[M4Ghost]

When can you order the sound system?

[MOTOP]

In 2025

[M4Ghost]

Originally Posted by MOTOP

In 2025

Super helpful....

[omasou]

If it is not a build option for the model and trim level you're at then no.

[M4Ghost]

Originally Posted by omasou

If it is not a build option for the model and trim level you're at then no.

Im aware of that too -- but does anyone know when itll be back

[AJA5900]

I bought a 21 that was new on the lot because it had that option. I would have gotten the comp; wife like the non comp better (sound). Had everything else including wheels and leather I wanted.

[M4Ghost]

Originally Posted by AJA5900

I bought a 21 that was new on the lot because it had that option. I would have gotten the comp; wife like the non comp better (sound). Had everything else including wheels and leather I wanted.

She liked the HK better?

[omasou]

Originally Posted by x3mghost

Im aware of that too -- but does anyone know when itll be back

No one knows. So what's your really question?

Should you wait to order an X6M in the hopes that the B&W option will reappear?

My "guess" is that your X4 main bearing will be fixed before B&W is a readily available option.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by x3mghost

When can you order the sound system?

Exactly, nobody knows ... and further nobody knows why it was cut, so

It coulda been microchips, but that would imply B&W uses the very old 200mm derived chips which most electronics manufacturers switched away from in the early 2000s (auto makers being the one large industry that still uses the old chips).

My guess is it's something else ...

* could be the chips
* could be some other part B&W can't get
* could be shipping / supply chain issues
* could be contract issues
* could be that BMW is changing to the new BMW B&W system coming soon in the 7-series (July?) and didn't want to resupply the old systems especially if there are supply chain problems now. Maybe it was easier to just accelerate production of the new system.

All just speculation though.

And, there's a 100% probability that when the new B&W system comes out everyone will agree the old B&W sounds like a 4th grader with his first instrument.

[YolkyPalky]

It could simply be the hundreds of container ships stuck offshore unable to offload at US Ports right now. Kinda hoping it’s something like that which would mean it’s likely just a temporary problem and B&W will be back soon as an option.

[slampert]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

And, there's a 100% probability that when the new B&W system comes out everyone will agree the old B&W sounds like a 4th grader with his first instrument.

This... I had the B&W in my now totaled 2020 X5, and just had an up close and personal demo of the new B&W "immersion" in the iX at the recent BMW event in Anaheim CA.

This new system is orders of magnitude better sounding. Speakers are all over the place. It's a serious game changer!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by slampert

This... I had the B&W in my now totaled 2020 X5, and just had an up close and personal demo of the new B&W "immersion" in the iX at the recent BMW event in Anaheim CA.

This new system is orders of magnitude better sounding. Speakers are all over the place. It's a serious game changer!

yeah, I've heard the new B&W is pretty great, though haven't heard it myself, so great to hear your experience ... can you say more about it? Doors closed or open? What kind of music? how long did you listen? etc

[slampert]

They played a very impressive sound demo with an accompanying video that was referred to as a B&W "immersion" piece. The sound (orchestral with some synthesized) was mixed for dramatic effect to highlight the spatial separation within the vehicle and the broad frequency response of the system. I also heard a few tunes off Sirius. The doors were closed, a/c was on, and we had the car to ourselves for the duration of the demo and a few additional tunes.

This video

is not an exaggeration. Immersion is as good an adjective as I can think of. I can't wait until its available!

Some photos from the Anaheim event

[omasou]

Originally Posted by slampert

They played a very impressive sound demo with an accompanying video that was referred to as a B&W "immersion" piece. The sound (orchestral with some synthesized) was mixed for dramatic effect to highlight the spatial separation within the vehicle and the broad frequency response of the system. I also heard a few tunes off Sirius. The doors were closed, a/c was on, and we had the car to ourselves for the duration of the demo and a few additional tunes.

