Harman/Kardon Speaker Upgrade
Discussion
Hey all,
Has anyone got this upgrade in a 3 Series Saloon preferrably 2009-2011 models?
I'm speccing a new car up and just wanted some opinions. I went to a few showrooms but no models had it installed (the salesman was a bit retarded though so could have been fibbing), so I couldnt hear it for myself.
I've read that it's got 13 speakers, 420w amp and DSP, but what does it sound like? I've heard the Logic 7 in Range Rover and Jaguar and they are good, as are the B&O set up's in Audi. How does the BMW set up compare?
Or should I save the money and just go with the BMW Business speaker upgrade instead?
I'm after quality, rather than quantity, and cant go the aftermarket route as it's a company car....
Any opinions would be appreciated.
cheers
Has anyone got this upgrade in a 3 Series Saloon preferrably 2009-2011 models?
I'm speccing a new car up and just wanted some opinions. I went to a few showrooms but no models had it installed (the salesman was a bit retarded though so could have been fibbing), so I couldnt hear it for myself.
I've read that it's got 13 speakers, 420w amp and DSP, but what does it sound like? I've heard the Logic 7 in Range Rover and Jaguar and they are good, as are the B&O set up's in Audi. How does the BMW set up compare?
Or should I save the money and just go with the BMW Business speaker upgrade instead?
I'm after quality, rather than quantity, and cant go the aftermarket route as it's a company car....
Any opinions would be appreciated.
cheers
Go business imo. I couldnt tell the difference between the standard stereo in my m3 (e92) and the hk in previous e46 and thats really saying something because i thought that stereo was amazing! I currently have the basic 6 speaker set up in an e90 saloon and its shiiiiiiiiiiiiiii te.
I've got HK in mine and whilst it's ok, I thought it would be better. Volume is not an issue as you can really crank it up without losing distortion but the sound quality is, in my opinion, average. I expected the bass to be a lot warmer and I had to crank up the treble to get the high end acceptable. I suppose that part of the problem might be that I have naim kit in my home which is just glorious and comparing the two is pretty pointless but I still can't help feel that for almost a grands worth of kit it ain't that great. Still, better that than the bog standard system (for me, anyway) and the DVDs do sound quite nice through it!
Cheers for the comments. That's my problem, I have a great setup at home (Cyrus/B&W) and in my previous car, I went down the aftermarket route, with the focus on quality rather than quantity.
I just dont want to waste £1k when the business upgrade is just as good. hmmmmm. As I said, i'm rather limited as it's a company car so dont want to make any mods, so are there any other options?
Do you have the USB media interface as well? Is the Aux in, just as good? (granted I then cant control the device via the stereo/wheel buttons)?
I just dont want to waste £1k when the business upgrade is just as good. hmmmmm. As I said, i'm rather limited as it's a company car so dont want to make any mods, so are there any other options?
Do you have the USB media interface as well? Is the Aux in, just as good? (granted I then cant control the device via the stereo/wheel buttons)?
I went for the business speaker upgrade in my October 2010 320ED.
I have to say,I'm very disappointed with it.
There's no way it's £389 better than the standard 'professional' set up, which I had in my Alpina D3.
In fact, the only way I really know I have the business speaker system is that I can see tweeters built into the door pillars at dashboard level.
I definitely cannot recommend anyone goes for this 'upgrade'.
I think the USB upgrade is great though.
I like the way I get album art displaying on the satnav screen.
I have to say,I'm very disappointed with it.
There's no way it's £389 better than the standard 'professional' set up, which I had in my Alpina D3.
In fact, the only way I really know I have the business speaker system is that I can see tweeters built into the door pillars at dashboard level.
I definitely cannot recommend anyone goes for this 'upgrade'.
I think the USB upgrade is great though.
I like the way I get album art displaying on the satnav screen.
Unfortunately this thread has sent me on little mission to research an upgrade to the pants 6 speaker setup, and it looks like a pretty common aftermarket upgrade is to swap the front speakers for diamond audio component speakers, with tweeters, and purchase new pillars to house the front tweeters direct from bmw. The speakers are £100 quid, pillars £30 each, and fitting what £50 maybe?? This all feels very halfords and macdonalds. Not sure i can bring myself to do it!!
