[Vivalamatt]

For me, I've had Bowers & Wilkins in my 17' 5 series and Harman Kardon in my 21' X5 and 23' M3 Comp. I can unequivocally say that HK was lackluster, boring and flat. Bowers & Wilkins absolutely blows HK out of the water with sound quality and even the design element. I wasn't able to order B&W in my X5 due to the chip shortages and M3 due to it not being an option. Going forward, I'm going to make sure every car I order/buy will be optioned with B&W.


Only way to make your decision is to personally try them both out in person. Good luck.

[mtimmy]

Well ...worth, it love the sound

[Saejin]

My SA said it best…

You’re ordering a $113K SUV, what’s another $3400…you won’t regret it.

Given the price range of the X7 $85K - $120K…the B&W option should be checked.

The B&W combined with the quiet interior combined with all the other lux features just completed the package. Plus it’s hands down one of the best audio systems I’ve heard in a vehicle.

[nvsocr7]

So I just did the smiley face eq trick and let me tell you, night and day difference. It’s fantastic. I use Apple Music with lossless. Upgrade to b&w but make sure you tune it!

[samX7]

Originally Posted by nvsocr7

So I just did the smiley face eq trick and let me tell you, night and day difference. It’s fantastic. I use Apple Music with lossless. Upgrade to b&w but make sure you tune it!

Can you send me a picture of how your tune looks like?

[Herofmine]

Totally worth it! My friend’s X6 has B&W and my X5M B&O, night and day difference from H&K. Post 2016 H&K systems are garbage..

[nvsocr7]

Originally Posted by samX7

Can you send me a picture of how your tune looks like?

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=26760264 check this post, it’s somewhere in here. Or search for bowers Wilkins and there’s only a few posts.

[Missduvy]

I had a 2019 50i for almost 4 years; it had Harmon Kardon, and I thought it was fine. Just traded it yesterday for a 2023 M60i with Bowers & Wilkins, and I’m blown away by the richness of this sound. At low, conversational volume, there isn’t an enormous difference, but even then the lighted speakers are cool. But when I’m alone in the car and crank it up, it almost brings me to tears. I can feel the bass in my seat, and the music feels like it’s literally in my bones. Dramatic, yes. But not inaccurate. If money was tight, no way would it be worth $3,400, and if you’ve never had it and aren’t someone who truly loves music and the experience it can give you, you’ll never miss it. But if you can swing it, I highly recommend it. And then be sure and play Purple Rain at a volume that’ll make those beside you at the stoplight turn and look. You’ll thank me later.

[keg97]

Originally Posted by Missduvy

I had a 2019 50i for almost 4 years; it had Harmon Kardon, and I thought it was fine. Just traded it yesterday for a 2023 M60i with Bowers & Wilkins, and I’m blown away by the richness of this sound. At low, conversational volume, there isn’t an enormous difference, but even then the lighted speakers are cool. But when I’m alone in the car and crank it up, it almost brings me to tears. I can feel the bass in my seat, and the music feels like it’s literally in my bones. Dramatic, yes. But not inaccurate. If money was tight, no way would it be worth $3,400, and if you’ve never had it and aren’t someone who truly loves music and the experience it can give you, you’ll never miss it. But if you can swing it, I highly recommend it. And then be sure and play Purple Rain at a volume that’ll make those beside you at the stoplight turn and look. You’ll thank me later.

You have visions of Prince playing at the Super Bowl half time show too?!

[Rastayang]

I was on a time crunch when it came to getting our x7 because I wanted to take advantage of the business tax, so I was able to find one fully loaded In Pennsylvania and the only thing it didn’t have was the B&W system. Reading some of these has me somewhat sad I couldn’t configure my own because I definitely would have added it. Oh well, I will say this HK one impresses me but this is my first big suv so I don’t know expectations.

[JT2023M60i]

Granted I was coming from a 2015 Audi Q7 Bose to a B&W in my M60i…this system is lights out! My wife’s S5 Audi has their upgraded B&O system and she was telling me how jealous she is of my audio system.

