FINALIZED EQ Settings for Enhanced Premium Sound. LOOK INSIDE.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

Is anyone really surprised that he bumped up the bass and dropped everything above that? DJs are the LAST people I'd go to for advice on anything sound quality related.

.

I couldn't agree with you more. As a hobby DJ myself, I would say that sound in the DJ world is FAR from anything related to "quality". SQ is not what DJ's look for when tuning the system as it's not a priority in it's respective setting.

This here is an entirely different situation. I personally tried the settings posted that the DJ recommended in this thread, and IMO it is terrible, and according to almost any RTA with a test tone, its horrible. Completely defeats the purpose of the system in this car.

[335viaSTi]

bump for E90 settings.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

You guys need to adjust this to YOUR ear. Of all things subjective sound is probably the most widely varied. Like the "DJ" setting above. Is anyone really surprised that he bumped up the bass and dropped everything above that? DJs are the LAST people I'd go to for advice on anything sound quality related.

Also, there is plenty of good hip-hop and rap that's well recorded. You just have to know where to look. Modent pop/Top 40 stuff is probably the worst stuff available since it's all compressed to sound good on earbuds.

+1

I thought I was the only one when I saw the "Boom..BAss" settings.

[lve2xlr8]

Thanks for posting Malek, your settings were awesome with logic7. This will def be the first eq setting I try when I take delivery!

[Leonardo629]

guys, I just finalized my setting, feel free to use these and report back. The settings are only good for pop/rock, the setting will be off if you listen to jazz/classical.

100 Hz: +2
200 Hz: -1
500 Hz: -4
1k Hz: -2
2k Hz: +0
5k Hz: +3
10k Hz: +4

Bass: +2
Treble: 0
Fader: -1
When I set my fader, I always dial the setting all the way to rear, and gradually dial it towards the front until the music is right next to my ear, in my normal driving position.
Balance: 0

[CT-Bimmer]

Buddy of mine installs systems and told me the stock tweeters in my E90 with Premium sound were worthless! Changed the tweeters to Infinitys, added an amp and a custom enclosed sub in the trunk. I'm 36.. def not into cheesy trunk rattling systems... but it made an amazing difference in the stock Prem. Sound system for all types of music.

Total cost was around $1200..

[Bosna]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

EQ Settings: E92 M3, Enhanced Premium Sound:

100 Hz: 0
200 Hz: +1
500 Hz: +3
1k Hz: +4
2k Hz: -1
5k Hz: +2
10k Hz: +4

This is what I've been using, and it is MUCH improved over stock. I also bumped Bass +2, and the fader +1 (so it's more rear focused).

[M3AL]

not to be overlooked is the quality of the source. I too get the pleasure of comparing the sound system on a 335i (wife's car) vs. M3 (just took delivery in July) i was initially very disappointed with the low end. Couple things
1. it seemed to break in?? get better over the first month go figure
2. I replaced any song on my ipod with less than a 192kb, re-recorded at 192+ and wow 90% problem solved.

OK i tweaked the EQ settings as well, but the new settings really popped with higher quality recordings.

If you've already tweaked your EQ and still not happy, upgrade your music before taking any more radical action like replacing speakers, etc (i've heard some rumblings on other posts)
just my 2 cents

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by M3AL

not to be overlooked is the quality of the source. I too get the pleasure of comparing the sound system on a 335i (wife's car) vs. M3 (just took delivery in July) i was initially very disappointed with the low end. Couple things
1. it seemed to break in?? get better over the first month go figure
2. I replaced any song on my ipod with less than a 192kb, re-recorded at 192+ and wow 90% problem solved.

OK i tweaked the EQ settings as well, but the new settings really popped with higher quality recordings.

If you've already tweaked your EQ and still not happy, upgrade your music before taking any more radical action like replacing speakers, etc (i've heard some rumblings on other posts)
just my 2 cents

You re-encoded your files from the original disc source and not from the 192kb encoded file right? If not, you didn't really do anything to improve it. For most of my MP3s I use 224kb VBR or at least 256kb CBR encoding.