To summarise, buy the logic7
To summarise, buy the logic7
arun1uk said:
Cheers for the comments. That's my problem, I have a great setup at home (Cyrus/B&W) and in my previous car, I went down the aftermarket route, with the focus on quality rather than quantity.
I just dont want to waste £1k when the business upgrade is just as good. hmmmmm. As I said, i'm rather limited as it's a company car so dont want to make any mods, so are there any other options?
Do you have the USB media interface as well? Is the Aux in, just as good? (granted I then cant control the device via the stereo/wheel buttons)?
Therein lies the problem, you know exactly how £1k's worth of audio can sound so I'll wager you'd be disappointed by it. It's difficult to judge because unless you're prepared to spend a lot of money, you're never going to get near a home set-up so comparing is pointless as I said before. I thrashed around an RS4 for a couple of days a little while ago and I quite liked the Bose system it had although I didn't turn it on that much as the V8 was too beautiful a sound to ignore! For what it's worth, my brother thinks the system is pretty bloody impressive and some albums do sound good but some sound horribly boxy and it irritates the piss out of me sometimes. Maybe I'm being over-critical!I just dont want to waste £1k when the business upgrade is just as good. hmmmmm. As I said, i'm rather limited as it's a company car so dont want to make any mods, so are there any other options?
Do you have the USB media interface as well? Is the Aux in, just as good? (granted I then cant control the device via the stereo/wheel buttons)?
I do have the USB interface but I don't use it. I just whack my iPhone in and play the music off that, I also have a couple of favourite CDs saved to he hard drive as well.
I am not sure what many are talking about on this thread to be honest.
The L7, now Harman, is brilliant.
The Hi-Fi upgrade is pants, it is bright and sharp sounding, and doesn't even go very loud either.
The Basic system is very poor but easier to upgrade with aftermarket amps, speakers and underseat subs.
The Harman is great, it has a real warmth and weight to it that would have you spending £1500++ on after market gear just to equal it.
It is a very well balanced sound, it goes down to a proper 32Hz before dropping off, so covers 95% of music about from some Organ stuff, but will do dance properly and the top end never sounds too in your face so you can listen to it for hours without getting tired.
Everyone I hear moaning about it wants more bass and more top end, I think most people just like extremes of frequency, which is hardly 'hi-fi'.
The L7, now Harman, is brilliant.
The Hi-Fi upgrade is pants, it is bright and sharp sounding, and doesn't even go very loud either.
The Basic system is very poor but easier to upgrade with aftermarket amps, speakers and underseat subs.
The Harman is great, it has a real warmth and weight to it that would have you spending £1500++ on after market gear just to equal it.
It is a very well balanced sound, it goes down to a proper 32Hz before dropping off, so covers 95% of music about from some Organ stuff, but will do dance properly and the top end never sounds too in your face so you can listen to it for hours without getting tired.
Everyone I hear moaning about it wants more bass and more top end, I think most people just like extremes of frequency, which is hardly 'hi-fi'.
"The Harman is great..."
Thanks for the info, I have this on my 335i Coupe which I'm collecting on 1st March.
Was reading some of the above posts and starting to get a bit worried as I've got B&O in my Audi at the moment and wanted the same quality. Seems I won't be disappointed after all.
Thanks for the info, I have this on my 335i Coupe which I'm collecting on 1st March.
Was reading some of the above posts and starting to get a bit worried as I've got B&O in my Audi at the moment and wanted the same quality. Seems I won't be disappointed after all.
gizlaroc said:
I am not sure what many are talking about on this thread to be honest.
The L7, now Harman, is brilliant.
The Hi-Fi upgrade is pants, it is bright and sharp sounding, and doesn't even go very loud either.
The Basic system is very poor but easier to upgrade with aftermarket amps, speakers and underseat subs.
The Harman is great, it has a real warmth and weight to it that would have you spending £1500++ on after market gear just to equal it.
It is a very well balanced sound, it goes down to a proper 32Hz before dropping off, so covers 95% of music about from some Organ stuff, but will do dance properly and the top end never sounds too in your face so you can listen to it for hours without getting tired.
Everyone I hear moaning about it wants more bass and more top end, I think most people just like extremes of frequency, which is hardly 'hi-fi'.
