Disable B&O DSPs?
Discussion
After a month of very proud ownership of my DBS Volante, I enjoy every moment driving it, there is only one very annoying thing: the B&O audio system!
Of course I listen to the exhaust more than to music, but still, on longer trips, I close the exhaust valves (using a "fuse 22 button" on the steering wheel
) and want to relax listening to high quality music. The Premium (=Alpine) audio system on my previous AM did sound much (much!) better however (in fact this is one of the best factory audio systems I ever heard). It has more "deepness", more dynamic range (range between softest and loudest sounds), and more emotion. The B&O sounds crisp and clear (that is good), but lacks the deepness and emotion of the Premium system, and is no fun to listen too for long period of times.
Have the same experience in my Audi, and it is probably due to the too strict DSPs B&O uses (in all its systems, also in their home audio, totally not my cup of tea........it looks great, but the sound lacks dynamic range and is "cold").
So the question is: is there anyway to bypass or disable the B&O DSPs? Probably the speakers and amps are good enough to present a high quality sound, and the DSPs "kill" this. I am afraid the DSPs are together in one box with the Amps, if so, changing this would be cumbersome probably, if not, then there is hope!
Hope anybody out there who can help (either an ODBII code, or a dealer fix that cen help?).
TIA!
Of course I listen to the exhaust more than to music, but still, on longer trips, I close the exhaust valves (using a "fuse 22 button" on the steering wheel
) and want to relax listening to high quality music. The Premium (=Alpine) audio system on my previous AM did sound much (much!) better however (in fact this is one of the best factory audio systems I ever heard). It has more "deepness", more dynamic range (range between softest and loudest sounds), and more emotion. The B&O sounds crisp and clear (that is good), but lacks the deepness and emotion of the Premium system, and is no fun to listen too for long period of times. Have the same experience in my Audi, and it is probably due to the too strict DSPs B&O uses (in all its systems, also in their home audio, totally not my cup of tea........it looks great, but the sound lacks dynamic range and is "cold").
So the question is: is there anyway to bypass or disable the B&O DSPs? Probably the speakers and amps are good enough to present a high quality sound, and the DSPs "kill" this. I am afraid the DSPs are together in one box with the Amps, if so, changing this would be cumbersome probably, if not, then there is hope!
Hope anybody out there who can help (either an ODBII code, or a dealer fix that cen help?).
TIA!
Herbs said:
Sorry I cannot be any help but my car is being delivered tomorrow and would love to see the fuse 22 button on the steering wheel if you have any photo's?
See here the pics of the fuse 22 button in my previous V8V: 
In my DBS it is similar, see also other thread about this.
Edited by AWV12 on Monday 27th February 11:15
Guycord said:
B&O's proprietry ICE Amps contain an integrated DSP circuit.
Nobody knows if these integrated DPSs can be disabled (via software/dealer computer)?Checked the wiring diagram, and indeed there seems no separate DSPs, but there are two AMPS;
- MOST Amp (fuse 18): driving the acoustic lenzes (moving front tweeters on the dash), center (front) speaker and the rear speakers as well as a microphone, also it seems this MOST Amp is pre-amp for the second AMP
- ICE Power Amp (fuse 5): driven by the MOST (pre?) Amp, is driving the larger front speakers (in the door), the front woofers (near your feet) as well as the subwoofer in the back, but also the acoustic lenzes again (?two amps driving these lenzes?)
Will try to remove fuse 18 and fuse 5 seperately, and see (hear) what happens, but Iam afraid the DSPs are IN the ICE Amp, so it is either "all or (almost) nothing".
It starts to annoy more and more how "flat" this B&O setup sounds.........but ok, I open the valves again and I am smiling! :-)
Edited by AWV12 on Sunday 4th March 16:15
This weekend I found out that disabling the Auto Volume Control, already gives some improvement of the ´flat` B&O sound (especially when driving). It seems that bypassing this AutoVolume step, at least keeps the audio signal more close to its orignal. Also reducing the Surround level back to zero makes it little better, but still it does not compare very well to the Alpine-Premium system.
