Rank your car HiFi ;-)
Discussion
Mk 6 Golf GT - 8/10. Note sure if it had uprated speakers but the head unit was certainly base. Sounded fantastic.
F21 1-series (Professional Radio) - 2/10. Absolutely dire. It has something like 6-8 speakers including subs under the seats yet only a 2 band eq. The subs are unbelievably boomy with absolutely no definition whatsoever and cannot turned down independently. The only way to crank up the volume is to turn the bass right right down which sounds bad but slightly less so. After the Golf I just assumed that a BMW system, even without being top spec, would sound good. Big, big mistake.
From looking at forums and other post on here it would seem that BMW need to seriously step up their game. Even feedback I've read about Harman Kardon as been poor. Surely as a premium marque this must be damaging to the brand to persist with such below par hi-fi's.
F21 1-series (Professional Radio) - 2/10. Absolutely dire. It has something like 6-8 speakers including subs under the seats yet only a 2 band eq. The subs are unbelievably boomy with absolutely no definition whatsoever and cannot turned down independently. The only way to crank up the volume is to turn the bass right right down which sounds bad but slightly less so. After the Golf I just assumed that a BMW system, even without being top spec, would sound good. Big, big mistake.
From looking at forums and other post on here it would seem that BMW need to seriously step up their game. Even feedback I've read about Harman Kardon as been poor. Surely as a premium marque this must be damaging to the brand to persist with such below par hi-fi's.
TameRacingDriver said:
GroundEffect said:
My old Z4 Coupe had an absolutely fantastic system - I think it was just the acoustics of the cabin - 9/10.
Mine sounds s
te. Did yours have an uprated system in it?te, my E89 standard system also sounds horrendous - it is of equal quality to the OH's '57 Polo and that is not high praise.The Logic 7 in my old 6 series was utterly fantastic and I miss it hugely.
Another vote for Volvo systems, the one in my V70 snotter is awesome. It's the Dolby unit. It doesn't distort at all even right up the volume range. The base is powerful without being overpowering. It's the best in car system I've experienced by a country mile. 9/10. I can't imagine needing more out of a car stereo.
The one in my 2002 Saab 9-5 was dog st. Tinny, no depth. 2/10.
The standard (not Bose) set up in my 2002 Omega was acceptable but a bit weak, 5/10.
The one in my 2002 Saab 9-5 was dog s
t. Tinny, no depth. 2/10. The standard (not Bose) set up in my 2002 Omega was acceptable but a bit weak, 5/10.
rockford22 said:
My E85 (roadster) sounded totally ste, my E89 standard system also sounds horrendous - it is of equal quality to the OH's '57 Polo and that is not high praise.
Glad its not just me. Not a problem really as I only drive to work, usually with the woman, and the rest of the time is hooning so I'd rather listen to the straight 6 thanks te, my E89 standard system also sounds horrendous - it is of equal quality to the OH's '57 Polo and that is not high praise.
Occasionally I have to do a long commute, then I'll just use my phone and earphones A surprising one for me was my FN2 Type-R. Not the last word in "hifi" but I wasn't expecting much and it was far better than I expected, better than the Bose system in the 350Z. Only problem was, at speed, the engine and tyre noise meant you HAD to turn it up and it got tiresome after an hour or so. Must be getting old lol.
What is everyone's benchmark?
2011 Honda Jazz: 7/10, pretty good for a small relatively cheap car
2013 Massey Ferguson 7618 DynaVT (£105,000 list price) 1/10 good reception but utterly crap speakers. This is a machine I am spending 80 hours a week in at the moment and who ever specified the speakers and radio want clubbing around the head with a baseball bat.
2014 Claas Lexion 660 (£250,000ish list price). Better speakers than the Massey but next to no AM reception. I am not sure how this is considered acceptable and such an expensive and sophisticated machine that people spend long working days in.
My ears are shot anyway.
2011 Honda Jazz: 7/10, pretty good for a small relatively cheap car
2013 Massey Ferguson 7618 DynaVT (£105,000 list price) 1/10 good reception but utterly crap speakers. This is a machine I am spending 80 hours a week in at the moment and who ever specified the speakers and radio want clubbing around the head with a baseball bat.
2014 Claas Lexion 660 (£250,000ish list price). Better speakers than the Massey but next to no AM reception. I am not sure how this is considered acceptable and such an expensive and sophisticated machine that people spend long working days in.
My ears are shot anyway.
Willy Nilly said:
What is everyone's benchmark?
