Do the Standard Radios Really Suck that Much??

M3ryder55 · 11-20-2011, 10:29 PM

I've had my car since May 2010, and one thing that always bugged me was the my speakers (standard radio package) just suck! and when I mean suck, they are not loud at all. At full blast I can talk to my passenger no problem. It's not like I'm trying to bump my music like a 16 year old, but I had a loaner 328 that played my cd's much louder than M3 radio.

I never really complained about it to the dealer, because the V8 noise always made up for it. And yes I"m not an idiot, I've adjusted all the setting through my Idrive...

Is this a common thing with these cars? Its not that its quite, its just does not get loud..

Mahmood07 · 11-20-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3ryder55

I've had my car since May 2010, and one thing that always bugged me was the my speakers (standard radio package) just suck! and when I mean suck, they are not loud at all. At full blast I can talk to my passenger no problem. It's not like I'm trying to bump my music like a 16 year old, but I had a loaner 328 that played my cd's much louder than M3 radio.

I never really complained about it to the dealer, because the V8 noise always made up for it. And yes I"m not an idiot, I've adjusted all the setting through my Idrive...

Is this a common thing with these cars? Its not that its quite, its just does not get loud..

I have the standard speakers. I never needed them to be louder, but I don't like the sound quality at all. I always wish I got the enhanced audio.

1sikbmr · 11-20-2011, 10:38 PM

coming from a person that used to have a fully custom system in my car I find this system very suitable.

aus · 11-21-2011, 01:51 AM

Seriously? You cold talk with your passenger with the standard radio full blast? You must have one hell of a set of lungs.

The Premium is louder, but not worth it to an older guy like me. Besides, I'm listening to sports radio a lot anyway. I don't need Colin Cowherd blasting my ears.

.

M3SQRD · 11-21-2011, 03:12 AM

Sound quality may not be the best but I certainly don't have an issue with the loudness of the standard system.

BeamingE39 · 11-21-2011, 04:16 AM

The standard stereo was far too muddy to be in an M3. If I'm paying 70k, I would expect at least Logic 7 quality

valeram · 11-21-2011, 06:42 AM

I don't listen much to the radio (I know it sounds regular), the sound of the engine is what I listen to often.

kmarei · 11-21-2011, 10:52 AM

one thing to keep in mind
if you are listening to CDs made from MP3s
or from flash drives that have MP3s
the volume of the MP3 also determines the overall volume
if your MP3s are recorded with a lower volume, there is only so much volume you can get out of them
try getting say 10 songs
put them on a flash drive
download MP3Gain
raise the volume to "maximum no clip gain"
that raises the volume of the MP3 to the maximum, just before it starts to distory
try it and let me know if you noticed a difference

THE TECH · 11-21-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

one thing to keep in mind
if you are listening to CDs made from MP3s
or from flash drives that have MP3s
the volume of the MP3 also determines the overall volume
if your MP3s are recorded with a lower volume, there is only so much volume you can get out of them
try getting say 10 songs
put them on a flash drive
download MP3Gain
raise the volume to "maximum no clip gain"
that raises the volume of the MP3 to the maximum, just before it starts to distory
try it and let me know if you noticed a difference

Interesting. Thanks!

SamS · 11-21-2011, 10:58 AM

Ironically, if you have to "turn it up" to hear, the song/album is probably mastered well. Virtually all modern releases (and most remasters, too) are mastered with dynamic compression, which robs the original recording of the dynamics for "good sound".

If you don't have to turn up the factory stereo very loud to hear the music, chances are that what your listening to is a garbage recording anyways.

NoHedge · 11-21-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

I can't hear the radio over my exhaust anyway...

bigjae1976 · 11-21-2011, 03:57 PM

I think the standard stereo is pretty good. My only complaint is the midbass mudiness that plagues most stereos, OEM and aftermarket.

If you want to everyone to hear you from a mile away...yeah, the OEM system sucks.

odiesback · 11-21-2011, 04:46 PM

I have std stereo.
When I am in the mood to turn it up I usually roll the windows a
little not to blow my eardrums !!!

No way I can talk to passengers when it is cranked up.
Something must be wrong in OP's stereo

Mr. ///M3 RD · 11-21-2011, 05:06 PM

All I want to really hear is the exhaust during up and down shifting at the precise moment of rev matching ... who need the radio

SD-E93-11 · 11-21-2011, 10:59 PM

It's because the amp setting in the Standard system only goes up to 10. The Enhanced setting can be turned up to 11.

Cas74 · 12-02-2011, 01:45 AM

Man I've never had any problems with my sound system... oh wait, it's the enhanced sound system.

BPMSport · 12-02-2011, 11:01 AM

To me it's a night and day difference from the stock system to the Enhanced Premium Sound. I'm impressed with the system but am by no means an audiophile.

And the Kevlar cone speakers look cooler through the door!

Lorde · 12-02-2011, 11:15 AM

To me, the stock system is awesome. I'm rolling around in a rental ford fusion and the reception quality changes when i turn the damn steering wheel!

