Speakers on the HK stereo

[pardi]

I was sitting in my friend's '04 325i the other day. He has the Premium Package so he's got the HK system. He told me only 4 speakers are made by HK (i.e. the ones with the silver HK emblem -- 2 front, 2 back).

This somehow doesn't make sense to me. Aren't all 12 speakers made by HK?


Aside: I also listened to another friend's '04 model without HK. Personally I would most likely skip this $950 (canadian dollars) option when I get go for the 330ci. There is noticeable improvement in the sound on the HK, but definitely not significant IMHO, and it's just not worth the dough.

 

[jarelj]

Agreed, and actually I think the HK sounds terrible. I've been reading up on it on some of the audio sections on other BMW boards, and lots of people seem to acknowledge that it sounds bad, but no one has come up with a good fix for it other than to replace with aftermarket stuff. Mine sounds like someone is holding a pillow over all of the speakers, it lacks any definition in the mids and highs. I've cranked the treble all the way up just to make it tolerable. The Bose system in my MB sounds 100% better, and it even has fewer speakers!

 

[pardi]

I also found the treble missing for the most part when I was listening to it the other day -- as you said, like someone was holding a pillow over the tweeters. I did crank up the treble setting a bit afterwards, but still, the system sounded a little muffled overall.

I drive an Acura RSX myself with 6 speakers and although I must say the HK sounds fuller/warmer (maybe too warm for my taste on some occasions), in general I find the stock stereo on my RSX sounds cleaner.

BTW I had the spatial effect off the other day, because that's the only way I could test HK vs basic stereo. I had set bass and treble to 0.

 

[izzyracer]

This is my take on the HK system. I got one on my 330i and my wife has an HK on her Benz E320. My wifes system sounds awesome. The first time I heared the HK on my BMW, I was not impress, I expected something more, as soon as I use my ipod through the auxilliary input, it was like night and day. The sound was so much better, specially when I have the electronic preset EQ on the ipod on under "electronic". So my conclusion is the HK speakers are awesome, the downfall is the BMW Business Radio. Oh yah! My sales person's response regarding the sound, BMW don't concentrate on radio and stuff but the drivability of the car.

 

[aNoodle]

This is my take on the HK system. I got one on my 330i and my wife has an HK on her Benz E320. My wifes system sounds awesome. The first time I heared the HK on my BMW, I was not impress, I expected something more, as soon as I use my ipod through the auxilliary input, it was like night and day. The sound was so much better, specially when I have the electronic preset EQ on the ipod on under "electronic". So my conclusion is the HK speakers are awesome, the downfall is the BMW Business Radio. Oh yah! My sales person's response regarding the sound, BMW don't concentrate on radio and stuff but the drivability of the car.

Interesting...but for the love of god...why can't they put an axillary input right there on the face. Glove compartment? Who thought that one up.

 

[pardi]

The sound was so much better, specially when I have the electronic preset EQ on the ipod on under "electronic". So my conclusion is the HK speakers are awesome, the downfall is the BMW Business Radio. Oh yah! My sales person's response regarding the sound, BMW don't concentrate on radio and stuff but the drivability of the car.

Hm... interesting observation.

If you're using your iPod, you're still using the amplifier of the head unit (Business Radio). And btw, as soon as you use the iPod's EQ, it's no longer a true test of the head unit's capability.

Now, assuming your conclusion is founded, then it would look like the culprit is with the radio AND the cd player (or the circuitry that connects these sources to the amplifier). IMHO, given that cd technologies have fully matured, the cd player can't be THAT bad (heck, even the cheapest dvd player you can find in Walmart would produce cleaner sound). I was already using audiophile quality CD to test -- so for sure it can't be the CD that I was using.

I don't know.... the HK on the E46 is just disappointing (to me at least).