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      02-13-2020, 03:10 PM   #1
Greer
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The Joys Of Bowers & Wilkins

So yesterday I arrived at an appointment 20 minutes early so I cued up the soundtrack to the movie "1917" and played it. What a wonderful system Bowers and Wilkins is and the highs and lows of Thomas Newman's score were fantastic. Some people debate whether to get the upgraded stereo and I say it's well worth it. My 2019 M2 Competition has the basic stereo and they are worlds apart. Here's the music:
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Last edited by Greer; 02-13-2020 at 03:22 PM..
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      02-13-2020, 05:29 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greer View Post
So yesterday I arrived at an appointment 20 minutes early so I cued up the soundtrack to the movie "1917" and played it. What a wonderful system Bowers and Wilkins is and the highs and lows of Thomas Newman's score were fantastic. Some people debate whether to get the upgraded stereo and I say it's well worth it. My 2019 M2 Competition has the basic stereo and they are worlds apart. Here's the music:
Love the lights...but must disagree on the sound. Perhaps the fact that m5 is a sedan and not an suv, the sound is mediocre. Compared to my f10 m5 HK, it's only marginally better.
Maybe if someone calibrated it for me then I'd hear the difference. But i did play around with the settings on multiple times.
I wish...wish it would be a great system as some claim. Id be ecstatic. But do love the lights.
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      02-13-2020, 05:34 PM   #3
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I found that making the front/rear fader setting more rear biased is more liking to my taste. I like deep, tight bass and the BW is only marginal in that category. I actually liked the Mark Levinson stereo in my old IS-F. That said, the BW is no slouch and I'm happy I got it.
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      02-13-2020, 05:58 PM   #4
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I have had the B&O systems in the 14 M5 and the 17 X5M and the B&W in the 20 M5 blows those away.
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      02-13-2020, 06:47 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by gblansten View Post
I have had the B&O systems in the 14 M5 and the 17 X5M and the B&W in the 20 M5 blows those away.
Wife has a Mark Levinson in her SUV and I think that the B&W is better. I was actually surprised at the sound of the B&W considering most said it wasn't very good. It's definitely better than the HK in the E92 m3 I had. My m5 is a 2020. Maybe they made some improvements from the previous model years.
However, I am adding a JL audio W7 12 inch sub in the trunk to really make the B&W kick.
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      02-14-2020, 07:27 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by gblansten View Post
I have had the B&O systems in the 14 M5 and the 17 X5M and the B&W in the 20 M5 blows those away.

I agree, I had a new X7 loaner for a few weeks with the HK Systems, I thought the H&K system in the X7 sounded better than the B&O in my 2017 M6 GC. I think the age of the B&O is really showing now after 7yrs or so since introduction
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      02-14-2020, 08:40 AM   #7
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I ordered B&W Audio on my 2020 M5C, which I'll take delivery of on 3/13.

Aftermarket car audio sound quality competition is a hobby of mine, and I am also starting a speaker production business with some friends this year.

Once I have my M5, I will be taking acoustic measurements and posting results from my tuning. While my hopes are not high about the sound quality of any factory audio system, I am curious how it will perform and will do my best to tune it to my liking.
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      02-14-2020, 08:55 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Walker View Post
Wife has a Mark Levinson in her SUV and I think that the B&W is better. I was actually surprised at the sound of the B&W considering most said it wasn't very good. It's definitely better than the HK in the E92 m3 I had. My m5 is a 2020. Maybe they made some improvements from the previous model years.
However, I am adding a JL audio W7 12 inch sub in the trunk to really make the B&W kick.
Let us know how the JL sub works out please.
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      02-14-2020, 09:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Motorin Mark View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Walker View Post
Wife has a Mark Levinson in her SUV and I think that the B&W is better. I was actually surprised at the sound of the B&W considering most said it wasn't very good. It's definitely better than the HK in the E92 m3 I had. My m5 is a 2020. Maybe they made some improvements from the previous model years.
However, I am adding a JL audio W7 12 inch sub in the trunk to really make the B&W kick.
Let us know how the JL sub works out please.
Will do. Going with this ported box.
Should fit the exact width of the trunk up against the back seats. Not too tall or wide. Think it goes well in that my car is all black with the carbon fiber M performance accessories.
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      02-14-2020, 03:19 PM   #10
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Wow, that looks like a lot of added weight to the car right?
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      02-14-2020, 03:46 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greer View Post
Wow, that looks like a lot of added weight to the car right?
With the sub it will add 67 lbs to the car...42 lbs box and 25 lbs for the actual sub. It can be removed in a couple of min when I need the full trunk space or don't want the added weight.
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      02-15-2020, 02:16 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greer View Post
So yesterday I arrived at an appointment 20 minutes early so I cued up the soundtrack to the movie "1917" and played it. What a wonderful system Bowers and Wilkins is and the highs and lows of Thomas Newman's score were fantastic. Some people debate whether to get the upgraded stereo and I say it's well worth it. My 2019 M2 Competition has the basic stereo and they are worlds apart. Here's the music:
Would be interested in what EQ settings you have. As there is clearly disagreement on this forum about EQ settings and how to make the system sound like it should.
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      02-15-2020, 02:57 PM   #13
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Love the B &W!
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      02-17-2020, 08:25 PM   #14
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Received box today for jl w7. Fits perfectly. Literally the exact width of the trunk. The brown cardboard is covering a high gloss decal that will be removed after they fit the sub. Unfortunately, car will likely be in the shop for at least 2 weeks starting tomorrow to fix the front bumper and grill after someone hit me in a parking lot while I was parked.
Will update with final pics once all is installed
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      02-17-2020, 11:59 PM   #15
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How much weight is that?
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      02-18-2020, 12:10 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greer View Post
How much weight is that?
With the sub it will add 67 lbs to the car...42 lbs box and 25 lbs for the actual sub. It can be removed in a couple of min when I need the full trunk space or don't want the added weight.
It's like riding with my son in the back seat
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      02-18-2020, 01:40 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gblansten View Post
I have had the B&O systems in the 14 M5 and the 17 X5M and the B&W in the 20 M5 blows those away.
Interesting observation. I love the B&W in my F90, but still think that the B&O in my F10 was superior.

