[syenisch]

Just got my 435i GC a few weeks ago. One of the things that is bugging me is the HK volume. It is so high that I typically only have it 2-4 clicks from off. It's only at like 5-10% of the range. If I even go up to 25% it is DEAFENING. Even one click is sometimes a bit too loud to have as background noise during conversation. Is this normal? Is there some adjustment I am missing? Lowering the max volume so I have more fine adjustment resolution would be excellent. Thanks!

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by syenisch

Just got my 435i GC a few weeks ago. One of the things that is bugging me is the HK volume. It is so high that I typically only have it 2-4 clicks from off. It's only at like 5-10% of the range. If I even go up to 25% it is DEAFENING. Even one click is sometimes a bit too loud to have as background noise during conversation. Is this normal? Is there some adjustment I am missing? Lowering the max volume so I have more fine adjustment resolution would be excellent. Thanks!

Don't take this the wrong way - serious question. Are you female?

[syenisch]

No I am male. And I'm 30 years old. It was nothing like this in my old 135i. I didn't have HK, but something seems off.

The sound is literally ear splitting at 25%. Like bleeding from the ears in mere moments bad. I wish I had Coral leather, but this doesn't seem like the right way to get it.

[ajob]

If there is a equalizer option, go there and check if all channels may have been set at max +dB.

[paul223]

At full volume, many times I wish it would get but louder, like another 10% more powerful.

[syenisch]

Originally Posted by paul223

At full volume, many times I wish it would get but louder, like another 10% more powerful.

Ok something is definitely different between our cars. On my drive home from work today I am going to use a decimal meter app on my iPhone to measure the volume at 25% and 50%. Would somebody else mind doing that as well so we can compare? Thanks!

[sandwi54]

It is the same case for both my 435i and X5 too. The HK is very loud and I only need to set the volume at like 5% to be loud enough. What helps is if you set the bass and treble at the middle setting instead of max, and it will be quieter.

I think a lot of people don't have good hearings (from the history of either using headsets for prolonged period of time or listening to music at loud volume) without realizing it. So at the same volume, they think it's too quiet and we think it's too loud.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by sandwi54

It is the same case for both my 435i and X5 too. The HK is very loud and I only need to set the volume at like 5% to be loud enough. What helps is if you set the bass and treble at the middle setting instead of max, and it will be quieter.

I think a lot of people don't have good hearings (from the history of either using headsets for prolonged period of time or listening to music at loud volume) without realizing it. So at the same volume, they think it's too quiet and we think it's too loud.

And females have better hearing on the high end and the EQ adjustments males make can cause their ears to bleed.

But I agree, EQ/Tone settings need to be looked at.

And btw, clipping will hurt your ears more than clean power.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by syenisch

No I am male. And I'm 30 years old. It was nothing like this in my old 135i. I didn't have HK, but something seems off.

The sound is literally ear splitting at 25%. Like bleeding from the ears in mere moments bad. I wish I had Coral leather, but this doesn't seem like the right way to get it.

That bleeding from your ears has nothing to do with the sound...it is caused by excessive EMT's emitted from your car.

[syenisch]

Originally Posted by jgoens

That bleeding from your ears has nothing to do with the sound...it is caused by excessive EMT's emitted from your car.

I'll drink to that! :

Actually the equalizer settings were all over the place. I reset them all to the midpoint and it's much better. I'll need to tweak the settings to improve the sound quality, but I think it'll work out. Thanks guys!

[GRD]

Are you using Bluetooth? The phone's volume is in play if so.

[syenisch]

Originally Posted by GRD

Are you using Bluetooth? The phone's volume is in play if so.

No was seeing it with ordinary satellite radio. The problem was the equalizer settings. Some of the frequencies were turned up to the max. I'm not an audiophile by any means, so usually I just leave that alone and maybe touch the bass a bit.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by syenisch

No was seeing it with ordinary satellite radio. The problem was the equalizer settings. Some of the frequencies were turned up to the max. I'm not an audiophile by any means, so usually I just leave that alone and maybe touch the bass a bit.

Satellite explains it. As I've noted in other threads, the Sirius Codec/chips sound like sh.t compared to the XM Codec/Chips. If you have any high frequency hearings, Sirius seriously hurts to listen to at a decent volume for any long period of time.

With the consolidation of the 2 Companies, why any Company continues to use the SiriusChips is simply beyond me. I guess BMW prefers the free traffic info compared to XM fee based Traffic Info in the navigation.

[syenisch]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Satellite explains it. As I've noted in other threads, the Sirius Codec/chips sound like sh.t compared to the XM Codec/Chips. If you have any high frequency hearings, Sirius seriously hurts to listen to at a decent volume for any long period of time.

With the consolidation of the 2 Companies, why any Company continues to use the SiriusChips is simply beyond me. I guess BMW prefers the free traffic info compared to XM fee based Traffic Info in the navigation.

It was the same on local radio and Bluetooth. The problem was just the equalizer as I explained.

[goj]

This is interesting. I notice people complain about HK but I have no qualms. I too noticed the "loudness" at first but then I realized that proper Equilizer and Tone settings make all the difference. The HK is a great stereo when set up properly. Out of the box the high pitch sounds are set wayyyyy to high in my opinion and the midrange kind of gets lost because it is set too low

[bad karma]

Check out glennqnyc's threads on this board about his EQ settings, they really dial the HK into submission.

[GRD]

Originally Posted by bad karma

Check out glennqnyc's threads on this board about his EQ settings, they really dial the HK into submission.

Yep, for reference:

Treble flat
Bass flat

L7 on

100Hz +5
200Hz -5
500Hz +1
1kHz flat
2kHz flat
5kHz -1
10kHz -1

[Katin]

I also thought the limits of the HK were extreme when I first got the car. 25% volume status on the iDrive screen was pretty loud and halfway was insane (halfway is about to the T of EntertainmenT on the screen)
However one day out of the blue this was no longer the case, now to get that same insane sound I have to turn the volume up to about 3/4 all the way.
usually halfway is plenty loud.
This car does weird things like that from time to time, stumped the local BMW Geniuses for sure.

[bad karma]

If it's too loud, you're too old.

[alex_f30]

I had the same issue but the other way around. I took my car in for dash malfunction( all warning came on without any reason). Took the car (340i) in and my SA couldn't find anything wrong with it. They end up reprogramming the car. Afterward, it feels like my audio is wayyyyy too quiet, and sounded like shit. Now I need to try and get that Hk back lol.

[tuco44]

Shucks, here I was enjoying the HK system and thinking it was one of the best systems for me - since I am hearing impaired, I like it loud but still understandable.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by syenisch

Just got my 435i GC a few weeks ago. One of the things that is bugging me is the HK volume. It is so high that I typically only have it 2-4 clicks from off. It's only at like 5-10% of the range. If I even go up to 25% it is DEAFENING. Even one click is sometimes a bit too loud to have as background noise during conversation. Is this normal? Is there some adjustment I am missing? Lowering the max volume so I have more fine adjustment resolution would be excellent. Thanks!

OP, Did you ever get this worked out? I have the same problem with my M3.
One turn up of the volume knob from mute, and it's as loud as half the volume on my other BMWs. Was it a software issue?