Improving Harmon Kardon sound quality

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:26 pm

Since I first bought my M40i, I´ve struggled to improve the sound quality that the Harmon Kardon unit produces. Compared to the HK set-up and sound quality produced in my previous M240i, the G29 setup is very disappointing and just lacks any depth or detail. Today, I decided to code the Bowers & Wilkins sound settings using Bimmercode, which extends the sound presets that are activated in the settings in the iDrive system under “Sound“. All I can say is wow, the more I listen the more detail I hear! I now have 5 presets to choose from, Studio, Concert Hall, Stage, Cinema and lounge, with a noticeable difference being heard between each of the presets. I just wish I had opted to code this sooner.

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:29 pm

Is that in expert mode in Bimmercode?

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:33 pm

Scubaregs wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:29 pm Is that in expert mode in Bimmercode?

No, just standard mode under Audio, I would probably screw something up if I used expert mode

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:35 pm

Ah, need to have a look and see if I can work it out, I'm not going near expert mode either.

Can you remember the steps?

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:39 pm

Scubaregs wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:35 pm Ah, need to have a look and see if I can work it out, I'm not going near expert mode either.

Can you remember the steps?

In Bimmercode go to Audio, and select Bowers & Wilkins, and code, that is it plus it only took about 1 min

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:42 pm

Cheers Swiftly, will have a go at that, thanks.

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:35 pm

Well for some strange reason my Bimmercode will not connect, was fine last week and ethernet connection is showing on phone but it does not want to play.

Argyll Andy · Post by **Argyll Andy** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:43 pm

Nick, good to know

Do you by any chance know if this sound menu can be accessed via Carly or does it have to be Bimmercode?

ori · Post by **ori** » 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.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 6:08 pm

Argyll Andy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:43 pm Nick, good to know

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…

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?

Not that there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that…maybe…

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:00 pm

Argyll Andy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:43 pm Nick, good to know

Do you by any chance know if this sound menu can be accessed via Carly or does it have to be Bimmercode?

I didn't see it on Carly Andy

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » 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

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…

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?

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.

Swiftly · Post by **Swiftly** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:05 pm

Here are a few photos that I should have taken and posted earlier to give you an idea.

: Screen 1.jpg (133.23 KiB) Viewed 857 times

: Screen 2.jpg (143.6 KiB) Viewed 857 times

Argyll Andy · Post by **Argyll Andy** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:20 pm

Swiftly wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:00 pm
Argyll Andy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:43 pm Nick, good to know

Do you by any chance know if this sound menu can be accessed via Carly or does it have to be Bimmercode?
I didn't see it on Carly Andy

Cheers Nick, looks like I’m buying someone a beer then if I want it done

Scubaregs · Post by **Scubaregs** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:28 pm

I'll do it for you Andy, once I get mine working again.

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