[tjbuggy2b]

Been researching upgrades for the Harman Kardon system in my 2018 540i. The stock HK system is garbage, imo. ...that, or the system is really unfriendly to rock/metal.

It seems like I can get ok bass and ok highs but the mids are absolutely terrible, no matter what adjustments I make in the EQ. Muffled and tinny at the same time, somehow.

In researching system upgrades (which, atm seems to be only speakers, as no one is making an amp replacement?) everyone says the Bimmertech and BAV speakers are much better. ...but I don't think that tells the whole story. If you're listening to pop, hip hop, etc (lots of bass but not much in that distorted lead guitar spectrum), the sound dynamics are wayyyyy different.

So, can anyone who has done Bimmertech or BAV speaker replacements (or even the Ali Express Bowers & Wilkens knockoffs) AND listens to rock/metal chime in on their experiences?

[ashmostro]

Metal listener here, and avid hifi nerd.

I can say, and I was surprised by this, that the weakest link to address first is the factory DSP amplifier. The factory sound profile does way more harm to the SQ than the speakers!

[tjbuggy2b]

My understanding was that no one makes an amp for the HK system.

[choppedliver]

I have a 2020 with the separate RAM for the underseat woofers. Using a technics PnP harness added a 4 channel amp power the underseat woofers and a subwoofer in the boot. There is a thread on adding subs. With the rear seats up the bass is damped but the system is much better with some eq tweaks and amp/sub. Not perfect and you have to turn it up, but it’s listenable now with bass and more midrange (the underseats are more mids than woofers). My wife’s Macan with Bose shits on it.

I listen to hard rock/metal.

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by tjbuggy2b

My understanding was that no one makes an amp for the HK system.

If you get these three items you will be able to amp and DSP the entire system

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975UP1...-UP10-DSP.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975PPB...1-9RAM-HK.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975MEC...ANALOG-IN.html

It's not as PnP as bavsound bc you have to tune it, but I see that as an advantage bc you actually have control over the sound profile.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by tjbuggy2b

Been researching upgrades for the Harman Kardon system in my 2018 540i. The stock HK system is garbage, imo. ...that, or the system is really unfriendly to rock/metal.

It seems like I can get ok bass and ok highs but the mids are absolutely terrible, no matter what adjustments I make in the EQ. Muffled and tinny at the same time, somehow.

In researching system upgrades (which, atm seems to be only speakers, as no one is making an amp replacement?) everyone says the Bimmertech and BAV speakers are much better. ...but I don't think that tells the whole story. If you're listening to pop, hip hop, etc (lots of bass but not much in that distorted lead guitar spectrum), the sound dynamics are wayyyyy different.

So, can anyone who has done Bimmertech or BAV speaker replacements (or even the Ali Express Bowers & Wilkens knockoffs) AND listens to rock/metal chime in on their experiences?

Have you tried coding to bring out the Bowers and Wilkins surround profiles and adjustment? Use bimmercode to do that. Try On Stage and then play with the surround strength. That's my favorite profile on my B&W. Once you find a profile setup you like then adjust the EQ.

[Drifttime85]

I just briefly did some searches on the forum and ran across this :

https://www.focal-inside.com/bmw/en/...edan-2016-g30/

[WretchedRefuse]

Remember that the single most important thing you can do in the G30 is to disable Active Sound Design. Do that before any other mods.

[tjbuggy2b]

Originally Posted by WretchedRefuse

Remember that the single most important thing you can do in the G30 is to disable Active Sound Design. Do that before any other mods.

I've done this. I does help with the mids but I'm not sure it sounds better or worse. lol.

I'm going to code in the B&W option and see what that gets me. I just haven't bought Bimmercode yet.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by WretchedRefuse

Remember that the single most important thing you can do in the G30 is to disable Active Sound Design. Do that before any other mods.

I thought ASD was only an M550 thing...

