FINALIZED EQ Settings for Enhanced Premium Sound. LOOK INSIDE.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by M3AG

Canadian M3 comes with DIRAC Live (executive package). I am not sure about any MIC in the car but when I lower the windows the EQ changes. Any Canadian with DIRAC Live?

When you roll your windows down, the EQ is not actually changing, you are experiencing the negation of sound wave cancellation in comparison to when your windows were up.

[Kung Fu English]

I can't find a setting for sound processing. Is this still accurate on the 2013s?

Originally Posted by zibawal

I am glad Malek that you are still following up with your thread.
I was always wondering how well your settings be holding up for a E93, M3 Cabriolet with Premium sound?

FINALIZED EQ Settings for Enhanced Premium Sound. LOOK INSIDE.
Hey Everyone,

This thread is to help all those who have been wanting ideal EQ settings for there Enhanced Premium audio systems. There has been a lot of speculation on what are the most ideal settings and it's time to address this matter.

Curiosity struck, so I decided to try these settings in my own car to see why some people were complaining, and within the first 30 seconds of listening, I realized why people weren't happy with some of the settings posted in the past.

PencilGeek took the time and liberty to post up some settings in the past, and used his equipment and expertise to generate a flat frequency response. But there was one thing that was alarming to me, and that was his 2K frequency setting, it was at +8. This told me one of a few things, either the positioning of the MIC in the car is not ideal, not intended for car environments or etc. Most of his settings were pretty close to where it should be set, but the most obtrusive and ear piercing frequency in car audio is between 1.7k-2.3k hZ with the most problematic one being right around 2k hZ.

For those wondering if my settings are going to be good enough, reference here. It has been made a sticky, and hopefully a moderator will do it for this thread as well!!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161120

The Settings I am posting are for an E92 M3 with Enhanced Premium Sound. I will go as far as saying that it is a great sounding audio system, and it should not be criticized so much. If you are looking for a system that will rattle your bones and give you some bump rolling down the street, no factory system will do this for you. The EPS audio system was designed for sound quality (SQ). Having built a couple award winner SQ systems, this stereo system does pretty darn well when setup correctly. Once you guys input the settings, you may come to agree.

EQ Settings: E92 M3, Enhanced Premium Sound:

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

Bass: +3 (User definable)
Treble: +1 (User Definable)
Fader: 0 (User Definable, based on height and seating position. If you are tall and sit further back, adjust the fader. For reference, I am 6 feet tall, and have the fader set to ZERO)
Balance: 0

Surround Processing: ON (Your choice. I personally like the way the DIRAC processor handles time alignment and imaging, so I left the setting on. Plus, it doesn't have the weird in/out fading issue the Logic7 system had)

S-VOL should be set to 2.

EQ Settings: E90 M3, Enhanced Premium Sound:

100 Hz: 0
200 Hz: +1
500 Hz: +3
1k Hz: +6
2k Hz: 0
5k Hz: +3
10k Hz: +7

Bass: +4 (User definable)
Treble: +5 (User Definable)
Fader: -1 (User Definable, based on height and seating position. If you are tall and sit further back, adjust the fader. For reference, I am 6 feet tall, and have the fader set to ZERO)
Balance: 0

Surround Processing: ON (Your choice. I personally like the way the DIRAC processor handles time alignment and imaging, so I left the setting on. Plus, it doesn't have the weird in/out fading issue the Logic7 system had)

S-VOL should be set to 2.

If you are using your IPOD. Make sure the internal EQ is set to FLAT, or OFF, as well as volume limiter being disabled.

Enjoy!

-Malek

[PrometheusM3]

Originally Posted by Kung Fu English

I can't find a setting for sound processing. Is this still accurate on the 2013s?

It's "surround." Yes, it's still accurate on the 2013s.

I just did mine a while ago and it is absolutely amazing. I was skeptical at first because it's tempting to just crank everything up, which is what I did for the first couple of months, like an idiot. But once I tried Malek's settings plus a little extra of personal treble/bass (I believe I'm about +5/+7 thereabouts), I was blown away. It makes me listen to songs I've heard a million times, just to hear the little details I've never heard before. Everything from hip-hop to jazz sounds incredible.

[OilPatch]

Just used these settings and holy hell does it sound amazing. I'm not an audiophile, but this system is brilliant. I had pretty low expectations given all the horrid reviews of it.