Back to the topic, I've heard the HK, and in my opinion (I'm no expert here) feel that the B&W is way better than the HK.
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      02-18-2020, 02:26 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dardeca View Post
Would be interested in what EQ settings you have. As there is clearly disagreement on this forum about EQ settings and how to make the system sound like it should.
It's good to try different EQ settings that some members here post, but at the end of the day, EQ settings are "season to taste", and the best way to go about it is to learn what each of the settings represent and then adjust them to get the sound that you want out of it. For instance, kick drum and snare will live in the "lower" ranges--the 200Hz (or, "bass" side of the scale) to 1000Hz range, while vocals are in the mid to highs (more towards the "treble" side). Personally, I strive to achieve "clarity", with a meaty (though not overdone) bassline, in my mix. This winds up looking something like a "U" shape (assuming a horizontal scale, where far left is low frequencies and far right is higher frequencies, and top is "plus" gain, and bottom is "less" gain). Also, keep in mind that the middle of the scale is where you run into "muddiness" in the sound, so you may want to pull several of these sliders "down". Sorry I don't have any exact pics to give you, but just some "general" EQ settings advice. You may already know all this. Good luck!
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      02-29-2020, 07:17 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Walker View Post
With the sub it will add 67 lbs to the car...42 lbs box and 25 lbs for the actual sub. It can be removed in a couple of min when I need the full trunk space or don't want the added weight.
It's like riding with my son in the back seat
I researched doing something like this and they wanted to put a bass control knob somewhere in the cabin where I could adjust it. Also they will need to access line level inputs. Do you know where they are going to place the control knob and where they are going to access the inputs?
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      03-14-2020, 08:21 PM   #20
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Finally got the sub installed in the trunk today.
Think it looks pretty good sounds amazing.
Went with new JL Audi 12 inch and a custom box. Here are some pics of the install. And the car.
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      03-15-2020, 07:45 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shellbmb View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Walker View Post
With the sub it will add 67 lbs to the car...42 lbs box and 25 lbs for the actual sub. It can be removed in a couple of min when I need the full trunk space or don't want the added weight.
It's like riding with my son in the back seat
I researched doing something like this and they wanted to put a bass control knob somewhere in the cabin where I could adjust it. Also they will need to access line level inputs. Do you know where they are going to place the control knob and where they are going to access the inputs?
So for right now I have the bass control knob on the back seat but I had I wrapped in a black neoprene M sleeve. I didn't want them drilling a hole either. Biggest issue is having my 6 year old not be tempted to play with it when he is in the car 😅. I'll post a picture this week
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      04-03-2021, 07:08 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slow Walker View Post
So for right now I have the bass control knob on the back seat but I had I wrapped in a black neoprene M sleeve. I didn't want them drilling a hole either. Biggest issue is having my 6 year old not be tempted to play with it when he is in the car 😅. I'll post a picture this week
Advice please man.

I am adding a 12 jlw6 in the trunk of my 2018 F90 m5 noncomp with b&w. The sub will be in a jl sealed enclosure and easily removable with the amp under the trunk floor.

My installer is saying he can get the feed from disconnecting one of the underseat subs and using that to feed the trunk sub. He said this will allow the bass to be controlled via the bowers and Wilkins idrive eq.

Can you please confirm this is the best option? Will this cause any issues or limitations?

May I ask what made you choose the w7 over the w6 or a dynaudio esotar?
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