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      05-13-2020, 10:03 AM   #1
wristtoys
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B & W System any different between....

I have a 2019 M5 Comp with the B & W System. Im moving to an X5M and curious to know if the system is any better in the X5? I always felt a lack of bass for the $3400 up charge. Additionally how does it compare to the system if I didn't get the upgrade int he truck.
Thank you in advance!!
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      05-13-2020, 12:40 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wristtoys View Post
I have a 2019 M5 Comp with the B & W System. Im moving to an X5M and curious to know if the system is any better in the X5? I always felt a lack of bass for the $3400 up charge. Additionally how does it compare to the system if I didn't get the upgrade int he truck.
Thank you in advance!!
I have it, I do think the Bass could have been made to be bigger sound, but compared to the HK the B&W is far superior.
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      05-13-2020, 05:58 PM   #3
mattchew 2020
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This will probably go against many but I think it needs more bass!
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      05-14-2020, 01:05 PM   #4
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Agreed. Great system. Exceptional sound quality. Very immersive.... but lacking in bass undoubtedly.
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      05-14-2020, 02:53 PM   #5
Aimster82
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You won't get deep bass but it is worth the upgrade from the HK.
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      05-15-2020, 10:14 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninefourteener View Post
Agreed. Great system. Exceptional sound quality. Very immersive.... but lacking in bass undoubtedly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattchew 2020 View Post
This will probably go against many but I think it needs more bass!
I wonder if B&W makes a more powerful bass speaker that will fit that we can upgrade to. I'd imagine they may have a more efficient sub that size that could be installed.
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      05-15-2020, 10:16 AM   #7
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I have a request for people who have the B&W pack on their X5.

Could you play Depeche Mode - Waiting for the night @ 3/4 volume and tell me if your front center speaker vibrates during the begining of the song.
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      05-15-2020, 04:08 PM   #8
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I don’t have that package but what version? 5.1 or CD version? The bass is weaker on the 5.1 in my opinion.
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      05-15-2020, 05:48 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maczrool View Post
I don’t have that package but what version? 5.1 or CD version? The bass is weaker on the 5.1 in my opinion.
I have a master copy in Flac format
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      05-15-2020, 06:11 PM   #10
maczrool
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I have the HK and the 5.1 flac in mine but if I turn it up all the way I get some resonance of some of the parts of the car in the front. Not sure exactly where. It’s not really bass frequencies causing it. Cool song though in surround!
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      05-15-2020, 06:33 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maczrool View Post
I have the HK and the 5.1 flac in mine but if I turn it up all the way I get some resonance of some of the parts of the car in the front. Not sure exactly where. It’s not really bass frequencies causing it. Cool song though in surround!
on mine the front dash speaker resonates due to 200hz, u push on it and it stops. BMW says that's normal.. ruiigghhtt
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      05-15-2020, 07:03 PM   #12
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Mid-bass yes. That’s what I was hearing just not from the center. My center grill might be a little more stout than your stainless B and W one though.
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      08-17-2020, 02:07 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattchew 2020 View Post
This will probably go against many but I think it needs more bass!
I don't know if you could answer this, but which one would you say has bigger/louder bass HK or B/W?
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      08-17-2020, 02:01 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan_xxxk View Post
I don't know if you could answer this, but which one would you say has bigger/louder bass HK or B/W?
I have the HK system on my F15 and the B&W in the G05. the HK system doesn't hold a candle to the B&W system, they are not in the same league. The bass is louder/bigger, the sound stage is incredible, its a phenomenal system... but if you never heard it, you wouldn't know what you were missing out on. The HK system is perfectly adequate. It is in line with any other regular sound system you get in any car, or even upgraded ones.

the B&W system just takes the driving experience to another level, much like having the dynamic handling package. Now, I'm too scared to drive like a maniac on city streets so the DHP is something I wouldn't consider getting but I can see the value in it for someone who would use it. I love listening to music and it always reduces my stress so the cost of this system was well worth it for me. But if you're not into music, or fidelity in your music, then just skip it, get the HK system and dont ever listen to the B&W system lol ignorance is bliss.
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      08-18-2020, 07:26 AM   #15
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Just to be clear, the HK system in the G05 is leagues better than the one in the F15. It is not even close.
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      08-18-2020, 07:46 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trojanlaw View Post
Just to be clear, the HK system in the G05 is leagues better than the one in the F15. It is not even close.
I sure as hell hope so. The HK in my M4 is good but nothing to be proud of. The B&W system costs around 6000EUR here so I had to skip on it unfortunately.
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      08-18-2020, 08:39 AM   #17
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I see everyone saying that the B&W system lacks bass.... is it just me or does the Lounge 3D mode have a ridiculous amount of bass? It is so heavy to the point that I need to turn it down
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      08-18-2020, 09:34 AM   #18
thereef510
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bforbrian View Post
I see everyone saying that the B&W system lacks bass.... is it just me or does the Lounge 3D mode have a ridiculous amount of bass? It is so heavy to the point that I need to turn it down
I haven't yet tried that mode. I've only tried studio and concert. But I'll try that out for sure.


Edit: just tried it. Wow you're right, there's a LOT more bass in that mode. But it moves the overall soundstage further back. And the bass was a bit too boomy for my tastes. It actually made me appreciate the concert setting more lol.

Last edited by thereef510; 08-18-2020 at 09:45 AM..
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      08-18-2020, 09:53 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thereef510 View Post
I haven't yet tried that mode. I've only tried studio and concert. But I'll try that out for sure.


Edit: just tried it. Wow you're right, there's a LOT more bass in that mode. But it moves the overall soundstage further back. And the bass was a bit too boomy for my tastes. It actually made me appreciate the concert setting more lol.
It should move the sound further back, since that mode is optimized for the rear passengers. If you listen to it enough, you'll get used to it. You're right about the boomy bass... I do have to give it to B&W for bringing out those incredibly low frequencies! I think I prefer more of a rounded out sound. I still love Studio mode, as I am an intermediate music producer myself, and am used to listening to sound directly in front and on the sides of me, but yes this seems to lack bass relative to Lounge 3D mode.
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      08-18-2020, 09:55 AM   #20
thereef510
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bforbrian View Post
It should move the sound further back, since that mode is optimized for the rear passengers. If you listen to it enough, you'll get used to it. You're right about the boomy bass... I do have to give it to B&W for bringing out those incredibly low frequencies! I think I prefer more of a rounded out sound. I still love Studio mode, as I am an intermediate music producer myself, and am used to listening to sound directly in front and on the sides of me, but yes this seems to lack bass relative to Lounge 3D mode.
yeah i read the description when I tried it out. It works as advertised but I don't want to get used to it, I really like the concert/studio modes. But if anyone ever gets in and complains about the bass I know what mode to put it in!
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      08-18-2020, 05:06 PM   #21
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Question Can BMW's really play surround sound music?

Quote:
Originally Posted by maczrool View Post
I have the HK and the 5.1 flac in mine but if I turn it up all the way I get some resonance of some of the parts of the car in the front. Not sure exactly where. It’s not really bass frequencies causing it. Cool song though in surround!
Speaking of 5.1 FLAC, I have the original Lord of the Rings DVD Audio discs that I ripped in 5.1 FLAC and threw on my BMW Hard Drive. Is my 2019 X5's B&W sound system capable of playing these files as clean 5.1 audio or am I hearing an algorithmic conversion to surround sound (similar to what happens when I play stereo music)? I can put the sound settings in 'Studio' mode but I don't think I hear the track in surround sound at that point. Which makes me wonder: does BMW downmix 5.1 tracks to stereo or is iDrive 7 actually capable of playing multi-channel music?
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