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      06-29-2018, 09:08 AM   #155
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That was the reason for my question - the data in this thread goes way back and I would have been surprised if no evolution of the audio system took place in the meantime.
So research and recommended settings may not apply the same way to LCI or generally newer models.
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      07-09-2018, 03:11 PM   #156
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Picked 3 settings to try from this thread.
Will try later in the week when I collect my F30
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      10-25-2018, 11:22 AM   #157
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Many thanks glennQNYC for sharing your settings. Made all the difference in my F31.
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      10-25-2018, 12:12 PM   #158
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Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Obi wan kenobi View Post
Picked 3 settings to try from this thread.
Will try later in the week when I collect my F30
What's the verdict?
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      11-19-2018, 02:55 PM   #159
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
My current settings haven't changed much but after almost 42k miles this is how it's set...

Bass & Treble = Flat
Balance & Fader = Centered
L7 active
(Speed Volume = Center)

100Hz +4 (sometimes +5)
200Hz -5
500Hz +2
1kHz +1
2kHz Flat
5kHz -1
10kHz Flat

I thought I was just about getting used to the HK system.. thank you! Never got the time to play around until now and your template really helped and saved time (little more bass heavy for me).

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      12-21-2018, 04:10 PM   #160
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iPhone Settings

Do most of you turn off the EQ in the iPhone or leave it on over the HK tune?
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      12-21-2018, 04:12 PM   #161
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Originally Posted by wreeves11002 View Post
Do most of you turn off the EQ in the iPhone or leave it on over the HK tune?
Personally I never use the EQ in iOS... in my car or otherwise.
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      02-13-2019, 11:09 PM   #162
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Great thread! I'm not an audio engineer but definitely came very close to Glenn's initial settings after playing with my EQ to what sounds best (to me) on my '14 F10 before reading this thread. At least tells me I'm not super crazy, but definitely picky with EQ.

I go back and forth with the L7. Mostly I keep it off. If the recording had a good play between left and right channels, I find the L7 looses some of that play. Had a particularly long commute today and was really enjoying the mixing of several classic rock songs and play between left and right channels noting to myself that I had the L7 turned off and how good it sounded.

Thanks Glenn for getting us started right and in my case confirming I'm not loosing my mind with my EQ settings.

Current EQ for me:
100: +3
200: - 4
500: +1
1k: - 1
2k: 0
5k: -1
10k: -2

Logic 7 off
Balance and fader no bias
Trebel and Bass: 0

Last edited by JasonFH; 02-20-2019 at 12:35 AM..
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      06-07-2019, 06:36 PM   #163
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I believe at least one person asked if these settings are applicable to the F32. Well definitely not the 2019 430i I have as a loaner this week! Actually this should be fairly obvious because this 2019 model has a different EQ than my 2014 335i.

The system in the 2019 430i loaner responds very differently than my 2014 335i. The biggest difference my car has is the big hole in the response between under seat woofers and door midrange is simply not there. The frequency response is MUCH more linear in the 2019 F32 than my 2014 F30.

I can already hear people ask- how do you have the F32 set Glenn?

As a starting point I flattened the EQ and Bass Treble controls. Then I activated L7 processing. After listening for two days (at least 10 hours), I can sum things up so far this way... Although I'm definitely not in love with the performance of the system, I REALLY don't like what almost any of the adjustments do to the sound. I'll have the car until at least Wednesday but right now the system is flat except +1 click on the two lowest EQ sliders (100 Hz and 250 Hz I believe).

This isn't intended to provide a strong tuning recommendation as much as its intended to communicate that these two systems are very different in the bass region at least.

Rock on. 🤘🏻
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      06-08-2019, 03:45 AM   #164
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Of course they are. The HK system has undergone an upgrade in the meantime and is different from the early editions. Subsequently any recommendations for Equalizer settings are invalidated.

I have mine (in F36) with slightly increased lower freq. response (just because I enjoy hearing the bass at low volumes). Apart from that flat. And very happy with it.
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      06-11-2019, 02:29 PM   #165
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Hope this can help you out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
Disclaimer: I am a trained audio engineer, and have been selling, designing, and installing audio systems professionally since the late 80s.

I picked up my new M Sport 335i today and I thought I'd share my initial thoughts and impressions of the Harman Kardon audio system. Please keep in mind this post is purely my first impressions. Just like meeting a new mate; I need time to fully discover the system's personality traits.

First and foremost, the non-linearity of the bass response is the big issue. Most of the time I was thinking 'there is just too much bass,' but other times I'm thinking 'what happened to the bass?' Sadly the system seemed to be literally horrible in this respect. Let's see if I grow to think otherwise as I get to know the system better.

Midrange frequencies are definitely not "forward" or prominent. Are they tuning to please those whom like their treble and bass controls cranked up, or are they 'hiding' crappy midrange performance? We will see!

I didn't seem to find any EQ band that was at a frequency that helped any. Again, I'll need to experiment and learn; but so far a flat EQ seemed like the least of all evil.

Speed volume compensation seemed to be about as seamless as as could be expected. Good job here.
I was reading some post on here about our HK system and found some settings and adjusted it to my likings. I have the beats by Dre pros, so I know what good sound is supposed to sound like. However, I'm not an audiophile like you, but I like the bass louder, miss and trebs there, but not overwhelming to the ears.
I have the treble set at +2 and the bass is at +5
100hz +5
200hz -2
500hz +1
1khz +1
2khz flat at 0
5khz -1
10khz -1
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      06-28-2019, 08:30 AM   #166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
I believe at least one person asked if these settings are applicable to the F32. Well definitely not the 2019 430i I have as a loaner this week! Actually this should be fairly obvious because this 2019 model has a different EQ than my 2014 335i.