Horses for courses my friend, my ears aren't your ears. He wanted an opinion, I gave him mine but whether it has any more value or relevance than yours or the bloke's in the pub is his choice ultimately. And for what it's worth, those that know what they're on about don't want extremes of frequency, just something that suits their preferences. I'm sure you've done it but go and sit in an independent audio shop and witness the massive array of differences of opinion when it comes to 'hi-fi', none of which are definitive or a stamp of approval for someone else. The L7, now Harman, is brilliant.
The Hi-Fi upgrade is pants, it is bright and sharp sounding, and doesn't even go very loud either.
The Basic system is very poor but easier to upgrade with aftermarket amps, speakers and underseat subs.
The Harman is great, it has a real warmth and weight to it that would have you spending £1500++ on after market gear just to equal it.
It is a very well balanced sound, it goes down to a proper 32Hz before dropping off, so covers 95% of music about from some Organ stuff, but will do dance properly and the top end never sounds too in your face so you can listen to it for hours without getting tired.
Everyone I hear moaning about it wants more bass and more top end, I think most people just like extremes of frequency, which is hardly 'hi-fi'.
Thanks gents.
Drek, I know exactly what you're talking about. I don't expect hi-fi quality, but want above average for an in-car setup.
I looked at an 07 coupe that had the L7, yesterday, and it sounded quite nice, rich sound and not to harsh high end. This was only listening to standard radio, so CD and aux-in may be different/better?
I wonder what they have changed in the new setup? Part of me thinks it's the same components but HK have decided to make their branding more prevalent.
Still considering it, as I use my car every day and always have the radio on, so it's not going to be a wasted upgrade, like heated seats; which I'll only use for a few months of the year
Drek, I know exactly what you're talking about. I don't expect hi-fi quality, but want above average for an in-car setup.
I looked at an 07 coupe that had the L7, yesterday, and it sounded quite nice, rich sound and not to harsh high end. This was only listening to standard radio, so CD and aux-in may be different/better?
I wonder what they have changed in the new setup? Part of me thinks it's the same components but HK have decided to make their branding more prevalent.
Still considering it, as I use my car every day and always have the radio on, so it's not going to be a wasted upgrade, like heated seats; which I'll only use for a few months of the year
Arun, do it mate. I went out this afternoon and listened to my system again with new ears and it really isn't bad, at all in fact. Given that you're an audiophile, you'll recognise the differences on production values on different CDs and some will probably irk you more than others as it does me but ultimately it's worth it I would say. I tend to use my iPhone more than anything else for music as I've only got a single shot CD and it would just be a pain in the hoop otherwise and like I said, I've never used the USB so can't comment really.
I was probably being hyper-critical earlier and I've never listened to any other BMW set-up so I suspect that if I listened to the basic one I'd probably be glad of the HK! And I agree with you about heated seats, precisely the reason why I didn't get them although others have wholeheartedly disagreed!
I was probably being hyper-critical earlier and I've never listened to any other BMW set-up so I suspect that if I listened to the basic one I'd probably be glad of the HK! And I agree with you about heated seats, precisely the reason why I didn't get them although others have wholeheartedly disagreed!
Drek,Thanks mate. I've got a test drive with a business and HK upgrades soon, so I'll report back here and let you guys know what I think.
I think you're right, I'll just go for it. While it's a lot of money, I wont be left stuck with a poor 6 speaker system.
Thanks to all for their opinions too, that's what I was after. Everyone is different so the more information I can gather will help when it comes to making an informed decision.
I think you're right, I'll just go for it. While it's a lot of money, I wont be left stuck with a poor 6 speaker system.
Thanks to all for their opinions too, that's what I was after. Everyone is different so the more information I can gather will help when it comes to making an informed decision.
Drek said:
I also have a couple of favourite CDs saved to he hard drive as well.
I only use that for my daughter's music.The manual clearly states it compresses music downloaded to the car's hard-drive.
I try to avoid overly-compressed music, which is why I prefer to use the USB for my stuff.
Magnus Barelegs said:
I only use that for my daughter's music.
The manual clearly states it compresses music downloaded to the car's hard-drive.
I try to avoid overly-compressed music, which is why I prefer to use the USB for my stuff.
Ahhhh very interesting. Thanks Magnus, will ensure to use CD/Aux-in then. I'm guessing the CD unit doesnt recognise FLAC, so will encode tracks @ 320kbps mp3The manual clearly states it compresses music downloaded to the car's hard-drive.
I try to avoid overly-compressed music, which is why I prefer to use the USB for my stuff.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff