[TW666]

A friend has just taken delivery of a new G series 320d M Sport Plus with HK. He had several F series (3 and 4 series) from new with HK prior to this. He is convinced that the newer system does not sound as good or go as loud. it needs to bed in like any other system but it sounds like the lower power rating of the G series may make a difference. Fx output is 600w whilst G20 is quoted at around 400w I think.
Has anyone else found this ?

[Kermit]

https://www.klipsch.com/blog/how-and...r-new-speakers

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Kermit

https://www.klipsch.com/blog/how-and...r-new-speakers

This.
Like any new speakers, headphones etc... then need running in and improve with age. It’s a known fact!

[Kendo67]

If the HK in the G is worse than the HK in the F then it must be woeful.

For a "premium" upgrade it is piss poor , the stock HK i had in the Merc was much better so i think once the warranty has expired i will be looking at some form of upgrade to the upgrade.

Kenny

[JD6]

Originally Posted by TW666

A friend has just taken delivery of a new G series 320d M Sport Plus with HK. He had several F series (3 and 4 series) from new with HK prior to this. He is convinced that the newer system does not sound as good or go as loud. it needs to bed in like any other system but it sounds like the lower power rating of the G series may make a difference. Fx output is 600w whilst G20 is quoted at around 400w I think.
Has anyone else found this ?

I had a loan G20 320d M Sport for the day while mine was in last month. I found the HK in the G20 was better than the HK in my F30. I can't comment on the maximum power, as I'm not 17 and trying to impress a skank

The remarkable step up in refinement in the G20, combined with HK was a pretty impressive combination. Even a 320d G20, makes the F3x feel pretty dated and unrefined.

[Isow]

Originally Posted by JD6

I had a loan G20 320d M Sport for the day while mine was in last month. I found the HK in the G20 was better than the HK in my F30. I can't comment on the maximum power, as I'm not 17 and trying to impress a skank

The remarkable step up in refinement in the G20, combined with HK was a pretty impressive combination. Even a 320d G20, makes the F3x feel pretty dated and unrefined.

All true.
The HK in my G20 330i is fantastic.
Until you’ve driven a G20 you don’t realise what a refined car it is.
It’s definitely a different level of build quality than the F30.

[teaston]

The X3's HK is 600 watt!

[Panchoa]

Originally Posted by TW666

A friend has just taken delivery of a new G series 320d M Sport Plus with HK. He had several F series (3 and 4 series) from new with HK prior to this. He is convinced that the newer system does not sound as good or go as loud. it needs to bed in like any other system but it sounds like the lower power rating of the G series may make a difference. Fx output is 600w whilst G20 is quoted at around 400w I think.
Has anyone else found this ?

I have thought this about the wifes g30 540i! To my ears it lacks bass in comparison to the f30! It has surprised me as I would have thought the system would have been better. The car has a far higher level of sound proofing too which i would thought would help the sound quality, although i am no hifi expert!!!!!

[Carjack]

Originally Posted by Isow

All true.
The HK in my G20 330i is fantastic.
Until you’ve driven a G20 you don’t realise what a refined car it is.
It’s definitely a different level of build quality than the F30.

You are quite right!
A test drive of the G20 330i so impressed me that when I got back to the Main Dealer I placed my order.
It outshines my F30 320D in cabin quietness, preciseness of the steering, cornering and general smoothness of the drive.
It might be a tad larger all round but to me it didn’t feel so.
E.g. Unlike the Jag XF which to me drives like a large car although being smooth and quite.
Just looking forward to take delivery!

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Mr BMW

Forgive my ignorance, but why would a speaker system need to 'bed in?' I've never heard of it.

...because speakers have suspension. The more movement they see (not playing crazy loud) the more they loosen up. Amplifiers need a work out too. The more frequencies they process the more different notes you can enjoy. Think of it all as breaking into a new pair of trainers.

This article explains it best:

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/gbr/e...w-run-speakers

In conclusion a Harman Kardon set up that has seen more use will sound better than one that hasn't. I remember when we took delivery of our F30. The HK was a flop and felt like a waste of money. At 20k miles it sounded better and at 30k miles it was the best it had ever sounded.

