horrible in comparison to the Harman Kardon. No bass or mids and very "bright". Good for listening to music at low volumes but does not do well when turned up. Also the Harman Kardon is over $1,000 cheaper than the Premium Sound.

It's sad to say but this is one of the few areas I think they improved on with the latest iteration.

premium sound in germany was much better than anything else i had before. will miss it a lot. But ok they will bring it later, for now i am happy with the HK... still good :-) But most important is the engine sound anyway... I heard it allready... not a V8 Sound anymore, but turning to Sport + the exhaust system openes... and yes yes yes sounds very agressive :-)

[LSM]

Originally Posted by aus

Just keep in mind, many HK systems on BMW's were pretty bad.

.

The HK sound is not that much better than the standard sound. Apparently in the US we already get a upgraded sound the middle sound system and HK supposed to be the top line. I had both and outside of the equilizer and ability to fine tune the sound honestly they dont sound that much different. Unless for 2015 they changed it but I have HK sound in my M6

[Carl L]

Best stock system I've heard on the regular was the Dirac enhanced in my 2008 M5. Amazing, far better than any Bose, H/K or JBL system. I don't have experience with B&O in autos, there's a ridiculous premium the brand name carries. I'm ordering the H/K as, while unlikely to be amazing, it's a good value upgrade.

[ixse]

my friend has base sound system on his F30.. i got HK on my F30. when we compared back to back, he was pissed off that he didn't order HK.
Biggest difference was base and midrange. Dam worth every penny

[stressdoc]

How much weight increase?