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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Discussing the current generation Z4
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B21
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by B21 » Sat Oct 16, 2021 9:49 pm

Swiftly wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:03 pm
B21 wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 6:08 pm
Argyll Andy wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:43 pm Nick, good to know :thumbsup:

Do you by any chance know if this sound menu can be accessed via Carly or does it have to be Bimmercode?
For a small fee someone with Bimmergeeks Protool could toggle it… :rofl:

Although if I’ve followed it correctly it’s a frig..ie you are using the device settings for a different make of hardware than you should? :tumbleweed:

Not that there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that…maybe…
I only came across this coding on another forum, it would seem that this coding option is also available for other BMW models and looking at the posts going back a number of months, they all seem positive. Either way, it can be quickly restored to the original version.
It’s not unusual for the geeks, be they coders or owners to find these options and probably in the case of an audio system unlikely to do any damage..

You can do the same on the E89 too…albeit much more limited..
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..

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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by Swiftly » Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:28 pm

B21 wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 9:49 pm
Swiftly wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:03 pm
B21 wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 6:08 pm

For a small fee someone with Bimmergeeks Protool could toggle it… :rofl:

Although if I’ve followed it correctly it’s a frig..ie you are using the device settings for a different make of hardware than you should? :tumbleweed:

Not that there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that…maybe…
I only came across this coding on another forum, it would seem that this coding option is also available for other BMW models and looking at the posts going back a number of months, they all seem positive. Either way, it can be quickly restored to the original version.
It’s not unusual for the geeks, be they coders or owners to find these options and probably in the case of an audio system unlikely to do any damage..

You can do the same on the E89 too…albeit much more limited..
As you said Peter, I doubt it would do any damage as the coding only replaces the stock HK 408 Watt Logic 7 DSP amplifier preset with the Bowers & Wilkins 5 presets:

Studio - No surround, just music as recorded (claims)
Concert - surround dsp emulates a live concert hall
Stage - surround dsp emulates live stage
Movies - surround dsp emulates movie theater
Lounge - DSP applied to rear speakers

For me, Concert, Stage and Movies all sound very similar, with Concert perhaps the most balanced and clearest. Stage and Movies have some enhanced base and a more muted upper end.
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by B21 » Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:40 pm

I’m just surprised that the software for the B+W which was destined for what I assume was a much more capable system works on what appears to be a successor to the mid-fi E89 system aka HK….. :tumbleweed:

I assume it’s a thin veneer of application software ..

Whatever if it works for you and others great :roll:

I’ll have to listen to Andy’s system once he stops playing The Monkees..

So the HK sounds like it’s a 7 or 8 channel system ?
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..

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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by Swiftly » Sat Oct 16, 2021 11:17 pm

B21 wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:40 pm I’m just surprised that the software for the B+W which was destined for what I assume was a much more capable system works on what appears to be a successor to the mid-fi E89 system aka HK….. :tumbleweed:

I assume it’s a thin veneer of application software ..

Whatever if it works for you and others great :roll:

I’ll have to listen to Andy’s system once he stops playing The Monkees..

So the HK sounds like it’s a 7 or 8 channel system ?
It's a 7 channel system
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by B21 » Sat Oct 16, 2021 11:26 pm

Swiftly wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 11:17 pm
B21 wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:40 pm I’m just surprised that the software for the B+W which was destined for what I assume was a much more capable system works on what appears to be a successor to the mid-fi E89 system aka HK….. :tumbleweed:

I assume it’s a thin veneer of application software ..

Whatever if it works for you and others great :roll:

I’ll have to listen to Andy’s system once he stops playing The Monkees..

So the HK sounds like it’s a 7 or 8 channel system ?
It's a 7 channel system
:thumbsup:
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..

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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by dr_john » Sun Oct 17, 2021 1:48 am

ori wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:49 pm Is it that big a difference?
I never found the sound lacking. I’m be interested to try it although I don’t have binmercode….only Carly.
I have to agree, I used the graphic equaliser supplied with the HK system to modify the tonal profile and I am happy with it :)
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by BrianD » Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:42 am

Thanks Swiftly, I will certainly be trying this as the sound quality from mine is poor for a supposedly quality car :thumbsup:
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by B21 » Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:06 am

BrianD wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:42 am Thanks Swiftly, I will certainly be trying this as the sound quality from mine is poor for a supposedly quality car :thumbsup:
Maybe the equalisation circuitry is optimised for ‘the yoof’ market?

Age induced hearing loss primarily affects higher frequencies and some part of the lower frequencies. :tumbleweed: :tumbleweed: :rofl:
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by BrianD » Sun Oct 17, 2021 6:35 pm

B21 wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:06 am
BrianD wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:42 am Thanks Swiftly, I will certainly be trying this as the sound quality from mine is poor for a supposedly quality car :thumbsup:
Maybe the equalisation circuitry is optimised for ‘the yoof’ market?

Age induced hearing loss primarily affects higher frequencies and some part of the lower frequencies. :tumbleweed: :tumbleweed: :rofl:
You may be correct, but dont forget that you are not that far behind me :P :rofl:
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by BrianD » Sun Oct 17, 2021 6:42 pm

I coded my M40i this morning, and I can report that the presents have transformed the sound quality to another level :D, and I can't believe that just a few presets can alter the sound quality that much. I'm just annoyed with myself that I hadn't spotting this coding option sooner.
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by Scubaregs » Sun Oct 17, 2021 6:51 pm

I still can't get the app to connect, I suspect it's because I've updated the IOS on the iphone, hard connection is made but no ip is being generated so App will not open and connect.
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by ronk » Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:04 pm

Why do they let the customer have the car in this condition ?
I would have thought it was in the best interest of BMW and HK to have the customer say "Wow" when they listen to the system.

With my ancient hearing system I need all the help I can get.
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by ori » Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:36 pm

ronk wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:04 pm Why do they let the customer have the car in this condition ?
I would have thought it was in the best interest of BMW and HK to have the customer say "Wow" when they listen to the system.

With my ancient hearing system I need all the help I can get.
Think that’s harsh. I found the HK to be very good.
Also, from my understanding this is just presets and you can adjust this all yourself anyway?
Don’t get me wrong, I now want the presets and if there is someone local to me who can do it for me then I’ll ask them politely to do it. ;)

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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by ronk » Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:58 pm

ori wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:36 pm

Think that’s harsh. I found the HK to be very good.
Also, from my understanding this is just presets and you can adjust this all yourself anyway?
Don’t get me wrong, I now want the presets and if there is someone local to me who can do it for me then I’ll ask them politely to do it. ;)
Sorry if I've misunderstood, I thought there was some doubt about the available v as delivered sound quality and the need for system to be tweaked ?
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Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Post by B21 » Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:27 pm

Without playing a pink noise sample and doing some real time analysis it’s impossible to know what the change is doing , but if it makes folks happier them that’s all that matters..

Having now set up a DSP and all its parameters from scratch there’s a dichotomy between what the systems think should make a good sound and what folks think..

Obviously the hardware isn’t changed so all it can be put simply is tweaking the treble n bass.. :tumbleweed:
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..

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