[Eddian!]

Does anyone have it? I need an honest review. I have the HiFi system and I want to upgrade it; however, I don't know whether I should do research and get speakers and amps and configure a whole new system or if I would be happy with that speaker upgrade. I've never heard their speakers and I don't know how they perform in comparison to more established brands.

[mikew2069]

I'd like to know too. So you have the HK system? I'm thinking about just adding a powered sub to fix the low end...

[Eddian!]

No I have the HiFi (standard in North America) system. I would like to improve the overall sound but I don't want to run wires or have an amplifier anywhere weird. I dealt with that in my younger years (lol im 25) but dont want to do it now in my bimmer. I want to keep this car classy and clean, that's why I'm looking at this simple approach.

I wish I would have gotten the Harman Kardon system. Its the only upgrade I regret not getting.

Now, if the Bavarian Soundwerks speakers are any good and can handle a bit more power, I would replace the OEM amp with my Cadence iA2 and perhaps add a subwoofer and power it with a monoblock amp. I need more info on how this iDrive system is wired.

[mikew2069]

If you end up doing those upgrades then you did yourself a favor by not upgrading to the HK. I'm surprised by how badly it performes. My wife's Kia Optima's Infinity sound system puts the HK to shame.

[PrazVT]

Honestly ... with the HK system, the issue seems to be the HU (ie. source) than the amp and speakers. Using an external DAC (HRT iStreamer + iPod 160GB filled w/ Apple Lossless files, Kimber Kable analog cable into the aux port), the sound quality improved significantly . The speakers are actually getting pushed like they should, clarity / dynamics are improved, bass response is much better. I'm actually happy w/ the system outside of the fact that I'm not using iDrive to navigate the music.

However, I don't have nav or enhanced USB, and I believe there are different HUs associated w/ that. So might just be that the basic HU sucks. Anyway ..just my 2 cents.

[addm]

The reason I am thinking about BavarianSoundWerks is that HK system is too bright. It bleeds your ear at high volume. If you play with equalizer too much than it decresases the brightness, but you can feel that some frequencies are missing. It also lacks in bass.
I am happy with it otherwise especially with clarity and loudness.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by Eddian!

Does anyone have it? I need an honest review. I have the HiFi system and I want to upgrade it; however, I don't know whether I should do research and get speakers and amps and configure a whole new system or if I would be happy with that speaker upgrade. I've never heard their speakers and I don't know how they perform in comparison to more established brands.

I am curious too. There is an installer in my area. I just emailed them to inquire about it. Maybe they have installed one already.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by OC40

I am curious too. There is an installer in my area. I just emailed them to inquire about it. Maybe they have installed one already.

The shop stopped installing speakers a while ago. I was hoping to find someone in the area with the BSW to listen in person.

Did anyone order the speakers yet?

[rallybull]

Interesting. They have a stage 1 upgrade at this moment, and that is just a replacement of the BMW speakers (other than the under-seat sub-woofers). No amp or sub replacement. Wonder how much difference is it really going to make. $800 worth?

[Fieno]

Would love to hear a review or impressions on this upgrade myself.

Cheers,

Daniel

[newzie]

Originally Posted by Fieno

Would love to hear a review or impressions on this upgrade myself.

Cheers,

Daniel

+1...I would be interested in this as well, although I would love to hear (no pun intended) reviews first.

[motex]

Originally Posted by newzie

+1...I would be interested in this as well, although I would love to hear (no pun intended) reviews first.

I'm also interested, but as far as I have read, no one has given a review on those speakers so far.......

[OC40]

Anyone install these??

[kaigoss69]

Guys, BSW speakers have been used and reviewed plenty of times by users in the e9x audio sub forum. Suggest you look there for info since the basic speaker design is not that different between e and f models.

If you ask me, I would look elsewhere since they make you buy the rear speakers too, which is a total waste of money. Also, the OEM amplification in the base, HiFi and HK systems is not powerful enough to do good aftermarket speakers justice. I would recommend contacting the main expert audio shop for BMW audio systems, a supporting vendor on this forum, MusicarNW. They have awesome solutions that you can install yourself for a reasonable price. There is also another shop called Unexpected Creations, but they are not an official vendor here as far as I know.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

Guys, BSW speakers have been used and reviewed plenty of times by users in the e9x audio sub forum. Suggest you look there for info since the basic speaker design is not that different between e and f models.

If you ask me, I would look elsewhere since they make you buy the rear speakers too, which is a total waste of money. Also, the OEM amplification in the base, HiFi and HK systems is not powerful enough to do good aftermarket speakers justice. I would recommend contacting the main expert audio shop for BMW audio systems, a supporting vendor on this forum, MusicarNW. They have awesome solutions that you can install yourself for a reasonable price. There is also another shop called Unexpected Creations, but they are not an official vendor here as far as I know.

I emailed the folks at MusicarNW sometime ago and have yet to receive a response. I opted to order the M Performance Suspension now and wait on an amp/speaker upgrade.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by addm

The reason I am thinking about BavarianSoundWerks is that HK system is too bright. It bleeds your ear at high volume. If you play with equalizer too much than it decresases the brightness, but you can feel that some frequencies are missing. It also lacks in bass.
I am happy with it otherwise especially with clarity and loudness.

The OEM tweeters (HK at least) are hard dome. Are the BSM speakers soft dome or ribbon tweeters? If not, I suspect harshness will be similar if you are high frequency sensitive.

[Cup o' Joe]

The biggest single upgrade you can make to improve the sound in the F30 is insulation.

You could put the worlds greatest car audio system in an F30, but if the road noise in louder than certain frequency ranges, it won't nearly sound as good as it should.

[RedlinePSI]

No doubt that insulation is important for SQL, but I think the single best upgrade you can make to any car system is replacing the head unit. No matter how expensive the car, or how good the setup, the quality of power typically seems to be the place with the most room for improvement. "Stock" speakers on a system that is at least decent, can usually take plenty of extra punishment and you might be surprised how much better they can sound with better power.

Admittedly this is a big pain in the ass with a setup like BMW's. Can't just swap out a din dimension unit for a better one, but still, if you have to choose 1 thing to do first, power is what you want to focus on. And that doesn't mean you need hundreds of watts going to each speaker, just get a quality device.

[wdempsey]

Originally Posted by Cup o' Joe

The biggest single upgrade you can make to improve the sound in the F30 is insulation.

You could put the worlds greatest car audio system in an F30, but if the road noise in louder than certain frequency ranges, it won't nearly sound as good as it should.

How much do you think it would cost to have Dynamat or similar installed throughout the car or in the most important places?

Thanks,

Bill

[Technic]

The single, most effective (and easier) upgrade for the money in the F30 HiFi and Stereo systems is replacing the OEM amp with either an XD600/6 or an XD800/8. No other upgrade will give you better sound for the price.

[jamesems]

Originally Posted by Technic

The single, most effective (and easier) upgrade for the money in the F30 HiFi and Stereo systems is replacing the OEM amp with either an XD600/6 or an XD800/8. No other upgrade will give you better sound for the price.

tell me more. is it plug and play. which one should i get? im running the Hi-Fi

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by Technic

The single, most effective (and easier) upgrade for the money in the F30 HiFi and Stereo systems is replacing the OEM amp with either an XD600/6 or an XD800/8. No other upgrade will give you better sound for the price.

I'd be interested in a DIY for the xd800/8... Would it work for the HK system?