[Grayhair]

How is the sound on the stock radio? I didn't order the upgrade radio.

[dalrx]

It is to be desired but functional. My car didn't have hard on kardon just the regular setup so no tweeters on a pillar....but has sub's under the seats. I had to max the bass and treble and crank volume to get decent sound. It has grown on me now and I put up with to end of my lease but next car will have the decent sound come hell or high water!

[spmd11]

Originally Posted by dalrx

It is to be desired but functional. My car didn't have hard on kardon just the regular setup so no tweeters on a pillar....but has sub's under the seats. I had to max the bass and treble and crank volume to get decent sound. It has grown on me now and I put up with to end of my lease but next car will have the decent sound come hell or high water!

Agreed.. it's the best "base" stereo that I have heard in some time.. recent base stereo in the e90/92 line were horrid. This is much better in the M235, but I too wish that I got the HK. But the base is liveable.

[silverstone_ttlz4]

I think the stock radio (and the doors that swing open way too easily) are my only gripes with my 228i. The stock radio on the 2011 328i sounded much better. In contrast, the one in the 228i sounds a bit hollow.

[Grayhair]

Thanks, I guess i will have to live with it. My M235 should be at dealer second week in April.

[darkerosxx]

Does anyone know the number of speakers in the stock stereo? The count I'm noticing is this:

-2 in dash
-2 (1 on each door)
-2 (1 under each seat)
-2 in rear window

For a total of 8, so the harman/kardon adds 2 (1 tweeter in each window)?

[Gaviin]

HK has 12 speakers.

[darkerosxx]

Originally Posted by Gaviin

HK has 12 speakers.

I assume then the addition is the window speakers and 2 in the sides near the back seats?

I seriously hope the count isn't counting tweeter and mid-driver in one slot as 2 speakers.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by darkerosxx

I assume then the addition is the window speakers and 2 in the sides near the back seats?

I seriously hope the count isn't counting tweeter and mid-driver in one slot as 2 speakers.

They have always counted the two tweeters as separate speakers even though they are in the same enclosures as the mid-drivers.

[hyperzulu]

I guess the base has 10 speakers? r/l front mids and tweeters, rear deck same and two underseat woofers... plan on skipping the hk system and buying an aftermarket system. without eq the system needs good speakers that can play flat.

[Gaviin]

Why do you think the HK system doesn't have good speakers that can play flat?

[darkerosxx]

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

I guess the base has 10 speakers? r/l front mids and tweeters, rear deck same and two underseat woofers... plan on skipping the hk system and buying an aftermarket system. without eq the system needs good speakers that can play flat.

I can tell you for sure the stock system has sound coming from these locations, but can't tell you what it is, because I can't see the speakers...

Speaker on the dash under windshield

Speaker in each door

Speaker under each seat

Speaker in rear deck

IF that was 2 for the dash, 2 for each door, 1 for each seat, that already makes 8, what would the rear deck be.... just one speaker with mid/tweeter? Cause if it's a r/l mid/tweeter, that makes twelve speakers in the stock stereo.

I'm just trying to figure out exactly what the stock has and where, cause there's no documentation on it.

[DanG]

The door speakers are three way speakers, a tweeter, a midrange, and a full range.

Has anyone replaced the stock speakers yet? I understand that focal's are about the only choice as a direct swap.

[darkerosxx]

So then that makes it 2 for the dash, 3 for each door (6), 1 under each seat (2), and 2 for the rear deck?

That is 12. UGH. No idea what's going on here.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by DanG

The door speakers are three way speakers, a tweeter, a midrange, and a full range.

Has anyone replaced the stock speakers yet? I understand that focal's are about the only choice as a direct swap.

I was told wrong. We took off the door panel and there is only one 4 inch speaker. Not three speaks as Car Toys said.

No tweeters in the rear deck also. The rears are 4 inch speakers also.

All the speakers are paper cones.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by darkerosxx

So then that makes it 2 for the dash, 3 for each door (6), 1 under each seat (2), and 2 for the rear deck?

That is 12. UGH. No idea what's going on here.

So, the real count for stock is 8. The HK adds tweeters in the doors and each side in the back for a total of 12.

[Gaviin]

I'm sure you're correct, but I will say that if you play around with the online configurator and use the interior view when toggling the HK option on and off, it looks like it adds the tweeters in the side-view mirror "triangles", as well as something next to the door handles (to the left of them in the below images).

Attached images (non-HK on left, HK on right), but it's probably easier to spot when toggling on the configurator, as your eye is drawn to the differences.

[hyperzulu]

From the looks of the interior, that point next to the door handles is the only place the front speaker would go. So it looks like the hk option just uses a different mesh cover, lighter grey. Do the same with the beige interior. Much easier to see.

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by Gaviin

Why do you think the HK system doesn't have good speakers that can play flat?

Because I have an HK system (e92) and have my EQs set up non-flat to get better response.

[///M235i]

In the end, how does the stock stereo setup sound? What is the quality? Assuming the HK is a 10, by comparison is the stock an 8? 8.5? 9?

[SuitedUp]

Originally Posted by MmmTwo35

In the end, how does the stock stereo setup sound? What is the quality? Assuming the HK is a 10, by comparison is the stock an 8? 8.5? 9?

Oh, you were hoping for an actual answer to the OP's question?

[DanG]

HK is about a 5 and stock is about a 3. You can do much better with after market speakers and amps.