11-20-2011, 10:29 PM	#1
M3ryder55 Major 191 Rep 1,317 Posts Drives: 15' MW/SO Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chatsworth, CA iTrader: (3)	Do the Standard Radios Really Suck that Much?? I've had my car since May 2010, and one thing that always bugged me was the my speakers (standard radio package) just suck! and when I mean suck, they are not loud at all. At full blast I can talk to my passenger no problem. It's not like I'm trying to bump my music like a 16 year old, but I had a loaner 328 that played my cd's much louder than M3 radio. I never really complained about it to the dealer, because the V8 noise always made up for it. And yes I"m not an idiot, I've adjusted all the setting through my Idrive... Is this a common thing with these cars? Its not that its quite, its just does not get loud..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-20-2011, 10:38 PM	#3
1sikbmr Brigadier General 145 Rep 3,329 Posts Drives: F80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (16)	coming from a person that used to have a fully custom system in my car I find this system very suitable. __________________ F80 ///M3 6MT Avus Blue ZCP
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 01:51 AM	#4
aus Major General 890 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Seriously? You cold talk with your passenger with the standard radio full blast? You must have one hell of a set of lungs. The Premium is louder, but not worth it to an older guy like me. Besides, I'm listening to sports radio a lot anyway. I don't need Colin Cowherd blasting my ears. . __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 03:12 AM	#5
M3SQRD Major General 2122 Rep 5,512 Posts Drives: E92 M3,G20 330ix,F22 240iX,F82 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (11)	Sound quality may not be the best but I certainly don't have an issue with the loudness of the standard system.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 04:16 AM	#6
BeamingE39 Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 212 Posts Drives: slower than I'd like Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southern California iTrader: (0)	The standard stereo was far too muddy to be in an M3. If I'm paying 70k, I would expect at least Logic 7 quality
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 06:42 AM	#7
valeram Major 37 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: 992 TTS, 991.2 GT3 T, F80 M3 C Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dublin, OH iTrader: (0)	I don't listen much to the radio (I know it sounds regular), the sound of the engine is what I listen to often.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 10:52 AM	#8
kmarei Major General 686 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	one thing to keep in mind if you are listening to CDs made from MP3s or from flash drives that have MP3s the volume of the MP3 also determines the overall volume if your MP3s are recorded with a lower volume, there is only so much volume you can get out of them try getting say 10 songs put them on a flash drive download MP3Gain raise the volume to "maximum no clip gain" that raises the volume of the MP3 to the maximum, just before it starts to distory try it and let me know if you noticed a difference __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 10:58 AM	#10
SamS Banned 866 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Ironically, if you have to "turn it up" to hear, the song/album is probably mastered well. Virtually all modern releases (and most remasters, too) are mastered with dynamic compression, which robs the original recording of the dynamics for "good sound". If you don't have to turn up the factory stereo very loud to hear the music, chances are that what your listening to is a garbage recording anyways.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 03:57 PM	#12
bigjae1976 Major General 1570 Rep 8,075 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW M3 [4.50] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [5.25] 2013 BMW 328i [5.00]	I think the standard stereo is pretty good. My only complaint is the midbass mudiness that plagues most stereos, OEM and aftermarket. If you want to everyone to hear you from a mile away...yeah, the OEM system sucks. __________________ 2018 F30 320iX Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 Imola Red 2000 E36/7 Z3 Steel Blue
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 04:46 PM	#13
odiesback 2021 330ix 215 Rep 539 Posts Drives: 2021 330ix Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 330i xDrive [0.00]	I have std stereo. When I am in the mood to turn it up I usually roll the windows a little not to blow my eardrums !!! No way I can talk to passengers when it is cranked up. Something must be wrong in OP's stereo
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 05:06 PM	#14
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 612 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	All I want to really hear is the exhaust during up and down shifting at the precise moment of rev matching ... who need the radio __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2011, 10:59 PM	#15
SD-E93-11 First Lieutenant 3 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Jerez Black/Black Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	It's because the amp setting in the Standard system only goes up to 10. The Enhanced setting can be turned up to 11.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-02-2011, 01:45 AM	#16
Cas74 Private First Class 3 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW X5, 2011 BMW M3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Fort Worth, Texas iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW/X5 [10.00]	Man I've never had any problems with my sound system... oh wait, it's the enhanced sound system.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-02-2011, 11:01 AM	#17
BPMSport BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3387 Rep 7,541 Posts Drives: Harrop M3 / F10 M5 / F82 M4 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (9) Garage List 2000 BMW M5 [0.00] 1990 BMW 735i Turbo [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [7.50] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M5 [0.00]	To me it's a night and day difference from the stock system to the Enhanced Premium Sound. I'm impressed with the system but am by no means an audiophile. And the Kevlar cone speakers look cooler through the door! __________________ -----\| Like us on Facebook \| Instagram \|\| Tuning Information \| Remote Coding \|----- ----Visit us at www.BPMSport.com - Emotion. Driven. \| Toll Free: (888) 557-5133----
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-02-2011, 11:15 AM	#18
Lorde Ya ya ya, I am Lorde, ya ya! 266 Rep 2,772 Posts Drives: E90 M3, 2015 SQ5 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Snig iTrader: (10) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 E90 [0.00]	To me, the stock system is awesome. I'm rolling around in a rental ford fusion and the reception quality changes when i turn the damn steering wheel!
	Appreciate 0 Quote