[tsbrown]

For sale is my previously installed BimmerTech Alpha One Lightwave amp that works only on pre-LCI Harmon Kardon audio systems.

I had this in my 2019 540i from July '24 to March '25 and removed it before trading the car. I now have a '23 M550i also with HK audio but this won't work in the LCI models that have the separate RAM. So this is for sale with everything as originally received other than 8 months use.

I was very satisfied with this so I will be getting the Alpha One UP 10 amp for my new car. Everything still works as new and is fully plug and play as BimmerTech claims.
Also included are the base tune file plus the 2 additional files they sent me, though the slightly warmer tune mentioned in my post is currently loaded on the amp.

Here is a post on my installation and impressions last summer: https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...9&postcount=42

Here is the BimmerTech site for more info and to check that it will work in your car. https://www.bimmer-tech.net/speakers...lifier-for-bmw

Original cost was $2000, Asking $1000

USA only

PM me if any questions.

[tsbrown]

updated price.

[rsc1]

Tempting, although my wife will 100% kill me if she found out I bought more audio gear. I'd be curious to hear what you found the biggest differences to be between stock amp and the Lightwave. What grade would you give the HK with stock amp, and what grade would you give the HK with the Lightwave?

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by rsc1

Tempting, although my wife will 100% kill me if she found out I bought more audio gear. I'd be curious to hear what you found the biggest differences to be between stock amp and the Lightwave. What grade would you give the HK with stock amp, and what grade would you give the HK with the Lightwave?

I'm not an audiophile so not sure how to answer this. But I'll start with the pre-LCI HK audio in stock form sounded pretty good to me but has a weak amp with good speakers. Through many posts here, that is the consensus on the system. Upgrade the amp first and then decide if you need new speakers.

I actually started with the BavSound Ghost Subs back in ~2020 and didn't think they added much, thus reinforcing the above comment that it's the amp not the speakers. Less than fully satisfied with that change I decided to try the B&W sound profile coding. That opened up the stock HK system even more with settings on Studio and some EQ tweaking. Good but still not quite enough. Then I decided to bite the bullet and unload $2k on the Lightwave amp last summer (2024).

Yes, it's a lot of money for an amp, at least to a non-audiophile. But it was plug and play and it ended up being just what I needed. It adds a lot of power and it's very clear at all volumes. I used to turn up the volume to sometimes 70% if I needed some head-clearing (like Ozzy Crazy Train after a bad day at work), but you can't do that with the Lightwave amp because of the extra power. I haven't instrument tested it, but at roughly 25% volume it sounds as loud as the stock HK amp at 40-50% volume. And it's clearer. I could not go past 50% volume with the Lightwave amp...my ears, and possibly the speakers, couldn't take it. Most of the time I listened to it at ~25-40% volume. I sat in an LCI M550i with B&W factory sound and thought my HK audio with Lightwave sounded as good. The B&W wasn't tuned so it could probably have been even better, but my system was as clear and as powerful.

Now that I'm in the LCI 2023 M550i with HK system, it's actually worse than the pre-LCI HK system. This has been confirmed by the BimmerTech sound engineer. It's a lesser system than the pre-LCI HK audio. It sounds so weak in comparison and I've already changed to the B&W sound coding. Helps, but not enough.

[balzy]

Hi mate, I am from the UK, would you consider shipping here?

I am very interested in purchasing the amp, also does it come with the mounting plate? The would be going into my 2018 530i

Lemme know if we can work something out

Cheers

[tsbrown]

Still available. US only

[tsbrown]

This is now sold and shipped to the new owner.