[pedro13]

Does anybody know what sound system is regularly in G45? I can't find any info about that. Only possibility of upgrading to 15-speakers Harman Kardon Surround System. There is no info about HIFI system.

[IX3 KING]

Originally Posted by pedro13

Does anybody know what sound system is regularly in G45? I can't find any info about that. Only possibility of upgrading to 15-speakers Harman Kardon Surround System. There is no info about HIFI system.

Just go with the Harmon Kardon as it’s way better then the HIFI system. The sound is 100% better.

[MidnightLight]

BMW's base sound system is always atrocious. No reason to believe that the G45 will be any different.

[EWL5]

I would go w/the HK system (if you care about audio at all). There's a chance the RMS power will be reduced even further going from G01 to G45 but it'll still be better than the trashy HiFi system!

[BigRam7151]

It’s listed as 600 watts on the US builder website for the HK model.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

It’s listed as 600 watts on the US builder website for the HK model.

So was the G01, which was incorrect.

I’ve seen different numbers used in different BMW official documents for the G45. It appears to have fewer speakers 15 v 16, but the output here shown on the BMW configurator is 750w, although the BMW launch press documents quote a different number……

It also has some illuminated speakers which will clearly improve the sound. I’m not sure how you give the G45 interior a sense of “exclusivity” lol.

[BigRam7151]

Very odd. It’s completely different on the us site.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

Very odd. It’s completely different on the us site.

I suspect the text has just been lifted from the G01, which was also wrong on the BMW US site.

[BigRam7151]

Then I’m assuming the British one is correct because that’s the one that’s different. My understanding is the i4 and the newer bmw of This range and up are better.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by pedro13

Does anybody know what sound system is regularly in G45? I can't find any info about that. Only possibility of upgrading to 15-speakers Harman Kardon Surround System. There is no info about HIFI system.

The non HK (I don’t think it’s called HiFi anymore) is 6 speakers with a 100w output according to be BMW Group launch information. The same section also provides details of the HK option with 15 speakers, but the output value is different to the configurator here.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

Then I’m assuming the British one is correct because that’s the one that’s different. My understanding is the i4 and the newer bmw of This range and up are better.

It’s difficult to tell with the BS BMW shovels. There are also different levels of audio systems, some use HK Quantum Logic, some Logic7, and different numbers of speakers and power output.

The BMW UK configurator doesn’t quote an output from the HK system on the i4…..

Here’s what the brochure says about the i4 -

[BigRam7151]

The x3 seems to be an upgrade since the uk website and the document avi posted corroborate it.also the base system seems to be substantially worse. I think the hk is a more expensive upgrade this year but I don’t remember what it used to be honestly.

They had it listed at 875 us but included it in one of our packages. I don’t remember which one. I’m not really insinuating they are charging more and improving it as inflation is a thing that has significantly brought up costs so idk. Hopefully it’s better.

I had an e class Mercedes prior to this and I can say the only thing better in that car was the sound system so I’m hoping bmw is trying to improve.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

The x3 seems to be an upgrade since the uk website and the document avi posted corroborate it.also the base system seems to be substantially worse. I think the hk is a more expensive upgrade this year but I don’t remember what it used to be honestly.

They had it listed at 875 us but included it in one of our packages. I don’t remember which one. I’m not really insinuating they are charging more and improving it as inflation is a thing that has significantly brought up costs so idk. Hopefully it’s better.

I had an e class Mercedes prior to this and I can say the only thing better in that car was the sound system so I’m hoping bmw is trying to improve.

Hard to say on cost here, because ithe HK can’t be ordered on its own, only part of a pack.

The pack consisting of 8 items for £1350 inc 20% tax, and the G01 HK was around £850 here. I’d say the same or possibly cheaper given what’s in Comfort Plus pack.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

It’s listed as 600 watts on the US builder website for the HK model.

That's a known typo. There's no way the X3's HK audio (even in a redesign) is ever going to be more powerful than the X5's!
https://www.bmwusa.com/build-your-ow...65ro2p/options

It can be no better than 464W according to the Harman site:
https://kh.harmankardon.com/bmw.html

[avi66]

Originally Posted by EWL5

That's a known typo. There's no way the X3's HK audio (even in a redesign) is ever going to be more powerful than the X5's!
https://www.bmwusa.com/build-your-ow...65ro2p/options

It can be no better than 464W according to the Harman site:
https://kh.harmankardon.com/bmw.html

The current X5 G05 and G01 share the same ALEV 3 HK option which is claimed as 464w.

