HK Sound Upgrade

[lilbimmer]

anyone with the HK upgrade experience some distortion when more bass is added? I almost have to take all of the bass out to hear the music clearly. the distortion seems to be coming from the trunk where the HK amp is - is this normal?

 

[midtownkoi]

I have a Z3 roadster with the HK, and I have the same problem. I went to the stereo shop where I purchased my home theatre system to see if they could remedy the problem. They told me the only thing that would work was to reduce the bass and volume. They also said that they didn't carry that size speaker, that it would have to be replaced by the dealer. He did say it didn't appear to be a blown speaker. Anyone else have any ideas on how to fix this with some aftermarket speakers? When the top is down, I have to turn the volume up quite a bit to hear the radio, and the distortion is horrible.

 

[lilbimmer]

I am with midtownkoi. I play mostly heavy bass music (reggae, hip hop etc.) and that would really mess up my music vibe. I drove a Passat with the upgraded monsoon sound system and had to move the bass to "0". The music still sounded pretty nice at that level though! Anyone with a proven solution to this problem for the bimmer?

 

[jcz1987]

I have the same problem too with my 330i with the HK spund package and the only way I cut it down is to reduce the Bass... They only way Im thinking of doing is maybe putting better speakers and mybe an amp to help. Not sure why the HK sound system has bass problems...

 

[DrivingTopless]

I have the non-HK system and can't turn the bass up past +3. Lot of songs I need to keep it at zero for distortion-free music. As midtownkoi says, the problem worsens when the top is down and you need to turn the volume up.

My Chrysler's Infinity system was better.

 

[William330]

The HK system is simply not that great.

It's better than the stock system, but that's not saying much.

Still, I've gone the custom audio route in a prior vehicle, and
would not do that again.

But the only way to "fix" a low quality system, is to replace it
with a better quality system.

 

[lilbimmer]

My thing is - doesn't BMW's sound team test this system before shipping these cars. I mean HK & BMW are putting their rep on the line when they send out sub-par quality sterio systems. Its embarrassing to have music sound like that coming from HK equipment while driving a BMW.

 

[Wile]

have u checked if the speakers have blown? do u put ur music at full/almost full blast? normal speakers don't last too long if u do this. check if the speakers r screwed properly and also if there is something loose. is the gain in ur amp at the highest level?

i have the stock system and can put it up quite a bit and don't get any distortion. i don't even have an amp. but i want to install an amp and subwoofer so i can lower the bass in the normal speakers and get the low sounds through the sub. this worked in my old car and sounded superb and prolonged the life of the speakers.

 

[William330]

My thing is - doesn't BMW's sound team test this
system before shipping these cars.

It's fairly obvious when looking at the components used in
the system, that BMW's priority was profits instead of sound
quality.

 

[lilbimmer]

have u checked if the speakers have blown? do u put ur music at full/almost full blast? normal speakers don't last too long if u do this. check if the speakers r screwed properly and also if there is something loose. is the gain in ur amp at the highest level?

i have the stock system and can put it up quite a bit and don't get any distortion. i don't even have an amp. but i want to install an amp and subwoofer so i can lower the bass in the normal speakers and get the low sounds through the sub. this worked in my old car and sounded superb and prolonged the life of the speakers.

Well I really just got the car in my posession last night and while driving it home with the music low and all of the bass out it sounded alright, but if I turned it up to mid-level the distortion occurs. How do I check the gain on the amp?

 

[Big Daddy]

HK Subwoofers have been a fairly common failure problem in the BMW's. I had the one in my roadster replaced under warranty due to distortion. It seems fine now, although I do not turn it up past 3 most of the time.

 

[Wile]

lilbimmer, on my clarion amp its on the side of it, you need to use a screw driver to turn the level up or down. find the amp and see if you can toggle any settings...

 

[lilbimmer]

lilbimmer, on my clarion amp its on the side of it, you need to use a screw driver to turn the level up or down. find the amp and see if you can toggle any settings...

Thanx - i will look for it and see what happens!