Center Channel speaker delete

ggabriele3 · 03-23-2018, 08:39 AM

My last car was a 2016 228i which, like the X5, has a center channel speaker. In that car I had disconnected the center channel, which vastly improved the stereo image in the car...turned out that BMW was apparently summing the left and right channels in the center, making everything muddy.

Simple enough to do - i just popped the cover off and unplugged the cables.

Has anyone tried that in the X5? I was thinking of doing it, but haven't yet gotten the chance.

ggabriele3 · 03-25-2018, 02:40 PM

I went ahead and disconnected it today. just as with the 228i, instant improvement with music.

askjeeves · 03-25-2018, 05:29 PM

How did you disconnect it. I'm curious to hear the difference.

gsnake · 03-25-2018, 10:59 PM

I also tried it and I think I like it better without the center speaker. Need to spend more time comparing but so far sounds better!

m5james · 03-27-2018, 05:55 PM

Can't it simply be turned off in iDrive under Surround Sound or something like that?

gsnake · 03-28-2018, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m5james

Can't it simply be turned off in iDrive under Surround Sound or something like that?

I don't think so..

m5james · 03-28-2018, 04:38 PM

I'm driving my E36 today but I'm pretty sure it can be since I remember playing with settings.

askjeeves · 03-28-2018, 06:14 PM

There is an option listed as "surround". Not sure it that's just an on/off for the center channel, but I don't think it is.

03-23-2018, 08:39 AM	#1
ggabriele3 Private 28 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 2015 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Center Channel speaker delete My last car was a 2016 228i which, like the X5, has a center channel speaker. In that car I had disconnected the center channel, which vastly improved the stereo image in the car...turned out that BMW was apparently summing the left and right channels in the center, making everything muddy. Simple enough to do - i just popped the cover off and unplugged the cables. Has anyone tried that in the X5? I was thinking of doing it, but haven't yet gotten the chance.
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03-25-2018, 02:40 PM	#2
ggabriele3 Private 28 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 2015 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I went ahead and disconnected it today. just as with the 228i, instant improvement with music.
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03-25-2018, 05:29 PM	#3
askjeeves Captain 147 Rep 957 Posts Drives: e92 m3/spece30 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (1)	How did you disconnect it. I'm curious to hear the difference. __________________ 2011 e92 ///m3 zcp - jzb/fr ED 6/29/10
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03-25-2018, 10:59 PM	#4
gsnake Private First Class 19 Rep 122 Posts Drives: X5 2012 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	I also tried it and I think I like it better without the center speaker. Need to spend more time comparing but so far sounds better!
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03-27-2018, 05:55 PM	#5
m5james Colonel 431 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	Can't it simply be turned off in iDrive under Surround Sound or something like that? __________________ '10 BMW X5///M - Alpine White on Sakhir Orange - JB4 w/ HCP Stage 2 BEF, NGK 97506 @ .20, SS tubing & BMC filters, gutted cats, AC Forged 312 22's, H&R 2" '98 BMW 740iL - ///E39 M5 6spd swap, fully built engine (sleeved, P&P, cams), 3.46 LSD, H&R Stage 2/Bilstein HD, Magnaflow 14816's '97 BMW 328ci - ///E36 M3 clutch & L/W flywheel, Z4///M 18's
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03-28-2018, 04:38 PM	#7
m5james Colonel 431 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	I'm driving my E36 today but I'm pretty sure it can be since I remember playing with settings.
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03-28-2018, 06:14 PM	#8
askjeeves Captain 147 Rep 957 Posts Drives: e92 m3/spece30 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (1)	There is an option listed as "surround". Not sure it that's just an on/off for the center channel, but I don't think it is. __________________ 2011 e92 ///m3 zcp - jzb/fr ED 6/29/10
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