[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by DoubleDave

The OEMs seem to be paying less and less attention to sound quality...

I disagree. Maybe because I'm older and my first car had a single front speaker for the AM radio. The stock, base, OE systems generally (there are exceptions, natch) have been improving year over year, especially with BMW. Porsche, eh, not so much. You need to buy their $12,843 B&O upgrade. Or B&W. B&someone.

I suggest that we also keep in mind that BMW does make a bit of an effort to reduce weight, to help with performance and mileage. So, presumably, installing 6 3 oz. speakers instead of 10 3 lb. speakers makes a significant difference, at the expense of a professional quality sound stage. Because we're all about that great 0-60 time.

But with all of the tire/road noise that I get on the highway, I'm not sure how much I'd notice a better sound system anyway. You really only hear it well sitting at traffic lights.

[DoubleDave]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

I disagree. Maybe because I'm older and my first car had a single front speaker for the AM radio. The stock, base, OE systems generally (there are exceptions, natch) have been improving year over year, especially with BMW. Porsche, eh, not so much. You need to buy their $12,843 B&O upgrade. Or B&W. B&someone.

I suggest that we also keep in mind that BMW does make a bit of an effort to reduce weight, to help with performance and mileage. So, presumably, installing 6 3 oz. speakers instead of 10 3 lb. speakers makes a significant difference, at the expense of a professional quality sound stage. Because we're all about that great 0-60 time.

But with all of the tire/road noise that I get on the highway, I'm not sure how much I'd notice a better sound system anyway. You really only hear it well sitting at traffic lights.

We can agree to disagree. Cars I purchased over a decade ago have better sound systems than what are being put in current cars. Many buyers don’t care as long as it plays loud enough.

My 2015 Audi S4 had a pretty good (not amazing) upgraded B & O audio system. My 2020 S5 Sportback also has a B & O system which sounds markedly worse than the S4.

I understand my experience is not all encompassing but not just my cars but friends and family…the bar seems to be moving lower unless you shell out (assuming you can) for the uber high cost systems.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

[alipor]

Car just got finished, crappy HK system is mostly gone. I'll leave a teaser pic and update this when the full build log is done.

[Medal]

While I don't think the HK system is garbage, I am a guy with a pair of focal clear pro 2020 headphones, as well as the hifiman Arya's, connect to a dac and amp from burson audio for my desktop/computer set up…I love my music. Alice In Chains, some old(er) dr dre rap, etc and I can say for certain we can do better. HK is not bad, but it's not good either when compared to real speakers and amp.

I'm looking into this too and have been. Considering the bimmer tech amp

https://www.kiesmotorsports.com/prod...-premium-audio

Or something like it; just like that it's made for our car's….and looking at doing a full upgrade of all speakers as they come available.

Regardless, some of you are ahead of me so I'm anxiously awaiting your results! Once I make a move, I'll share my results as well.

[kwilliams312]

Originally Posted by alipor

Car just got finished, crappy HK system is mostly gone. I'll leave a teaser pic and update this when the full build log is done.

I'd love to see more of the pillar build, they looks like they're aimed at the center of the dash in this photo.

[alipor]

Originally Posted by kwilliams312

I'd love to see more of the pillar build, they looks like they're aimed at the center of the dash in this photo.

There will be more, they are off axis. It will be a little bit before the build log gets done. Here is my last build, which was a much bigger build. But it will give you an idea of the detail.

View post on imgur.com

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by alipor

There will be more, they are off axis. It will be a little bit before the build log gets done. Here is my last build, which was a much bigger build. But it will give you an idea of the detail.

View post on imgur.com

Holy...
That's some form of art right there. Not even gonna ask how much that setup will cost lol.
Amazing work!

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by alipor

Car just got finished, crappy HK system is mostly gone. I'll leave a teaser pic and update this when the full build log is done.

Please do. More details!!

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by alipor

There will be more, they are off axis. It will be a little bit before the build log gets done. Here is my last build, which was a much bigger build. But it will give you an idea of the detail.