The system in the 2019 430i loaner responds very differently than my 2014 335i. The biggest difference my car has is the big hole in the response between under seat woofers and door midrange is simply not there. The frequency response is MUCH more linear in the 2019 F32 than my 2014 F30.

I can already hear people ask- how do you have the F32 set Glenn?

As a starting point I flattened the EQ and Bass Treble controls. Then I activated L7 processing. After listening for two days (at least 10 hours), I can sum things up so far this way... Although I'm definitely not in love with the performance of the system, I REALLY don't like what almost any of the adjustments do to the sound. I'll have the car until at least Wednesday but right now the system is flat except +1 click on the two lowest EQ sliders (100 Hz and 250 Hz I believe).

This isn't intended to provide a strong tuning recommendation as much as its intended to communicate that these two systems are very different in the bass region at least.

Rock on. 🤘🏻
Hello,

Looking forward to your suggestions for F32.
Trying to find the ideal settings. Thanks for sharing.

Regards
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      06-28-2019, 10:05 AM   #167
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So I came across this thread entirely by accident a few days ago and while the EQ settings have helped a bit, the hole Glenn refers to in the frequency crossover from the subs to the door tweeters is still driving me crazy. Has anyone solved this through hardware? I wonder if changing the amp would help, I'm also considering a Hu upgrade to get id6, but I honestly don't know where the problem originates. From what Ive read on other threads, the speakers themselves are pretty good quality so I don't think it would help changing those.

Also has anyone here done the coding to enable the bang and olufsen dsp? Has it helped with this? I'd try myself but i don't have an obd adapter or bimmercode yet. Looking to purchase those in the near future but if anyone has any feedback on this I'd appreciate it!
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      07-16-2019, 11:46 AM   #168
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Well.. to anyone wondering, I finally switched to B&O DSP through Bimmercode and it does help a lot.

Not the best stereo I've ever heard in a car by far, but at least I can live with it now.

My advice to anyone with a HK system is to go straight to B&O DSP.
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      07-16-2019, 12:55 PM   #169
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Do you have pre-LCI or LCI
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      07-16-2019, 05:02 PM   #170
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyhigh View Post
Do you have pre-LCI or LCI
LCI
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      07-16-2019, 05:12 PM   #171
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      08-23-2019, 01:33 PM   #172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
My current settings haven't changed much but after almost 42k miles this is how it's set...

Bass & Treble = Flat
Balance & Fader = Centered
L7 active
(Speed Volume = Center)

100Hz +4 (sometimes +5)
200Hz -5
500Hz +2
1kHz +1
2kHz Flat
5kHz -1
10kHz Flat
Did you do any sound treatment to your doors? I just did damping (butyl) on exteriror side, little beat around speaker mount and MLV over the factory foam. Mids sounds much better while driving. This is F36, which already has some additional treatments over F30/31.
I was wondering how equalization would change after these are done.
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      08-23-2019, 09:09 PM   #173
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Did the Harmon Kardon system evolve from the 2012 F30 to the 2016 F30?
What is a good equalizer setting for a 2016 HK equipped 340?

Thanks for any guidance!
Tim
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      08-24-2019, 01:58 AM   #174
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I have a 2016 (so LCI) and have ended up with pretty much exactly the same settings as OP in this thread (before seeing the thread), so I would say Glen's advice is still relevant for people with LCI cars.

I plan on adding a sub in the back and reduce the eq/bass on the main system, so hopefully the relief to the amp will allow the rest of the frequency band to play a bit better and with more punch.
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      08-24-2019, 08:14 AM   #175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by taranfx View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by glennQNYC View Post
My current settings haven't changed much but after almost 42k miles this is how it's set...

Bass & Treble = Flat
Balance & Fader = Centered
L7 active
(Speed Volume = Center)

100Hz +4 (sometimes +5)
200Hz -5
500Hz +2
1kHz +1
2kHz Flat
5kHz -1
10kHz Flat
Did you do any sound treatment to your doors? I just did damping (butyl) on exteriror side, little beat around speaker mount and MLV over the factory foam. Mids sounds much better while driving. This is F36, which already has some additional treatments over F30/31.
I was wondering how equalization would change after these are done.
I haven't added any damping material, or done and modifications to the audio system at all in my F30. However, I am a huge proponent of using damping materials to control panel vibrations, and even controlling sound waves coming off the rear of the drivers (aka speakers) in many instances. People don't realize how much their car resonates or "rings" (like a bell) until it doesn't any longer.
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      08-24-2019, 08:45 AM   #176
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hybris View Post
I have a 2016 (so LCI) and have ended up with pretty much exactly the same settings as OP in this thread (before seeing the thread), so I would say Glen's advice is still relevant for people with LCI cars.

I plan on adding a sub in the back and reduce the eq/bass on the main system, so hopefully the relief to the amp will allow the rest of the frequency band to play a bit better and with more punch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim.Rader View Post
Did the Harmon Kardon system evolve from the 2012 F30 to the 2016 F30?
What is a good equalizer setting for a 2016 HK equipped 340?

Thanks for any guidance!
Tim

I have a 16 340i and used the EQ settings in the attached pics. It really opened up the range on the HK system. I used a pink noise CD and tried to balance the different frequencies. I just used a free app, but I am fairly satisfied with the sound. I usually listen to hard rock, metal, acoustic, rap and it has sounded great with all of these styles! I welcome others' feedback on how they like these settings!
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