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BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum 2017+ BMW 5 Series (G30) General Discussions Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System...is it worth it?

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      12-11-2018, 06:39 PM   #45
jpt99
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Originally Posted by jpt99 View Post
You need this
http://www.mobridge.us/products/most...igital-pre-amp
This plugs into the DSP. You can customize the DSP to your sound preference. I honestly don't think you need to change the tweeters. They are very capable. My main concern was the highs. The DSP is amazing at tweaking the sound to your liking. I would highly recommend this conversion. It's all plug n play. I'll put stock amp back in after my lease is up and stick this all in my new car.
You need to have the Harman Kardon or B&W system in order to use this solution. The lower level audio versions do not have a DSP so if you want to add an amp you'll need to tap into the analog speaker outputs.

I listened to the B&W and did not find it worth the extra $, so I ordered the Harman Kardon. When I get the car if it's good enough I'll leave as-is, if not I have the flexibility to go the mobridge route and upgrade away. For context on my other car I installed a Focal/Audison/JL Audio setup that is pretty darn good but cost just a tad more than the B&W.
Can you explain your Focal set up?
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      12-12-2018, 01:44 AM   #46
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Can you explain your Focal set up?
Sure. Full disclosure it's not a BMW. A Porsche 996 that had the rather mediocre factory standard audio. Installed Focal separates mids/tweets in the dash, and woofers in the doors. Audison Voce 5.1 amp, with a Bit 10 DSP. I got lucky and JL Audio does a "custom" stealthbox for that model 911 that fits perfectly behind the rear seat and houses two subwoofers.

If I decide to upgrade the Harman Kardon in my 530e I will use the same installer and he already did the prelim research for me on mobridge. I am highly confident that he will easily outdo the B&W although it's all a matter of how much I want to spend. We haven't discussed a lot of options yet as I was focused on making sure I had the right starting point in the base system. Another poster is correct that the Harman Kardon and B&W already do time alignment and EQ (that's also the purpose of the Bit 10), but once you change out speakers and amps you need to redo that.

If you are in the SF Bay Area and want the installer's name, let me know. The best hands down although dangerous for your wallet!
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      12-12-2018, 02:23 AM   #47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ***Gnome*** View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpt99 View Post
Can you explain your Focal set up?
Sure. Full disclosure it's not a BMW. A Porsche 996 that had the rather mediocre factory standard audio. Installed Focal separates mids/tweets in the dash, and woofers in the doors. Audison Voce 5.1 amp, with a Bit 10 DSP. I got lucky and JL Audio does a "custom" stealthbox for that model 911 that fits perfectly behind the rear seat and houses two subwoofers.

If I decide to upgrade the Harman Kardon in my 530e I will use the same installer and he already did the prelim research for me on mobridge. I am highly confident that he will easily outdo the B&W although it's all a matter of how much I want to spend. We haven't discussed a lot of options yet as I was focused on making sure I had the right starting point in the base system. Another poster is correct that the Harman Kardon and B&W already do time alignment and EQ (that's also the purpose of the Bit 10), but once you change out speakers and amps you need to redo that.

If you are in the SF Bay Area and want the installer's name, let me know. The best hands down although dangerous for your wallet!
The Match 82DSP I'm running says it puts out 55 watts RMS x 8 at 4 ohms (70 watts RMS x 8 at 2 ohms)

I'm considering adding a secondary amp to it (it has preouts for it) to power the underseat SWS woofers. The speakers can handle 150 RMS (300 watts max).

My questions are: How much improvement would a stronger amp make? What 2 channel amp would you recommend? Easiest way to hook up the speakers to the new amp?
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      12-13-2018, 12:55 AM   #48
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Originally Posted by jpt99 View Post
The Match 82DSP I'm running says it puts out 55 watts RMS x 8 at 4 ohms (70 watts RMS x 8 at 2 ohms)

I'm considering adding a secondary amp to it (it has preouts for it) to power the underseat SWS woofers. The speakers can handle 150 RMS (300 watts max).

My questions are: How much improvement would a stronger amp make? What 2 channel amp would you recommend? Easiest way to hook up the speakers to the new amp?
Sorry I'm not going to be much help, this gets beyond my knowledge. Generically, in my experience a better amp can make a huge difference but it also really depends on the speakers and I've never played around with subs. Try asking in a car audio forum?
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      04-27-2021, 10:32 AM   #49
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It is worth it when sound quality is very important to you. They give you a very rich sound which and you can immediately tell that this is a high quality speaker system.

If it is not that important to you then the HK is also a very good option and plays nicely.

I would not go under HK to Hifi or to standard, because those are really just too basic and don't offer a good audio quality, but are more suitable for listening talks shows or music if you do not care about the audio quality at all
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      04-28-2021, 03:10 PM   #50
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Trying to get my specs figured out for my M550i order coming up. Curious what people think of the B&W diamond surround system and if it's worth the $3,400 upcharge? Is the difference that noticeable over the Harmon Kardon system?
I know this is an old post but I thought I would add my opinion for anyone is about to order a new 5 series. I just took delivery of a 2021 M550 with the B&W sound system. I also had it in my previous 2018 M550. When I was ordering my 2018, I did several comparisons with Flac quality audio tracks between the HK and the B&W. It was not close. The B&W has much deeper bass, plays louder if necessary and overall a much smoother sound. I think it's the best OEM system that I have ever heard. It gets even better after the speakers break in. I'm retired now but I spent my entire career in the high-end audio business. High quality sound systems are a high priority for me.
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      04-28-2021, 03:57 PM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by K16GT View Post
I know this is an old post but I thought I would add my opinion for anyone is about to order a new 5 series. I just took delivery of a 2021 M550 with the B&W sound system. I also had it in my previous 2018 M550. When I was ordering my 2018, I did several comparisons with Flac quality audio tracks between the HK and the B&W. It was not close. The B&W has much deeper bass, plays louder if necessary and overall a much smoother sound. I think it's the best OEM system that I have ever heard. It gets even better after the speakers break in. I'm retired now but I spent my entire career in the high-end audio business. High quality sound systems are a high priority for me.
I sure hope so for the costs that BMW charges!

