[Pzl1nz00]

Hi all,

Lots of discussion on forums about audio expectations.

The B&W system is truly amazing when you set it up right and play good source content.

Watch here if you want to learn more about setup with frequency sweeps…

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Pzl1nz00

Hi all,

Lots of discussion on forums about audio expectations.

The B&W system is truly amazing when you set it up right and play good source content.

Watch here if you want to learn more about setup with frequency sweeps…

Nicely done! Very detailed and informative. I dont have the B&W system (wish i did) but wonder if you recommend coding ASD off ? I would think the extra noise BMW pumps through the speakers interferes with quality of music.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Pzl1nz00

Hi all,

Lots of discussion on forums about audio expectations.

The B&W system is truly amazing when you set it up right and play good source content.

Watch here if you want to learn more about setup with frequency sweeps…

Looking forward to watching this and taking in your settings and observations. I'm a junkie. Without watching it, I hope Studio is your recommendation as it's pure unmolested sound as intended by the artist. I killed ASD a month ago and am amazed how much better it sounds without the ASD white noise competing for speaker bandwidth.

[WretchedRefuse]

Remember, if you have the HK audio it's easy to use Bimmercode to add the B&W Sound Profiles. It's a nice little freebie if you like that sort of thing.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by WretchedRefuse

Remember, if you have the HK audio it's easy to use Bimmercode to add the B&W Sound Profiles. It's a nice little freebie if you like that sort of thing.

Yes, but that doesn't turn HK into B&W. It provides more flexibility to improve range to help HK improve on its weaknesses.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Pzl1nz00

Hi all,

Lots of discussion on forums about audio expectations.

The B&W system is truly amazing when you set it up right and play good source content.

Watch here if you want to learn more about setup with frequency sweeps…

Thanks for putting this together. Interesting that we have almost identical EQ settings. I've experimented a lot with it and settled in where you are at. Nice to see it confirmed with hardware and software. Also nice to see you only use Studio.

It is an incredible system. It's important to note that B&W excels at all volume levels. I find myself not listening to music as loud as I used to. It's refreshing hearing a full range at 20-25% volume. Systems like HK need to be blasted to sound good IMO.

[Pzl1nz00]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Thanks for putting this together. Interesting that we have almost identical EQ settings. I've experimented a lot with it and settled in where you are at. Nice to see it confirmed with hardware and software. Also nice to see you only use Studio.

It is an incredible system. It's important to note that B&W excels at all volume levels. I find myself not listening to music as loud as I used to. It's refreshing hearing a full range at 20-25% volume. Systems like HK need to be blasted to sound good IMO.

Love the fact that you used your ear to hone into the measurements which were confirmed via measurements from calibrated equipment!

You sir have a very good ear. I can get them close really quick, but I have yet to be exact.

Buy a pair of Focals for your home; thank me later!

[Pzl1nz00]

Originally Posted by WretchedRefuse

Remember, if you have the HK audio it's easy to use Bimmercode to add the B&W Sound Profiles. It's a nice little freebie if you like that sort of thing.

Very cool to be able to do that. One word of caution, the HK drivers and system setup are very different from B&W from my listening experiences.

You could try the EQ parameters for B&W system, but suspect HK needs something different to get the most from them.

I could try to find a HK car and measure it to try and make some recommendations, but if it doesn't have all of the adjustability, I might be stuck a bit.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Pzl1nz00

Love the fact that you used your ear to hone into the measurements which were confirmed via measurements from calibrated equipment!

You sir have a very good ear. I can get them close really quick, but I have yet to be exact.

Buy a pair of Focals for your home; thank me later!

I will check those out. My settings were very close as mentioned. I concur with you that this system needs very little bass up adjustment on the low end. I do find myself using the master bass slider to move the entire left side of the EQ up or down a notch depending on content. As much as I would like to use lossless files all the time, I like my Spotify and we both know the limits and inconsistencies of streaming.

[Pzl1nz00]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I will check those out. My settings were very close as mentioned. I concur with you that this system needs very little bass up adjustment on the low end. I do find myself using the master bass slider to move the entire left side of the EQ up or down a notch depending on content. As much as I would like to use lossless files all the time, I like my Spotify and we both know the limits and inconsistencies of streaming.

I suggest you check out Apple Music.

They now have full high resolution lossless audio.

They also have the ability to do Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, although that is not an option I have turned on, it is quite neat though.

I have tried Spotify and Tidal lossless (MQA). When Apple Music finally went lossless I figured I would try it out and I like it better than anything else I have used. It sounds great (I think better than MQA), integrates seamlessly with everything, is better organized, and always works!

In addition, I pay $29/mo for my entire family to have Apple One and we all have high res lossless audio through Apple Music and as bonus we get Apple TV, News, Games, etc.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Pzl1nz00

I suggest you check out Apple Music.

They now have full high resolution lossless audio.

They also have the ability to do Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, although that is not an option I have turned on, it is quite neat though.

I have tried Spotify and Tidal lossless (MQA). When Apple Music finally went lossless I figured I would try it out and I like it better than anything else I have used. It sounds great (I think better than MQA), integrates seamlessly with everything, is better organized, and always works!

In addition, I pay $29/mo for my entire family to have Apple One and we all have high res lossless audio through Apple Music and as bonus we get Apple TV, News, Games, etc.

I have all three services you mention, Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music. I have lossless turned on in Apple Music. The issue is that none of these services will stream lossless over Apple CarPlay. I do think Apple Music Sounds the best, but I hate the interface and I love the way Spotify creates playlists based on your listening style.

I realize I can plug in and go USB with Apple Music. I like using Apple CarPlay. I've got a USB stick with lossless rips, but don't use it much.

[RonronEG]

Have you plugged in and listened to lossless Apple Music? Truly night and day- not sure how anyone could go back to lossy after hearing it.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by RonronEG

Have you plugged in and listened to lossless Apple Music? Truly night and day- not sure how anyone could go back to lossy after hearing it.

I haven't because it's a hassle to turn off car play and I really like CarPlay. But I will give it a shot.

[DrInvincible]

Originally Posted by Pzl1nz00

Hi all,

Lots of discussion on forums about audio expectations.

The B&W system is truly amazing when you set it up right and play good source content.

Watch here if you want to learn more about setup with frequency sweeps…

I made these equalizer mods on my '18 540i with the B&W upgrade. For reference, I am a maturing audiophile...

Hands down a phenomenal boost in performance and really brings the sound to life. I fully agree that anything but Studio mode is a dud. If the standard settings were a 6/10 this takes it to 12/10 easily.

I listen to a wide array of music but typically not listening to classical, jazz, blues, or rock on the daily drive.

Although I fully agree with the exact adjustments in the video, I felt the bass was under performing. I have moved away from a heavy bass-centric listening style to more balanced with a bass punch. So far I have preferred keeping the bass at level (no adjustment) which seemed to give the balance I was looking for with more punch. There's only a slight compromise on the overall balance of the sound.

Great video and recs, thanks!