[MystroX5]

B&W audio adjustments of what most people like:

Set the treble and bass sliders to neutral. Then go into the eq and adjust the audio with just the multi band eq. Use a high bit audio track you really know that has high hats and kick drum with lots of the entire frequency. A movie score, good jazz or even country works well. Dont use thrasher rock, pop, or any XM radio. Too much compression. The car should be turned off, windows up and sunshade closed. Volume needs to be at 50%.

Start your multi-band eq adjustment with a "smiley face" across the eq without the mids being cut. When you get close to the tone you like. Use the macro bass and treble sliders to accentuate the eq settings.
At this point preview the surround settings/room sizes. (Concert, Studio, Theater, etc..)

Now if you do this correct, the bass should still be warm at a volume of 25% but not too thumpy at a volume of 75%.


I have a degree in acoustic and audio engineering. Trust me, the B&W will blow you away providing it is calibrated. This is the down fall of these advanced audio systems as they offer the customer too much control in messing up the frequency response. When visiting my dealer, the manager asks me to calibrate every B&W car in the showroom if I have the time. Takes me 30 seconds per car. I did this for them a few years ago and they were shocked how good the system sounds but there is no protocol in setting them up and the manual sucks. The average customer is lost and might take them months before they even start tinkering with the tone. There is so much other tech in the G07/G05.
Every B&W system should be somewhat tuned before the customer takes delivery but they do not. In predelivery they should at least ask if they want the B&W system semi-adjusted. It would be a nice touch.

Hopefully this will point you in the right direction to adjusting your B&W audio system.

Updated: This is a easy to follow guide you can take a screen shot and take with you for future reference.

[iconoclast]

I believe they do not tune and it leave it flat because everyone has different preference in settings.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

I believe they do not tune and it leave it flat because everyone has different preference in settings.

Yup and the problem is a true "Flat sounding /accurate" sound system sounds horrible to the average ears. I mix on a flat set of monitors like NS10's but show case the final product with the far-field power house monitors to the client. The average audio consumer wants a warm colorful sound system and many just assume their upgraded audio system should come ready for their ears.. There is just so much new tech in these cars that the audio system is the last thing I bet they think of for months.

Like the person that believes their Steinway should always stay in tune without any adjustments.

[Wild Blue]

Good stuff, man. I'm a pseudo-audiophile, will be going with the B&W in my upcoming X7. I do use the techniques that you mention here, until it "sounds good" to me. But without some sort of auto-EQ, I always feel like I'm missing out on some sort of tweak in a particular band combination that would make it even better, but that I'm not aware of

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Wild Blue

Good stuff, man. I'm a pseudo-audiophile, will be going with the B&W in my upcoming X7. I do use the techniques that you mention here, until it "sounds good" to me. But without some sort of auto-EQ, I always feel like I'm missing out on some sort of tweak in a particular band combination that would make it even better, but that I'm not aware of

If your a audiophile, you tend to expose your ears to better audio systems and over time will be in a better position to naturally hear what is wrong with the eq.
Here is where it gets tricky. The older you get and/or the lifestyle you have exposed your ears to, you get certain frequencies you dont hear as well as a fresh set of ears. Its a fact of life but without regular hearing test, its a sliding scale as to where your ears are at. Dont sweat the small stuff with getting too hyper critical of eq calibration. This is for your enjoyment. Even with being very carful of my ears and regular hearing test, I have learned to compensate for my frequency losses. Its like adjusting your eyes to a new eyeglass RX. This is when you listen to enough clients description over the years of what they want their final mix to sound like. Accurate is never one of them. I get "It needs to be more punchy" to "It has to hit like a hammer but soar high". I have to now interpret this on a parametric eq.

[Wild Blue]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

If your a audiophile, you tend to expose your ears to better audio systems and over time will be in a better position to naturally hear what is wrong with the eq.
Here is where it gets tricky. The older you get and/or the lifestyle you have exposed your ears to, you get certain frequencies you dont hear as well as a fresh set of ears. Its a fact of life but without regular hearing test, its a sliding scale as to where your ears are at. Dont sweat the small stuff with getting too hyper critical of eq calibration. This is for your enjoyment. Even with being very carful of my ears and regular hearing test, I have learned to compensate for my frequency losses. Its like adjusting your eyes to a new eyeglass RX. This is when you listen to enough clients description over the years of what they want their final mix to sound like. Accurate is never one of them. I get "It needs to be more punchy" to "It has to hit like a hammer but soar high". I have to now interpret this on a parametric eq.

