[ZilberGrau ZHP]

For the money I have paid on your cars over the years- your audio systems range from sucked to above average- why not PROFESSIONAL sound for a change. Other factors made me choose a 435 Gran Coupe but the sound system was not near as good as the Audi B&O or the Lexus ML. I listened to the stock HK upgrade at the dealer and it was not bad at all but not great- there is nothing wrong with providing a higher end ~$ 2000 higher end audio option.
So much better if it is all put together at the factory than third party.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by Ze4eMCe

For the money I have paid on your cars over the years- your audio systems range from sucked to above average- why not PROFESSIONAL sound for a change. Other factors made me choose a 435 Gran Coupe but the sound system was not near as good as the Audi B&O or the Lexus ML. I listened to the stock HK upgrade at the dealer and it was not bad at all but not great- there is nothing wrong with providing a higher end ~$ 2000 higher end audio option.
So much better if it is all put together at the factory than third party.

You have paid money on my car? Fck BMW, They are making me think I have paid for the entire car I luv my HK, but then again I'm a simpleton who probably would have thought the stock system sounded good.

[CLittle]

I sat and listened to ml in a 2013 lexus gs350 when I was car shopping. Not impressed. I ran back to my old car and had to "wash" my ears out with my car's sound system.

HK is a pretty good value upgrade from US standard hifi but I agree, let us fanatics have a more expensive version ~$2k-4k option for the F30.

[FC4]

It's not bad, however the highs are quite fatiguing.

[Sherhart]

I agree. Audi has BMW way outclassed here.

[Mobster1983]

I don't agree. I got my 2014 F30 and my wife got a Lexus RX 450h at the same time. Both had the top of the line sound systems in them I tested them both (by ear) and the HK system is far better than the system in the lexus. This is just my personal opinion, but to me it was a very clear difference. The lexus system, while clear, just did not get nearly as loud as the system in the BMW. The BMW system gets nice and loud, while maintaining it's amazing clarity. I used opera style music on both to get the full range of sounds.

[x5mad]

I've got the hifi system which came standard in the 328 and I am very happy with it. I have had loaners with same system and I can understand the disappointment as they sound really bad. I must have been lucky cos my hifi system sounds so much better than the others I have listened to.

Can there be this much variability with the sound system? It's not just me as my wife noticed it too and the difference is huge.

I wonder if it applies therefore to the HK system too and explains some of the different opinions.

[3_dirty_5]

ive sat in both a 2014 lexus rx350 and a 2012 bmw 335i with hk and the lexus i believe had stock sound system. they were both great in my opinion but if you like music withs lots of bass like me, i think the lexus does it better. they both go very loud and you can definitely hear the music with the windows down in both cars but i think the lexus gives you a better feel of the music.literally. i dont know the specs of the sound systems, as i am just going off my own opinion and experiences

[Steven1077]

HK is really not very good, I wish there was a higher option as I'd happily pay double for something that sounds good, I can just about live with HK but if I was keeping the car I'd want it changed

[luivincci]

I think the HK system is very good as long as you play directly from an ipod or usb. Via Bluetooth gives crappy sound quality.

[bmwauug]

I like it better than the standard. Had it in the e90 and now my f30. I know if I didn't I would want it. Personally I like the surround mode. That said not as crisp on sat radio, very good with digital downloaded content. Does anyone use CDs anymore?

[Austinformedude]

Originally Posted by bmwauug

I like it better than the standard. Had it in the e90 and now my f30. I know if I didn't I would want it. Personally I like the surround mode. That said not as crisp on sat radio, very good with digital downloaded content. Does anyone use CDs anymore?

+1 here. The HK system sounds terrible on radio (even HD), Bluetooth, and XM (worst of all). I think is sounds great with CD, USB, or ipod inputs though. The bass isn't very strong, but I think it is a good reference system, and well balanced. If you are into heavy bass or hip hop, you won't like it. For classical and jazz it is terrific! It can handle rock and opera, but to a lesser degree. Just my opinion, and experience of course. Your ears are different.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

While I'd buy the HK option again in a heartbeat, it's lack of linearity in the mid-bass region is what bothers me. I've been just trying to not focus on the issue... I don't plan on owning this car long enough to warrant a mod to the system.

