[OliOC]

I've just picked up a new (UK) F30 320D M Sport MY2014 - very excited to have so many toys to play with!

I got the M Sport Plus pack with the HK audio and Professional Media.

The good news is, even without the EBT package I'm able to stream audio via Bluetooth - what's that about? Even on the BMW website it states this isn't possible with the Pro media and no Enhanced Bluetooth. Have the specs been changed for recent models? I also get all playlists, can search etc and get album art.

I'm also able to plug the phone in directly to the centre armrest USB socket using the apple lightning cable and control audio from the idrive with the same functionality. Maybe this is all standard these days, but certainly from what I've read on these forums this should be possible?

Anyway, I'm wondering what the best setup is in terms of audio quality? Is the system able to play apple lossless files? Is Bluetooth significantly worse quality than using the apple lightning cable? Any difference between a USB stick and an old iPod plugged in using the old school apple 30 pin connector or an iPhone 5 plugged in using the lightning connector? Anybody know what the highest bitrate the system is able to handle?

Thanks in advance!

[focal]

CD is still the best
followed by 256Mbps MP3 through a USB Key or MP3 burnt on a CD
Aux in from a proper line out on your phone is good (not headphone jack)
BT audio is lower quality
Sat radio the worse

[Professor///M]

^ the funny thing is that I've found that I've gotten better quality out of my BT audio on my iPhone 5 than I did with a direct connection with my iPhone 4 (plug in)

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

US market 2014s (at least) with Navigation support DVDs, so that's a higher-res format than CD... More importantly there is also support for FLAC files which are very popular among the audiophile set.
Your results may vary.

[essjay21271]

I did a bit of experimenting system wont play apple lossless but will play flac it will also play 24 bit flac files as well at 44.1Khz 48Khz 88Khz 96Khz and 192Khz. all with album art

Oh and these sound superb.

Will play wavs and of course normal mp3s

Spotify over BT works really well displaying track and artist

[Fronzdan]

Originally Posted by essjay21271

Spotify over BT works really well displaying track and artist

How are you running this? I can't get track, artist working.

[essjay21271]

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

How are you running this? I can't get track, artist working.

Samsung s4 this is uk week 9 build car.

I have Pro Nav with HK and EBT.

Choose s4 from audio menu and start spotify.

[OliOC]

Thanks for your help guys.

Does anyone know what bitrate Bluetooth transmits music at? I'm assuming it's a digital transfer and dac is managed by the car?

Any difference between iPods/iPhones/USB sticks plugged into the USB socket?

I'm assuming all of the above is better that the old y cable?

[Mike Hunt]

I recently upgraded to the Alpine speakers, the sound quality has improved, though the audio volume is still low, even when up full, does anyone know how I can increase the volume, maybe some hidden setting? Sorry for thread hijack, cant post new thread.

[TheWhiteStig]

Originally Posted by JSTDR1V

^ the funny thing is that I've found that I've gotten better quality out of my BT audio on my iPhone 5 than I did with a direct connection with my iPhone 4 (plug in)

Agree, actually I found better quality coming from iPhone thru BT than MP3 from USB or HD; I was comparing the same MP3 file at 256kbps. Apple has a better DAC than many other devices including my home AV receiver.

[MDIVISION]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteStig

Agree, actually I found better quality coming from iPhone thru BT than MP3 from USB or HD; I was comparing the same MP3 file at 256kbps. Apple has a better DAC than many other devices including my home AV receiver.

Same here except when I plug in my ipod Gen 5.5 (Best sounding iPod yet), with 320Kbps MP3.

Then the BT doesn't doesn't stand the chance.

[ADM]

Not sure if I am responding within the correct thread, but I have experienced a situation where if I use an old IPhone (as an Ipod 3GS--no SIMM Card, only music/books etc on it), and I hard wire it (Y-cord in the console between the drivers/passenger seat) that my IPhone 5 sometimes becomes unrecognized --even if all are listed as Bluetooth).

