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      12-14-2010, 04:49 PM   #1
11N55
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Thumbs up 2011 BMW 135i Harman Kardon Review (Video)

I have read many reviews about the Harman Kardon upgrade and many people said they were disappointed or not impressed...I am not sure if they changed something for 2011 but the system sounds amazing! I am comparing it to my fathers upgraded system in his E90 M3 which has a whopping 825 Watts! BE sure to watch the video in HD and turn it up.

(Please don't take offense to my video, I was hungover and was completely out of it)




UPDATE 5-9-11
Sorry for taking forever!


HK EQ Settings:

Bass +1
Treble +1
Bal 0
Fader 0

Logic 7 Settings:

80Hz +1
200Hz +3
500Hz +3
1kHz +2
2kHz +2
5kHz +1
10kHz +3

Last edited by 11N55; 07-09-2012 at 05:51 AM..
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      12-14-2010, 05:29 PM   #2
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Wow, sounds good. Can I ask what your settings are?
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      12-14-2010, 05:32 PM   #3
11N55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raine View Post
Wow, sounds good. Can I ask what your settings are?
Thanks! Bass -1, Treble +1. As far as the frequency settings go I have it set up like a bell curve with the lowest and highest frequency at normal and the mid frequencies +3. Ill post the exact settings when I get a chance.
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      12-15-2010, 09:31 AM   #4
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Well the video seems to be gone? However as my 1er is still on order, and I went for the HK upgrade without actually hearing it, it's good to know that someone likes the sound.....

I can't wait much longer, but 1 more month should pass fairly quickly.....
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      12-15-2010, 10:17 AM   #5
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I don't doubt the system is nice regularly. When I placed my order last weekend we tried one with and without. I just couldn't justify the $875 for it since I am not a big radiohead. I like to listen sometimes but a lot I really like to cruise with the windows down and listen to the car. On the few occasions I do want to turn it up I am sure it is fine. Back in the day I used to be huge into car audio and couldn't stand a stock stereo but now just not as important.
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      12-15-2010, 10:42 AM   #6
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Recording audio with an iPhone, then listening to it through computer speakers, is a little like watching a commercial for a HD tv set ... on a b/w tube tv.
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      12-15-2010, 11:25 AM   #7
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The link is back. Hard to tell via an iPhone, but at least nothing back is coming through.
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      12-15-2010, 05:20 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maxnix View Post
With iDrive, one can contour the frequency response across ten bands or so!
The same is available on the BMW Professional head unit as well
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      12-15-2010, 09:39 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaigoss69 View Post
Recording audio with an iPhone, then listening to it through computer speakers, is a little like watching a commercial for a HD tv set ... on a b/w tube tv.
yup
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      12-15-2010, 10:36 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blader View Post
The same is available on the BMW Professional head unit as well
I have a 2011 135.
Is the professional head unit available as an up grade?
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      12-16-2010, 07:47 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blader View Post
The same is available on the BMW Professional head unit as well
It is not.

The 7-band EQ -and the Surround mode- is a feature of the Top HiFi OEM amp and not of the Professional HU.
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      12-16-2010, 12:22 PM   #12
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If you like good sound and don't want to pull door panels and other panels off and take out seats to upgrade later...GET the HK system.
You would be hard pressed to upgrade the std HIFi for $875 and get the same sound. The speakers, subs and amp are better and the install fees to upgrade are already included.

If you plan on upgrading anyway, skip the HK and get the std HiFi. It has balanced outputs that are not EQ'ed, so it is easier to work with and you will have saved $875 to start your upgrading with.

Last edited by CMSS2000; 12-16-2010 at 04:30 PM..
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      12-16-2010, 05:08 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Technic View Post
It is not.

The 7-band EQ -and the Surround mode- is a feature of the Top HiFi OEM amp and not of the Professional HU.
Context is everything and my reply was merely to indicate that the EQ function of the Harman Kardon amp was accessible via the BMW Professional Headunit which is standard with the 2011 Harman Kardon audio upgrade as well as via iDrive if you take that as an additional option.

I did not feel the need to point that out as the thread and the video is about the 2011 HK system in the first place. I could also point out that my car was built in April 2010 with the Harman Kardon system and not the Top Hi-Fi but I am not always that petty
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Last edited by Blader; 12-16-2010 at 05:59 PM..
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      12-19-2010, 03:33 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 11N55 View Post
Thanks! Bass -1, Treble +1. As far as the frequency settings go I have it set up like a bell curve with the lowest and highest frequency at normal and the mid frequencies +3. Ill post the exact settings when I get a chance.
Hi 11N55. I tried this configuration for my EQ and my speakers now sound great. Thanks!
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      12-21-2010, 09:38 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raine View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 11N55 View Post
Thanks! Bass -1, Treble 1. As far as the frequency settings go I have it set up like a bell curve with the lowest and highest frequency at normal and the mid frequencies 3. Ill post the exact settings when I get a chance.
Hi 11N55. I tried this configuration for my EQ and my speakers now sound great. Thanks!
Awesome! I'm glad I could help!
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      12-25-2010, 09:53 PM   #16
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Note to anyone getting a 'vert ...the HK upgrade is a must have, so glad I pulled the trigger on it at order time. .... sounds better with the coral interior
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      12-26-2010, 12:11 AM   #17
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nice clip yea got same package in both cars but sounds better in the 135 or maybe m3 moter music is louder lol
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      01-16-2011, 11:37 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1on135_deal View Post
nice clip yea got same package in both cars but sounds better in the 135 or maybe m3 moter music is louder lol
I can't imagine what you are all hearing. The HK sound system in my 2011 135i vert is the poorest factory system I have owned and heard in the past 20 years. It sounds so anemic at normal levels and tweaking the equalization does not help. I'd love to find a way to get decent sound out of it but all retrofits proposed so far tie into the speaker connections and re-equalize and amplify from there. I'd like to hear from anyone who has managed to improve on it without losing some integrated function.

The Bose in my 350Z vert was great in comparison and, with the roof down, you could crank it yet is was never painful. HK should take a lesson and put some engineering into the sound quality in addition to the gadget integration.
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      01-20-2011, 11:17 PM   #19
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music playing?
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      03-01-2011, 10:40 PM   #20
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what is the name of your song that you are playing?
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      03-02-2011, 10:34 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmartan View Post
I can't imagine what you are all hearing. The HK sound system in my 2011 135i vert is the poorest factory system I have owned and heard in the past 20 years. It sounds so anemic at normal levels and tweaking the equalization does not help. I'd love to find a way to get decent sound out of it but all retrofits proposed so far tie into the speaker connections and re-equalize and amplify from there. I'd like to hear from anyone who has managed to improve on it without losing some integrated function.

The Bose in my 350Z vert was great in comparison and, with the roof down, you could crank it yet is was never painful. HK should take a lesson and put some engineering into the sound quality in addition to the gadget integration.
One thing I've noticed about the HK sound system is it strives for clarity/voice over volume/bass, and well, combine that with a convertible and you have disastrous results.
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      03-30-2011, 06:00 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maxnix View Post
Regardless or time or place, I always prefer clarity (true fidelity) over booming over boosted (and invariably distorted) bass frequencies.
+1 really can't stand that extreme bass noise.
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