I skipped it and went HK as the price of admission was too beefy (not as painful on a lease). The HK system in my car sounds worse than the HK system sounded on my Mercedes I traded. I wonder how BMW B&W compares to Mercedes Burmester as they seemed to do a better job with the car's "sound stage" in my last car. Though perhaps the mics in the B&W helps to correct those imperfections.
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      04-28-2021, 04:03 PM   #52
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NO! Not worth the 4,500....
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      04-29-2021, 06:33 AM   #53
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NO! Not worth the 4,500....
It's $3,400 and really, in terms of option cost that BMW charges, "worth it" is subjective. They are all overpriced.
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      04-29-2021, 07:36 PM   #54
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I think it is a nice feature, wish it had more low end bass extension. Already got most the equipment to get that taken care of then it will be perfect.
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      04-29-2021, 08:02 PM   #55
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I think amp is useful when you need that extra power and sometimes each amp dedicated to certain sets of speakers (1 for mid ranges, 1 for subwoofers). I had Focals with JL Amps…. It was a Bliss
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      04-30-2021, 02:24 PM   #56
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B&W worth it?

For me, hell yes! It is my absolute favorite option on my 2020, and I think it is a true shame that it is not on the 2021 configurator for the 540. BMW only offers the B&W on its top luxury cars 5-series and up- option it if you can. Getting a nice new M3 or M4... oh sorry, no B&W stereo available for you.

I listen only to FLAC on USB, and tend to listen at higher volumes.

If you are mostly a low volume listener, and mostly listen to radio or bluetooth, then I think you will be ok with the HK. Don't ever go with the base hi-fi that is standard in the USA. Even if you were gonna upgrade the base hi-fi yourself you are missing speaker locations in the rear doors.
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      11-02-2021, 04:11 PM   #57
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Does anyone know what ohms are the BW woofers and are they the same fitment as the g30 harmon kardon??
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      11-02-2021, 04:40 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by K16GT View Post
I know this is an old post but I thought I would add my opinion for anyone is about to order a new 5 series. I just took delivery of a 2021 M550 with the B&W sound system. I also had it in my previous 2018 M550. When I was ordering my 2018, I did several comparisons with Flac quality audio tracks between the HK and the B&W. It was not close. The B&W has much deeper bass, plays louder if necessary and overall a much smoother sound. I think it's the best OEM system that I have ever heard. It gets even better after the speakers break in. I'm retired now but I spent my entire career in the high-end audio business. High quality sound systems are a high priority for me.
Could not agree more. As I said in my old previous post in this thread, I've had both....there is no comparison. B&W rocks my M550. If you want good audio, home or car, you have to pay for it.
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      11-02-2021, 05:21 PM   #59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hlothery View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by K16GT View Post
I know this is an old post but I thought I would add my opinion for anyone is about to order a new 5 series. I just took delivery of a 2021 M550 with the B&W sound system. I also had it in my previous 2018 M550. When I was ordering my 2018, I did several comparisons with Flac quality audio tracks between the HK and the B&W. It was not close. The B&W has much deeper bass, plays louder if necessary and overall a much smoother sound. I think it's the best OEM system that I have ever heard. It gets even better after the speakers break in. I'm retired now but I spent my entire career in the high-end audio business. High quality sound systems are a high priority for me.
Could not agree more. As I said in my old previous post in this thread, I've had both....there is no comparison. B&W rocks my M550. If you want good audio, home or car, you have to pay for it.
Ditto. I've had HK in my F10. Not even close. I've heard HK in the G30. Not even close. So much depth on the highs and lows.
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      11-03-2021, 07:16 AM   #60
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What are folks EQ settings for the B&W? I have mine on Studio mode and increase the bass by +2 when driving on noisier roads otherwise I leave it neutral. Awesome sound.
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      11-03-2021, 08:12 AM   #61
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What are folks EQ settings for the B&W? I have mine on Studio mode and increase the bass by +2 when driving on noisier roads otherwise I leave it neutral. Awesome sound.
Mine looks like a smile, with the treble (right side) a few notches higher. I find I am messing with bass the most depending on what I am listening to. Once you set the individual Eq frequencies, the left and right master bass and treble sliders will move the Eq along with it proportionately.

I hot one of the hot buttons set to bring up the Eq, so when a newer song comes on with crazy bass, I can turn it down a notch or two.
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      11-03-2021, 02:06 PM   #62
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Does anyone know who makes the amp / dac for the B&W setup?
This is at least as equally important in my opinion.
It is a car after all, so hardly the best environment for evaluating music.
As for 1400 watts - oh dear!
That would literaly be blowing the windows out if it was 1400W RMS 8 Ohms.
At 4 ohms that would be 2500Watts, and would take an awful lot of raw amps to do correctly!!
Oh, and you would have permanent hearing damge in a very short time.
B&W are renowned for their speakers, but do not make amps / dacs per se.
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      11-03-2021, 05:55 PM   #63
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well worth it, plus it looks spectacular
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      11-04-2021, 12:09 AM   #64
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Harman manufacturers the B&W amp.

1400w Class D at 14.4v real world use (aka playing music not sine waves) doesn't pull any crazy amperage. I think it's fairly rated.

Listen to lossless music on it, you won't be able to go back.
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