Rank your car HiFi ;-)
Discussion
04' 206 - 6/10 I can't remember but nothing wrong with it as such
07' 207 - 6.5/10 again no real issue, sounded fine with mp3s and aux, had a decent little screen for trip/RDS if I remember right
10' Golf - 7.5/10 Good DAB and touchscreen, sound more than good enough
MX5 NC2 bose - 7.5/10 Listen to MW most of the time which sounds bad, but clear with the roof down. Had phone on aux the other day as I do occasionally, it's pretty good really, get a nice sweet spot and the vol leveling works well with the roof down, you can get decent bass without being boomy and detail.
13' V60 - 9/10 Very good sound for a standard system, enough bass and detail. Handled BT audio well (track display) though whether Spotify would change track from the wheel was a toss up, you needed to do everything in a specific order. It would sometimes start other music apps (phone not the car I think). Loses points for the DAB being finicky with the regions, in the months before it went back I could finally get the SW and the stations I was missing consistently.
13' C250 estate - 8/10 Standard system I think, NTG4.5. Pretty good now I've got used to it, sound can be as good as the Volvo at times. Good FM if I used it. 10GB HD could be useful but kind of pointless in 2016. Loses marks for no DAB and not handling Bluetooth well. It takes the screen shutting off as the source pausing, and you have no track display or control via the car until you do something on the phone again. This could be the phone, I think that bluetooth audio control app might stop it sending screen off as a pause.
07' 207 - 6.5/10 again no real issue, sounded fine with mp3s and aux, had a decent little screen for trip/RDS if I remember right
10' Golf - 7.5/10 Good DAB and touchscreen, sound more than good enough
MX5 NC2 bose - 7.5/10 Listen to MW most of the time which sounds bad, but clear with the roof down. Had phone on aux the other day as I do occasionally, it's pretty good really, get a nice sweet spot and the vol leveling works well with the roof down, you can get decent bass without being boomy and detail.
13' V60 - 9/10 Very good sound for a standard system, enough bass and detail. Handled BT audio well (track display) though whether Spotify would change track from the wheel was a toss up, you needed to do everything in a specific order. It would sometimes start other music apps (phone not the car I think). Loses points for the DAB being finicky with the regions, in the months before it went back I could finally get the SW and the stations I was missing consistently.
13' C250 estate - 8/10 Standard system I think, NTG4.5. Pretty good now I've got used to it, sound can be as good as the Volvo at times. Good FM if I used it. 10GB HD could be useful but kind of pointless in 2016. Loses marks for no DAB and not handling Bluetooth well. It takes the screen shutting off as the source pausing, and you have no track display or control via the car until you do something on the phone again. This could be the phone, I think that bluetooth audio control app might stop it sending screen off as a pause.
I was seriously tempted to upgrade to either the B&O (around £1,200.00) or the Audi Sound System when I was specing my S3.
To be honest, I'm glad I didn't bother - I find the normal system (8 speakers) perfectly adequate. I'm fairly surprised at the amount of bass it can produce actually. After reading reviews of the standard system vs the upgrade options, I was expected to be disappointed with the standard system.
My last car was a MK2 Golf GTi though
I've never actually heard one of these super duper B&O/Meridian/whoever systems. Would like to have the chance at some point.
I agree with the previous poster who slated the EP3 - they're properly poo!
To be honest, I'm glad I didn't bother - I find the normal system (8 speakers) perfectly adequate. I'm fairly surprised at the amount of bass it can produce actually. After reading reviews of the standard system vs the upgrade options, I was expected to be disappointed with the standard system.
My last car was a MK2 Golf GTi though
I've never actually heard one of these super duper B&O/Meridian/whoever systems. Would like to have the chance at some point.
I agree with the previous poster who slated the EP3 - they're properly poo!
I used to build top end custom Hi Fi systems.
I got out of the business, mainly as so much is completely subjective and un-measurable.
My comments are that a bad system is easy to spot - nasty tinny treble, and distorted bass.
However the difference between good systems are harder for untrained listeners to spot.
Things like seperation and soundstage, warm midrange without booming or muffling from bass, a clean treble without harshness.
Most people are utter peasants, and just want a fat bass line and no distortion when turned up really loud. However a great system can give you goosebumps on demand, but people have no idea why it can do that.
I got out of the business, mainly as so much is completely subjective and un-measurable.
My comments are that a bad system is easy to spot - nasty tinny treble, and distorted bass.
However the difference between good systems are harder for untrained listeners to spot.
Things like seperation and soundstage, warm midrange without booming or muffling from bass, a clean treble without harshness.
Most people are utter peasants, and just want a fat bass line and no distortion when turned up really loud. However a great system can give you goosebumps on demand, but people have no idea why it can do that.
2015 Skoda Octavia Laurin & Klement
10 speaker Canton sound system - standard on this model and £500 upgrade on the rest of the range.
Could do with a bit more punch from the subwoofer, but the overall quality and clarity is excellent - far clearer than the Bose system in my mate's 08 Audi A3.
7/10
10 speaker Canton sound system - standard on this model and £500 upgrade on the rest of the range.