If anyone watches “Savagegeese” vehicle reviews on YouTube, they stated recently…paraphrasing “anything with a B&W audio…just check that box their systems are really that good”.

6:08 minute mark. BMW iX won their best audio for the year but they speak about how great B&W is overall.

https://youtu.be/ZdvXAVm1ubU

[PinkNinja400Guy]

Originally Posted by JT2023M60i

If anyone watches “Savagegeese” vehicle reviews on YouTube, they stated recently…paraphrasing “anything with a B&W audio…just check that box their systems are really that good”.

6:08 minute mark. BMW iX won their best audio for the year but they speak about how great B&W is overall.

https://youtu.be/ZdvXAVm1ubU

The iX and new 7 series have the next generation B&W system, which is a step above the B&W system we get in the X5 and X7. Not saying the X5/X7 B&W isn't good.

[jeep]

I had an opportunity to tune the B&W system on my friends X7 with the smile tune (I had tuned the HK on my X7 same way), and I have to say that I felt it was not worth more than 3x the HK system. It sounds better and the lit speakers look cool, but maybe it's just my ear the HK system in my X7 is no slouch.

[JT2023M60i]

Originally Posted by PinkNinja400Guy

The iX and new 7 series have the next generation B&W system, which is a step above the B&W system we get in the X5 and X7. Not saying the X5/X7 B&W isn't good.

Agree, their comment was they nominated several B&W systems and the iX won…they stayed B&W is putting a ton of great systems which was the point I was making to the question if it was worth the upgrade or not.

[MrPorter]

Originally Posted by nvsocr7

So I just did the smiley face eq trick and let me tell you, night and day difference. It’s fantastic. I use Apple Music with lossless. Upgrade to b&w but make sure you tune it!

Are you using a USB cable for CarPlay?

[JJacksonIII]

Originally Posted by Rastayang

I was on a time crunch when it came to getting our x7 because I wanted to take advantage of the business tax, so I was able to find one fully loaded In Pennsylvania and the only thing it didn’t have was the B&W system. Reading some of these has me somewhat sad I couldn’t configure my own because I definitely would have added it. Oh well, I will say this HK one impresses me but this is my first big suv so I don’t know expectations.

I actually built one without the B&W System... feel kind of foolish now... But, I will say that you can't miss what you don't know. The HK system doesn't suck. Maybe against the B&W system, but it's better than average for sure.

[gsobol]

Originally Posted by JJacksonIII

I actually built one without the B&W System... feel kind of foolish now... But, I will say that you can't miss what you don't know. The HK system doesn't suck. Maybe against the B&W system, but it's better than average for sure.

You know how it goes. You order the car with I6 and HK system, then you go inside someone else V8 and B&W, and you start kicking yourself for not getting the one with more power and better sound. You can't un-see, un-feel and un-hear things you experienced.

However, if you never actually set foot inside the other vehicle, you won't miss something you never experienced. AND, you get to enjoy what you have !!!

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by gsobol

You know how it goes. You order the car with I6 and HK system, then you go inside someone else V8 and B&W, and you start kicking yourself for not getting the one with more power and better sound. You can't un-see, un-feel and un-hear things you experienced.

However, if you never actually set foot inside the other vehicle, you won't miss something you never experienced. AND, you get to enjoy what you have !!!

even worse if you have an X7 with i6 and HK, and then you get an X3 loaner with V8 and B&W if its possible, lol.

[gsobol]

Originally Posted by BMW5and7

even worse if you have an X7 with i6 and HK, and then you get an X3 loaner with V8 and B&W if its possible, lol.

Don't drive people

[Rastayang]

Originally Posted by JJacksonIII

I actually built one without the B&W System... feel kind of foolish now... But, I will say that you can't miss what you don't know. The HK system doesn't suck. Maybe against the B&W system, but it's better than average for sure.

I love the system to be honest. Especially after some fine tuning with the sound adjustments. But yeah seeing the others talk about how life changing it is / my love for music makes me wonder.. A LOT lol!