Sooooo, bottom line, just an FYI for others to be aware of the possible non-recognition.

If anyone has a comment or suggestion to override the confusion (for IDrive) please feel free to share -- BTW- not looking to hijack the thread, I just felt it might be relevant.
Thanks

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

First, I think we need to keep perspective on the capabilities of the hardware. In fact, technical information about the system(s) is pretty limited. Also, the HK system is far from low distortion, so those of is with a stock system need to consider what differences are actually audible and weigh them against the ease of use of an iPod/iPhone connected to the USB in the console.

Without doing any real testing or measuring, I'd think playing a DVD in the drive would result in the best source material option, but the AUX-IN in the center console should offer the next-best option. I'd hope there wouldn't be any audible loss in quality using a 1/8" mini jack in the AUX-IN.

Bluetooth is about convenience, not quality.

[gab2409]

In theory, I would think USB/hard drive should be better than aux, as those are digital sources and aux is analog. Bluetooth should also be better for the same reason. I think transmission speeds are high enough these days to stream without degradation. I haven't tested it in a bmw yet, but this is the case with my current acura.

[bri1042]

Of course, it all ends up Analog by the time it hits the speakers... The concern with digital to analog conversions in your audio system is that it should only be done ONCE, and if you have a choice you want the best quality DACs in your system to do the job. If you run a digital source through an analog connection to your HK system (which is digital between the head unit and the amp, right?), I'm pretty sure it goes back to digital and then converts again to analog on the way to the speakers.

An iPod with the Y-cable to the HK system looks to be D to A at the iPod, A to D at the deck, through the fiber link to the amp, and then D to A again for the speakers.

An iPod or memory stick without that stupid Aux connector on the Y cable should be D through the deck to the amp and then just one D to A conversion for the speakers. The iPod's internal EQ still comes into play, I think, so folk should be careful with that.

The Hifi should be just analog after the deck, unless you replace the Hifi amp with a magic toy (DSP, etc) the does more A to D and D to A conversions. At that point, DAC quality will be important in your magic toy.

[funkadesi]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Bluetooth is about convenience, not quality.

I have to respectfully disagree.

Bluetooth 3.0+ transfer rates are at 24Megabits/sec = 3 Megabytes/sec = 3072 KB/sec

Most MP3s dont go higher than 320KBPS rate, which barely breaks 10% of the bandwidth.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by funkadesi

I have to respectfully disagree.

Bluetooth 3.0+ transfer rates are at 24Megabits/sec = 3 Megabytes/sec = 3072 KB/sec

Most MP3s dont go higher than 320KBPS rate, which barely breaks 10% of the bandwidth.

Few points (from a trained audio engineer)...

1. I'm not sure BMW utilizes Bluetooth 3.0.

2. Compressed audio files, especially mp3s are definitely not considered a high-quality source. Actually, I'd expand on the quote above to say mp3s are also about convenience and not quality.

3. Bandwidth isn't everything... Or even enough in this case.

[funkadesi]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Few points (from a trained audio engineer)...

1. I'm not sure BMW utilizes Bluetooth 3.0.

2. Compressed audio files, especially mp3s are definitely not considered a high-quality source. Actually, I'd expand on the quote above to say mp3s are also about convenience and not quality.

3. Bandwidth isn't everything... Or even enough in this case.

Few points from a guy with a Masters in Electrical Engineering

1. Bluetooth 3.0 was introduced in 2010 and its safe to BMW IS using. (We have access to Phonebook, Text messages, and ID3 tags - which mean its a modern blueooth interface)

2. "High quality" is a very subjective term because it may not mean the same to someone else. If you are using .wav files or any other format, then yes your files will be huge in size. - From this perspective, yes, bluetooth would be useless.

What other option do we have then? 3.5 mm stereo will never come close to Optical audio if you prefer "high quality" music. Too bad BMW doesn't give that as input option.

3. See above.