Did some more research on the subject, and the only way to radicallt improve the (too much compressed) B&O sound is to replace the (two!) AMPs in the back by non/B&O ones.
Since I like to keep everything as original as possible, maybe not a good option, but anyone has experience with this=
BTW, does anybody know if it is possible to set sound settings (balance, fader, treble, bass, surround, etc) per source= It seems in the B&O every change is done to ALL sources, which is not desirable since every source has its own characteristic........
Did some more research on the subject, and the only way to radicallt improve the (too much compressed) B&O sound is to replace the (two!) AMPs in the back by non/B&O ones.
Since I like to keep everything as original as possible, maybe not a good option, but anyone has experience with this=
BTW, does anybody know if it is possible to set sound settings (balance, fader, treble, bass, surround, etc) per source= It seems in the B&O every change is done to ALL sources, which is not desirable since every source has its own characteristic........
Edited by AWV12 on Monday 12th March 18:39
I'm really suprised that you're not getting on with your B&O system. I love mine, albeit in a V12V. I did find that the base was massively over blown but once knocked down a few notches all is well again. It did used to totally swamp the mid-range. There are several "trick" features on the system that could have gone faulty. The most obvious is the one that focuses the system to the driver when the passenger seat isn't occupied.
Let us know how you get on.
Kevin
Let us know how you get on.
Kevin
AWV12 said:
After a month of very proud ownership of my DBS Volante, I enjoy every moment driving it, there is only one very annoying thing: the B&O audio system!
TIA!
I have to agree... I spent 6 hours traveling this weekend and i found the B&O system difficult to listen to. TIA!
My V8 had the premium audio, which seemed far better.
Glad I didn't spec it from new
I'm going to try the things you suggested to see if it improves things.
AWV12 said:
After a month of very proud ownership of my DBS Volante, I enjoy every moment driving it, there is only one very annoying thing: the B&O !
Question, was your previous AM also a convertible?I only ask because I have both systems; premium in the coupe and B&O in the Volante. Roof down in the Volante and the Premium In the coupe wins, roof up in Volante and the B&O wins it. You only have to listen to the change in the sound whilst you raise the roof in the Volante when the audio is playing to understand how the environment (open top) makes such a radical difference.
CatalystV12V said:
I have to agree... I spent 6 hours traveling this weekend and i found the B&O system difficult to listen to.
My V8 had the premium audio, which seemed far better.
Glad I didn't spec it from new
I'm going to try the things you suggested to see if it improves things.
Good (or bad?) to read I am not the only one.......let me know how you tweak it to make it better for you. My V8 had the premium audio, which seemed far better.
Glad I didn't spec it from new
I'm going to try the things you suggested to see if it improves things.
Steve*B said:
Question, was your previous AM also a convertible?
I only ask because I have both systems; premium in the coupe and B&O in the Volante. Roof down in the Volante and the Premium In the coupe wins, roof up in Volante and the B&O wins it. You only have to listen to the change in the sound whilst you raise the roof in the Volante when the audio is playing to understand how the environment (open top) makes such a radical difference.
Previous V8V with the premium system was indeed a Coupe, and sounded brilliant as said. The B&O in my current Volante indeed has a different sound setting when the roof is open/closed, but in both situations I can NOT enjoy listening to it for a long time, because it lacks depth and bandwidth. Disabling the Auto Volume Control helps a bit, also I disabled the "auto sound setting", but both in Driver and in Front the sound does not come "alive". I only ask because I have both systems; premium in the coupe and B&O in the Volante. Roof down in the Volante and the Premium In the coupe wins, roof up in Volante and the B&O wins it. You only have to listen to the change in the sound whilst you raise the roof in the Volante when the audio is playing to understand how the environment (open top) makes such a radical difference.
This weekend I tested all speakers: they are all ok, so no problem there. It indeed has to do with the nature of this setup with too agressive compression by the B&O DSPs........a real pity, in this otherwise perfect car!
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