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      09-02-2017, 08:24 AM   #1
ob2ob2
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Harman Kardon options

Recently I had a courtesy car (F30) with the Harman Kardon loudspeakers. I felt it didn't sound as good as the Harman Kardon Logic 7 on F10 previously.

In the Logic 7 in F10, the sound field was precise (I could almost pin point the virtual location of the speaking person from a radio news program), but in the F30, it wasn't precise or clear, probably just about the same as the standard speakers in my F07 (which is bad enough).

Without going for the B&W system, which costs too much - I wish they can offer something more reasonably priced, but with good quality.

Anyone experienced the differences between the Harman Kardon Logic 7 and the Harman Kardon Loudspeakers?
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      09-03-2017, 06:03 AM   #2
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Was using a courtesy F30 with HK option and I too thought that it didn't sound as nice in the F10.

I'm sure I read that the HK option on the G30 is much cheaper than on the F10, maybe this has something to do with it. Could the UK professional BMW audio on the F10 been rebranded the HK on the G30?
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      09-03-2017, 03:46 PM   #3
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HK option on G30 is about same price as it was on F10. Same number and location of speakers, same amplifier rating, and the speakers look very similar physically (I've swapped to Bavsound on both cars, so had chance to get up close and personal....)

I think that, from the factory, G30 HK sounds slightly better than F10 HK. Bass extension is slightly greater, with less midbass bloom. Pushing down the equaliser at the 2khz mark helps tame a bit of electronic harshness.

Logic 7 isn't a separate option from HK. Logic 7 surround processing is just an option in the sound settings on HK systems, and it should be left off !
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      09-03-2017, 04:03 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morellomax View Post
Logic 7 isn't a separate option from HK. Logic 7 surround processing is just an option in the sound settings on HK systems, and it should be left off !
Out of interest, why should Logic 7 be left off?
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      09-04-2017, 05:39 AM   #5
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Hi Ian,

Well it's personal preference I suppose, but assuming you're listening to a stereo source which most of us will be 99.9% of the time, then the Logic 7 processing is just a fake surround effect. It gives an initial impression of a wider soundstage, but you lose precision and detail, and the bass also seems to become less even or consistent. The way to achieve a wider soundstage / a more spacious and open sound with the HK system is to replace the tweeters, ideally the mids and tweeters, with better units.
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      09-04-2017, 06:10 AM   #6
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Cheers, I'll switch off the Logic 7 and see how it sounds
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      09-04-2017, 02:59 PM   #7
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I agree with Morellomax. I'm not even slightly golden-eared and to me the Logic 7 sounds echoey and almost like the sound is bouncing round the car and filling it up. However, I am entirely happy with simply turning it off and feel the existing speakers are good enough for me. Although, as it happens, I struggle with the bass a bit as some tracks sound a bit thumpy and when I turn the bass down a bit other tracks sound a bit light.
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      09-05-2017, 06:31 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by suj999 View Post
Was using a courtesy F30 with HK option and I too thought that it didn't sound as nice in the F10.

I'm sure I read that the HK option on the G30 is much cheaper than on the F10, maybe this has something to do with it. Could the UK professional BMW audio on the F10 been rebranded the HK on the G30?
There is still a 'BMW Advanced' option for c£400 and then the HK option for approx double that.

The basic speakers are rubbish, and the 'Advanced' is the bare minimum that should be chosen. In comparison, the E-class has a much better base set-up.

For my personal circumstances, I couldn't justify going up to HK in the past; but have splashed out this time in my new G30 order... just over a month to go before it arrives...
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      09-05-2017, 05:52 PM   #9
morellomax
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPogle View Post
I struggle with the bass a bit as some tracks sound a bit thumpy and when I turn the bass down a bit other tracks sound a bit light.
Yeah, that was definitely more a problem in the F10 than in the G30. Made worse by the steeper rolloff of bass frequencies as you increase overall volume.

Have you set the speed volume adjustment to minimum in the sound settings ? That should help a bit.
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      09-06-2017, 07:42 PM   #10
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I have now and it has improved things a bit. I'm still resigned to tweaking the bass between albums, though. Makes me nostalgic for when the bass control was a simple knob and not hidden in a menu.
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      09-06-2017, 09:53 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPogle View Post
I have now and it has improved things a bit. I'm still resigned to tweaking the bass between albums, though. Makes me nostalgic for when the bass control was a simple knob and not hidden in a menu.
You could always assign 'Tone Control' to one of the Shortcut buttons.
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      09-07-2017, 02:20 AM   #12
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I do. But it is still lot more faff than turning a physical control a bit.
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      09-07-2017, 04:20 AM   #13
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Very true, that's progress for you
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      09-07-2017, 05:51 AM   #14
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I also found that putting the bass tone control up +1 or +2, then turning the 100hz down -2 and 200hz down -1 helped a bit with keeping low bass but reducing the upper bass bloom. Again, not scientific, just based on one set of imperfect ears.
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