Will I regret no HK sound?

[mtecnic]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

I just checked on bmwusa and I have moved to the "Production Begins" stage. Is it too late (especially since I've been told that the bmwusa site lags behind the actual stage of production the car is in)

Call your CA. He might be able to get it changed.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by 3er

If you care at all about sound quality, get it. The base system (BMW Hi-Fi) can be upgraded with BAVSOUND speakers and sound good (from what others are saying), but so can the H/K unit should you decide to do so.

Agreed. Get HK if you have the option, you can still get BavSound with your HK which sounds amazing.

HK has better driver, amp, and more speakers.

[F12M6MD]

Probably better than base sound but still not as good as the upgraded E9x system. I wouldn't regret it too much.

[DML]

Had HK before but not on my current "is" did not miss it at first but now kinda do... Get it

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

I just checked on bmwusa and I have moved to the "Production Begins" stage. Is it too late (especially since I've been told that the bmwusa site lags behind the actual stage of production the car is in)

The site is always "the last to know"... so if the site says Production begins, it's been in 150 status at least a day or so, and no changes can be made. Sorry dude!

[m5sdse63]

get it, no question about it.

[kinimod]

Actually even the HK with default settings sounds like shit in this car.

After fiddling with the Equalizer it is much better, but I can't imagine what a horrible sound the basic factory speakers must be producing.

[kinimod]

Originally Posted by Rick955

Yes, if set up properly, the difference is significant. If your order has not actually gone into 150 status (In Production), your CA should be able to make the changes easily.

What do you mean "set up properly"?

Are you referring to the Equalizer?

That would be in line with my own experience -- HK was quite awful until I followed some "audiophile-approved" (playing some designated track and using a smartphone's microphone for real time analysis) steps to tune the equalizer.

[MWcoupe]

I'm absolutely disappointed with my hk system. Mid range is so bad, my speakers rattles and squeaks bad. Couple of us have this issue. I'm surprised not much people chime in on this.

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by kinimod

What do you mean "set up properly"?

Are you referring to the Equalizer?

That would be in line with my own experience -- HK was quite awful until I followed some "audiophile-approved" (playing some designated track and using a smartphone's microphone for real time analysis) steps to tune the equalizer.

It's the EQ on the system itself that is too limited, and the source makes a big difference. I can play something off the iPod I leave connected in the center console, or use my Note 4... same tune... sound is like night and day with the Note 4 being awesome and the iPod being blah. Using the right player, "GoneMAD Player" for Android is one of the best "sounding" players out there, with excellent options for configuring and processing the music... THAT is where you need to get the sound the way YOU like it... using good headphones, not the crap buds that come with the device. Once you get it sounding the way you like it on the headphones, with different music, THEN, you need to adjust the HK EQ and Bass/Treble controls to make it sound good in the car.

A guy at the dealership also had an HK in his car. He heard mine and asked me what I had done to the system... nothing... stock HK. We found the same song and compared. There literally was no comparison.. his bass was "boxy" sounding... it was deep, but not a "good deep"... not tight... very boomy... sounded like crap TBH. Too much mid emphasis... and highs were tinny sounding.. again, too extreme. Herein lies the limitations of the EQ on the car system. In mine you could feel the bass, but it was tight without that boomyness...the 'mid-bass' ranges on the EQ need to be toned DOWN to get it right and those ranges are not available on the system EQ...you FEEL it, but it does not distort, nor does it BOOM. The mids and highs were where they needed to be and even when played loud, highs were nice, without sounding like nails on a chalkboard! It sounded alive, not like you were listening in an empty room.

Fortunately, he had an Android phone, so while I was doing nothing waiting on my service, we spent a bunch of time setting the app up, getting those settings right, then his car settings... and he was amazed... as were his co-workers and the CA. If you have an iPhone, I have no idea. Don't like it, don't want it, sorry! . But with Android, and the right app, it's awesome... but you need to really change the settings on the cars' EQ, and tone down almost everything, while letting the 10-band EQ in the app tailor the sound. You still use the L7... that's fine, and you can then make the little adjustments using just the Bass and Treble controls because you'll have the EQ set correctly now.... so the Bass and Treble controls just raise or lower the lows and highs vs. changing them like the EQ does. Now keep in mind, the system still uses pretty crappy speakers with small coils and light magnets.. their capability can only go so far so don't expect to be the guy that can shake down the whole street as you pass!