Justin Bieber: "Make me sound good"

Sound Engineer: ??????????

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Wild Blue

Justin Bieber: "Make me sound good"

Sound Engineer: ??????????

My standard statement is always.... "We will fix it in the mix".

[jmciver]

This is good stuff and you don't need to even be a semi-audiophile to hear the difference after performing such a basic calibration. In fact, for those of us who did not "splurge" on the B&W system, this basic technique will help the HK system sound better as well - as I did it to mine right after I took delivery of my X7.

[Resjudicata]

My buddy bloozemanAZ is the audio guy and he'd probably agree with MystroX5

[AVZ12345]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

B&W audio adjustments of what most people like:

Set the treble and bass sliders to neutral. Then go into the eq and adjust the audio with just the multi band eq. Use a high bit audio track you really know that has high hats and kick drum with lots of the entire frequency. A movie score, good jazz or even country works well. Dont use thrasher rock, pop, or any XM radio. Too much compression. The car should be turned off, windows up and sunshade closed. Volume needs to be at 50%.

Start your multi-band eq adjustment with a "smiley face" across the eq without the mids being cut. When you get close to the tone you like. Use the macro bass and treble sliders to accentuate the eq settings.
At this point preview the surround settings/room sizes. (Concert, Studio, Theater, etc..)

Now if you do this correct, the bass should still be warm at a volume of 25% but not too thumpy at a volume of 75%.


I have a degree in acoustic and audio engineering. Trust me, the B&W will blow you away providing it is calibrated. This is the down fall of these advanced audio systems as they offer the customer too much control in messing up the frequency response. When visiting my dealer, the manager asks me to calibrate every B&W car in the showroom if I have the time. Takes me 30 seconds per car. I did this for them a few years ago and they were shocked how good the system sounds but there is no protocol in setting them up and the manual sucks. The average customer is lost and might take them months before they even start tinkering with the tone. There is so much other tech in the G07/G05.
Every B&W system should be somewhat tuned before the customer takes delivery but they do not. In predelivery they should at least ask if they want the B&W system semi-adjusted. It would be a nice touch.

Hopefully this will point you in the right direction to adjusting your B&W audio system.

Thanks! This is very helpful as I’ve been struggling with setting mine up a bit. A few questions though: What song(s) have you used in the past and what audio source did you use - just a USB drive? Also, do you have a picture of one of the setups you did?

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by Resjudicata

My buddy bloozemanAZ is the audio guy and he'd probably agree with MystroX5

Absolutely as it is spot on. As Resjudicata well knows I've been trying to help others on the 8-series forum whom complain of the lack of bass with the B&W sound system. MystroX5 given his background can also attest to the fact that a setting for a X7 is not going to work in a 8-series as the spatial cabin volume is completely different.

Over the years I've had several variants of the B&W 800 series in my home audio setup which is the basis for what goes into the BMW solutions. The 10" drivers based on the 800s are targeted for tight accurate bass so those looking for a LFE "thump" experience are not going to find it.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by AVZ12345

Thanks! This is very helpful as I’ve been struggling with setting mine up a bit. A few questions though: What song(s) have you used in the past and what audio source did you use - just a USB drive? Also, do you have a picture of one of the setups you did?

As MystroX5 pointed out in his original post a movie score, jazz, etc. will work well. I'd flip that a little as I've used various genres including rock. However, as he pointed out never SiriusXM as the compression rate is too high. The key is the source and everything I've used to dial-in the sound of the B&W in my 8-series has been done from audio masters in FLAC format on a SSD plugged into the USBC port in the console.

One of my reference albums albums you can not go wrong with is Steely Dan's Aja. I used it in FLAC format (sourced from the Japanese master SACD release) on a thumb drive for my initial 8-series H&K vs B&W audio shootout. Needless to say with even the stock settings the B&W outshined the H&K. Dial-in the EQ and it is absolutely glorious.