[dexx]

The problem with this system is the stupid dynamic EQ. You have to listen to it at really high volumes, there isn't any other choice.. You can actually hear it going from "mud" to a normal equalization as you click through the volume wheel. The built-in EQ cannot fix this. If you don't want to listen loud, then you're SOL.

I didn't notice this until I had friends in the car who wanted to crank the volume to 11.

methinks BMW should not put deaf people in charge of the audio system.

I haven't yet tried to figure out if the speed sensitive volume setting has any effect on this.

[lve2xlr8]

Originally Posted by dexx

The problem with this system is the stupid dynamic EQ. You have to listen to it at really high volumes, there isn't any other choice.. You can actually hear it going from "mud" to a normal equalization as you click through the volume wheel. The built-in EQ cannot fix this. If you don't want to listen loud, then you're SOL.

I didn't notice this until I had friends in the car who wanted to crank the volume to 11.

methinks BMW should not put deaf people in charge of the audio system.

I haven't yet tried to figure out if the speed sensitive volume setting has any effect on this.

Haha they must have tuned this audio system to parallel the sound system delivery with the engines power delivery.

Spinning to 8400rpm and bumping to 825 watts all-day-long

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by dexx

The problem with this system is the stupid dynamic EQ. You have to listen to it at really high volumes, there isn't any other choice.. You can actually hear it going from "mud" to a normal equalization as you click through the volume wheel. The built-in EQ cannot fix this. If you don't want to listen loud, then you're SOL.

I didn't notice this until I had friends in the car who wanted to crank the volume to 11.

methinks BMW should not put deaf people in charge of the audio system.

I haven't yet tried to figure out if the speed sensitive volume setting has any effect on this.

I'm pretty sure there is no dymanic EQ. It's been confirmed by a couple of members here that the HU outputs a flat signal, at least over low level. It's possible that the EP system uses some but it's harder to test since the HU outputs optical.

I think what you're hearing isn't dynamic EQ but the distortion limiting circuitry. Blaupunkt started using this WAAAAAAAY back in the day and it sounded exactly like this when you'd start clipping the amp.

[Malek@MRF]

The system does not have a "Dynamic EQ" at all.

The system was actually pretty well designed from the factory, and like a few others have said, I think some of you should check the quality and source of your music before knocking down the stereo system.

The systems response is excellent at high and low volume. If you feel that the system lacks power at low volumes, then its a simple matter of not being used to it.

An RTA wouldn't lie, the system responds well at high and low volumes without too much deviation.

Like I personally stated in the first post of this thread, don't use these settings in hopes of getting an entirely different sounding system. These are to be used to optimized the current EPS system. If you are used to high power bass that rattles your chest, no factory system is going to cut it. I have seen a lot of systems in my time and built plenty including an award winner, but the EPS system does a great job, seriously, it does.

[dexx]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

The system does not have a "Dynamic EQ" at all.

The system was actually pretty well designed from the factory, and like a few others have said, I think some of you should check the quality and source of your music before knocking down the stereo system.

The systems response is excellent at high and low volume. If you feel that the system lacks power at low volumes, then its a simple matter of not being used to it.

An RTA wouldn't lie, the system responds well at high and low volumes without too much deviation.

No. The answer is simply no. I do not feel it lacks power. I am not an audiophile, I'm an engineer and I work at one of the leading companies that provides tools for professional audio/video production. I am not posting a subjective opinion. 3-4 hours sitting in the car in my garage a with tone generator and a digital SPL meter led me to my conclusions.

If you want to think it's best thing since sliced bread because it costs a bazillion dollars it and it has a BMW badge on it, fine by me.

I stand by my original conclusion, at low volumes it sounds like crap*.




*technical phrasing.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by dexx

No. The answer is simply no. I do not feel it lacks power. I am not an audiophile, I'm an engineer and I work at one of the leading companies that provides tools for professional audio/video production. I am not posting a subjective opinion. 3-4 hours sitting in the car in my garage a with tone generator and a digital SPL meter led me to my conclusions.

If you want to think it's best thing since sliced bread because it costs a bazillion dollars it and it has a BMW badge on it, fine by me.

I stand by my original conclusion, at low volumes it sounds like crap*.




