[Gregoryb01]

Hi all. I wanted to share that BAVSOUND’s newest amp for the 2 series also includes a fix for stopping the fake engine noise pumped into the car. I put in their entire system, amp, speakers and under the seat woofers. Also disconnected the front center speakers. The stereo sounds amazing! Initially I had the older amp. When I upgraded to the new one that is when the bypass for fake engine noise was included. I also disconnected the front center speakers after installing the new amp. I hated them, as they always took over and threw music into your face and sometimes that’s what you mainly heard. They destroyed the more balanced sound of stereo, in my opinion.

[amutti]

All I've read is bad reviews for the amp, though Bavsound implied there was a bad batch. Besides the ASD bypass, how does it sound? Compared to the previous gen? If you even remember stock, compared to that?

[Gregoryb01]

Originally Posted by amutti

All I've read is bad reviews for the amp, though Bavsound implied there was a bad batch. Besides the ASD bypass, how does it sound? Compared to the previous gen? If you even remember stock, compared to that?

Hi. I find the sound amazing. I’ve had three amps, my original stock amp that came with the HK System, the BAVSOUND amp, and the new updated BAVSOUND amp. I’ve not experienced difficulties with mine. To me it sounds many times better over the HK amp, where music often sounded distorted to me, with horrible treble sounds that made your ears hurt and no bass. The original BAVSOUND AMP was an improvement, reigning in the treble and improving the bass. This new amp is even better. It has a much better bass response, you feel the seats vibrating under you. Also, listening to my music, I hear things, good things, in songs I’ve played for years, that I did not previously hear before. I recently was in a loaner with the HK system, and going from my car to that one, the difference in sound quality was night and day. All this said, it does take a couple weeks after installing the BAVSOUND speakers for them to break in and produce their wonderful sounds at their best. Another nice thing is they let you take the system on a trial run, as you can uninstall and return it during the first 100 days if you are unhappy!

[Rollo`]

This still requires you to keep the factory amp and swap it in every time you take it in for service doesn't it?

[Gregoryb01]

Originally Posted by Rollo`

This still requires you to keep the factory amp and swap it in every time you take it in for service doesn't it?

I don’t know if that issue was addressed in the upgraded new amp. I did keep my original amp. You do not need to change it out every time you take the car in for service, only to receive updates to the OBC, which does not happen frequently. So far, I have not had to remove it when I brought the car in for service, and when I need to it isn’t difficult to do. Once you’ve done it and know how it might take 20 mins, if that.

[nioh_lbbm2]

What's involved in upgrading to the new amp if we already have their revenant amp?

[Gregoryb01]

Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2

What's involved in upgrading to the new amp if we already have their revenant amp?

Hi. It’s a new amp you have to buy. Once received, you uninstall the old one and install the new amp. I’m pretty sure someone should be interested in purchasing the other amp from you. Installation is different, as it has a bypass for the fake engine noise, is larger and connects via cable directly to the battery for power. The installation process is not difficult. If you installed the first one yourself this one will be just as simple. The amp comes with installation instructions. I am not a tech type guy and was able to easily install the amp and also speaker upgrade, including those under the seat.

[nioh_lbbm2]

Originally Posted by Gregoryb01

Hi. It’s a new amp you have to buy. Once received, you uninstall the old one and install the new amp. I’m pretty sure someone should be interested in purchasing the other amp from you. Installation is different, as it has a bypass for the fake engine noise, is larger and connects via cable directly to the battery for power. The installation process is not difficult. If you installed the first one yourself this one will be just as simple. The amp comes with installation instructions. I am not a tech type guy and was able to easily install the amp and also speaker upgrade, including those under the seat.

Oh got it. For some reason I thought your original post was talking about some sort of trade-up program they were offering

[Neverlost99]

My 2015 HK sounds great but then I wear hearing aids

[cooolone2]

Ridiculous upgrade that doesn't allow any frequency (amp) changes... Oh, they had their experts create a profile, blah, blah, blah... But your ear isn't my ear, we don't hear or like the same frequency responses, I can assure you. I find their logic regrettable.

Biggest issue with these HK systems is the very lack of adjustability. Funniest thing is when I play Spotify through my phone, that connects via BT and goes through my equalizer on my phone, the audio sounds simply outrageous! A revealing "tell" on the biggest flaw of the system in these cars. A serious on at that because aftermarket $200 head units have more and better response than this HK System.

I'm going to add a sub maybe and most likely a DSP before anything. But not Bavsound and their soon to be increased by 20% amp that does basically the same as the HK.

Good luck!

[Gregoryb01]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

I'm going to add a sub maybe and most likely a DSP before anything. But not Bavsound and their soon to be increased by 20% amp that does basically the same as the HK.

Good luck!

Personally, I love it and found it a huge improvement. I’m enjoying my music a lot more, but like you said every ear is different.

[nazali]

I really don't know what the fuss is about "fake" engine noise.

It's not really fake, in other words, the noise you are hearing is real and your own engines, just going through your speakers, so it's closer to your ear.

