[unseen orko]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

Apparently, the whole amp has changed for 7/16 and later builds. New amp part no.

The dealer websites are all indicating M240i to have 16 speaker, 600W H/K system. Can someone please confirm if there is any truth to this?

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by unseen orko

The dealer websites are all indicating M240i to have 16 speaker, 600W H/K system. Can someone please confirm if there is any truth to this?

If you can tell me where the 16 speakers should be then I can look, but I'm almost positive it's not

[unseen orko]

Originally Posted by Joe240

If you can tell me where the 16 speakers should be then I can look, but I'm almost positive it's not

Thanks Joe. Here you go. The exact text I see from dealer sites.

harman/kardon PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM vehicle-specific equalization and powerful 600-watt amplifier, 16-speaker system includes 6 tweeters, 4 midrange speakers located in door panels and 2 midrange speakers located under the rear shelf space, 2 bass speakers located under the front seats, 1 midrange center channel speaker and 1 tweeter located in the instrument cluster,

http://www.fieldsbmwlakeland.com/new...4a4d3c30e1.htm

[pz619]

This is on BMWUSA

The available 12-speaker Harman Kardon® Surround Sound Audio System includes a 360-watt amp, 5 tweeters (2 with Harman Kardon designation in the mirror triangles), 5 midrange speakers, and 2 central bass speakers located under the front seats.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by unseen orko

Thanks Joe. Here you go. The exact text I see from dealer sites.

harman/kardon PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM vehicle-specific equalization and powerful 600-watt amplifier, 16-speaker system includes 6 tweeters, 4 midrange speakers located in door panels and 2 midrange speakers located under the rear shelf space, 2 bass speakers located under the front seats, 1 midrange center channel speaker and 1 tweeter located in the instrument cluster,

http://www.fieldsbmwlakeland.com/new...4a4d3c30e1.htm

FYI: Never trust the info on dealer-run sites. It is frequently incorrect. However, always trust the info on the manufacturer site. Why?

The dealer can't be sued for bad information unless deceptive advertising or malicious intent is proven -- which is near impossible when referring to a single advertised product (i.e., a car for sale). The manufacturer, on the other hand, can be sued for inaccuracies readily because its info applies to an entire line of products. Bottom line is the info has to be vetted on the manufacturer site before it even sees the light of the Interwebz.

So ... ergo, this is correct: "The available 12-speaker Harman Kardon® Surround Sound Audio System includes a 360-watt amp, 5 tweeters (2 with Harman Kardon designation in the mirror triangles), 5 midrange speakers, and 2 central bass speakers located under the front seats." The other specs refer to the Logic7 HK system in higher-line models.

[zenmaster]

Without getting into the sound-quality difference nuances between the '16 M235i HK and '17 BMW M2 (and all '17 2-series presumably), the '17 factory audio system is (IMO) at least 20% better than the '16 (and earlier). No question about it.

Is it as good as the HK in the 3-series? No, but now it's a lot closer. Maybe 80-85% of it. It's good enough where it's not necessary for me to upgrade anything. For reference, I'd consider the '16 M235i system quality to be perhaps 60-65% of the 3-series setup.

[MatSmith749]

I got my m240i a few weeks ago.

I did test out a car with the HK, and whilst it was pretty good I didn't think it was great, so I specced the basic audio.

In comparison the biggest difference is whilst the HK sounds all right, the basic sounds like you are listening to music with hands pressed over your ears. It is truly muffled & dead sounding, the vocals blend in with the tune & it just sounds like you are listening to music from underwater.

But I figured the base system would be easy to fix & after seeing the driver components on the HK I could not see how they would perform much better.

Probably the biggest difference on the HK is that it has some tweeters installed from the factory, so it sounds brighter (too bright?) but not exactly loads better.

I've just done a speaker swap on the basic (installed Focal IFBMW-C drivers) & already it is much much better.... probably good enough to consider the upgrade 'done' without any additional amps etc.

YMWV - have a listen & see what you think.

My opinion would be that if you like your tunes then the HK will need upgrading to make you happy. if you are gonna do that anyways, may as well start from the base system. I say that on the basis that if you took a base system & spent the money you would pay for the HK on upgrade speakers, you will have a better system than the HK for the same money (or at least a better platform for future upgrades if desired).

Matt

[jpnh]

One other reason to CONSIDER going with the HK on the 240 is that it already comes programmed for Siruis.......and the dealership wants 500 bucks to add the programming to the base radio to enable it

If you dont care about Sirius/XM then it doesnt matter as much

[zenmaster]

Originally Posted by jpnh

If you dont care about Sirius/XM then it doesnt matter as much

I'd use Sirius it if they improved the sound quality. It's currently worse than that of FM radio. 40-64kbps max. Awful listening for music, great for voice only.

[rainfall]

If you do get it, make sure you get it with a good discount
Just go to a car shop and look at the options... or even better, go to a regular HK/Denon/Onkyo shop and look what kind of Home Theater for that kind of money, just as a sanity check.

Let me put that even simpler: look at how much we pay for a navigation system (is it $2k right now?). It's essentially a GPS with a screen an inch or two larger than the standard model. Have you thought what kind of television or non-BMW navigation system you can get for that money? lol

I don't know, I'm a poor man trying to buy a new BMW with a mortgage to pay, so every penny counts. I do this comparison every time I spend $500 or more on something.

[MattUK]

For what its worth, and as above its subjective, down the quality of the music, and of course the car isnt an idea listening area.

I've come from BOSE on the M6 to HK in my 240, and I think the sound is MUCH better.

I wish do wish I had access to configure some equalizer elements, but hey ho

[Troppo]

For those of you with the HK in the 240 - have you disconnected the centre front speaker, and if so, does it improve the sound as in the 235?

Ta

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by Troppo

For those of you with the HK in the 240 - have you disconnected the centre front speaker, and if so, does it improve the sound as in the 235?

Ta

I know of one guy around here did. He said it improved it for him. He's also changed out speakers and everything. I personally have my HK stock and I enjoy the sound quality. I really wonder if people change the base and treble and stuff to adjust it at all

[Troppo]

Thanks

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by Troppo

For those of you with the HK in the 240 - have you disconnected the centre front speaker, and if so, does it improve the sound as in the 235?

Ta

Sounds OK to me.....

[Troppo]

I have the HK in my new X3 and it sounds great.

The 240i demo I drove also had the HK (comes standard on all Aussie M240i s), and it sounded pretty good as well - mind you, I wasn't really concentrating on the stereo during the test drive...

[pbgalvin]

And immediately noticed that the HK sound system was much improved over the M235s HK. Would totally make sense that there was a wiring issue in the 235, and / or that they improved the amp in the M240. Was always underwhelmed by the sound in the 235 so psyched about the 240 sound.
The bad wiring could also explain why disabling the center channel in the 235 improved its sound...

Thanks for this thread - was wondering if I was just imaging the sound being improved. If so I'm not the only one :-)

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by pbgalvin

And immediately noticed that the HK sound system was much improved over the M235s HK. Would totally make sense that there was a wiring issue in the 235, and / or that they improved the amp in the M240. Was always underwhelmed by the sound in the 235 so psyched about the 240 sound.
The bad wiring could also explain why disabling the center channel in the 235 improved its sound...

Thanks for this thread - was wondering if I was just imaging the sound being improved. If so I'm not the only one :-)

+1 just picked up my 19' M240i in February and almost immediately noticed how much better the sound from the HK is than in my previous M235.