View post on imgur.com

Grrr. I wish you guys would post the pictures here, because I can't see anything on IG (or whatever it is) because they block "social media" sites here at work.

[alipor]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

Please do. More details!!

System is Accuton tweeters and mid range, mid bass is 8" Focal Utopia M, sub is 12" IIusion audio C12XL. The front stage is powered by Helix V12 DSP combo, the sub is powered by Helix P One.

[TrentMeister]

Originally Posted by spridge

At the risk of sounding foolish, have any of you tried the Bavsound packages on a previous BMW? Their claims are compelling, and I love the idea of directly swapping amps and speakers with plug and play improvements. Any thoughts on going that route?

Had it in my e36 and it sounded great

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by alipor

There will be more, they are off axis. It will be a little bit before the build log gets done. Here is my last build, which was a much bigger build. But it will give you an idea of the detail.

https://imgur.com/a/mcAaf3M

🤑

[kwilliams312]

I know Nick Apicella, he's a great fabricator, I've seen a bunch of his work.

[alipor]

Originally Posted by kwilliams312

I know Nick Apicella, he's a great fabricator, I've seen a bunch of his work.

This is my third install by him, He's the best in my area by a long shot, helps that he isn't to far from me too.

[alipor]

Update: Here is the build log of my M3 audio install.

View post on imgur.com

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threa...1/post-5971390

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by alipor

Update: Here is the build log of my M3 audio install.

View post on imgur.com

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threa...1/post-5971390

Looks like a great job by that shop. What was the approximate cost?

[alipor]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Looks like a great job by that shop. What was the approximate cost?

It wasn't inexpensive, lets put it that way. Speakers are the best i've used, this is my 4th build by them. You'd be better off contacting them directly to see what you'd like to have done. Drop ins are an option, I just didn't want to sacrifice sound quality.

https://apicellaautosound.com/

[snareman]

Originally Posted by alipor

It wasn't inexpensive, lets put it that way. Speakers are the best i've used, this is my 4th build by them. You'd be better off contacting them directly to see what you'd like to have done. Drop ins are an option, I just didn't want to sacrifice sound quality.

https://apicellaautosound.com/

Why don't you want to say the cost so the rest of us will have an idea? It's not like we're going to judge you on whatever you spent. We are in this thread because we're interested in better sound.

[alipor]

Originally Posted by snareman

Why don't you want to say the cost so the rest of us will have an idea? It's not like we're going to judge you on whatever you spent. We are in this thread because we're interested in better sound.

Mostly cause it's custom work, labor here isn't the same as other parts of the country so that can be a large part of the end bill, but just equipment alone was somewhere north of 12k.

[Shinzzze]

Originally Posted by MarineRaider

I KNOW I am. When I get back from vacation the front stage, center channel and subwoofer are getting replaced.

These speakers are just horrible.

Picking up my G80 next week and wondering what's the bad part of the HK system? What genre you are listening? Can I get some context for it?

I can't image HK being worse than Bose in audio quality though. Bose systems have the worst value in business IMO.

[Likeanowl]

Being a live sound engineer as my profession I just have to say that SO many things being said in this thread are just blatantly wrong. I’m not even going to try and argue them because I don’t care enough to but holy hell… do some research before you post things. Some points people are saying are just hilariously wrong

[Shinzzze]

Originally Posted by Likeanowl

Being a live sound engineer as my profession I just have to say that SO many things being said in this thread are just blatantly wrong. I'm not even going to try and argue them because I don't care enough to but holy hell… do some research before you post things. Some points people are saying are just hilariously wrong

Just did some testing in my neighbour's 340i today and I believe it's just a bad default EQ (mid is too strong). Clearity (used my HD800s as a bench mark, of course not there yet but not far behind either) and sound stage (similar to HD800S level) are fine after just adjusting EQ. I think HK is a decent system, just needed a bit of playing around.

I was also scratching my head thinking why would anybody saying Bose is better than HK :