I love the way my car sounds

[nazali]

what a lot of people don't understand is your car is not the best place to listen to hi-fidelity sound, your drivers seat is in the wrong place for stereo separation anyway, your hifi, is running from a 12v battery supply the speakers are put in places to fit and no real cabinets.

If you want proper hifi listen at home,

Don't get me wrong, I think good sound is impotrtant, but on a car, the actual car is more important, safe, secure and OK fast

my old bmw had a good sound system and my new one with HK, is great,
wit my top down, to quote LL Cool J, I can "rock the bells"

Originally Posted by Gregoryb01

Personally, I love it and found it a huge improvement. I’m enjoying my music a lot more, but like you said every ear is different.

[freakystyly]

Originally Posted by nazali

Don't get me wrong, I think good sound is impotrtant, but on a car, the actual car is more important, safe, secure and OK fast

I agree that car audio is a crap shoot. However, there's also a certain level of quality you would expect in a car at a certain price point. There's really no reason to cheap out in R&D on something the driver will use as often as they drive the car (I don't think the majority of people drive in silence).

As you probably have already noticed BMW enthusiasts are often tinkering and customizing their cars to their liking, same goes for audio.

Also, that fake audio is not your actual engine. These engines actually sound pretty awful in stock form (my opinion) so you can be glad if you like the fake sound. There was an earlier version (early 235i's I think) that you could change the coding to make the car sound like a S55 (M3/M4) but it wasn't very legit even then compared to the real thing.

[nazali]

* yes on the audio, personally I've never had a problem with my old or my new bmw

* fake sound; from what I have been told, there is a mic of sorts which takes your engine sound and pumps it in, having a convertible, I can drive with the top and windows down, I can tell the sound is coming from outside of the car and not inside

either way fake sound or not, audio or not, IMHO, I'm perfectly happy with both thoes 2 things on mine

Originally Posted by freakystyly

I agree that car audio is a crap shoot. However, there's also a certain level of quality you would expect in a car at a certain price point. There's really no reason to cheap out in R&D on something the driver will use as often as they drive the car (I don't think the majority of people drive in silence).

As you probably have already noticed BMW enthusiasts are often tinkering and customizing their cars to their liking, same goes for audio.

Also, that fake audio is not your actual engine. These engines actually sound pretty awful in stock form (my opinion) so you can be glad if you like the fake sound. There was an earlier version (early 235i's I think) that you could change the coding to make the car sound like a S55 (M3/M4) but it wasn't very legit even then compared to the real thing.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Also, that fake audio is not your actual engine. These engines actually sound pretty awful in stock form (my opinion) so you can be glad if you like the fake sound.

Funny thing, and I've assumed my car has the sound pumped in. the car mine most reminds me of sound-wise is the S38-equipped E24 M6 I owned for a couple of years in the 80s. If I were to close my eyes and press smartly on the accelerator, in so many ways I'd be back in that car again. I like that sound!

One of the things I'd find interesting to hear from BMW on is which car's actual interior sound they chose to mimic in our cars.

[freakystyly]

If I remember correctly the 2006 era Z4 has a hole in the firewall and a tube from the airbox area to literally pump in sound. Why couldn't we do with that sort of madness instead of digital sound?

Edit: Found it: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=13_1173

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

If I remember correctly the 2006 era Z4 has a hole in the firewall and a tube from the airbox area to literally pump in sound. Why couldn't we do with that sort of madness instead of digital sound?

Well, it wouldn't be 'new and improved' then, would it?

[harma24]

Originally Posted by nazali

what a lot of people don't understand is your car is not the best place to listen to hi-fidelity sound

THANK YOU!!! I've never understood the obsession with a high quality stereo system in a car with all the engine, wind and tire noise. Not to mention that my music keeps getting interrupted by my liberal use of the horn to let other drivers know how terrible they are!

Originally Posted by nazali

* fake sound; from what I have been told, there is a mic of sorts which takes your engine sound and pumps it in

I don't believe that's correct; it's a sound track and not related to your actual engine. If you want a perfect example of what's wrong with active sound, hop in an i8, fire up that inline 3 engine and you'll be treated to the roar of a V8 inside the cabin. Open the door and you'll very quickly hear the difference between what's coming out of the speakers and what's coming out the tail pipe!

[nazali]

not exactly, some digging around, there are actually 4 ways

Passive sound generation: takes signals straight from the engine output and generates them in the car interior.
Passive and active sound generation: amplifies the exhaust input and produces a new output to enhance the car’s exterior sound.
Active mounts: uses inputs from the vehicle’s exterior and transfers vibration outputs to its interior.
Synthetic sound: generates a new sound through the interior audio system.

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Also, that fake audio is not your actual engine.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by harma24

Most entertaining emoji available on the site – thanks for the reminder!

[freakystyly]

I'm not seeing anything uniquely labelled for engine sounds on the parts catalog besides this:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=65_2390

This is the link for the module that ties into the amplifier in your trunk. I'll keep my opinion until I can understand how these things work besides marketing jargon.

Still, this is a pretty quiet car even when getting on it with the windows down. That's OK though, it flys under the radar easier that way too.