[PodDoc]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

This is a good news. I'll wait for the B&O option to be available on the F8x. I hope it's not $5k.

BMW really needs to step up the game on the audio side. Acura's ELS 14-speaker system blows any BMW HK and B&O system out of the water. Yet it comes "standard" on a $54k RLX.

Example, HK shouldn't be "optional" on a F8x. Who the hell wants a shitty Hi-Fi sound system on a $60k+ car??? HK isn't much better for $875 more.

I guess bmw agrees with you since HK is now std on the F8x's.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by JNoSol

This is a good news. I'll wait for the B&O option to be available on the F8x. I hope it's not $5k.

BMW really needs to step up the game on the audio side. Acura's ELS 14-speaker system blows any BMW HK and B&O system out of the water. Yet it comes "standard" on a $54k RLX.

Example, HK shouldn't be "optional" on a F8x. Who the hell wants a shitty Hi-Fi sound system on a $60k+ car??? HK isn't much better for $875 more.

Aren't M cars potentially track vehicles? I'd think M cars would justified offering a basic sound system for people who don't want the extra weight and complexity.

[BGR]

B&O in my S3 was the best OEM audio system I've ever had.

[Pavit]

Aren't new G11's coming with Bowers & Wilkins? If I'm not mistaken...

And I'm a big fan of B&W, currently owning quite some of their products! Just magnificent!

[VMRWheels]

Nice, this seems promising

[AW335TT]

Originally Posted by Crashnbrn5

you have no idea wtf you are talking about, just stop, lamo

In the "high end systems", they have 16-23 speakers and some have 2000 watts, look at the brand new Audi Q7 B&O system

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/car-a...ls/audi/new_Q7

and you chime in with 11 speakers, obv you are uneducated in this aspect brother

To be honest, if you want a really good sounding system. All you need is a 3 way up front and sub.. no center channel, no rear speakers.

You probably like that surround sound.

[psuibmw]

Originally Posted by Crashnbrn5

With all the different models they have, they should offer 3 different upgrades, 3 on top of the base I'm saying.

Base Sound system 275 Watts, 8 speakers, no surround, no sub-woofers

Option 1 400 Watts 10 speakers $600 with 1 100 watt Sub, 300w for the speakers

Option 2 800 Watts 12 speakers $1400 with 2 250 total watt subs, 550w for the speakers

Option 3 1200 Watts 16 speakers $2800 with 2 500 total watt subs, 700w for the speakers

I think this is smart and reasonable.

What do you think guys?

16 speakers nice ... I remember when my Lada had 2 speakers

The only change I would recommend to your strategy is to have option 1 as standard

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

B&O has been going through challenges as of late. This news doesn't surprise me.

[nrrm1127]

Everybody relax - new G11 7 Series is using Bowers & Wilkins as their OEM audio supplier. Not sure why this has any impact besides consolidating the industry - which is the way the auto industry is moving anyway (if you look at the recent leaked FCA docs).

[davis449]

This is old news. I read about this a while ago. It's not a surprise to me either considering Harman has been buying up all kinds of high end\boutique designer audio companies (or, in this case, just the automotive division) and regular OEM automotive car audio manufacturers for years (see Becker). It was inevitable. That was a good way for B&O to get their name really out there, but I guess just not financially viable for them. It's a huge boon for Harman as they get yet another "premium" brand under their umbrella. They water down whatever they buy. Hell, if it's an ML system in a regular (i.e. not a LS) Lexus it sounds just like a HK from MB or BMW. Not bad, but not really impressive either. I remember when the B&O's hit the market in the Audi S8, that was impressive. I anticipate the watering down of B&O's in cars from hence forth. B&W is one I have yet to hear in a car (need to go sit in a Jag, I guess), but I surmise it won't be long before HK goes after, at the very least, their automotive division. If you give me the choice, I would go HK over Bose any day of the week.

[akhter]

Originally Posted by Crashnbrn5

you have no idea wtf you are talking about, just stop, lamo

In the "high end systems", they have 16-23 speakers and some have 2000 watts, look at the brand new Audi Q7 B&O system

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/car-a...ls/audi/new_Q7

and you chime in with 11 speakers, obv you are uneducated in this aspect brother

lol dude you are the people bmw marketing targets and the sad reason we have 16/20 speaker 2k watt systems that are crap. you obviously think the more speakers and number of watts the better. go enjoy your 40 speaker hk system in your 1 series....

[akhter]

Originally Posted by nrrm1127

Everybody relax - new G11 7 Series is using Bowers & Wilkins as their OEM audio supplier. Not sure why this has any impact besides consolidating the industry - which is the way the auto industry is moving anyway (if you look at the recent leaked FCA docs).

this actually is good news. this means the high end/b&w system is not from the same vendor as the mid range/hk system. so they will actually compete on quality not just number of speaker.

bmw actually counts the centre mid+tweeter as 2 speakers. and only in car audio is a tweeter, mid range and woofer count as 3 speakers not one 3-way speaker lol.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by mshab356

Interesting. I'm curious to see how Harman will improve the B&O brand and technology. B&O is already great, but if HK can add in their tech and make it even better...hopefully add more wattage to the upgraded systems...

Baloney.

davis449 has it right: "They water down whatever they buy."

Harman has never, never, ever improved any brand it has bought sonically -- after it became Harman International in the late 1970s. JBL is an exception: it was bought in 1968, IIRC, and was among the best speaker manufacturers in the world at the time. It continued that tradition but expanded into other sound markets into the 1980s -- and by the time the 1990s rolled around JBL was on its way to being a laughingstock among audiophiles and a prime example of what happens to a watered-down and dumbed-down brand.

