BMW 1-Series Forum (F20) 135i - 1Addicts.com > Second Generation 1 Series Forum > 2012 BMW 1-Series Sporthatch (F20) Discussion > Experience with standard speaker sound quality
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      05-31-2012, 08:39 AM   #1
fullkoll
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Experience with standard speaker sound quality

Before ordering my new F20 I thought a lot about the sound quality I would get with different configurations and after listening to and comparing some of the options, I choose to stay with the standard speakers, partly for financial reasons, but mostly because the standard speakers seemed to sound good.

Being an old jazz musician I have always been somewhat critical when sound quality is concerned - in my car as well as at home.

So what are my experiences so far after two months and 4000 km in my new 118dA?

I must say that I am very happy with the sound: good bass, clear middle and high tones, good dynamics and enough power to drive the speakers to rather high volumes without distorsion - far too high to please my wife ;-)

I have the iDrive without Navigation, Radio Professional 663, and USB 6NH and of course the standard speakers.

But...... and this is important - the input quality!

If you play music with good recording quality and use a high bit rate when you convert them to MP3, you get get a really good sound out of the system! Otherwise it´s average.

My minimum bit rate is 192 kb/s and most of my MP3s are sampled with 256-320 kb/s and I use both the CD-player and some USB sticks 16 and 32 gb.

I have seen some info saying that the BMW-system should have trouble playing high bit rates, but I have no problem with that at all.

Try to get hold of Stanley Clarke´s song "Sonny Rollins" played by the Stanley Clarke Band and do as I do - enjoy the good sound quality of the standard speaker system in your F20!

Last edited by fullkoll; 05-31-2012 at 11:13 AM..
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      05-31-2012, 09:06 AM   #2
hufc2002
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this is an encouraging report as I am getting exactly the same set up in my 118d M Sport which is on order.

Good to hear!
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      05-31-2012, 09:53 AM   #3
Patrick BMW
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+1

thanks for this report :-)
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      05-31-2012, 10:14 AM   #4
neoneon
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Good to hear this, because some people say negative things about the standard speakers. Maybe because they played bad and wrong music through the speakers.
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      05-31-2012, 10:30 AM   #5
MartinHattingh
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Although I do with agree with you to some extent, the quality rates as "acceptably good" to me.

My previous car was a 2009 Renault Megane II, and the standard sound clarity it offered was *far* superior to my F20's. Two factors contributed: Renaults are very well insulated in general (tons of foam everywhere), and it had dashboard-mounted tweeters. I actually really miss this sound, seeing as I'm a bit of an audiophile, but getting HK in my BMW wasn't really an option, as I had to pick a car from stock.

Playing Adele's "Someone like you" from the Royal Albert Hall soundtrack from CD is pretty good in the beemer, but not nearly as good as it was in the Renault. That being said, I'm used to a proper Blu-ray setup with Mordaunt-Short speakers at home...
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      05-31-2012, 10:33 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinHattingh View Post
That being said, I'm used to a proper Blu-ray setup with Mordaunt-Short speakers at home...
That says it all....... you´re spoiled.......
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      06-01-2012, 02:47 AM   #7
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Just tried it on mine for the first time via USB and high bit rate tunes and my god- standard is way better than my old E90 standard.

Woohoo- I thought it was going to be shit!
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      06-01-2012, 02:47 AM   #8
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I think the alpine upgrade would make this system sound boss... Tweeters would make an unholy difference
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      06-01-2012, 03:23 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iBeech View Post
I think the alpine upgrade would make this system sound boss... Tweeters would make an unholy difference
Does the radio auto turn of after you leave car as mine stayed on
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      06-01-2012, 03:28 AM   #10
eezzee
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Can turn off by pressing the car's start button twice, otherwise, on locking the car.
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      06-01-2012, 03:55 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eezzee View Post
Can turn off by pressing the car's start button twice, otherwise, on locking the car.
thanks.
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      06-01-2012, 05:04 AM   #12
fullkoll
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iBeech View Post
I think the alpine upgrade would make this system sound boss... Tweeters would make an unholy difference
I agree, but is avaiable for the F20 yet?

Last edited by fullkoll; 06-01-2012 at 05:12 AM..
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      06-01-2012, 05:41 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fullkoll View Post
I agree, but is avaiable for the F20 yet?
Yep, you find it in the accessories catalogue
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