2011 Honda Jazz: 7/10, pretty good for a small relatively cheap car
2013 Massey Ferguson 7618 DynaVT (£105,000 list price) 1/10 good reception but utterly crap speakers. This is a machine I am spending 80 hours a week in at the moment and who ever specified the speakers and radio want clubbing around the head with a baseball bat.
2014 Claas Lexion 660 (£250,000ish list price). Better speakers than the Massey but next to no AM reception. I am not sure how this is considered acceptable and such an expensive and sophisticated machine that people spend long working days in.
My ears are shot anyway.
I drove a Claas Dominator 66 recently.2011 Honda Jazz: 7/10, pretty good for a small relatively cheap car
2013 Massey Ferguson 7618 DynaVT (£105,000 list price) 1/10 good reception but utterly crap speakers. This is a machine I am spending 80 hours a week in at the moment and who ever specified the speakers and radio want clubbing around the head with a baseball bat.
2014 Claas Lexion 660 (£250,000ish list price). Better speakers than the Massey but next to no AM reception. I am not sure how this is considered acceptable and such an expensive and sophisticated machine that people spend long working days in.
My ears are shot anyway.
HiFi rating: 0/10. There wasn't any.
It's almost as if car manufacturers are making their standard audio systems terrible so people pay more to upgrade.
Imagine that.
The Audi Concert one in my A2 was pretty good. Although because the car was aluminium any volume above 5 and everyone within a 20m radius could hear what you were listening to.
Imagine that.
The Audi Concert one in my A2 was pretty good. Although because the car was aluminium any volume above 5 and everyone within a 20m radius could hear what you were listening to.
TameRacingDriver said:
GroundEffect said:
My old Z4 Coupe had an absolutely fantastic system - I think it was just the acoustics of the cabin - 9/10.
Mine sounds ste. Did yours have an uprated system in it?Is there any way to check BMW options vs Reg number?
VW Scirocco - by far the best standard system, very good all round sound and the head unit was great to use.
Mk1 Fabia VRS - for a cheap car it had pretty good speakers, the head unit was a bit weak though.
Cayman S - Bose system I got it sounding OK after much fiddling around with the base, not worth the money over the stock system.
Swift Sport - really crap speakers, not enough power, touch screen sat/nav is good though.
VW Polo - custom install, Kenwood head unit and amp, MB Quart components in the front doors, rear JBL 6x9's, sensational sound.
Mk1 Fabia VRS - for a cheap car it had pretty good speakers, the head unit was a bit weak though.
Cayman S - Bose system I got it sounding OK after much fiddling around with the base, not worth the money over the stock system.
Swift Sport - really crap speakers, not enough power, touch screen sat/nav is good though.
VW Polo - custom install, Kenwood head unit and amp, MB Quart components in the front doors, rear JBL 6x9's, sensational sound.
Edited by Klippie on Wednesday 31st August 22:14
Have previously had a couple of X350 XJs and the Alpine system in them was ok up to a point but distorted at high volume and the bass wasn't as "crisp" as if have liked. The Bowers and Wilkins system in the XFR is pretty much perfect for what I need, lovely crisp sound with no distortion even when you really crank it up, nice meaty bass and playing about with the eq on the Spotify app through the iPhone cable you can really bring out different elements of whatever track you are playing. I've also experienced the Meridian system in the later XFs and whilst that is very good my unrefined ears struggled to tell the difference between the B&W and the Meridian.
Had numerous upgraded systems in the past, ranging from Alpine components and amp (which sounded lovely!) to an Orion setup with a subwoofer weighing 6 stone in its box. (IIRC it was a 5000w sub).
I've not bothered for the last few years so...
Mini R53 HK system - 8/10 - considering it's an amp powering 6x9's in the rear and components in the front it produces adequate bass throughout the high hz range (not great low down) but it will never distort and keeps very high sound quality.
Audi A1 S Line -7/10 - Standard system but I believe there were 10 speakers in it... Can't quite remember. Either way, sounded quite good.
2016 Fiesta Zetec S - 2/10 - Standard system, sounded terrible at any volume above background noise level.
I bought another R53 recently which also has the HK fitted. Happy days. I enjoy music again now!
I've not bothered for the last few years so...
Mini R53 HK system - 8/10 - considering it's an amp powering 6x9's in the rear and components in the front it produces adequate bass throughout the high hz range (not great low down) but it will never distort and keeps very high sound quality.
Audi A1 S Line -7/10 - Standard system but I believe there were 10 speakers in it... Can't quite remember. Either way, sounded quite good.
2016 Fiesta Zetec S - 2/10 - Standard system, sounded terrible at any volume above background noise level.
I bought another R53 recently which also has the HK fitted. Happy days. I enjoy music again now!
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