BMW 5 series audio upgrades

matt99man · 29 Jan 2022 at 20:46

Evening all..
Have just pulled the trigger on a 2017 g30 5 series. Really happy with everything but did have to compromise on the audio system, this has the standard setup. I presume this will be like the f10 we had a few years ago..not much cop.

my question is…what upgrade comes recommended? It appears I can easily retrofit HK tweeters and door speakers myself, I know there is no amp but would hope this makes a decent difference for £300 or so. There are other third party options too. I have burmeister in our other car so like it to be closer to that if possible!

233 · 29 Jan 2022 at 21:17

Don’t bother with the HK it’s not worth the effort.

upgrade to aftermarket Audison or similar would be my recommendation

if you upgraded to the HK I fear you’ll be bitterly disappointed.
Ref G31 owner with HK

matt99man · 29 Jan 2022 at 21:38

233 said:
Don’t bother with the HK it’s not worth the effort.

upgrade to aftermarket Audison or similar would be my recommendation

if you upgraded to the HK I fear you’ll be bitterly disappointed.
Ref G31 owner with HK

have you listened to that first hand?

233 · 30 Jan 2022 at 06:44

Yes

currently own a G31 with HK it’s disappointing

also heard the audison upgrades in various stages in other g30/g31s and it’s a marked improvement

jpaul · 30 Jan 2022 at 07:43

Audison seems unique with integrated amp+sound processor where you can keep an inbuilt head unit and re-eq(&tune) the outputs then amplify,
plus have a digital input, for a better source
like https://www.carelectronicsnottingha...-channel-amplifier-amp-9-channel-dsp-270w-rms

if I didn't have an older bmw with aftermarket Alpine HU kit, audison would solve the problem, speakers can be cheaper like dieci hertz dsk's

naefeart · 30 Jan 2022 at 10:49

Audiofile offer some decent upgrades. I’ve been thinking along their System 3 Plus line. They seem to know their way around BMs.

Good sound deadening appears to be key, almost doesn’t matter what you fit if you miss this step.

jpaul · 30 Jan 2022 at 14:09

naefeart said:
offer some decent upgrades.

they are not cheap.
door sound deadeding often sound anomalous - it's already multi-skinned versus the windows - unless it is meant to help the rear echo chamber for speaker;
they don't seem to discuss whether replacement speakers have same response as oem's - if not the hard-coded eq in the base head-unit may make sound worse.

cheaper than audison V
Alpine dsp+amp+sub solution appears to have a BT module so may support better quality codecs/bitrate than bmw AA/CP
Presumably after market sound processors have less semiconductor shortages.

naefeart · 30 Jan 2022 at 14:35

jpaul said:
they are not cheap.
door sound deadeding often sound anomalous - it's already multi-skinned versus the windows - unless it is meant to help the rear echo chamber for speaker;
they don't seem to discuss whether replacement speakers have same response as oem's - if not the hard-coded eq in the base head-unit may make sound worse.

Maybe not cheap but seems reasonable for what you are getting.

The plus stage options include a DSP, so you're not bound to what the head unit is set to and it’s all recalibrated as part of the package anyway.

Dandle · 30 Jan 2022 at 18:19

233 said:
Yes

currently own a G31 with HK it’s disappointing

Have you turned off Logic 7 I found that really spoiled the sound in my G01. The HK system once the EQ is tweaked actually sounds really balance and nice in my car.

Housey · 30 Jan 2022 at 18:38

Dandle said:
Have you turned off Logic 7 I found that really spoiled the sound in my G01. The HK system once the EQ is tweaked actually sounds really balance and nice in my car.

Yes I agree….I think.

233 · 30 Jan 2022 at 19:33

No logic 7 on and eq set up but nowhere bear good enough

been tooling about in a Kia Niro all week and the jbl audio is just as good if not better than the 5 Series HK. And I’d say that’s passable
At
Best

MrRockliffe · 30 Jan 2022 at 20:19

Once I configured the HK system it was great.

I would look to upgrade the amp before I upgraded any speakers. You can do a lot with a good amp, especially one with adjustable DSP.

Housey · 30 Jan 2022 at 20:51

Sound is subjective.

It really isn’t that bad compared to the much more pricey Burmeister in my GTR or the B&O in my previous R8. Sure you can get better but suffices I feel.

nihang108 · 2 Mar 2025 at 20:35

jpaul said:
Audison seems unique with integrated amp+sound processor where you can keep an inbuilt head unit and re-eq(&tune) the outputs then amplify,
plus have a digital input, for a better source
like https://www.carelectronicsnottingha...-channel-amplifier-amp-9-channel-dsp-270w-rms

if I didn't have an older bmw with aftermarket Alpine HU kit, audison would solve the problem, speakers can be cheaper like dieci hertz dsk's

Hi, sorry to resurrect an older thread, but I've just bought a G30 2017 and was hoping you could help with some links to an Audison kit (previous link doesn't work) so I can keep the inbuilt head unit & some speakers (dieci/hetz/dsks) that would fit in the same holes with minimal rewiring/cost

Bear · 4 Mar 2025 at 12:44

Housey said:
Sound is subjective.

It really isn’t that bad compared to the much more pricey Burmeister in my GTR or the B&O in my previous R8. Sure you can get better but suffices I feel.

Absolutely, its definately subjective. I think the HK system in my M5 is poor compared to the Burmester in my old E63S

edit: Doh replying to a 2022 post

jpaul · 4 Mar 2025 at 23:23

Subjective if you don't have good reference points - car makers have evidently decided to spend money on other essentials - ambiant lighting , electric seat adjustment ...
rather than time correction, equalizer profiles.

was reading how chinese Polestars had been found with fake B&O (not that they are a golden reference) speakers installed.

sigma · 5 Mar 2025 at 10:47

jpaul said:
Subjective if you don't have good reference points - car makers have evidently decided to spend money on other essentials - ambiant lighting , electric seat adjustment ...
rather than time correction, equalizer profiles.

was reading how chinese Polestars had been found with fake B&O (not that they are a golden reference) speakers installed.

Are they sold as B&O?

Robbo · 5 Mar 2025 at 10:50

sigma said:
Are they sold as B&O?

As far as I know, Polestar only use Harman Kardon and Bowers & Wilkins.

MrRockliffe · 5 Mar 2025 at 13:52

Robbo said:
As far as I know, Polestar only use Harman Kardon and Bowers & Wilkins.

This is true but as I understand it Harman International own most of the major brands for automotive anyway, including B&O and I think B&W.

jpaul · 5 Mar 2025 at 14:54

yes ok I'd confused B&O with bovvers and wilkins

An episode of The Simpsons? Fake speakers found in Chinese Volvos.

Bowers and VVilkins? That’s not right!

arstechnica.com

Confronting the dealer brought little success—the salesperson knew no English and couldn't see the difference between VV and W, refusing a replacement in the process.

This also appears not to be a one-off; other owners have reported Volvos with speakers from Bovvers and Wilkins instead of the real thing.

[sure there had been an earlier thread discussing the common factory and licensed manufacture of branded speakers]

I still haven't purchased some trim remover tools to see if I can replace some of the Audi speaker with the Hertz ones removed from sold car,
and don't have an inline 6 complementing ambient noise now.