*technical phrasing.

Being an engineer doesn't make an audiophile, nor does working for a sound company.

We don't listen to "tones" when we listen to music. Test tones are used to setup and tune audio systems, not for listening. At the end of the day, if you don't like the way it sounds, that's your subjective opinion.

If the stereo was put in a Kia and cost 300 dollars, I would say the same thing about it. It being a BMW has nothing to do with anything.

I didn't ask a question for it to get the answer "no". And no, the car does not have a dynamic EQ. It does not have a reference mic to adjust the EQ as the volume changes. Sorry.

[Technic]

Actually, the Enhanced Premium Audio/Individual Audio has speed-dependent volume control and speed-dependent equalizing.

Technically this is a form of dynamic EQ based on speed. That also explains why it sounds lackluster at low volume and semi-decent at high volumes. And that's the reason I just ripped this sucker out of my M3 for aftermarket.

[quality_sound]

Every speed dependent EQ I've ever listened to had more bass and treble at low volumes to compensate for our hearing at low volumes. Most people don't compain about this though.

dexx - What about it at low levels don't you like?

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by Technic

Actually, the Enhanced Premium Audio/Individual Audio has speed-dependent volume control and speed-dependent equalizing.

Technically this is a form of dynamic EQ based on speed. That also explains why it sounds lackluster at low volume and semi-decent at high volumes. And that's the reason I just ripped this sucker out of my M3 for aftermarket.

Yes that is commonly known about these systems. Dexx is referring to the system having a dynamic EQ in reference to it almost self adjusting itself with some internal mic in the car.

The EPS system does not have a dynamic EQ based on what is being played. Only on speed, and with s-vol at the lowest setting, it's a non issue.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

Yes that is commonly known about these systems. Dexx is referring to the system having a dynamic EQ in reference to it almost self adjusting itself with some internal mic in the car.

The EPS system does not have a dynamic EQ based on what is being played. Only on speed, and with s-vol at the lowest setting, it's a non issue.

S-volume is never defeated even in the lowest setting and that only adjust volume, not equalization. The equalization is neither manually adjusted or defeated, so there is a form of dynamic EQ in this system but based on speed and not in real time audio.

All the time delays and cabin space acoustic measurements are done in the DIRAC chip, so any adjustment to those acoustic parameters are done based on speed.

I think that we are really beating dead horse here.

[dardeca]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

Thanks, updated settings are coming. I haven't had time to go back to the car to jot them back down to post them.

The new settings are a bit better IMO.

-Malek

Update?

[dardeca]

Originally Posted by dardeca

Update?

Anything?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Technic

S-volume is never defeated even in the lowest setting and that only adjust volume, not equalization. The equalization is neither manually adjusted or defeated, so there is a form of dynamic EQ in this system but based on speed and not in real time audio.

All the time delays and cabin space acoustic measurements are done in the DIRAC chip, so any adjustment to those acoustic parameters are done based on speed.

I think that we are really beating dead horse here.

To correct myself, S-Volume somewhat also contributes to the dynamic equalization. Did some tests with my Individual Audio with my CCC -while my CIC is being updated for Combox- and I found out that when S-Volume is set to 1 (min) the speed dependent EQ bumps the bass level and decrease the rest of the bands to the point of muddyness.

The effect is dramatic at over 70mph: set the system EQ/bass/treble pretty nicely before driving away and suddenly at 70mph and above it sounds like crap. The woofers start to pop like they will be blown soon and the rest of the speakers lost all the definition.

So I went ahead and tried different S-Volume levels as since BMW introduced this feature in the last two decades I have never set that level higher than 1. Surprise... level 4 eliminates the muddyness when the volume is automatically increased. So whatever EQ curve is being applied at a certain speed now it is being applied proportionately to all bands and not only to the bass. No more cutting all mid to high frequencies levels and increasing the bass/low range.

I still unconvinced that this system is worth $1900, it is really lackluster regardless of adjustments and requires more money to replace the mediocre OEM woofers to sound decent. However, if the complaint is how muddy this system sounds then adjusting the S-Volume will radically help with this, even more than adjusting the EQ can.