[dhruvgarg]

Greetings All!

I am curious to find out how does the Harman Kardon in the g60 compare to the ones in G30 , X5 or the i4. The power output is reduced substantially ( only 205 watts) , so how is the bass weight ? Does it retain a satisfying punch in the low end, or just sounds too over boosted in the mids/treble ?

I currently have the M340i and the only regret I have with the HK is that it sounds more emphasized in upper mids/treble and lacks a bit of richness/weight in the low end. Does the i5 improve on this?

Thoughts appreciated. Regards!

[mjr24]

How would anyone know that yet?

[Eric500]

i would assume as the base spec system it will not even be up to par with the current system in the G30.

Bowers being the "upgrade" likely matches the G30 HK. But like most will say, very few people know yet as no actual reviews are out there, just overviews.

[dhruvgarg]

Originally Posted by Eric500

i would assume as the base spec system it will not even be up to par with the current system in the G30.

Bowers being the "upgrade" likely matches the G30 HK. But like most will say, very few people know yet as no actual reviews are out there, just overviews.

Fingers crossed and lets see what it sounds like. I've heard the Bowers Wilkins in I7 and G30. Even though specs may be a match , it's a fundamentally different sound from HK and unfortunately not to my liking.

I loved the I7 but ruled it out due to no HK, im hoping BMW doesn't screw up the HK in G60.

[Scrapula]

I have no clue. I’m moving from a 825 watt Meridian in my Jaguar and hope that the B & W will sound as good.

[patch5674]

I just wanted to bump this thread, now that there is a load more i5's out in the wild, how are people finding the HK system?

I really tried to make B&W work but I prioritized full comfort, technology, DAP etc. and had to draw the line somewhere.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by patch5674

I just wanted to bump this thread, now that there is a load more i5's out in the wild, how are people finding the HK system?

I really tried to make B&W work but I prioritized full comfort, technology, DAP etc. and had to draw the line somewhere.

I too tried to draw the line. But I kept arguing pro's and cons. And talked myself into everything. Eventually the only thing I did not get was the glass roof, as I wanted the opening sunroof. I also did not get the Executive package because of that, and I really didn't care about the glass controls.

I know the configurator is different for the UK. I don't think they call them Executive and Premium etc. Something like Technology and comfort etc. In the US Configurator, you can get every option in the executive package with the Premium Package and adding the options separately. Even the glass roof. The only exception is the Glass Controls. You can ONLY get those with the Executive package.

[SkykingUSA]

I have the Harmon Kardon system and am happy with it. Granted, I am not an audiophile and my standards may be lower than some. It sounds good to me when I play my mp3 files over Android Auto or over a USB stick I plug into the car. My files are of mixed bit rate and quality.

The HK system just let's you adjust Bass, Treble, Balance and Fader, unlike the B&W which has an actual equalizer that you can set. B&W also has more speakers and wattage. I'd suggest if you are really into your music and sound is important to you, go for the B&W. However, if you're like me and have $5 ears, you may not want to spend a grand on a sound upgrade. I'm happy with my HK, but I also wouldn't say it sounds like anything "special". To me, it just sounds like a good quality car sound system.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

I have the Harmon Kardon system and am happy with it. Granted, I am not an audiophile and my standards may be lower than some. It sounds good to me when I play my mp3 files over Android Auto or over a USB stick I plug into the car. My files are of mixed bit rate and quality.

The HK system just let's you adjust Bass, Treble, Balance and Fader, unlike the B&W which has an actual equalizer that you can set. B&W also has more speakers and wattage. I'd suggest if you are really into your music and sound is important to you, go for the B&W. However, if you're like me and have $5 ears, you may not want to spend a grand on a sound upgrade. I'm happy with my HK, but I also wouldn't say it sounds like anything "special". To me, it just sounds like a good quality car sound system.

