11-11-2020, 09:53 PM | #1 |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
The best audio upgrade for the X5
Just wanted to share my experience with my recent audio upgrade.
I bought my 2012 X5 brand new, and it had the Logic 7 audio system, which at that time was the top of the line system available on the X5, at least the non-M models. I believe the X5M models also had "individual" audio options, but I'm not even sure if these were even different from the Logic 7. Despite being top of the line, it was not a very impressive system to begin with, and after 8 years of wear and tear it started to sound very flat and I decided to upgrade it. Back in January I purchased a complete kit from Bavsound - two subwoofers, seven midrange speakers, and seven tweeters. I did not need to upgrade the amp since Logic 7 digital amp already puts out I think 1000 or 1500 watts necessary to drive the upgraded speakers. Upon installing the Bavsound system, I was initially impressed - the subwoofers delivered a lot more punch, the midranges and tweeters were substantially "louder" than the stock speakers, and I was a satisfied for a short while. After a while I started to notice rattles that I though were my door panel vibrating, but they turned out to be distortions from the Bavsound speakers. Also I noticed their tweeters had a lot of static noise. And their subs were completely out of balance with the midranges, delivering almost too much bass at any EQ setting, and the bass just sounded fake, like the "expanded" bass you get from cheap computer speakers. At the same time I also had a 2017 X6M that came with Bang and Olufsen system. The B&O system was maybe a bit better than Logic 7 system in my X5, but also not very impressive. And then back in August I traded the 2017 X6M for the new 2021 X6M that came with Bowers & Wilkins system, and the B&W system is most certainly a substantial upgrade from the Logic 7. So I ripped out the Bavsound garbage, and installed two B&W subs and seven B&W midranges. I did not use B&W tweeters because a) they don't come with inline filters, the B&W amp has an internal crossover and b) they are $900 each for the front ones as they use diamond cones. I bought seven tweeters from Bimmertech. I am very satisfied right now, and I can vouch that this is the best upgrade for any BMW without going custom. It is not exactly audiophile system since BMW audio systems are lacking in general, but it doesn't disappoint. All of BMW's systems including B&W are made by Harman Kardon, and all the speakers are exact the same size, but obviously they use different quality components and manufacturing process, and their B&W line is the best so far. If anyone else is interested your part numbers are 65-13-2-622-510 - subwoofers (2) 65-13-2-622-774 - midrange speaker (7) Bimmertech Alpha One A10 tweeter - (7) Of course if you dont have Logic 7 or Individual, you'll also have to upgrade the amp to get full benefit of the speaker upgrade. |
11-12-2020, 11:56 AM | #3 |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
They aren't that expensive, the midranges were about $150 each, subs about $600 each, and the bimmertech tweeters are about $45 each. Well worth it for me.
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 01:14 AM | #4 |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
A little video that I made. Sorry for the quality, I am not an expert speaker or video maker, but I think it gets my point across.
|
12-02-2020, 09:32 AM | #5 | |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Quote:
They will fill out the sound a whole lot more and sound way more natural. Those bimmertechs probably have the same 6db per octave high pass filter at 8,000hz. Those infinity tweeters will play all the way down to 2500hz before they hit their filter.
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 10:49 AM | #6 | |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
Quote:
The stock subwoofers are actually "mid woofers", and the Logic 7 headunit has an EQ that starts at 100hz, and a good subwoofer is supposed to hit as low as 20hz. Later tonight I will also check the Bowers EQ in my X6M to see what is the lowest frequency available, but I suspect it is probably the same 100hz. So the stock subwoofers probably do not really hit frequencies below 100hz. The interesting part, is when if I were to adjust bass or EQ setting with the Logic 7 or the Bowers subs, it adjust properly and you can immediately hear the difference with every notch of adjustment. With Bavsound subs, adjusting EQ settings does almost nothing - I could drop 100-200-300hz frequencies all the way down, and there is very little difference if any - no reduction of bass whatsoever. When I had the Bavsound subs installed, I used to adjust bass setting almost to the minimum, and even then there was an overwhelming presence of muddy, unbalanced bass. So I theorize that Bavsound boosted low bass frequencies at the expense of mid bass frequencies, since it is almost impossible to get both out of such shallow woofer. Also, the Bavsound subs are "one size fits all" - they offer the same subs for every BMW model with every possible audio system. The Bowers subs are really an evolution of previous high end systems such as the Logic 7, and so they are better balanced to the system. I wish I could also swap in the Bowers amp, since all it takes is digital signal through an optic cable, but it needs to be coded in and thats probably impossible to do due to the ECU differences. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 10:52 AM | #7 | |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 02:24 PM | #10 |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Yes they do!
