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10-18-2011, 08:03 AM | #1 |
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Audio quality question
The car I'm looking at (US spec 528xi) has all the options I want (color, interior, options) with two exceptions, CA (which I can obviously adapt to pretty quickly) and premium audio.
It is very hard to determine audio quality on a test drive. I'm not expecting audiophile quality in my car, but how is the "base" system in the US 528/535? The base system in the 3 series was quite bad when they dropped it down a notch in 2009 (they raised it back to the mid level in 2011) I'm expecting the base system to be equivalent to the mid range system ofered in the 3 series (the one a step below the HK system.) Is that a correct assumption? Thanks |
10-18-2011, 01:28 PM | #2 |
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Does your dealer have a 5 series with the Premium Audio? I would take a CD and let your ears decide.
My 528i has the base audio system and to me, I would pay extra for the Premium. |
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10-18-2011, 02:22 PM | #3 |
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Very personnal.
FM Radio audio quality is always inferior to CD so I would agree with snj1013; I had premium audio on E60 and went to standard audio on F10; There is clearly some difference, but I must admit the difference is subtle and I do not regret my choice... You definitely have to test by yourself. |
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10-18-2011, 05:57 PM | #5 |
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When you consider audible intrusions such as road, engine, running gear and wind noise, it never ceases to amaze me that some folk are prepared to spend a heap of money for audiophile quality hi-fi in a car.
I consider the basic system to be perfectly fine and, personally speaking, I prefer to concentrate on the road and maintain aural awareness of what's around me as opposed to the music. |
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10-18-2011, 06:45 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
I agree with you - to a degree. While I'm driving down the road texting my BFF and eating a burger, I like to be entertained. Seriously, I do agree with you but the base system in the E90 was so horrible that listening to traffic reports was painful. |
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10-19-2011, 06:57 PM | #7 |
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I'm afraid I come down on the side of premium. I had a 528i for a month with the base audio, and I thought it was very good. I went to a 535i with premium audio and I was floored by the difference.
I will say, though, that if you are a Sirius/XM fan then there's no point in upgrading. The base system is capable of more than S/XM can deliver anyway. The best thing to do is to go listen to both yourself, and get what you like.
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2011 535i (8/2011 build) Jet Black, Black Dakota leather, Dark Wood, Convenience, Premium 1 & 2, SmartPhone, BMW Apps
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10-19-2011, 07:14 PM | #8 |
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Thanks. I just spent some time in the car I'm considering (528xi, sport, premium, tech, sat, BMWapps) and the audio sounded fine for what I listen to (HD news radio, Sirius)
I found the base 3 series audio horrible when I bought my 335, but the 08 base (actually a step up from the 09 base) OK. I ended up getting the Logic7 that was quite nice. |
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