Sound is subjective... like food. Your ears, music types, might require additional configuring... which is why I said to get it right using the headphones FIRST. But multiple ears at the dealership were pretty amazed at what COULD be done with it. It really is not as bad as people say. But by itself, the system just cannot get the sound right... hence the bad rep the HK has.

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by MWcoupe

I'm absolutely disappointed with my hk system. Mid range is so bad, my speakers rattles and squeaks bad. Couple of us have this issue. I'm surprised not much people chime in on this.

Not sure what you mean by "rattles and squeaks"... it should NOT be doing that. For getting the sound really nice, Android is by far the best option. I don't use iPhone so I don't know what 3rd party sound apps are out there, but the internal one sucks... don't expect the result I describe above with an iPhone. Sorry.

[MWcoupe]

Originally Posted by Rick955

Not sure what you mean by "rattles and squeaks"... it should NOT be doing that. For getting the sound really nice, Android is by far the best option. I don't use iPhone so I don't know what 3rd party sound apps are out there, but the internal one sucks... don't expect the result I describe above with an iPhone. Sorry.

I'm very very frustrated with this. The hk on my e90 was amazing when I tuned it my way. With the f82 I'm having a nightmare with the mid range speakers. At first I thought it was my eq settings, I've tried many different settings recommended from this forum and even put it back to completely stock. I'm starting to think that my mid range are broken/ manufacture defect. Someone in the forum has the same issue. Claims the dealer replaced speakers and amp. Still no solution.

[Rick955]

Originally Posted by MWcoupe

I'm very very frustrated with this. The hk on my e90 was amazing when I tuned it my way. With the f82 I'm having a nightmare with the mid range speakers. At first I thought it was my eq settings, I've tried many different settings recommended from this forum and even put it back to completely stock. I'm starting to think that my mid range are broken/ manufacture defect. Someone in the forum has the same issue. Claims the dealer replaced speakers and amp. Still no solution.

Yeah, I would be too! It's really hard (obviously) to try and help with something like this. As I said, being pretty anal about the sound, I spent a ton of time with the system and just could not get what I wanted... it was only with the app on the device, getting THAT set to my liking with the quality headphones, THEN, using that as a source, and setting up the HK. I pretty much have the first band on the EQ all the way to the bottom. Other bands flat... the EQ on the HK does very little... then I only use the bass and treble settings to make the minor adjustments. But as far as rattling and squeaking?? Never had any of that on mine. I'd be . My F80 better sound just like my 335!!

[hsiaochinsan]

Yes.

[MaynardZed]

It sounds like a $900 upgrade. It is what it is. It's worth the $900, but it's no B&O like in the M5 that's for sure.

[FSHNGRY]

Get it. Its not worth missing out on it. Do you listen to music 99% of the time you're in the car? Don't you want your music playing in the best quality?

[sycd]

I don't have it and don't have any regret. I've had other cars that sucked much more in this area. I usually prefer listening to the car, windows down, or listening to talk radio, podcasts, etc. So for the occasional times I actually listen to music, it's good enough. And I know that I have the BAV option down the road if I feel like upgrading.

[DocWeatherington]

Get it

[haynstyleM2]

gotta get it! no doubt!

[Denso]

I had it in my last 2 coupes and my 1M and have to say I didnt think it was that impressive
I have went stock this time and my Bavsound1 arrived yesterday and will be fitted today. I think audio sound is subjective anyway, what one person thinks sounds great another can think it's only ok or worse. Let's see I may come to regret not getting the HK but there is always after market alternatives.
I for one will be buying the Bavsound1 ghost woofer once it becomes available.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
Cheers,
Denso

[antych]

Well, I said I wish I had it (because it's better), but I won't lose any sleep over it. It all depends on whether you use it. I usually drive by myself, always in sport and listening to the engine, or with passengers holding a conversations, so I barely ever turn the sound on, only for really long boring trips on a motorway. Take this into account, perhaps you shouldn't worry about missing out.

[F80AYM3]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

I just checked on bmwusa and I have moved to the "Production Begins" stage. Is it too late (especially since I've been told that the bmwusa site lags behind the actual stage of production the car is in)

Yes you can it if you insist harder.