I do have $5 ears. Well maybe $3.25 ears. After all my time in the Navy on gas turbine ships, loud guns, flying stuff etc...and even after in the same industry, I have Tinnitus. I have a ringing in my ears constantly. I have learned to live with it and tune it out (Mostly) I don't normally play music very loud. If at all. I have to turn up the TV (Which bothers my wife no end) But at the same time I don't show a big hearing loss on my Audiograms, and not in all frequency bands. Only the specific one affected by the tinnitus.

I test drove 2 BMW 5ers while I was making up my mind between the Audi A6 and BMW 5 series. One 530iX with the B&W, and one 540iX with the HK. I definitely could hear the difference between the 2. Enough that I instantly decided I had to have the B&W. It was so much of a difference it almost brought a tear to my eye. My wife asked why I was sitting there listening to the music, and not getting out of the car to drive the other one. I said "Because I can hear it so well I don't want it to stop." I then drove the 540i. I loved the car so much better with its smooth on demand power. But the radio was so "Meh" I turned it off. The engine sounded so much better than the crap coming out of the stereo. So it was a no brainer for me.

[aabc]

Have the HK system in both a G30 and G60. Can confirm the G30's system is superior to the G60. HK is the base sound system for G60 with B&W as the option.

B&W in G60 comparable to HK in G30

Originally Posted by dhruvgarg

Greetings All!

I am curious to find out how does the Harman Kardon in the g60 compare to the ones in G30 , X5 or the i4. The power output is reduced substantially ( only 205 watts) , so how is the bass weight ? Does it retain a satisfying punch in the low end, or just sounds too over boosted in the mids/treble ?

I currently have the M340i and the only regret I have with the HK is that it sounds more emphasized in upper mids/treble and lacks a bit of richness/weight in the low end. Does the i5 improve on this?

Thoughts appreciated. Regards!

[patch5674]

Originally Posted by AiredaleDad

I too tried to draw the line. But I kept arguing pro's and cons. And talked myself into everything. Eventually the only thing I did not get was the glass roof, as I wanted the opening sunroof. I also did not get the Executive package because of that, and I really didn't care about the glass controls.

I know the configurator is different for the UK. I don't think they call them Executive and Premium etc. Something like Technology and comfort etc. In the US Configurator, you can get every option in the executive package with the Premium Package and adding the options separately. Even the glass roof. The only exception is the Glass Controls. You can ONLY get those with the Executive package.

Yeah we have Comfort Pack (Comfort access and heated wheel), Comfort+ (which introduces the comfort heated/vented seats and 4 zone AC). Technology pack which is HUD, Parking Assistant Plus, then Tech+ which is DAPP. You also can't add anything outside of the packs so can't add comfort seats without the whole comfort plus pack, can't have HUD without Technology Pack.

Apart form that, everything is then individual options including B&W and Glass controls. On the M60 you can get the Ultimate Pack (which has equivalents on all M cars and M lites) which includes everything such as B&W and Glass controls.

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

I have the Harmon Kardon system and am happy with it. Granted, I am not an audiophile and my standards may be lower than some. It sounds good to me when I play my mp3 files over Android Auto or over a USB stick I plug into the car. My files are of mixed bit rate and quality.

The HK system just let's you adjust Bass, Treble, Balance and Fader, unlike the B&W which has an actual equalizer that you can set. B&W also has more speakers and wattage. I'd suggest if you are really into your music and sound is important to you, go for the B&W. However, if you're like me and have $5 ears, you may not want to spend a grand on a sound upgrade. I'm happy with my HK, but I also wouldn't say it sounds like anything "special". To me, it just sounds like a good quality car sound system.

This is good to know, I mean I am slightly concerned that it only has 200W, as I do like and appreciate music and good sound, but it has more power, speakers along with a sub, than my current car so I still think I will be happy with it.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by patch5674

Yeah we have Comfort Pack (Comfort access and heated wheel), Comfort+ (which introduces the comfort heated/vented seats and 4 zone AC). Technology pack which is HUD, Parking Assistant Plus, then Tech+ which is DAPP. You also can't add anything outside of the packs so can't add comfort seats without the whole comfort plus pack, can't have HUD without Technology Pack.