[ashmostro]

It's a BMW thang

[tjbuggy2b]

Originally Posted by tjbuggy2b

I've done this. I does help with the mids but I'm not sure it sounds better or worse. lol.

I'm going to code in the B&W option and see what that gets me. I just haven't bought Bimmercode yet.

Correction, I actually don't have ASD. What I turned off was Logic 7.

Also, I have HU_NBT_EVO, not HU_MGU. So, I don't have the B&W option.

[tjbuggy2b]

Originally Posted by g21

Have you tried coding to bring out the Bowers and Wilkins surround profiles and adjustment? Use bimmercode to do that. Try On Stage and then play with the surround strength. That's my favorite profile on my B&W. Once you find a profile setup you like then adjust the EQ.

Unfortunately, I don't have that option. I have the HU_NBT_EVO head unit, and apparently you need the HU_GMU head unit.

Is that an ID6 vs ID7 thing?

[tjbuggy2b]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

If you get these three items you will be able to amp and DSP the entire system

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975UP1...-UP10-DSP.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975PPB...1-9RAM-HK.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_975MEC...ANALOG-IN.html

It's not as PnP as bavsound bc you have to tune it, but I see that as an advantage bc you actually have control over the sound profile.

It seems that is only for '19 and up G30s. Sigh.

[Mike 540]

Gents,
IMHO (provided good quality recordings are played) the most important things in car stereo are the speakers. The second most important is the amp with DSP. Speakers is where the most distortion happens, hence they need to be good. DSP needs to be well tuned to compensate for different distance of individual speakers to the listening position plus compensate for the cars sound properties (upholstery, etc.). If you have this, even HU_NBT_EVO head unit plays fantastic. No need for HK (I can not compare to the BW as I have not listened to it) at all.

[tjbuggy2b]

Good point. I replaced the stock speakers in my Silverado with even just some mid-level Kickers, and the sound was wayyy better.

[silverydragon72]

I did a bimmertech alpha one speaker replacement and was happy with the results. Only thing I haven't done yet is the amp. I have alot of bass heavy music.

[tjbuggy2b]

You can only get an amp if you have LCI/ID7. ...for now, anyway. Bimmertech is supposed going to have something for the pr-CLI/ID6 folks this fall.


From a Bimmertech YT video comment thread...

@colbyscott9822
7 days ago
Why has everyone skipped the ID6 g30 generation?

@maciejstalmach2252
3 days ago
If you have an ID6 HK G30 - we're going to have something for you once fall comes around. It's going to be uuuuuge as Orange man says. Shoes will fall off so hang tight.

@colbyscott9822
3 days ago
@maciejstalmach2252 is it something I can buy the Alpha One speakers for now, and add the new hotness (assuming it's an amp and/or DSP) later?

@maciejstalmach2252
3 days ago
@colbyscott9822 Couldn't have said it any better myself. This thing coming has been in the works for years.

@colbyscott9822
3 days ago
@maciejstalmach2252 the website says to use 2ohm subs with your amps. Assuming this will likely be true on the new one, I'll wait until it's released to make sure the speakers are matched to the amp. The current configurator for my car specs 7ohm subs, by default. Guessing that's because there is currently no amp option, and the HK system uses higher impedance subs.

[6spdcoupe]

Originally Posted by tjbuggy2b

It seems that is only for '19 and up G30s. Sigh.

Correct, for pre ID7 you would want SDMI25 (or Mobridge DA), MATCH PP-BMW 1.9HK+SDMI and the UP 10DSP amp. Been available for quite some time now.

[tjbuggy2b]

That's like $2500 worth of stuff, plus I'd have to configure it. I'm going to wait and see what Bimmertech's release looks like.

[6spdcoupe]

Originally Posted by tjbuggy2b

That's like $2500 worth of stuff, plus I'd have to configure it. I'm going to wait and see what Bimmertech's release looks like.

They are putting together the same thing, as a package. Cost will be very similar. The only way around needing a DA is to code down to 676 and do some rewiring.