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 03:00 PM | #11 | |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Quote:
I've never tried the bavsound speakers because I think they're over priced and not really any better than some of the cheaper options. But they should all be able to play down to around 20-40hz no problem. The issue comes when they try to play the higher frequencies with the low frequencies. That's why I cut my subwoofer off at 400hz so they won't play anything above that. That might be why you hear distortion. Of course Bavsound doesn't give you all the specs on their speakers so I really couldn't tell you why they sound the way they do. I remember a thread somewhere here, maybe it's in the e90 forums that shows how each audio system has their base eq set up (not the eq you control), I'll have to check and see if I can find it... that could be another reason the bavsound sound much different than the others.
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 03:33 PM | #12 | |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 04:18 PM | #13 | |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Quote:
I wish I could show you what I mean though with the audiocontrol microphone I have to analyze the actual eq output of what your speakers are playing realtime. The eq settings are pretty worthless to have if the factory eq presets are not "flat" cause you may be boosting a signal that's already boosted. My system starts out with the factory signal from the front speakers (that's with eq settings untouched), picture below. Then I used the auto feature in my dsp to tune my eq to get a flat response from that. Then I use that audiocontrol microphone to show me if it's actually a flat response being produced so I can further tune to how I like it to sound.
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
|
Appreciate
1
argento568.50 |
12-02-2020, 04:43 PM | #14 |
Captain
569
Rep 907
Posts |
^ Is that output from the S677A amplifier (aka Top Hifi System Amp)? Any idea what the S752A amplifier (aka Individual Audio System) looks like?
SlowX6M GREAT Video! Thank you for taking the time to share. I've ordered B&W midranges and tweeters for the center dash and d-pillars to start...
__________________
2013 X5M AW/Blk
Build Thread: https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1499820 |
Appreciate
0
|
12-02-2020, 06:09 PM | #15 | |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Quote:
And it'll show you exactly what the output eq of your system looks like realtime. It's what I used to tune my system.
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
|
Appreciate
1
argento568.50 |
12-03-2020, 11:48 AM | #16 | |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-03-2020, 11:54 AM | #17 | |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
Quote:
The new B&W amp has a fancy logo on it, but I'm sure its more or less the same internals. Optical input, fancier DSP with all kinds of "3d effects", built in crossovers, but the components that actually amplify the analog output are probably not the best. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-03-2020, 11:56 AM | #18 | |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Quote:
This thread will explain things better. It's e90 but will apply to our e70s: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-03-2020, 12:20 PM | #19 | |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-03-2020, 12:31 PM | #20 | |
Major
325
Rep 1,094
Posts |
Quote:
Those infinity tweeters will sound great. They'll fit in the stock locations too with some silicone or something.
__________________
2011 335d tuned by B.R.R.
2011 X5 35d tuned by B.R.R. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-03-2020, 12:41 PM | #21 |
Captain
569
Rep 907
Posts |
INDEED!
Since I have the S752A audio system, I was going to plug the diamond tweeters into the dixplexers...once I source them...not there yet as RL18 made abundantly clear above, lol.
__________________
2013 X5M AW/Blk
Build Thread: https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1499820 |
Appreciate
1
RL18325.00 |
12-03-2020, 12:52 PM | #22 |
Captain
317
Rep 623
Posts |
LOL, tell me about it. There is a part of me that wants to try and source Rolls Royce Bespoke speakers, good thing google search doesn't turn out any pricing.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...ck_Badge&mg=65 |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|