Apart form that, everything is then individual options including B&W and Glass controls. On the M60 you can get the Ultimate Pack (which has equivalents on all M cars and M lites) which includes everything such as B&W and Glass controls.




This is good to know, I mean I am slightly concerned that it only has 200W, as I do like and appreciate music and good sound, but it has more power, speakers along with a sub, than my current car so I still think I will be happy with it.

That's so weird to me why they have different option packages for the different markets. I guess that depends on how they want to break it down for the target market.

[Icarus1_1]

Out of Curiosity in the US market, do you have an audio system 'under' the HK ?
I know at the times when I ordered my 4 series gen 1, in Europe, we had the 'basic' (it was absolute crap) and the HK (which was still crap, but better). However in US, the Basic was never even on the lists.
I am now hapilly waiting for the I5 touring to arrive (with the B&W

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by Icarus1_1

Out of Curiosity in the US market, do you have an audio system 'under' the HK ?
I know at the times when I ordered my 4 series gen 1, in Europe, we had the 'basic' (it was absolute crap) and the HK (which was still crap, but better). However in US, the Basic was never even on the lists.
I am now hapilly waiting for the I5 touring to arrive (with the B&W

In the US market, the only options I saw when I ordered were the base system (which is the HK), and the upgrade option for the B&W for almost $1000.

[5403033]

REALLY BAD, COMPARED TO PREVIOUS hd SYSTEM

[Tommie75]

Shameless from both BMW and HK

[Arizonan]

Having moved from a G30 (540i) to a G60 (i5 eDrive40) recently, I agree with the others that HK on G30 ($875 option) is clearly superior to the standard HK system on G60 based on my subjective experience. However, I am not an audiophile and the G60 HK is adequate for my needs.

[KeelTiii]

Absolutely terrible but I also understand that for extra money there is an upgrade.

Still I don’t like it one bit. Give us the full equalizer at the very least.

[jha96]

Really really good for a standard system.

I don't get the complaints about it – there's an upgrade available for those that are particular.

It's not like Lamborghini where the base sound system is awful.

[patch5674]

Originally Posted by jha96

Really really good for a standard system.

I don't get the complaints about it – there's an upgrade available for those that are particular.

It's not like Lamborghini where the base sound system is awful.

I think this is what I want/need to hear.

I am hoping that looking at the spec sheet isn't the whole story.

Savagegeese on youtube rated the HK system when they actually tested it vs the way more powerful system in a Lucid Air (they hated on the i5 more broadly though but lets forget that ).

My benchmark is the HK system in the F40 135i which was good, and according the HK website is way more 'powerful' than the system in this G60 (464w). I am just hoping that the i5 system sounds as good, even if it less powerful/loud.

I should have gone for B&W but alas, this car is still a huge step up for me in every other way so I will love it.

Although I have noticed that the specs of it match the system being sold as the optional system in the iX1 and iX2, so I am going to see how those systems are rated on YouTube/reviews etc.

[Tommie75]

In my F30, I had a 600-watt Harman Kardon system in a car that cost €40k. It was really top-notch. In my G20, this was reduced to about 400 watts in a car that cost €60k. It wasn't great, but it was okay. And now in my G61 it's down to 200 watts in a car that costs €85k. This HK system is really below par.

It's not just the wattage that determines the quality, of course, but it does give an indication. The speakers themselves have also become of lower quality. For all these cars, the HK system was roughly the same price (in Europe, the HK system is already an upgrade, so the base audio is even worse).

Everyone has their own experience, but even the Bowers & Wilkins upgrade isn’t what it used to be.

A Lamborghini is a sportscar, while a BMW 5-series is a luxury and comfort car. To me, the difference is significant

[Scrapula]

It depends on what you want in your stereo. I was initially disappointed in the B & W in my i5 because I expected more. It was clearly not as good as the Meridian in my Jaguar. Once I got it tuned, the high and mid range separation are better than the Meridian but it still falls short on bass response. I only used the HK during a test drive of an i4. I thought it was adequate but not exceptional.