[Farooqshaik]

Thank You so much MystroX5. After tuning my car sounds so much better now

[BDWonder]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

B&W audio adjustments of what most people like:

Set the treble and bass sliders to neutral. Then go into the eq and adjust the audio with just the multi band eq. Use a high bit audio track you really know that has high hats and kick drum with lots of the entire frequency. A movie score, good jazz or even country works well. Dont use thrasher rock, pop, or any XM radio. Too much compression. The car should be turned off, windows up and sunshade closed. Volume needs to be at 50%.

Start your multi-band eq adjustment with a "smiley face" across the eq without the mids being cut. When you get close to the tone you like. Use the macro bass and treble sliders to accentuate the eq settings.
At this point preview the surround settings/room sizes. (Concert, Studio, Theater, etc..)

Now if you do this correct, the bass should still be warm at a volume of 25% but not too thumpy at a volume of 75%.


I have a degree in acoustic and audio engineering. Trust me, the B&W will blow you away providing it is calibrated. This is the down fall of these advanced audio systems as they offer the customer too much control in messing up the frequency response. When visiting my dealer, the manager asks me to calibrate every B&W car in the showroom if I have the time. Takes me 30 seconds per car. I did this for them a few years ago and they were shocked how good the system sounds but there is no protocol in setting them up and the manual sucks. The average customer is lost and might take them months before they even start tinkering with the tone. There is so much other tech in the G07/G05.
Every B&W system should be somewhat tuned before the customer takes delivery but they do not. In predelivery they should at least ask if they want the B&W system semi-adjusted. It would be a nice touch.

Hopefully this will point you in the right direction to adjusting your B&W audio system.

Can you please provide pictures of the process or the smiley face you mentioned?
Id love to set up my b&w but do not know whats a smiley face and what it means by without the mids being cut.

Thank you.

[Wanderer73]

I made some additional changes a couple of months ago per MystroX5 recommendations, and it tightened up the overall output of the B&W system. So many people have opted not to option the B&W in the X7 because of the stock settings at the dealership. It's a shame.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by BDWonder

Can you please provide pictures of the process or the smiley face you mentioned?
Id love to set up my b&w but do not know whats a smiley face and what it means by without the mids being cut.

Thank you.

I cant take a pic right now. The mid level shouldn't be pulled down any lower than 0db (the slider sits in the very middle of the adjustment range.) That mid level positions makes up the lowest part of the smiley face. Gradually work each fader up consecutively making a "smiley face" with the adjustment sliders.

[wtlaw]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I cant take a pic right now. The mid level shouldn't be pulled down any lower than 0db (the slider sits in the very middle of the adjustment range.) That mid level positions makes up the lowest part of the smiley face. Gradually work each fader up consecutively making a "smiley face" with the adjustment sliders.

Thank you !!

[BDWonder]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I cant take a pic right now. The mid level shouldn't be pulled down any lower than 0db (the slider sits in the very middle of the adjustment range.) That mid level positions makes up the lowest part of the smiley face. Gradually work each fader up consecutively making a "smiley face" with the adjustment sliders.

[Al Pinã]

The Disco-Smile never fails!

[mklam]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I cant take a pic right now. The mid level shouldn't be pulled down any lower than 0db (the slider sits in the very middle of the adjustment range.) That mid level positions makes up the lowest part of the smiley face. Gradually work each fader up consecutively making a "smiley face" with the adjustment sliders.

Is it something like this?

[samX7]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I cant take a pic right now. The mid level shouldn't be pulled down any lower than 0db (the slider sits in the very middle of the adjustment range.) That mid level positions makes up the lowest part of the smiley face. Gradually work each fader up consecutively making a "smiley face" with the adjustment sliders.

Hey is it possible for you to send a picture of how you have it set up?

[MystroX5]

As per popular request:
Here is the B&W Diamond system quick calibration guide.

Please note all final tone adjustments to the style of music you enjoy needs to be done with step 3 “Global Tone settings”. This will give you your quick eq adjustment to globally compensate highs and lows for the entire system without changing the system master eq calibration. This is very useful for quick on the fly tone adjustments for the style of music you are listening to like overly heavy low end thumpy music, etc….