[ZeroFx]

Since they now seem to be bundling HK in to everything im guessing its a cost cutting thing.

[JustChris]

BMW reduces the HK power as there are less rattles and door seat squeaks in the G20 to conceal.

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by JustChris

BMW reduces the HK power as there are less rattles and door seat squeaks in the G20 to conceal.

Originally Posted by JustChris

BMW reduces the HK power as there are less rattles and door seat squeaks in the G20 to conceal.

If you look at the tech document of the new system, it's setup differently. This means you don't need the same wattage as it's not all done by one peice of hardware

[Russbmw]

Funny you should mention that, because in both the 18 / 68 plate 1 series loaners I’ve had also the 18 plate 630gt I had for weeks, the hk system sounded decidedly pants compared to my 2015 435 and the current 640.

[Marksw76]

Is the Bowers & Wilkins not an option on the G20?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Marksw76

Is the Bowers & Wilkins not an option on the G20?

No, it’s 5 series/X5 up. And massively overpriced!

[Steven1077]

My B&W headphones took over 50 hours to run in, they sounded good from now but now sound 10x better

[330XDave]

Originally Posted by Russbmw

Funny you should mention that, because in both the 18 / 68 plate 1 series loaners I’ve had also the 18 plate 630gt I had for weeks, the hk system sounded decidedly pants compared to my 2015 435 and the current 640.

The HK system in the 1 series loaner I had was pretty rubbish. Sounded no better than a half decent standard system in a lot of other cars. I was really surprised at how much worse it was than in the F30.

[SkyJawa]

Originally Posted by 330XDave

The HK system in the 1 series loaner I had was pretty rubbish. Sounded no better than a half decent standard system in a lot of other cars. I was really surprised at how much worse it was than in the F30.

This is quite well known about HK in the 1er, it’s why I spec’d advanced audio on my m140 instead of HK as it’s not worth the money. Less power and no logic 7.

[Wills2]

Years ago I briefly got into Hi-fi separates at the "starter end" of that crazy market, the first thing you learn is that high peak watts means bugger all really.

You could lower the output but have a better quality amp linked to low impedance speakers that would produce a vastly superior sound.

Headline watt output is what AKAI used to sell cheap boom boxes off.

[Chris Peacock]

Originally Posted by Carjack

You are quite right!
A test drive of the G20 330i so impressed me that when I got back to the Main Dealer I placed my order.
It outshines my F30 320D in cabin quietness, preciseness of the steering, cornering and general smoothness of the drive.
It might be a tad larger all round but to me it didn’t feel so.
E.g. Unlike the Jag XF which to me drives like a large car although being smooth and quite.
Just looking forward to take delivery!

Interesting feedback as I have just given back a G20 330i after a 4 day extended demo and couldn't wait to get back into my F30. Sadly a 3 series will not be my next car ordered in a few months time.

Felt huge compared to the F30, hated the digital dash (Audi do this so much better), the 2.0 petrol engine feels lack lustre and never in the right gear on the motorway, and it had a rattling back seat - really not acceptable on a car with an RRP of £46k as per spec of demo vehicle.

All in all very disappointing.

[Isow]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

Interesting feedback as I have just given back a G20 330i after a 4 day extended demo and couldn't wait to get back into my F30. Sadly a 3 series will not be my next car ordered in a few months time.

Felt huge compared to the F30, hated the digital dash (Audi do this so much better), the 2.0 petrol engine feels lack lustre and never in the right gear on the motorway, and it had a rattling back seat - really not acceptable on a car with an RRP of £46k as per spec of demo vehicle.

All in all very disappointing.

I don’t miss my F30 328i one bit.
I think the build quality of the G20 is streets ahead of the F30.
It’s so much quieter, the adaptive suspension is superb, the Sat Nav is 7 years
more modern than the one on 328i and I think the digital dash is smart but maybe not to everyone’s taste.
The sunroof is also well designed and gives very little wind rush when open and
the HK speakers are better than I expected.
I could go on but I won’t.