I was following this thread with interest because I could swear there is no Active Sound in my 2015 M235i at all. Even changing modes between Comfort and Sport doesn't change the engine/exhaust sound in the smallest. And I must tell you that if I'm wrong and I do have artificial sound in my car, it's very poorly programmed cause it's not nice at all; sometimes I'd even say it's droning
My other car - the Golf R - is another story; the active sound is so prominent (in Race mode particularly) that one cannot have any doubts. What's interesting is they (VW) aren't using the audio speakers for that; the resonator uses entire windshield as the AS "speaker diaphragm"!