Quote:
Originally Posted by Fennario
Not saying that the B&W system isn't nice, but from an audiophile perspective it is putting overpriced lipstick on a pig. While the B&W is a clear improvement over the HK it is way too expensive for what you get, and the unavoidable fact is that a car is too compromised as a platform. But for the HK's unacceptably sloppy bass, it would not be a consideration.
One thing to consider is that the ambient noise floor of the X5 is about 60db at 60mph whereas a listening room is around 40-45db. That is over 64 times as quiet. To mask this flaw most cars use DSP, active noise cancellation, and other technical work-arounds to lower the perceived ambient noise. This does, however, affect the overall quality when compared to a listening room.
Your money would be much better spent (i) replacing the OEM HK amplifier with one that has enough watts of quality to play at your desired volume while still retaining control of the low end; and (ii) possibly replacing/adding subwoofers.
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That is incorrect. The HK speakers are not in the same league as what the B&W designed for the vehicle. The noise floor in the X5 is irrelevant. It’s certainly low enough to hear a clear difference in components and sound stage. The B&W processors alone are worth the upgrade. This is where HK and its limited sound stage processors are extremely basic and its poor attempt to create even one good accurate sound stage. B&W has many and they all are reference quality and can be moved around the vehicle depending of application and seating presences.