[ZigmundUK]

How big a difference is this given HK is £900 odd but B&W is over £3.5k...

[nickyhaan]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

How big a difference is this given HK is £900 odd but B&W is over £3.5k...

I got the HiFi speakers and am not impressed of the sound.. step back from my f10 if you ask me...

[ajfoggy]

I think HK is a must. I did spec the B&W but remove it and added Driving Assistant Plus. I'm sure the B&W will be great, if I just sat in the car and didn't drive it I would have kept it. I'm just not sure I would hear the difference whilst driving.

[brianiannone]

The HK is a massive improvement over the standard speakers. Oddly enough though, the G30's HK system doesn't sound quite as good as the F30's HK system, in my opinion

[steve090619]

Originally Posted by Kitto

The HK is a massive improvement over the standard speakers. Oddly enough though, the G30's HK system doesn't sound quite as good as the F30's HK system, in my opinion

does it have an equalizer to set like the f30. I was going to take a picture of my equalizer on my f30 before handing in so I could set g30 exactly.

[NewM3driver]

In a car with all the other ambient noise the HK is fine.

[phoenixbmwlife]

If you like quality sound while driving, then the minimum is the HK sound system. I haven't heard the BW as yet but I have heard the quality is absolutely amazing. I could not go with the HiFi as I'd regret it.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

I haven't heard the BW as yet but I have heard the quality is absolutely amazing.

Apparently its very dependent on the type of music you listen to.

With some the HK sounds just the same, with other the BW is superior.

[Chuckyarla]

I did a comparison of the HiFi and the HK in a 7-Series which, I understand, is identical to the 5-Series, and I thought the HiFi sounded better. Makes no sense I know, but that's how it seemed to me. As a result of that comparison, I dropped my order for HK and changed it to HiFi (676).

[timmahh]

For what it's worth, I had the HK system in my E90, and the F30 I leased came with standard HiFi (the deciding point was no HK, but manual.. or HK, but automatic). Completely miss the HK system from the E90, for me personally the HK system is a must. If you're coming from a crappy 4 speaker stereo then the standard BMW HiFi is fine, but once you've had the upgraded system you'll regret getting the base system.

.. that said, the base HiFi system is totally fine for the masses I would say, but it definitely isn't as clear as the HK system, and it maxes out far too easily and the bass is a bit of a joke.


Ok, there's my input. Back to stalking this forum for another 8 months until it's time for a new car.

[morellomax]

Definitely worth the extra £500 to go for HK over hi-fi unless, perversely, you intend to spend serious £ on aftermarket kit, in which case the hi-fi option is ideal because it gives you a nice flat 4 channel analogue signal to feed to decent amps, and enough speaker positions populated and wired.

When I spec my G30 I will go for HK and then the only further change I will make is to swap the front left and right tweets and mids for Bavsound stage 1 items, and disconnect the centre channel. In this setup about 80% of what you hear is the front L and R channels so it's hardly worth swapping the rear tweets and mids. And the HK amp and underseat woofers are powerful and clean enough for most people.

[ZigmundUK]

Thanks for all the thoughts. The HK is £900 odd though but seems most say it's a definite step up. We're not big music buffs but when we do listen I'd like the sounds to be clear and balanced. Soundtracks and movie themes are a bit of a fave with the kids at the moment. I think I'll add it to the order...

[brianiannone]

Originally Posted by steve090619

does it have an equalizer to set like the f30. I was going to take a picture of my equalizer on my f30 before handing in so I could set g30 exactly.

The HK? Yes, it does

[jedpause]

I can't answer the OP question, however I went from base radio in F10 to HiFi speakers in G30... for me it is absolutely fine, loud and clear with good bass for MY type of music... sitting in back or front it is very nice....

Even at low volume the bass has a great thump, and the mids and highs are clear... just set your bass and treble settings to your preference (for me 85-90% near max)

I don't feel I should have gone for the HK (which I have not heard), quite happy where I am

[ZigmundUK]

I'm back here again. Wondering if I should go with the 676 option to claw back £500 to spend on something else (auto bootlid).

I'll call the dealer and see if he has the 676 in the showroom somewhere... I think that's the only way I'll know for sure. To be fair though the e61 I think has total standard kit as did the f30 and they were both ok for us.

Sounds like I'm talking myself into a 676...?!

[nickyhaan]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

I'm back here again. Wondering if I should go with the 676 option to claw back £500 to spend on something else (auto bootlid).

I'll call the dealer and see if he has the 676 in the showroom somewhere... I think that's the only way I'll know for sure. To be fair though the e61 I think has total standard kit as did the f30 and they were both ok for us.

Sounds like I'm talking myself into a 676...?!

Bootlid will always open itself (with button on the door or with the key when you press the button) it just doesn't close automatically or does the foot trick...

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by nickyhaan

Bootlid will always open itself (with button on the door or with the key when you press the button) it just doesn't close automatically or does the foot trick...

thanks - i asked this in another thread and was confirmed that with the comfort access option the foot trick does open the boot even if you didn't order the powered bootlid operation.

Given that confirmation I've stuck with keeping the HK

[jedpause]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

I'm back here again. Wondering if I should go with the 676 option to claw back £500 to spend on something else (auto bootlid).

I'll call the dealer and see if he has the 676 in the showroom somewhere... I think that's the only way I'll know for sure. To be fair though the e61 I think has total standard kit as did the f30 and they were both ok for us.

Sounds like I'm talking myself into a 676...?!

As I mentioned earlier I got the advanced/676... I have not heard the HK..

What I can say though, is that it sounds excellent with good source files... so better with 320kbps mp3, and much better of USB rather than Bluetooth....

No regrets... and I listen to everything except Jazz

[Chuckyarla]

Originally Posted by jedpause

As I mentioned earlier I got the advanced/676... I have not heard the HK..

What I can say though, is that it sounds excellent with good source files... so better with 320kbps mp3, and much better of USB rather than Bluetooth....

No regrets... and I listen to everything except Jazz

At what volume level on the scale do you find yourself listening to music? I too think that the 676 sounds fine but I notice that I'm always up in the ytop halff of the volume scale. Just wondering if you were the same.

[jedpause]

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

At what volume level on the scale do you find yourself listening to music? I too think that the 676 sounds fine but I notice that I'm always up in the ytop halff of the volume scale. Just wondering if you were the same.

Mostly 60-75% when I'm on my own, but even at 20-30% volume the bass is full bodied... and it sounds great.

I have no doubt the HK sounds much better... however I had my limits

[Almaretto]

The EQ alone is worth the upgrade to HK. But, if you are going to stream via BT, save your money.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

The EQ alone is worth the upgrade to HK. But, if you are going to stream via BT, save your money.

Why is streaming through bluetooth losing sound quality? I used to stream through my parrot on the Audi onto the Bose system and it sounded amazing... the files themselves are pretty dinky and surely Bluetooth can transfer losslessly...?