[DrivingPassion]

If anyone is thinking twice about paying for the Harmon Kardon (HK) upgrade for your new Bimmer, just buy it! It's one of the best options I'm willing to pay for. I had it in my older 2009 335i and now I made sure I have one in my 2015.

Why is the HK audio very good?
The sound quality is exceptionally crisp both for the low and high frequency sounds. In particular, it is not easy to reproduce low frequency sound well in a physically small speaker but HK did it very well. One test you can do is to hear the low frequency sound even in a lowered volume. It remains crisp, punchy and surrounds the listener. My 2015 EXL V6 Accord audio cannot come close to this even though it claimed to have a large subwoofer.

HK and BMW have collaborated well in this option and the results showed.

[FC4]

HK in these cars is nothing close to impressive...but glad you like it.

[RedRaiderDavid]

The problem these days is finding a source to fully utilize it because with all of us moving to MP3s, streaming audio and bluetooth we are dealing with compressed audio as compared to CDs and the better audio system you have the more you can pick up on the lack of audio quality.
If you really want to hear what your HK system is capable of try and find an audio DVD in 5.1. I just located one of Michael Jackson - Thriller. I'm not a MJ fan but it does sound impressive.

[435MSport6Speed]

I got the HK system and thought it sucked. I put a Musicar NW system in. The difference was beyond amazing.

[DrivingPassion]

Originally Posted by RedRaiderDavid

The problem these days is finding a source to fully utilize it because with all of us moving to MP3s, streaming audio and bluetooth we are dealing with compressed audio as compared to CDs and the better audio system you have the more you can pick up on the lack of audio quality.
If you really want to hear what your HK system is capable of try and find an audio DVD in 5.1. I just located one of Michael Jackson - Thriller. I'm not a MJ fan but it does sound impressive.

Most of my music were bought on original CD and when they are transferred into iTunes, I chose the highest quality format.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by RedRaiderDavid

The problem these days is finding a source to fully utilize it because with all of us moving to MP3s, streaming audio and bluetooth we are dealing with compressed audio as compared to CDs and the better audio system you have the more you can pick up on the lack of audio quality.
If you really want to hear what your HK system is capable of try and find an audio DVD in 5.1. I just located one of Michael Jackson - Thriller. I'm not a MJ fan but it does sound impressive.

Wanna know the nice thing about a proper sound system? They sound great even while playing "MP3s, streaming audio and bluetooth."

[RedRaiderDavid]

Originally Posted by FC4

Wanna know the nice thing about a proper sound system? They sound great even while playing "MP3s, streaming audio and bluetooth."

That couldn't be further from the truth.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by RedRaiderDavid

That couldn't be further from the truth.

Oh, ok. So my other cars' sound systems don't sound better than the HK in the BMW while playing music from the same source?

Go it. I stand corrected.

[RedRaiderDavid]

Originally Posted by FC4

Oh, ok. So my other cars' sound systems don't sound better than the HK in the BMW while playing music from the same source?

Go it. I stand corrected.

I'm not saying the system in your other car doesn't sound better using the same audio source. I don't know what your other car is, don't care. The sound system in my truck sounded better than the HK but it wasn't factory and was costly.
All I'm saying is the better sound quality a sound system is capable of the more your going to notice imperfections in the audio source, it just makes sense. Lower quality systems that can't reproduce some of the frequencies removed in compression will never notice the difference so you can switch from CD to satellite in them and never notice because they can't produce the full range on the CD anyway. Most of my MP3's sound just fine (satellite not so much) but when I put in a CD I notice the difference.
Read this: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr...ranslation.htm
In the end it doesn't matter, your happy with your other car's system I'm happy with my HK system. 10 years ago I may have wanted more, more bass, higher highs and more volume but now not so much.

[Nelson@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by RedRaiderDavid

I'm not saying the system in your other car doesn't sound better using the same audio source. I don't know what your other car is, don't care. The sound system in my truck sounded better than the HK but it wasn't factory and was costly.
All I'm saying is the better sound quality a sound system is capable of the more your going to notice imperfections in the audio source, it just makes sense. Lower quality systems that can't reproduce some of the frequencies removed in compression will never notice the difference so you can switch from CD to satellite in them and never notice because they can't produce the full range on the CD anyway. Most of my MP3's sound just fine (satellite not so much) but when I put in a CD I notice the difference.
Read this: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr...ranslation.htm
In the end it doesn't matter, your happy with your other car's system I'm happy with my HK system. 10 years ago I may have wanted more, more bass, higher highs and more volume but now not so much.

Great points!!!

[lazyleo]

To be honest, I am pretty underwhelmed with HK in my F30. Though, I can imagine the stock audio sucks even more!

[paul223]

Originally Posted by ravil

To be honest, I am pretty underwhelmed with HK in my F30. Though, I can imagine the stock audio sucks even more!

Stock audio system sucks more than a low rent ho. HK is decent upgrade, but not a quality sound. Reason why HK sounds good to many people is because they probably have not heard or own higher end System, or simply can't justify spending more.

[Ronstein]

Love the HK in my 3GT. I suspecy the hatchback body suits bass response better than some configurations

[DrivenByE30]

HK should be the stock sound system in this car, and something else better should have been the upgrade option...

... Just saying

[jbo]

Haven't been impressed with HK so far. I even hear a hissing/crackle on the drivers back seat speaker. Can't tell if its blown or just a crappy speaker to begin with. :

[DrivingPassion]

Hissing?
I have gone thru two 335i with HK and have never heard hissing. Are you sure the speakers weren't damaged or the source music has some issues?

Also, for those of you who had bad experiences with HK, are you adjusting the Equalizer correctly? Are you boosting the extreme low and the extreme high frequencies and lower the mid range some ?

If the source recordings are good, you should hear crisp music.

Also, I am pretty sure if you foot out the $$$ you can get better custom systems installed on your own. I am only talking about factory installed systems.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by paul223

Stock audio system sucks more than a low rent ho. HK is decent upgrade, but not a quality sound. Reason why HK sounds good to many people is because they probably have not heard or own higher end System, or simply can't justify spending more.

I'm the can't justify spending more camp. I feel there is quite a bit of road noise in these cars, and my music source qualities are not stellar (pandora or other internet streaming all day long) so I wouldn't have paid more than $1000 anyway

As an aside, I too like the HK stereo in the F8X and F3X. Not the best by any means, but solid buy for $850 in my opinion

[hoonk]

bmw hk sounds alot better than hifi, but quality is nowhere near mercedes's Burmester surround sound system.
I thought my hk sounded ok but when compared with my wifes c250 Burmester system and my brothers is350 mark levinson, realised how cheap it sounds by far.
as DrivenByE30 said, hk should be standard on bmw and offer something better as an upgrade option to match the brand image.

[Vitoco]

Originally Posted by jbo

Haven't been impressed with HK so far. I even hear a hissing/crackle on the drivers back seat speaker. Can't tell if its blown or just a crappy speaker to begin with. :

Been there, done that. Its the outer speaker ring vibrating. Try pressing on it when u hear the sound took me almost 3 eyars to realize (actually I read it in some thread somewhere).

[rambca]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

HK should be the stock sound system in this car, and something else better should have been the upgrade option...

... Just saying

Agreed. I have the base stereo system in mine and it is abysmal. For a "high end" automaker BMW sure skimped out on their audio.

[sizquik]

Coming out of a Ghibli, the HK system is mind-blowing. Beyond happy with it.

[ad78]

they are amazing on 3 GT. huge difference on my previous standard F30