[Laki021]

Has someone had a chance to hear both systems and compare them?
I known that price wise HK is a "better value for money", but if you are not happy with it that does not mean a lot...

I had a chance to try HK and I must say, something was missing, I was not impressed. In general I would be willing to pay the difference for BW if I would know that BW is the real thing.

I cannot find a car with BW to try, but what worries me is that the setup is not much different from HK, so not convinced that it would blow me out of the water as it should for that price tag.

So, if someone has experience with BW in G30 would be great if he could share a few words since it is practically impossible to find anything on this topic.

[MMY]

Originally Posted by Laki021

Has someone had a chance to hear both systems and compare them?
I known that price wise HK is a "better value for money", but if you are not happy with it that does not mean a lot...

I had a chance to try HK and I must say, something was missing, I was not impressed. In general I would be willing to pay the difference for BW if I would know that BW is the real thing.

I cannot find a car with BW to try, but what worries me is that the setup is not much different from HK, so not convinced that it would blow me out of the water as it should for that price tag.

So, if someone has experience with BW in G30 would be great if he could share a few words since it is practically impossible to find anything on this topic.

Haven't heard the BMW version but there's a similar set up in the Volvo S90 (and €2000 cheaper option than with BMW!) ; quite a rew of the dealer demo cars had it installed here. Quite impressive but the value will be lost on the autobahn.

[Eric500]

I know it doesn't mean much, but I thought the hk was better in the g30 than my f10 and the BO in the 2018 s5 I test drive earlier today.

The Audi does not have an equalizer either

[54Me]

Not really a definitive sampling of reviews, but certainly seems like the 7 owners are glad they have it... if not just for the fancy speaker grills...

http://www.7post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1319791

[steve090619]

Harman Karmon is great. the Logic 7 equalizer probably wasn't set. spend some time adjusting the equalizer and sound will change dramatically.

[G30]

Originally Posted by steve090619

Harman Karmon is great. the Logic 7 equalizer probably wasn't set. spend some time adjusting the equalizer and sound will change dramatically.

Yes I have heard this also, I also opted for Hk, used the money for the BW for other options. I think it's a smart move

[X6DB]

Not sure about B&W, but the B&O system in my f10 M5 was very definitely worth the extra money. Balanced, clean sound at all volume levels; the sound quality does not fall apart, even when you play it loud.

[pharding]

I heard the B&W system in a new 7er. It sounded absolutely amazing. A notch better than my 2014 B&O System. However I went with the HK system because it was a better value.

[cerbera]

Originally Posted by Eric Tsang

I know it doesn't mean much, but I thought the hk was better in the g30 than my f10 and the BO in the 2018 s5 I test drive earlier today.

The Audi does not have an equalizer either

I have HK in my current F10; I (and my teenage son)listened to the B&W on an unregistered G30 in the dealers, who then loaned me a G30 with HK for a day.

The HK in the G30 is noticeably better than in the F10 - better clarity, better placement. The B&W was amazing - even to ear bleeding levels - with better bass extension, great feeling of sitting in a concert hall. The lights in the door tweeters are annoying.

But, in normal use, with the car moving, the HK is going to be close to the B&W; given the massive price difference, I stayed with the HK - and used the money saved for some other useless toys!

[Laki021]

I guess you can switch of the lights.
So there is a clear difference between HK and BW, but with proper EQ settings HK might be pretty good solution as well...

[cerbera]

Yes, should have said the HK was pretty good as well...I tweeked the equalizer to be the same as in my F10...

[54Me]

I would say that this option is less about affordability and more about your desire to have what is clearly the "best" audio option (I am taking knowledge of B&W reputation, the positioning from BMW, and some limited reviews at face value to make this statement).
If it causes a question with affordability, or you have to sacrifice other features that are more important to you to get this, then you should not be considering it.
I spent many years as an audio installer, and have put $5,000-$20,000 systems in otherwise crappy cars, so the idea of $4,200 doesn't phase me on that level. Read the article in the BMW Magazine, and if it doesn't make you look forward to it like a kid on Christmas then don't buy it. Could I be disappointed?... Sure, but I won't regret it.
Below I put the B&W into the lease calculator to give you an idea of what you will really be paying. Note that I put the cost of the HK into the rebate field since you would have to pay that anyway if you are comparing B&W to HK.
If $24 a month is too outrageous to take a risk on, then don't do it. I'm not sure you are going to find enough information prior to your buy decision that will make it an purely objective decision.

Good luck.

[ThreethirtyDee]

Originally Posted by cerbera

Yes, should have said the HK was pretty good as well...I tweeked the equalizer to be the same as in my F10...

I've ordered HK
I'm not a audiophile so could do with some help to set it up properly.
Can you post a picture of the settings you use please. I know it'll depend on audio source and type of music but would like something to build from..my car arrives on Thursday

It's a bit like my TV, hundreds of options for picture settings and I'm not sure where to start

Thanks

[GhostWorks]

I've ordered the B&W system for my G31, can't wait...

I did test a G30 with HK system wasn't that great but the idrive has so much potential now with Flac etc and can hear the difference between CD and Flac, So thats why i went B&W as well as the only peace i get to listen to music is in the car rather than home etc ( better than getting high end system at home )

For me anyway

[VZehn]

I had the B&O in my F10 and it was astonishing. I could crank the decibels up so high that my eyeballs rattled and my vision blurred. However, the B&O system had one major fault - AM radio was unlistenable. It was like listening to someone from the bottle of a well.

I tend to listen to some talk, news, and sports radio here in Chicago on AM. And so for that reason (and value) I went with the HK in the G30. I have not been disappointed - it's excellent! Overall sound quality is very, very good across all media types. And while it won't rattle your eyeballs like the B&W might, it has no problem handling your favorite music with clarity at volumes you could get pulled over for.

[Ryno 27]

I don't know what to do... to order or to not

[nsa100]

Originally Posted by rynomi6

I don't know what to do... to order or to not

I have ordered the B&W system for my G31, without hearing it,even in a 7 series. My car will hopefully arrive in 1-2 weeks so I will try to give a review.

I had the B&O system in the F11 I had and it was very good, so I can give a direct comparison. (Although the system will need running in for a few weeks, to fully appreciate the bass)

I also upgraded my 2014 M5 which has the HK system by adding Bavsound speakers including the Ghostsubs as another reference.

I did listen to the HK system in a new G30 and found it better than the standard HK system in my M5 and on par with the Bavsound Speakers, with smooth treble and reasonable bass, even on the move.

Hope that gives you some insight.

[morellomax]

[nsa - have you kept the Bavsound speakers ? Worth swapping at least the front mids and tweets across if you can. Rear door mids won't fit on G30 - they foul the door card, also the dash tweeter on G30 is the same as the door tweeters rather than oval plate, but everything else will fit.

(G30 HK + Bavsound) is slightly better than (F10 HK + Bavsound) I think, and defintely better than just (G30 HK).]

IGNORE - just spotted you've ordered B&W.