<snip>

That sounded impressive but the number of speakers is crazy. I mean, I like music but it's the same problem as 8K and even 4K TV. The content just isn't available to really take advantage of the system. So you end up paying for something that you cannot fully utilize. Does it sound good sure. Will my music sound better, maybe. Is it worth it for listening to SirusXM (not that I do) or streaming music, again maybe but I don't see the ROI.

But they definitely should keep pushing the envelope b/c the learnings will eventually trickle down.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by omasou

That sounded impressive but the number of speakers is crazy. I mean, I like music but it's the same problem as 8K and even 4K TV. The content just isn't available to really take advantage of the system. So you end up paying for something that you cannot fully utilize. Does it sound good sure. Will my music sound better, maybe. Is it worth it for listening to SirusXM (not that I do) or streaming music, again maybe but I don't see the ROI.

But they definitely should keep pushing the envelope b/c the learnings will eventually trickle down.

Yeah, I think there's a divergence between high-end customers:

(a.) What sounds good in a vehicle to the people who will pay for such a thing, and

(b.) What sounds good in an audiophile way

Audiophiles talk in terms of stage width & depth, imaging, transients, sounds curves, etc. Typically they want something that sounds as close to realistic as possible ... maybe hearing the guitar pick touch the string, the singer's inhale, and echo of the guitar off the piano.

I have a feeling car audio...philes more want something more expansive derived from digital processing ... something more like Dolby that creates more of a spectacle of any song, and something that's fundamentally unrealistic for the car cabin they're sitting in.

My guess is, B&W is going more for that first type with some fancy digital processing that's channeling small delays into all of the speakers to fool the listener into thinking they're in a larger more reflective space than just a sound deadening car cabin.


Net-net:
Car audio hi-fi and audiophile hi-fi are probably turning into 2 different things.

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by x3mghost

When can you order the sound system?

I do believe it has been deleted from all models that used to have it. Including the M5 X7 and the aforementioned X5 X6. As was said elsewhere here part/chip shortage on BMW or B&W. It have been reading that it may be well into next year before it gets better.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by themnmd

I do believe it has been deleted from all models that used to have it. Including the M5 X7 and the aforementioned X5 X6. As was said elsewhere here part/chip shortage on BMW or B&W. It have been reading that it may be well into next year before it gets better.

I may have gotten lucky and gotten one of the very last ones - my dealer updated an allocation for me Sept 3rd adding the B&W amongst other things and it looks like ~Sept 4th the option disappeared ...

We'll probably never know, but I'd be super curious as to why it was cut - it could be chips, but that'd assume B&W was using the very old 200mm-derived chips and that seems improbable ...

It could be something else like parts sitting offshore on ships that can't unload or it could be even something weirder like the ceiling panels as the B&W has speakers in the ceiling panels (at least on the X5/6/7s) whereas not on the HK.

Or wiring harnesses or ...

I'd love to know ... we need to find someone at B&W to tell us...

[M4Ghost]

Confirmed from the manager at BMW individual center, BW starts in january again.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by x3mghost

Confirmed from the manager at BMW individual center, BW starts in january again.

What's a "bmw individual center"?

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

What's a "bmw individual center"?

Where all the centrists are ? Near the middle.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

What's a "bmw individual center"?

It's the team you work with when you order a custom order. By custom you can pick many things that are not on the webpage directly. That is how I got B&W with my M8 order was ordering individual color and adding a few small things like door sill, stitching. It adds they say 10 weeks to the build timeline. It's cool if you don't need a car fast. Mine probably won't be here till Feb -March.

Here is where you start but they can do much more than what is on this page: https://visualizer.bmw-individual.co...=1&lang=EN#top

[M4Ghost]

Originally Posted by Tenac

It's the team you work with when you order a custom order. By custom you can pick many things that are not on the webpage directly. That is how I got B&W with my M8 order was ordering individual color and adding a few small things like door sill, stitching. It adds they say 10 weeks to the build timeline. It's cool if you don't need a car fast. Mine probably won't be here till Feb -March.

Here is where you start but they can do much more than what is on this page: https://visualizer.bmw-individual.co...=1&lang=EN#top

clearly the competent one