Could do with a bit more punch from the subwoofer, but the overall quality and clarity is excellent - far clearer than the Bose system in my mate's 08 Audi A3.
7/10
Just like my E39 540i before it, I rate the speaker system in my 2007 BMW 325i (E90) as 5 points less than Pants.
1/10 s
t
I eventually put in the BMW Alpine upgrade kit (tweeters, uprated midrange front speakers, amp in the boot).
Now so much better. I can actually enjoy music in the car. I would not buy another BMW unless it came with Harman Kardon from the factory. I'd also like a spare wheel but that's probably for another TOTD ....
My Elise 111R stereo is now totally overshadowed by the upgraded exhaust - 10/10
1/10 s
tI eventually put in the BMW Alpine upgrade kit (tweeters, uprated midrange front speakers, amp in the boot).
Now so much better. I can actually enjoy music in the car. I would not buy another BMW unless it came with Harman Kardon from the factory. I'd also like a spare wheel but that's probably for another TOTD ....
My Elise 111R stereo is now totally overshadowed by the upgraded exhaust - 10/10
Edited by Retset on Thursday 1st September 16:11
Edited by Retset on Thursday 1st September 16:12
Mark Levinson in Lexus IS300h - i think it is particularly good, zero distortion at any volume, 5.1 surround, great clarity and good bass which is not too intrusive. I didn't spec the car but was lucky enough that someone else did, after experiencing this sound system all future car purchases will have a stereo consideration whereas they didn't before... 9/10
My 330d was bought used. I assumed it was a standard system as no obvious branded speaker grills anywhere, but it sounds great. Clear, loud, digs deep. Given the comments on here about e90 stereo's being a bit weak, maybe it is upgraded? 8/10
My i3 was spec'd with the HK upgrade. The standard unit in the demo car was woeful. The HK system sounds similarly good as the 330d. 8/10
My i3 was spec'd with the HK upgrade. The standard unit in the demo car was woeful. The HK system sounds similarly good as the 330d. 8/10
ExPat2B said:
I used to build top end custom Hi Fi systems.
I got out of the business, mainly as so much is completely subjective and un-measurable.
My comments are that a bad system is easy to spot - nasty tinny treble, and distorted bass.
However the difference between good systems are harder for untrained listeners to spot.
Things like seperation and soundstage, warm midrange without booming or muffling from bass, a clean treble without harshness.
Most people are utter peasants, and just want a fat bass line and no distortion when turned up really loud. However a great system can give you goosebumps on demand, but people have no idea why it can do that.
Sooo.... which car systems do you rate? I've had a succession of JLR products and the B&W & Meridian systems sound great, considering the environment. And this, in my opinion, is the issue; a car is a dreadful place to put a decent hi-fi, so any attempt to make it a pleasure to listen to is fine by me. And if that comes as standard, rather than the four-figure sums proposed by the likes of Audi then all the better.I got out of the business, mainly as so much is completely subjective and un-measurable.
My comments are that a bad system is easy to spot - nasty tinny treble, and distorted bass.
However the difference between good systems are harder for untrained listeners to spot.
Things like seperation and soundstage, warm midrange without booming or muffling from bass, a clean treble without harshness.
Most people are utter peasants, and just want a fat bass line and no distortion when turned up really loud. However a great system can give you goosebumps on demand, but people have no idea why it can do that.
My Abarth 500 has the Interscope upgrade which gives a nice sound (to my ears anyway..) across most of the spectrum - plenty of bass from the small but effective underseat sub, mids are good and the pillar tweeters help the top end.
The Blue and Me element is however total and utter ste, I've never come across such an car-crash of a music playing 'solution' in my life 
The Blue and Me element is however total and utter s
te, I've never come across such an car-crash of a music playing 'solution' in my life I put the HK system in my new 5 series. It's good for the money 7/10. I would rate it higher but I had to fettle the under tray, numberplate & boot light to stop them vibrating (only noticeable outside the car) when you had the volume hiked up
It recently popped one of the subs. BMW garage response....too much base caused it to fail so no warranty claim. I almost pissed myself laughing, once I regained composure I pointed out it was a sub & that was its job; so get it replaced.
It recently popped one of the subs. BMW garage response....too much base caused it to fail so no warranty claim. I almost pissed myself laughing, once I regained composure I pointed out it was a sub & that was its job; so get it replaced.
Edited by shep1001 on Thursday 1st September 16:28
shep1001 said:
I put the HK system in my new 5 series. It's good for the money 7/10. I would rate it higher but I had to fettle the under tray, numberplate & boot light to stop them vibrating (only noticeable outside the car) when you had the volume hiked up
It recently popped one of the subs. BMW garage response....too much base caused it to fail so no warranty claim. I almost pissed myself laughing, once I regained composure I pointed out it was a sub & that was its job; so get it replaced.
You've no made me fearful that my HK system in my 4 series will go pop also. Rate the speakers though worth the upgrade thats for sure.It recently popped one of the subs. BMW garage response....too much base caused it to fail so no warranty claim. I almost pissed myself laughing, once I regained composure I pointed out it was a sub & that was its job; so get it replaced.
Edited by shep1001 on Thursday 1st September 16:28
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