2011.5 Sound System - HiFi/Base vs Premium

[cipher5]

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Premium Sound system? I have a 2008 with Premium, and I have heard a 2009 HiFi system and couldn't tell a major difference between the two system. I've read that the post 2009 M3s have even less speakers, is this true? So if ordering a new M3, is the Premium Sound a must?


Is Hifi same as Base?

[jacobe92]

Originally Posted by Anup@Project 808

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Premium Sound system? I have a 2008 with Premium, and I have heard a 2009 HiFi system and couldn't tell a major difference between the two system. I've read that the post 2009 M3s have even less speakers, is this true? So if ordering a new M3, is the Premium Sound a must?


Is Hifi same as Base?

My 2011 M3 sounds awesome with premium sound, like everyone else you are going to mod your car. The last thing you want to do is mod your sound system too.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by Anup@Project 808

Is it worth it to upgrade to the Premium Sound system? I have a 2008 with Premium, and I have heard a 2009 HiFi system and couldn't tell a major difference between the two system. I've read that the post 2009 M3s have even less speakers, is this true? So if ordering a new M3, is the Premium Sound a must?


Is Hifi same as Base?

Is it worth it? Probably. It depends on what you want out of the audio and if you care to bother with an aftermarket install. The sound is better than hifi and it's well integrated into the cars systems. Aftermarket systems can sound better than the OEM premium but you need to spend some effort to install it right.

In the US the base system is the hifi.


Cheers.

P.S. For 2011 the hifi system loses the two tweeters in the rear (one on each side).

[jeff.m3]

Is there a difference between the 2011 enhanced premium sound the 2011.5 enhanced premium sound?

[Crazy Bimmer]

Originally Posted by ersin

P.S. For 2011 the hifi system loses the two tweeters in the rear (one on each side).

Would that change even be noticeable for the front passengers?

[ersin]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

Would that change even be noticeable for the front passengers?

I doubt it but I haven't auditioned it so I wouldn't know for sure. If the hifi isn't good enough a good upgrade is to replace the speakers. A full range or coax aftermarket speaker back there would be better than the OEM mid and tweeter pre-2011. But you'd get more bang replacing the front speakers.


Cheers.

[Crazy Bimmer]

Yea i always just thought the front stage mattered more than the rear fill. Maybe they removed the rear tweeters for that reason? I dunno.

[cipher5]

With the removal of the rear tweeters I feel like you'd lose a little dynamic in the music.

[JCtx]

The rear tweeters really balance the sound IMO. From my seat position (not too far rearward), fader in '-3' sounds perfect.

[henryyxyu]

HiFi works well for me. If I had the money, I would definitely go premium since there is a noticeable difference, but not enough to be a dealbreaker (the added EQ functionality is very nice vs. the base systems treble/bass adjustment).

IMO, it depends on what type of music you listen too. The premium system would really bring out classical music better like mozart or something. If you trendy music like snoop dogg or ke$ha (w/e those teenagers play on the radio today ) then HiFi should be good enough. The premium would make a difference when listening to that kind of music, but its nothing to write home about

If your looking for the "out of this world sound difference compared to stock" or the "wake-up-your-neighbors-with-booming-bass" kind of sound system, your best bet is aftermarket.

btw, I have a 2010. no clue if its the same as a 2011 or 2011.5, but I doubt it'll be that different..

[cipher5]

Originally Posted by henryyxyu

HiFi works well for me. If I had the money, I would definitely go premium since there is a noticeable difference, but not enough to be a dealbreaker (the added EQ functionality is very nice vs. the base systems treble/bass adjustment).

IMO, it depends on what type of music you listen too. The premium system would really bring out classical music better like mozart or something. If you trendy music like snoop dogg or ke$ha (w/e those teenagers play on the radio today ) then HiFi should be good enough. The premium would make a difference when listening to that kind of music, but its nothing to write home about

If your looking for the "out of this world sound difference compared to stock" or the "wake-up-your-neighbors-with-booming-bass" kind of sound system, your best bet is aftermarket.

btw, I have a 2010. no clue if its the same as a 2011 or 2011.5, but I doubt it'll be that different..

Henry, look at the rear speakers, if you only see 1 speaker on each side, you have the same as 2011+. BMW removed the rear tweeters from the hifi system.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by Anup@Project 808

With the removal of the rear tweeters I feel like you'd lose a little dynamic in the music.

The only thing that would be affected by removing the rear tweeters is the sound for the guy sitting in the back seat. I typically setup my system so that I can't even hear the rears when sitting in the front seat to keep the front image solid. The rears are there just for ambient sound in my car. In fact, in my last car, I only installed mids as rear fill and it was great for that purpose. Just enough sound to create an illusion of a larger space without pulling the sound stage towards the rear of the cabin.

[VP Electricity]

Rear speakers are a Commie plot.
________
mercedes info

[Malek@MRF]

I have a 2011 and my EP sound system has the rear tweeters

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

I have a 2011 and my EP sound system has the rear tweeters

The discussion about the loss of the rear tweeters was directed towards the new hi-fi system. EP remains the same as before.

[jchiodo]

IMO, the EP is worth it. I listened to both prior to buying. After dialing it in, the sound is amazing. It took a lot of dialing in but was simple, just time consuming. I still have to adjust the Treble / Bass occasionally since some music tends to get muddy and other too bright but the EQ setting always stays set in the same place.

I was getting worried, I have the tweeters in the back on my '11. Thought they may have misrepresented and sold me a '10, not that there is anything wrong with the '10's, thanks for the clarification.

[JCtx]

In summary: 'base' system is crappier in new cars; enhanced premium is the same . EP was a must for me, but others may not notice the difference that much. Personal preference.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

The discussion about the loss of the rear tweeters was directed towards the new hi-fi system. EP remains the same as before.

If that's what we are talking about, the Base Hi-Fi lost the rear tweeters long before 2011.5. The last of the 2009 335i's didn't even have them anymore.

Any like another said, the EPS is worth its price, absolutely. It is a great stereo system, and I have tuned and built many competition systems that have won a couple SQ comps.

[cipher5]

Just picked up my car yesterday, I went from a EP car to a Hifi car. I'm glad I didn't get EP this time around, although there is a diff, there isn't a $1900 difference and I can easily upgrade for less.

[ES_TRADER]

if they ditched 2 speakers in the new builds, wouldnt the sound be weaker? and not as good? what the heck was the point of that?

[艾利克斯]

the point is bmw wants you to get the premium sound pack
which is another 2k

[rpisex51]

EPS is definitely worth it!