I suspect it’s a cheap option to increase output on the G45 in an attempt to distract consumers, a little like the cheesy lighting. After all, output is the only thing the determines audio quality…..

[BigRam7151]

Originally Posted by EWL5

That's a known typo. There's no way the X3's HK audio (even in a redesign) is ever going to be more powerful than the X5's!
https://www.bmwusa.com/build-your-ow...65ro2p/options

It can be no better than 464W according to the Harman site:
https://kh.harmankardon.com/bmw.html

It’s possible they may improve it when the x5 gets the redesign. Also the x5 offers the bowers and Wilkins system.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

It’s possible they may improve it when the x5 gets the redesign. Also the x5 offers the bowers and Wilkins system.

Yeah but we're talking only the HK system (apples to apples). I don't think the X3 should have better anything over the X5, right? Why else are folks paying nearly $20k premium over the X3?

[BigRam7151]

My primary thought was the x5 hasn’t undergone the big refresh yet so you can’t compare. There is a strong possibility next gen they will only outfit it with bowers and Wilkins or have the hk with an improved system. You can’t compare the g45 to the current gen x5.

Also generally the x5 has had the same system as the x3. Very minor improvements if any. X5 distinguishes itself with upgrades. Anthracite liner, massage seats etc.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

My primary thought was the x5 hasn’t undergone the big refresh yet so you can’t compare. There is a strong possibility next gen they will only outfit it with bowers and Wilkins or have the hk with an improved system. You can’t compare the g45 to the current gen x5.

Also generally the x5 has had the same system as the x3. Very minor improvements if any. X5 distinguishes itself with upgrades. Anthracite liner, massage seats etc.

I agree there’s no real comparison between the G45 and G05. The G05 is the premium offering. The interior material quality is higher, with a greater range of premium options. That said the G01 and G05 do share some systems like the ALEV 3 HK RAM/booster.

When the new X5 series release comes it will likely undergo similar cost cutting to more recent BMW series releases. The Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) option is just B&W speakers with a BMW ALEV 4 Harman RAM/booster.

I still think it is highly likely B&W system will be a higher cost (£3500 here) option and HK ALEV 3 will be standard on the next X5.

How will it sound ? Very different as with any current system depending on who is listening, source quality, and settings.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by BigRam7151

My primary thought was the x5 hasn’t undergone the big refresh yet so you can’t compare. There is a strong possibility next gen they will only outfit it with bowers and Wilkins or have the hk with an improved system. You can’t compare the g45 to the current gen x5.

Also generally the x5 has had the same system as the x3. Very minor improvements if any. X5 distinguishes itself with upgrades. Anthracite liner, massage seats etc.

Bowers and Wilkins will never be "standard" because that's how car companies get you with the upsell opportunity (you can't force everyone to be an "audiophile" all of a sudden)!

Cost cutting has been a part of BMW's vocabulary the last couple of years. I can only imagine the 464W HK system getting worse, not better! If talk about the new HiFi only being 100W is true, that's barely what you can get in the better toys for children (and definitely worse than home theater in a box systems)!

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by avi66

I still think it is highly likely B&W system will be a higher cost (£3500 here) option and HK ALEV 3 will be standard on the next X5.

I used to think the HK system could eventually be standard on an upper tier BMW but not even the current X7 has it standard (still HiFi)! Granted when I was shopping the X7, quite a number of builds had the HK just because a popular package included it but hopefully you folks get my point that expectations didn't match reality! Hopefully it doesn't surprise anyone that CPO X7s coming off leases typically only had HiFi audio!

[avi66]

Originally Posted by EWL5

I used to think the HK system could eventually be standard on an upper tier BMW but not even the current X7 has it standard (still HiFi)! Granted when I was shopping the X7, quite a number of builds had the HK just because a popular package included it but hopefully you folks get my point that expectations didn't match reality! Hopefully it doesn't surprise anyone that CPO X7s coming off leases typically only had HiFi audio!

I would never be surprised if the 6 speaker 100w system was standard across all future BMW models. This isn’t even “HiFi” level, but more akin to the base system offered as standard on past models in the UK.

Like you said, nice options are an easy way to make profit, whilst keeping the “standard spec” MRSP relatively competitive, for those that don’t know or don’t care about what’s being offered.