1M Speaker System option comparision

[eeghie]

Can somebody elaborate on the differences between audio options:

676 HiFi sound system

688 Harman Kardon surround sound

Particularly locations of the speakers in both options are of interest and of course your impressions if you have listened to both systems in a similar car.

[rapter]

BMW.hardonkardon.com there is a goo bit of information here.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by rapter

BMW.hardonkardon.com there is a goo bit of information here.

Try this link instead:

http://www.bmw.harmankardon.com/en/index.aspx

[ES BMW]

The HiFi system does not have the tweeters in the front doors and has smaller woofers under the seat but you do get the mid-range speakers in the front door and rear passenger sides. I got a chance to listen to the HiFi system the other day (my car has the HK) and I was soooo happy with the HK sound over the HiFi. No, the HK isn't perfect but it's a lot better than the base system.

If you wanted to go with the HiFi, and like to listen to music, I'd suggest that you plan for an upgrade at some point. The Level 1 system from Musicarnw.com is a great start and you can find the guys in the Audio forum on this site. (I'm planning to go this route on the 1M)

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by SamS

Try this link instead:

http://www.bmw.harmankardon.com/en/index.aspx

- That shows the locations of the Harman Kardon speakers, Thx

- From BMW.de:
The Hifi systems has 4 mid range speakers of which 2 in the "Ablegeboden". Anyone know what location that is (in english)?

Sound experience comparisons anyone? Is the Harman Kardon upgrade worth it?

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by My E90

The HiFi system does not have the tweeters in the front doors and has smaller woofers under the seat but you do get the mid-range speakers in the front door and rear passenger sides.

Thx,

- Do you know where the tweeters for the Hifi Speakers system are positioned? According to BMW.de they are in the mirror triangle!? Picture anyone? If they're concealed, they would be very ineffective.

HK website: The HK system has 2 additional tweeters near the rear window.

[Red135]

They are not concealed. They are directly interior of the side mirrors. If you look at some of the interior photos that show the door, you can see the tweeters labeled with the H/K badge.

[ES BMW]

Originally Posted by eeghie

- Do you know where the tweeters for the Hifi Speakers system are positioned? According to BMW.de they are in the mirror triangle!? Picture anyone? If they're concealed, they would be very ineffective.

No tweeters in the HiFi system. The HK tweeters are placed in the mirror triangle and include uprated speakers for the rest of the cabin and a different amp.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by My E90

The HiFi system does not have the tweeters in the front doors and has smaller woofers under the seat but you do get the mid-range speakers in the front door and rear passenger sides. I got a chance to listen to the HiFi system the other day (my car has the HK) and I was soooo happy with the HK sound over the HiFi. No, the HK isn't perfect but it's a lot better than the base system.

If you wanted to go with the HiFi, and like to listen to music, I'd suggest that you plan for an upgrade at some point. The Level 1 system from Musicarnw.com is a great start and you can find the guys in the Audio forum on this site. (I'm planning to go this route on the 1M)

The HiFi does have tweeters, both front and rear.

Your thinking of the Base stereo, which was standard in MY 2010 and for the first half of 2011 production.

In the US market, Base and HiFi have never been offered at the same time - it's always been one or the other as standard, plus a "Premium" option (which has been the H/K system since MY2011).

[ES BMW]

You're right. I was in a 2010 135 and I think HiFi option was in the first and second year cars - 2008 & 2009. They switched to the base stereo in 2010.

I hope the HiFi is an improvement over the base stereo... it was pretty horrible.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by My E90

You're right. I was in a 2010 135 and I think HiFi option was in the first and second year cars - 2008 & 2009. They switched to the base stereo in 2010.

I hope the HiFi is an improvement over the base stereo... it was pretty horrible.

In theory it is, although I haven't heard it.

It's the same layout as the H/K system, although presumably lower quality. Amp in the trunk, mids and tweeters in the rear, mids and tweeters in the doors, and 8" subs under the seats.

The Base system deletes the amp (all speakers are instead powered by the head unit) and both sets of tweeters, and also replaces the 8" subs with 6" units. The head unit also apparently runs some funky equalization signal processing that the others do not.