[munch520]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

While I'd buy the HK option again in a heartbeat, it's lack of linearity in the mid-bass region is what bothers me. I've been just trying to not focus on the issue... I don't plan on owning this car long enough to warrant a mod to the system.

Completely agree, it's a definite upgrade and for the money, I'd happily do it again. But to my ears some songs are a bit washed out and don't have enough low end depth to them. Then again, others are perfect. You can tell it's a 'nice' system and I've gotten some complements on how balanced and full the sound is. Perception=reality I suppose...

I put folders (Country, Rock, Rap, etc.) on my 32gb mini thumb drive and cycle through music that way. Simple and I don't have to hassle with BT or cables.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by Austinformedude

+1 here. The HK system sounds terrible on radio (even HD), Bluetooth, and XM (worst of all). I think is sounds great with CD, USB, or ipod inputs though. The bass isn't very strong, but I think it is a good reference system, and well balanced. If you are into heavy bass or hip hop, you won't like it. For classical and jazz it is terrific! It can handle rock and opera, but to a lesser degree. Just my opinion, and experience of course. Your ears are different.

I listen to mostly to pre-classical (medieval and renaissance) vocal music, early opera (Handel, Vivaldi), classical (Bach) and contemporary choral (Arvo Part). (Yes, I know I'm weird.)

I think the stock speakers suck almost all the time. The highs are thin and "papery" (like what the speakers are made of) and the mid-range is muddy--and those ranges are where most of my music is.

Do any of you "fanatics" know much about BavSound speakers? The reviews I've read on the boards look very good, and I am seriously considering getting them.

[carzaddict]

unfortunately because this is more of an "entry level" car and not top of the range....they wont give you expensive options.

just from a quick road analysis.....there are more 320's and 328's than 335's....chances are those people are trying to get into whatever cheap BMW they can get into....to say they drive a BMW. and even out of that population...most of them are driving a bare bones car.

the population of people that will actually pay for the higher priced stereo option is so small, that it most likely wont be cost effective.

I can see the stereo upgrade being a possibility for the 5, definitely the 7.....but not the lowly 3

[rjpeaks]

i think the HK is fine - i don't drive far enough to worry about it.

for the price well worth it.

remember the Audi B/O and Lex ML are pretty expensive options.

[Endeavour99]

Hi, Sorry for posting this unrelated message in your thread.

I've just had my account validated here and I want to post a new thread to ask a question, but the system won't let me. It just says I don't have permission to post a new thread.

I can't even post a new thread in the feedback section to ask someone to fix this. So hopefully a moderator will see this and fix it?

[335i_4D]

Originally Posted by rjpeaks

i think the HK is fine - ... for the price well worth it.

^This^

Should look at GlennQNYC's post to maybe adjust the EQ a little.
Did change mine from OK to much better now.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by munch520

But to my ears some songs are a bit washed out and don't have enough low end depth to them. Then again, others are perfect. You can tell it's a 'nice' system and I've gotten some complements on how balanced and full the sound is. Perception=reality I suppose...

I put folders (Country, Rock, Rap, etc.) on my 32gb mini thumb drive and cycle through music that way. Simple and I don't have to hassle with BT or cables.

Are your songs uncompressed? Reading through some of the comments on this thread about sound via satellite radio, usb drives, streaming music, etc I think some peoples issues are related to source quality, and $$$$$ sound system is not going to fix a crappy source

Another thing to think about is there is much more road noise in a 3 than in 5 or 7. More expensive stereo doesn't make as much sense without the sound deadening to go with it

[munch520]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Are your songs uncompressed? Reading through some of the comments on this thread about sound via satellite radio, usb drives, streaming music, etc I think some peoples issues are related to source quality, and $$$$$ sound system is not going to fix a crappy source

Another thing to think about is there is much more road noise in a 3 than in 5 or 7. More expensive stereo doesn't make as much sense without the sound deadening to go with it

Uncompressed!

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by 335i_4D

^This^

Should look at GlennQNYC's post to maybe adjust the EQ a little.
Did change mine from OK to much better now.

I agree. my HK system sounds much better after tweaking it a bit using that thread to get me started. I like it now. Well worth the money. At some point I may swap the mids and tweeters in the doors for the bav sound ones to see if the mid range gets a little better, but that is a nice to have at this point and not really needed.