[sansri]

With the right source, this system sounds amazing.

Get high-quality MP3/AACs onto a usb drive instead of using the Y-Cable or bluetooth. XM radio should be avoided in particular given the terrible bitrate.

[fastmike]

Any updates for settings for an E93? I tried both the e92 and e90 settings they didn't sound right.

[zibawal]

Originally Posted by fastmike

Any updates for settings for an E93? I tried both the e92 and e90 settings they didn't sound right.

Ditto! Me too, would love it.

[flea333]

Originally Posted by 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?

I notice the same thing... at low volumes I hear the highs and lows just like I want them. When I crank it it goes to shit, especially the bass.

[Malek@MRF]

If the highs and lows are going to crap with the settings posted, then you guys might be boosting your primary treble and bass settings past what is recommended.

I have noticed the settings are being used a lot, but the treble and the bass settings are usually modified and boosted much higher than what is posted here.

When these settings were done, it was done and high volumes, where this system truly shines. The EPS is not the greatest at low volume, but when turned up, it shines more.

[S65V8]

Agree that this system sounds even better when cranked up with these settings.

[flea333]

My experience so far with the EPS is that it's not close to worth $1900.

The bass in my 2008 328i gets better extension, is more immersive and powerful. I never needed a subwoofer with that system. The second I step in my old car I'm like, holy shit, bass! The EPS is tighter, but doesn't seem to reproduce the same power or range. That said, I'm still hoping the system breaks in and clears this splotchy bass response, but don't have much hope. Also I notice the bass fades quickly with the volume being turned up. It's like they turn down the woofer but let the other speakers take the power. To me the system is just "loud" but isn't reproducing the sound well.

I can't understand why someone would think the best setting is to turn on the Surround. It compresses the shit out of your music and ruins mid range. The only thing it does is improves the sound stage, but only might be ok for web radio, which is already compressed. If you don't believe me listen an audio cd with clean vocals and switch it on/off, you'll hear it wrench the vocals. On top of that with HD radio and FM they already broadcast with these stupid effects to make it sound more surround like and present. It would be one thing if they actually had a reputable industry standard to rank their "surround," such as Dolby.

The fact that the EQ stops at 10k and starts at 100hz shows what sh*t BMW tossed at us.

For all my complaints, overall it's a decent system, but doesn't compare to the clarity of reputable real speaker manufacturers. I remember how sweet my Infinity Kappa series sounded - reproduced high sounds I'd never heard in the cd before.

My EQ is fairly decent for me so far for hearing the kick of the drum in rock and maintaining a good presence in bass for other bass full tracks.

Treble: +4
Bass: +5

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

[sviswan]

Thanks for the settings, did wonders for my EPS.

[hector576]

Just put these settings in my E90 last night. What a difference! Truly sounds amazing. Thank you so much.

[V8FunNaturally]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

-Malek

Listen, "Arton Senna". I appreciate your volunteering to propose EQ settings and I have not tried them yet on my new 08/13 M3. But do not think that all of us here are neophytes to the audio world so that you can just patronize us with your results without even detailing and referencing your full test setup and equipment specs: Real Time audio analyzer specs, microphone specs, EQ control DSP you used, etc..

What microphone did you use ?
What is the frequency and phase response of your microphone ? Is it omnidirectional ? If you used some generic $300 non linear response microphone your EQ setting are going to be colorized by the mic and pretty much worthless. Have you ever used a Sennheiser >$4,000 microphone to calibrate your microphone ?

What is the resolution of your RTA ? how many measurements per octave ?
From your post it looks like you simply used a tone CD + RTA + Mic and tweaked each frequency band manually until you got a flat response. If so you should probably not post under the pretense that these are professional results. Audio system EQ filters have limited Q. you need an EQ control system to get a true flat response that is not tainted by which frequency you tried to correct first.
There are plenty of audiophiles and engineers online, some of them drive M3's.

[nullrouted]

Originally Posted by flea333

My experience so far with the EPS is that it's not close to worth $1900.