[Papethova]

I have the HiFi in my 2008 and it has tweeters in the front adjacent to the mirrors.

So does the HK only upgrade the speakers and not add any or increase size?

[eeghie]

Summarizing the comparison of the speakers: (updated/01)

676 HiFi sound system:
- Location speakers (8 or 10 in total) as in below image but without 2x rear tweeters (#1, to be confirmed) and separate amplifier module (no DSP) in the trunk (#4). HiFi speakers themselves may have different specs/size compared to option 688. 2 mid range speakers (#2) in the front doors and 2 in the rear shelf.

688 Harman Kardon surround sound:
#1) 14 x 26 mm metal-matrix dome tweeters, front & rear x4
#2) 24 x 100 mm metal-matrix mid-range speakers, front & rear x4
#3) 32 x 217 mm woofers (central bass), below front seats x2
#4) Harman Kardon Logic 7® DSP amplifier with 300 watt total output

[Dick Brown]

Would be nice if BMW offered a really excellent Hi Fi option like they do in the 5 and 7 series. I am sure some folks wouldn't mind paying 2k for a really amazing system considering the price of the M to begin with.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by eeghie

Summarizing the comparison of the speakers:

676 HiFi sound system:
- Location speakers (8 in total) as in below image but without 2x rear tweeters (#1) and no separate amplifier module (#4). HiFi speakers themselves may have different specs/size compared to option 688. 2 mid range speakers (#2) in the front doors and 2 in the flat area between the rear seats and the rear window.

The HiFi system absolutely has an amp: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...21&hg=65&fg=25

I thought it offered rear tweeters as well, but I'm not 100% sure.

EDIT: Attached a helpful document that summarizes available audio systems in the 1er.

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by Dick Brown

Would be nice if BMW offered a really excellent Hi Fi option like they do in the 5 and 7 series. I am sure some folks wouldn't mind paying 2k for a really amazing system considering the price of the M to begin with.

In a previous car (not BMW) we had the choice of 3 audio speaker levels and the mid level (similar to 676 HiFi sound system in configuration) was very good, although not deafening.

Knowing that the 688 HK option will most likely be better (and heavier/more expensive), in all I'm trying to get confirmation from others that have listened to the 676 HiFi option (or both) that it is quite alright.

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

The HiFi system absolutely has an amp: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...21&hg=65&fg=25

I thought it offered rear tweeters as well, but I'm not 100% sure.

EDIT: Attached a helpful document that summarizes available audio systems in the 1er.

Thx,

Interestingly for the HiFi configuration RoelOEM and your private/PDF source show 10 speakers in total and BMW.de mentions 8 speakers!? I'm indifferent to having the tweeters in the back, this as these mostly benefit the rear seat passengers.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

The HiFi system absolutely has an amp: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...21&hg=65&fg=25

I thought it offered rear tweeters as well, but I'm not 100% sure.

EDIT: Attached a helpful document that summarizes available audio systems in the 1er.

Big thanks, Bimmer-Bob. The PDF explained everything I needed to know. Basically the 1 ///M comes standard with what I have on my 08 135i, and that HiFi is not bad at all. IMO, the HK is unnecessary (for the money, you can go aftermarket and get better speakers that are easily integrated with the stock amp/head unit), especially since it is not a true Logic 7 in the 1-series application (as described in the doc).

Now, if the 1 ///M came with the base 'Stereo' (as all 2010/11 135i's do), then prolly worth the upgrade.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by ///M1

...especially since it is not a true Logic 7 in the 1-series application (as described in the doc).

How is not "true" H/K Logic7?

EDIT: ah, no center speaker....

[jdmorris]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

EDIT: Attached a helpful document that summarizes available audio systems in the 1er.

Thanks for the amazingly informative doc!!

JD

[///M1]

Originally Posted by SamS

How is not "true" H/K Logic7?

Read the last major paragraph in the above PDF file.

"Even though this system was branded Logic 7 until MY 2010, the lack of a center speaker and rear effects speakers prevent the Logic 7 Technology from being fully implemented"

[Bimmer-Bob]

Glad everyone found the doc useful - although, to be fair, I did just lift it from another thread.