Certain, easy way to to determine if audio has DSP

[bcworkz]

We always get questions about how to know if one's audio system has DSP. (Digital Signal Processing) We know that DSP is only provided on the Top Hi-Fi (Carver) system , but we get conflicting and confusing information on how to tell which is and which isn't. Jazz, Church, Concert (or was it Cathedral, Hall) settings? Speed dependent volume settings? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Can you trust what anyone says?

I believe I have found a reliable way to determine the existence of DSP, short of digging around in the boot. It is via the service display of the radio, similar to the service menu some of us have accessed on the instrument display.

Getting DSP Status via Radio Service Display
1. Locate the following two buttons on your radio. The 'm' button between the two arrow buttons at the bottom right. And the clock button on the bottom far left. (actual button label varies by market area)

2. Turn key to 1st or second ON position. If the radio is on, turn it off by pressing the volume knob.

3. Turn the radio on, then immediately press and hold down the 'm' button until the display reads something like 'SN V#######', about 8 seconds later. The hashes shown here will actually be your radio's serial number.

4. Repeatedly press/release the clock button until the display reads 'DSP # {V##}'. The number in the place of the first hash will either be 0 or 1. 0 means no DSP, 1 means you have DSP. The portion in {curly braces} was not documented anywhere. I guessed it was a version number, but according to JohnnyC (see below) it is the current volume setting. Nice discovery!

5. Turn off the radio to exit the service display.

The full list of radio service display fields (may vary by version):
Serial Number
AF (alt frequencies mode)
Area (mine says USA)
Pixel Test
TP (? volume ?)
DSP (0=none, 1=Yes)
FM (signal data of currently tuned station: Freq, Strength, Quality)
GAL (speed dependent volume setting)
RI (Revision Index)
SV (Software Date Mo-Yr, Version/100 i.e. '660' = version 6.60)

 

[Adamski]

My head hurts with this. My pre facelift had DSP settings, but they are pre sets. I have hi-fi stereo, ten speaker on the options list.

Pro hi-fi is (I think) the Carver/Logic amp with fully adjustable DSP through the nav menu.

Could be wrong though....


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[bcworkz]

But one can have Top Hi-Fi/Carver/DSP without nav, thus not adjustable, so more confusion. :headbang: WDS indicates both 10 speaker systems have equalisation, but there are different kinds of equalisation, not sure they are really talking about DSP. More confusion. :headbang:

AFAIC, there's only three 100% sure ways to identify the presence of DSP. The presence of "DSP" description on the car's build sheet. The presence of a coax cable to the amp. The service display showing DSP 1. There's conflicting information for any other "sign".

Getting to the service display is complicated to write up, but in practice it is quite easy to execute. The only practical reason this information is useful is if you are ordering some sort of interface kit like Parrot, where you need an extra adapter for DSP. Or you're planning a system upgrade, which is difficult with DSP. Some of us are hopelessly curious and just want to know beyond any doubt. Other's couldn't care less, it will be what it is.

My only intent was to provide the information here as additional reference material to be found as needed in the future.

 

[Adamski]

I'm gonna try the method you've posted next time I'm in the zed, would be good to know, as you have me thinking I might have carver now... :wink:

 

[tonester]

as clear as mud for me i.m afraid...

 

[bcworkz]

Adamski- I think you do have carver based on earlier posts, this will tell you for sure. Good luck.

tonester- Yes, I'm afraid a lot of my ideas are too esoteric for most. You're in good company. No worries.

 

[Adamski]

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[Rialas]

I'm as confused as ever.

I have ten speakers, nav screen, the screen has the DSP menu for eq ect..

Is this top hi-fi or Carver or neither of these?

Ps don't think it has the speed dependent volume unless I've missed it somewhere in the settings?

Thanks.

 

[wegras]

@BCW

Many thanks for the code access details just checked it out always amazes me the info that is hidden but easily available

 

[JohnnyC]

4. Repeatedly press/release the clock button until the display reads 'DSP # {V##}'. The number in the place of the first hash will either be 0 or 1. 0 means no DSP, 1 means you have DSP. The portion in {curly braces} only shows if you have DSP 1, it appears to be a version number.

im digging up old threads as im trying to fix my radio.

#4, my radio reads
'DSP 0 V11'
I think the V is the volume and it changes with the volume knob and resets when i turn it off/on again.

So this means i dont have DSP? Because i have a DSP amp and the subwoofer is ~8ohms. So im just confused. Do you think i would need to get it coded or something?

 

[bcworkz]

Hi JohnnyC,

The 1 vs. 0 information came from a training manual for service techs published by BMW just before the e85s came out, how reliable this is years later I don't know. Are you sure your have a DSP amp? I've never seen impedance specs for any speakers so I'm not sure what 8ohm tells us. It is a rather common impedance.

The nominal driver voltage for speakers is 6Vrms, but for Carver/DSP subs it is 30Vrms. I'm not sure you can measure this with a typical multimeter or not though, but just significantly different readings even if not the right value could indicate something.

Thanks for the volume info, that part was not in the manual, I was just guessing the version bit. I obviously did not fiddle around as thoroughly as you! I'll update the original post.

 

[Spz41650]

Use a VIN decoder and DSP will be listed in the second page of options.

http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

 

[JohnnyC]

Thanks Leon. Super late reply, but i havent had time to do any work on the car.

Ok. I think that "DSP = x" code depends on BMW coding it correctly or not. I have all of the parts for a Carver/Top Hi-Fi system and the code is Dsp=0.
VIN decoder also shows i have tophifi.

maybe they were slow to implement it?

 

[GreyZed]

Why is it such a big deal anyway? I have this (all the DSP menu options and speed dependant volume and S677A HiFi System Professional DSP on VIN decoder sites) and I can tell you it's quite underwhelming. Let's face it a Z4 cabin is not the place for high quality music reproduction now is it?

I think the Intravee reduces playback quality tbh as digital radio or a CD sound better than the iPod.

 

[Player 1]

Why is it such a big deal anyway? I have this (all the DSP menu options and speed dependant volume and S677A HiFi System Professional DSP on VIN decoder sites) and I can tell you it's quite underwhelming. Let's face it a Z4 cabin is not the place for high quality music reproduction now is it?

I think the Intravee reduces playback quality tbh as digital radio or a CD sound better than the iPod.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm of the understanding that if you're looking into getting an iPod or USB adaptor thingy, a lot of them are/aren't compatible if you have DSP or not?

True, high quality music isn't a strong point in a Z4, I don't really care though because the engine sounds much better anyway

 

[GreyZed]

Why is it such a big deal anyway? I have this (all the DSP menu options and speed dependant volume and S677A HiFi System Professional DSP on VIN decoder sites) and I can tell you it's quite underwhelming. Let's face it a Z4 cabin is not the place for high quality music reproduction now is it?

I think the Intravee reduces playback quality tbh as digital radio or a CD sound better than the iPod.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm of the understanding that if you're looking into getting an iPod or USB adaptor thingy, a lot of them are/aren't compatible if you have DSP or not?

True, high quality music isn't a strong point in a Z4, I don't really care though because the engine sounds much better anyway

I don't think any of us with the DSP option in our in Zeds have had any problems installing the Intravee/Alpine combo without the need for the Dice DSP adapter that some other BMW models need. Can't comment on any other iPod/MP3 solutions (if you have a professional nav Intravee is the only sensible iPod choice).

 

[JohnnyC]

You know what, my amp was dead.

I got a new amp and now it shows as DSP 1

 

[amram]

Can anyone please share a trace file for the 2004 BMW Z4 DSP? my email is [email protected]