The bass in my 2008 328i gets better extension, is more immersive and powerful. I never needed a subwoofer with that system. The second I step in my old car I'm like, holy shit, bass! The EPS is tighter, but doesn't seem to reproduce the same power or range. That said, I'm still hoping the system breaks in and clears this splotchy bass response, but don't have much hope. Also I notice the bass fades quickly with the volume being turned up. It's like they turn down the woofer but let the other speakers take the power. To me the system is just "loud" but isn't reproducing the sound well.

I can't understand why someone would think the best setting is to turn on the Surround. It compresses the shit out of your music and ruins mid range. The only thing it does is improves the sound stage, but only might be ok for web radio, which is already compressed. If you don't believe me listen an audio cd with clean vocals and switch it on/off, you'll hear it wrench the vocals. On top of that with HD radio and FM they already broadcast with these stupid effects to make it sound more surround like and present. It would be one thing if they actually had a reputable industry standard to rank their "surround," such as Dolby.

The fact that the EQ stops at 10k and starts at 100hz shows what sh*t BMW tossed at us.

For all my complaints, overall it's a decent system, but doesn't compare to the clarity of reputable real speaker manufacturers. I remember how sweet my Infinity Kappa series sounded - reproduced high sounds I'd never heard in the cd before.

My EQ is fairly decent for me so far for hearing the kick of the drum in rock and maintaining a good presence in bass for other bass full tracks.

Treble: +4
Bass: +5

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

Agreed, but the EPS speakers are fine, it's just the amp/output. You need an MS-8 or similar to really do it right, and no matter what you're gonna need more bass with either factory system. Underseats and a trunk sub for sure.

[flea333]

Originally Posted by nullrouted

Agreed, but the EPS speakers are fine, it's just the amp/output. You need an MS-8 or similar to really do it right, and no matter what you're gonna need more bass with either factory system. Underseats and a trunk sub for sure.

But I'm curious why the EPS system bass response seems to have dead zones. My 328 did not, it just pushed it out no matter what. It seems there's auto equalizing features on this system that prevent you from ever forcing it to sound the way you want.

[EliteM3]

@sunsweet, what's your problem?

Malek posted settings after volunteering his time, efforts and equipment to share settings that anyone can use free of charge.

Why are you questioning the who what why for how he arrived at setting that the majority of folks on the forum have used and raved about?

If you don't like or trust his settings, simply don't use them, and post your own thread about how you came to your settings.

Malek, thank you again for sharing.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by sunsweet

Listen, "Arton Senna". I appreciate your volunteering to propose EQ settings and I have not tried them yet on my new 08/13 M3. But do not think that all of us here are neophytes to the audio world so that you can just patronize us with your results without even detailing and referencing your full test setup and equipment specs: Real Time audio analyzer specs, microphone specs, EQ control DSP you used, etc..

What microphone did you use ?
What is the frequency and phase response of your microphone ? Is it omnidirectional ? If you used some generic $300 non linear response microphone your EQ setting are going to be colorized by the mic and pretty much worthless. Have you ever used a Sennheiser >$4,000 microphone to calibrate your microphone ?

What is the resolution of your RTA ? how many measurements per octave ?
From your post it looks like you simply used a tone CD + RTA + Mic and tweaked each frequency band manually until you got a flat response. If so you should probably not post under the pretense that these are professional results. Audio system EQ filters have limited Q. you need an EQ control system to get a true flat response that is not tainted by which frequency you tried to correct first.
There are plenty of audiophiles and engineers online, some of them drive M3's.

Not sure what the point of this post was and the tone expressing your comments.

If you don't like the settings, don't use them, if you do like them, enjoy.

If you are an "audiophile", and have the equipment, feel free to test the system and report back your findings.

[M3forMe]

I am no audiophile what so ever. Actually had no idea about any of these settings. I just turn it on and listen. Adjusted the treble and bass a bit.

I stumbled onto thither ad last week while bored out of my mind. I gave the settings a go after I first figured out how to get to the settings.

Holy crap, what a difference. Thanks for the info.

[lsmkr01]

I'll try thee settings out tonight. Excited to see how much better music will sound as sound quality has always been more important to me that just high volume/bass.

[Ohanbi23]

Hello guys , could someone tell me what is the best equalizer settings for 335i with eps sound system ? ( Prefer Deep / House / IndieDisco etc sound like that ) or is it the same like Malek settings M3 EPS ? thanks for all your comments... :-)

[r3zon8]

Settings dialed in, amazing sound.

big THANK YOU