08-05-2021, 06:57 PM | #23 |
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Having had a 2019 G05 40i with the HK and now being in a 2021 F95 MC with the B&W, I've had the pleasure of testing them out side by side in the week that I had both.
Audio was one of the aspects I was most curious about, and, while the B&W is indeed far more aesthetically pleasing and definitely has more depth vs the HK system, my initial reaction was more a wow at how well the HK kept up for standard listening volumes. No Atmos surround/3D effects with the HK, but it definitely ain't no slouch either. That said, the B&W is still a noticeable difference in my opinion, and if you can afford it, I'd definitely go for it! |
08-05-2021, 07:04 PM | #24 | |
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To me, the B&W sound system is outstanding. Even XM Radio sounds better than on the HK system. |
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08-05-2021, 08:24 PM | #25 |
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You can only listen to lossless or digital masters from Apple Music if youre plugged in using USB, FYI. For some reason wifi doesn't support the high quality bitrates.
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08-05-2021, 10:09 PM | #26 |
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Haven't heard it, didn't need to, purposefully skipped it in our X5MC. The light up speakers seemed to look great, but not like what Sky Lounge looks like (lucky everyone everywhere else). I really wanted to the 818M Star Wheels and the added HP of the Competition Package. Readily conceding that the Comp package is the same: aesthetic and unneeded, I think it's purely a matter of taste. Though I'd venture a guess that the AVERAGE X5 owner isn't going to notice the difference. Half the time I'm in the car I'm commuting to client and thus invariably ON THE DAMN PHONE. A quarter of the time my infant daughter is in the car so I have to basically cripple the system by turning down the base. That leaves about 25% of the time when the system can really shine. Just not worth $100/mo extra: to me. YMMV.
At the end of the day, most of the add-ons for the F95/6 are purely a matter of taste. Most of the stuff you have to tack on to a base model are already included/free (merino, m-compound brakes, HUD, etc.) in the ///M-Cars. But I couldn't justify, even at the ridiculous starting price point my wife consistently reminds me of, $3500 for what basically amounts to light up speakers. Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
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08-05-2021, 10:14 PM | #27 |
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As another aside - the b&w in my m8c doesn't sound as awesome compared to the b&w in my x6mc. I suspect it might be the overhead tweets that the x6mc has vs the m8c. Dunno 🤷
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08-05-2021, 10:18 PM | #28 | |
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08-06-2021, 12:09 AM | #29 | |
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Unless they are listening to uncompressed music from their phones all the time. I don't do that, I mainly listen to XM and it sounds the same as the HK. MAYYYYBE it has a little more depth, but cmon. You have to be a real sound snob to find the difference. Like what sounds better? What are people hearing that is that much better than HK? I have very good hearing, but obviously not a trained audiophile. Hell, I can hear those high pitched noises coming from many electronics that others cannot hear. |
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08-06-2021, 12:22 AM | #30 |
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Not an audiophile and have it. Just because I'm in the boat that sees it as "negligible" in the overall purchase price. And I'm easily sold on anything that lights up.
If it were Porsche, I would carefully weigh these decisions a little more carefully since these options quickly add up $$$.
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08-06-2021, 09:03 AM | #31 | |
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08-06-2021, 10:28 AM | #32 |
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"Man I wish I saved that $3600" - said by me never.
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08-06-2021, 12:06 PM | #33 | |
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Still the bass in the B&W is lacking. I am still trying to tweak the system to get more bass out of the little subs under the seat. |
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08-06-2021, 04:21 PM | #34 | |
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08-07-2021, 03:17 PM | #35 |
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I have the B&W in my 2021 X5 M50i. It's worth every single penny.
Most songs on streaming services like Amazon Music HD, Tidal, and Apple Music (finally) have "Lossless" audio capability. This means if you have compatible headphones/speakers you can listen to music at or near the same quality as it was originally recorded without the typical audio compression and reduction in quality. Bowers & Wilkins is compatible to say the least. You will have no regrets.
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08-07-2021, 03:23 PM | #36 | |
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I got it in mine and it went up by like 102 bucks |
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08-07-2021, 04:54 PM | #38 | |
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My solution is as follows: 1. Convert your CDs to lossless .flac music files, for instance with DBPoweramp for the conversion and Tag&Rename to organize the artwork and album contents; 2. Store the files in a Samsung SSD (get the 2 TB one if you store movies too); 3. Plug the SSD drive in the USB-C socket in the box between the seats. On a good music system .flac files sound perceivably better compared to .mp3 files and make the B&W system really worthwhile. |
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08-07-2021, 05:43 PM | #39 | |
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08-07-2021, 07:03 PM | #40 | |
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(1.) Most people, from their phones (apple or android), no matter what they THINK they're playing (via USB/lightening), aren't playing "high-res" If you immediately know why I"m saying that (catalog+tech) then you might be one of the exceptions. (2.) FLACs will definitely have a perceivably better sound to the average listener, even on a mediocre system / headphones IN A QUIET ENVIRONMENT ON A RECORDING WITH GOOD MASTERING. Cars probably aren't that usually. And is the difference large? For most listeners, not unless they listen A/B and super care about small differences. (3.) Once you get over the mastering problem, the tech problem, the limitations of a noisy car, and the system itself how much sound-wise is the B&W really giving you over the HK I haven't heard them back-to-back but I believe those saying "none". All of that said, will I spec the B&W? Definitely. Why? Not for the sound difference, just cuz if I'm loading up then imma load it the fuck up. So for me it's worth it, but not because of the sound. or hi-res. whatever that realistically means. Which is almost nothing.
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Last edited by GrussGott; 08-07-2021 at 07:10 PM.. |
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08-08-2021, 05:01 PM | #41 | ||
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08-08-2021, 05:49 PM | #42 |
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08-08-2021, 05:51 PM | #43 |
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In my experience, the residual is applied to the MSRP. No?
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08-08-2021, 05:55 PM | #44 | |
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I don't know where the $100 is coming from |
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