Terrible standard sound systems
Discussion
Anything worse than the standard BMW speakers?
F30 BMW with I assume the standard system.
What an absolute s
te sound. No bass in it and it just sounds crap. My MK4 Golf sounds a lot better.
For a premium car it is diabolical. I drove some fairly new C Class merc the other day and that was crap.
VW and Audi seem to put pretty decent sound systems in.
The DAB is absolute st. What a crap performance that is. Cuts out every 2 seconds and then goes to FM and plays a few seconds behind.
I know it's just BMW's crap system as the Audi I've driven recently seem brilliant and when it does go to FM it is seemless.
F30 BMW with I assume the standard system.
What an absolute s
te sound. No bass in it and it just sounds crap. My MK4 Golf sounds a lot better.For a premium car it is diabolical. I drove some fairly new C Class merc the other day and that was crap.
VW and Audi seem to put pretty decent sound systems in.
The DAB is absolute s
t. What a crap performance that is. Cuts out every 2 seconds and then goes to FM and plays a few seconds behind.I know it's just BMW's crap system as the Audi I've driven recently seem brilliant and when it does go to FM it is seemless.
The absolute worst I heard was the 2014 Vauxhall Corsa. I used my LG G4 inbuilt speakers for music when I drove one and it was better than the car's system.
The standard headunit in our MiTo is only slightly better, the sound quality seems to vary massively depending on what source is playing.
Most VAG stuff is OK, even my basic 2002 Skoda Fabia Classic was ok
The standard headunit in our MiTo is only slightly better, the sound quality seems to vary massively depending on what source is playing.
Most VAG stuff is OK, even my basic 2002 Skoda Fabia Classic was ok
Josho said:
Anything worse than the standard BMW speakers?
F30 BMW with I assume the standard system.
What an absolute ste sound. No bass in it and it just sounds crap. My MK4 Golf sounds a lot better.
For a premium car it is diabolical. I drove some fairly new C Class merc the other day and that was crap.
VW and Audi seem to put pretty decent sound systems in.
The DAB is absolute st. What a crap performance that is. Cuts out every 2 seconds and then goes to FM and plays a few seconds behind.
I know it's just BMW's crap system as the Audi I've driven recently seem brilliant and when it does go to FM it is seemless.
F30 BMW with I assume the standard system.
What an absolute s
te sound. No bass in it and it just sounds crap. My MK4 Golf sounds a lot better.For a premium car it is diabolical. I drove some fairly new C Class merc the other day and that was crap.
VW and Audi seem to put pretty decent sound systems in.
The DAB is absolute s
t. What a crap performance that is. Cuts out every 2 seconds and then goes to FM and plays a few seconds behind.I know it's just BMW's crap system as the Audi I've driven recently seem brilliant and when it does go to FM it is seemless.
- seamless. Like, without the seams that hold together clothing.
Mike335i said:
The absolute worst I heard was the 2014 Vauxhall Corsa. I used my LG G4 inbuilt speakers for music when I drove one and it was better than the car's system.
The standard headunit in our MiTo is only slightly better, the sound quality seems to vary massively depending on what source is playing.
Most VAG stuff is OK, even my basic 2002 Skoda Fabia Classic was ok
My first car was a 2003 seat Ibiza and the sound system on that was actually really good at the time, my dads passat had a really good sound system too, Probably the only positive thing I have to say for both those cars though, never buying VAG again The standard headunit in our MiTo is only slightly better, the sound quality seems to vary massively depending on what source is playing.
Most VAG stuff is OK, even my basic 2002 Skoda Fabia Classic was ok
BMW do it to get you to tick the Harman Kardon box on the order form. I had two F30s with standard systems and they really are awful. Akin to a £50 Currys special offer micro system. I have the HK system in the M140i and it is rather good, but there is a definite sense that the standard system is deliberately awful.
I agree Volvo systems lead the way for standard OE fit.
I agree Volvo systems lead the way for standard OE fit.