And Infinity? Don't get me started on Infinity. If you've ever heard any pre-Harman Infinity speakers -- home, car, etc. -- you know what I'm talking about.

Thanks for that list of Harman brands. I now know to avoid those brands.

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Baloney.

davis449 has it right: "They water down whatever they buy."

Harman has never, never, ever improved any brand it has bought sonically -- after it became Harman International in the late 1970s. JBL is an exception: it was bought in 1968, IIRC, and was among the best speaker manufacturers in the world at the time. It continued that tradition but expanded into other sound markets into the 1980s -- and by the time the 1990s rolled around JBL was on its way to being a laughingstock among audiophiles and a prime example of what happens to a watered-down and dumbed-down brand.

And Infinity? Don't get me started on Infinity. If you've ever heard any pre-Harman Infinity speakers -- home, car, etc. -- you know what I'm talking about.

Thanks for that list of Harman brands. I now know to avoid those brands.

Exactly. Harman has a history of acquiring great companies and making them mediocre.

You don't need lots of speakers in car - you need good quality components. The sound systems that are installed in vehicles these days are almost pure profit for the car companies. The components (speakers, amps, etc.) are cheap. As long as the vehicle sounds half-decent, its no big deal because no one buys a vehicle based solely on the sound quality of the stereo.

Whatever. Anyone serious about the sound in their vehicle will replace the speakers and amps anyway.

[Whostheboss]

Less competition is bad but there are other well reputable competitors. Bose cannot be slept on.
I heard them on a Porsche and it sounds great

[sor]

Its simple, really. People who start the businesses care a lot about making a good product. They spend years building up a great reputation based on quality. That rarely mixes with making the most profitable product. Another company comes in, buys the good brand, sends the original owners on their way, revamps it to make it more profitable.

Harman dilutes the quality of the brands it buys. Its on purpose, the whole reason they buy the brands is because they know there's untapped potential for profit by tuning costs. I wouldn't be surprised if many of their brands are made on the same manufacturing lines with different labels or slight cosmetic changes. OEM automotive products are particularly generic looking and would be easy to cross-supply the same speaker between brands. Not to say their products are crap, they're decent, but the high end stuff they buy tends to come down a notch or two toward middle of the road, just my opinion.

[sor]

Originally Posted by Crashnbrn5

you have no idea wtf you are talking about, just stop, lamo

In the "high end systems", they have 16-23 speakers and some have 2000 watts, look at the brand new Audi Q7 B&O system

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/car-a...ls/audi/new_Q7

and you chime in with 11 speakers, obv you are uneducated in this aspect brother

Don't be so hard on your brother. He hasn't yet learned that MOAR speakers == better tunes. I guess you two didn't go to the same school.

I'm holding out for the eight channel surround subs, four in the roof just above everyone's head and one under each seat. Bonus points for a center sub in the dash. They need to be at least 12" each with a 20mm excursion so they thump against the top of my head.

[Desert_Fox]

Honestly the quality of a sound system in a car makes or breaks it for me. The Burmester in the new S class is like sitting back in a plush armchair with a private orchestra playing only for you. I wouldn't pay $8k for ceramic brakes, but I'd happily pay that kind of money for an out of this world sound system. I just hope the F80 gets some kind of better audio upgrade in the future. Oh and my father's XKR had Bowers + Wilkins, it was probably the jankiest 'premium' car audio I've ever heard.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Baloney.

davis449 has it right: "They water down whatever they buy."

Harman has never, never, ever improved any brand it has bought sonically -- after it became Harman International in the late 1970s. JBL is an exception: it was bought in 1968, IIRC, and was among the best speaker manufacturers in the world at the time. It continued that tradition but expanded into other sound markets into the 1980s -- and by the time the 1990s rolled around JBL was on its way to being a laughingstock among audiophiles and a prime example of what happens to a watered-down and dumbed-down brand.

And Infinity? Don't get me started on Infinity. If you've ever heard any pre-Harman Infinity speakers -- home, car, etc. -- you know what I'm talking about.

Thanks for that list of Harman brands. I now know to avoid those brands.

God I hope they stay away from Magnapan...

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by Pentium

I never had a sound system in any car better than my previous Audi A6 Bose.

It was unique and amazing!

Hopefully better systems are coming!

Did your A6 come with Bose standard?
I don't know much about how Audi options their car.

[JNoSol]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Aren't M cars potentially track vehicles? I'd think M cars would justified offering a basic sound system for people who don't want the extra weight and complexity.

The HK system has 2 more mids and 7 highs. Those tiny OEM magnets add about 5-6lbs total, which I'm ok with and I track my cars 4 weekends per year (that's about 8-10 days out of 365). I would be stuck with shitty speakers the other 97% of the time. So 5-6lbs is worth a trade-off.

Besides, the M is a "luxury" performance track capable car. Without the "luxury" piece, a harsher and more track capable car will do. I would say only 20% of the M owners even track their cars, that's a high estimate.

I guess 2016+ F8x will come with HK standard.

[iamdabest1]

Originally Posted by Revcrazy

Agreed. BMW car audio is a joke.

Neither of these two companies are anything special with whats out there overall but the B&O I had in my S4 blew away the 'upgraded' sound in my e92 M3s.

I loved " enhanced premium sound " in my e92 m3 .. Thought that was a great system . My cousins bang and olufsen was much better in his 650 gran coupe though ..but also cost a lot more