Limpet said:
BMW do it to get you to tick the Harman Kardon box on the order form. I had two F30s with standard systems and they really are awful. Akin to a £50 Currys special offer micro system. I have the HK system in the M140i and it is rather good, but there is a definite sense that the standard system is deliberately awful.
I agree Volvo systems lead the way for standard OE fit.
As do Audi and Merc, an easy extra 600-800 just for fitting the £4 speakers instead of the 50p ones I agree Volvo systems lead the way for standard OE fit.
Josho said:
Anything worse than the standard BMW speakers?
F30 BMW with I assume the standard system.
What an absolute ste sound. No bass in it and it just sounds crap. My MK4 Golf sounds a lot better.
For a premium car it is diabolical. I drove some fairly new C Class merc the other day and that was crap.
VW and Audi seem to put pretty decent sound systems in.
The DAB is absolute st. What a crap performance that is. Cuts out every 2 seconds and then goes to FM and plays a few seconds behind.
I know it's just BMW's crap system as the Audi I've driven recently seem brilliant and when it does go to FM it is seemless.
I had the same issues with my F20. Absolutely dreadful. I know they want you to upgrade but a 2 band eq on a 25k car, really? F30 BMW with I assume the standard system.
What an absolute s
te sound. No bass in it and it just sounds crap. My MK4 Golf sounds a lot better.For a premium car it is diabolical. I drove some fairly new C Class merc the other day and that was crap.
VW and Audi seem to put pretty decent sound systems in.
The DAB is absolute s
t. What a crap performance that is. Cuts out every 2 seconds and then goes to FM and plays a few seconds behind.I know it's just BMW's crap system as the Audi I've driven recently seem brilliant and when it does go to FM it is seemless.
The standard system in the Suzuki Swift (2010-2017 shape) is horrendous. It has some horrible equalisation that reduces bass as you increase the volume, presumably to stave of distortion from it's underpowered outputs, but the result is like a Chinese AM pocket radio from pound stretcher. I'm far from an audio snob, and I don't like the appearance of aftermarket stuff in modern cars that have integrated head units, but I have to change it.
OTOH my 2003 Smart ForTwo with the factory upgrade speaker system sounds incredible, I was most impressed after fitting it.
OTOH my 2003 Smart ForTwo with the factory upgrade speaker system sounds incredible, I was most impressed after fitting it.
Edited by Mr2Mike on Tuesday 17th October 07:30
BMW standard system is awful, ticked HK box this time, the E90 I had was just awful.
The US market get the "advanced" system as standard and still moan, they should here what we get!
I do think my Saab 9-3 system with standard set up might pip it too the post though, that was bad enough for me to pay 500 for an aftermarket upgrade on a company car
The US market get the "advanced" system as standard and still moan, they should here what we get!
I do think my Saab 9-3 system with standard set up might pip it too the post though, that was bad enough for me to pay 500 for an aftermarket upgrade on a company car
07' e92 330i - fantastic stereo I thought. Little subs under the seats really added to the depth.
02' e46 M3 with HK - meh.
04' MX-5 - Surprisingly pretty good!
04' Boxster with Bose - terrible, although admittedly last owner replaced Bose with Alpine speakers and HU .
02' MINI One - pretty good, almost impressed although all the sound comes from the rear speakers which is odd, fade adjustment doesn't really work to resolve it.
02' e46 M3 with HK - meh.
04' MX-5 - Surprisingly pretty good!
04' Boxster with Bose - terrible, although admittedly last owner replaced Bose with Alpine speakers and HU .
02' MINI One - pretty good, almost impressed although all the sound comes from the rear speakers which is odd, fade adjustment doesn't really work to resolve it.
The sound system in my lease cupra is absolutely brilliant; a trickle down from VW/Audi, I imagine. To the point, I can't think why they offer an upgraded sound system. In the previous generation though, it was the worst I've ever used. Hard plastic speaker covers that rattled from vibrations at anything over 0.1dB.
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