[1Mors]

The hi fi Audio is amazing terrible. I don't think it can get any worse. Maybe a hand held transistor radio. It sounds muffled with no energy or fidelity whatsoever.

I can't believe there was nothing I could order when I did order from the factory. Major FAIL BMW major fail.

I had to edit.. It is one for the worst stock radios I have ever had. Even the 2011 E70 sounded so much better.

[HuskerNSC]

Agreed. I replaced all speakers with Focals and the Bimmertech (Match Audio) amp. Night and Day.

[silverstar335]

My recommendation is to start thinking about upgrading the speakers and/or the amp.

[1Mors]

I am starting the research now on the forums. I know this topic has come up before when I was waiting for my car to be delivered. I thought I would wait until I got it to make a judgement.

This post is my judgement. Looking at Bavsound and bimmertech currently. I don't know if I have the energy to rip apart my car to do this though. I like the plug n play amp replacement. That looks almost easy beside the cramped space and not being able to see what you are doing very well.

I need good opinions guys from people who have made the change..

Thanks a bunch.

Mike

[PittsDriver]

We just ordered an x5 M50i w/the HK audio that comes standard. I did notice that it sounds better than the 40i we drove but to me it's a car, not a concert hall. I can understand why some owners who are audiophiles see this as a place to love on your new car and upgrade/customize the sound.

I'm guessing there are threads on here on how-to your stereo system to better sound? Might be fun to play with some options after we get the car but probably would be looking at bang for the buck improvements and not cost is no object sound.

[1Mors]

Originally Posted by PittsDriver

We just ordered an x5 M50i w/the HK audio that comes standard. I did notice that it sounds better than the 40i we drove but to me it's a car, not a concert hall. I can understand why some owners who are audiophiles see this as a place to love on your new car and upgrade/customize the sound.

I'm guessing there are threads on here on how-to your stereo system to better sound? Might be fun to play with some options after we get the car but probably would be looking at bang for the buck improvements and not cost is no object sound.

I would be ok if the sound wasn't so washed out and muddy. Sometimes I can't even understand what I am hearing. Music I know to sound a certain way doesn't.

Really disappointed.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by 1Mors

I would be ok if the sound wasn't so washed out and muddy. Sometimes I can't even understand what I am hearing. Music I know to sound a certain way doesn't.

Really disappointed.

Speakers do need to break in, but the base HiFi system is not an amazing setup. I will say it's better than some other base radios out there, i.e. ye old four speaker setups.

[PittsDriver]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Speakers do need to break in, but the base HiFi system is not an amazing setup. I will say it's better than some other base radios out there, i.e. ye old four speaker setups.

Just to be clear, you are not referring to the HK system when you say "the base HIFI system is not an amazing setup?"

I'm going to guess that real audiophiles won't consider the HK "amazing." I have to admit, I didn't really spend a lot of time comparing the 40i and M50i audio systems before I pulled the trigger on the M50i. I like to listen to music as much as anyone and feel like I have a pretty discriminating ear - but, it's a car with background noises and I don't often sit in my parked car listening for the 2nd chair French horn part in Bolero.

All that said, I'm really curious to hear what successful upgrades you guys put in your X5's and what you have invested in them.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by PittsDriver

Just to be clear, you are not referring to the HK system when you say "the base HIFI system is not an amazing setup?"

I'm going to guess that real audiophiles won't consider the HK "amazing." I have to admit, I didn't really spend a lot of time comparing the 40i and M50i audio systems before I pulled the trigger on the M50i. I like to listen to music as much as anyone and feel like I have a pretty discriminating ear - but, it's a car with background noises and I don't often sit in my parked car listening for the 2nd chair French horn part in Bolero.

All that said, I'm really curious to hear what successful upgrades you guys put in your X5's and what you have invested in them.

I am by no means an audiophile; the HK is perfectly fine for me. I had a 2020 X5 with base HiFi and returned it a year later because I regretted skipping out on options I had previously (including HK) to say "I'm saving money!".

Base HiFi has 3 tweeters, 5 mids, 2 subs. I replaced the speakers in my 2020 with bavsound [minus the subs] and to me it sounded better.

HK system has 7 tweeters, 7 mids, 2 subs. To me there is no comparison between the base HiFi with or without speaker upgrades. However, base HiFi system with speaker and amp upgrades probably sounds better than an unmodified HK system, even if it has more speakers. You'll see on here some people don't like HK at all and swap it out entirely still, while others will only get B&W.

[1Mors]

I definitely don't have an HK system. It's definitely a base hifi system being installed at the factory from my recent build.

[PKL]

Originally Posted by HuskerNSC

Agreed. I replaced all speakers with Focals and the Bimmertech (Match Audio) amp. Night and Day.

can you post links to what you bought? TYIA

[HuskerNSC]

Here ya go:

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...&postcount=115

[1Mors]

Not sure if the stock speakers in the HiFi system need to break in at all. It did sound a little better at lower volumes today. I could understand some talk radio better and the music had a small mid range to it today. I have been running it a little louder than normal to see if that helps in the beginning.

I just hit 100 miles on the car today I guess it's time to trade it in haha

[dhaloulos]

I'm following this thread too. I'm in the same boat. Brand new 2022 x5 with Hi-Fi audio and it's absolutely garbage. I've read that just doing the BimmerTech amp upgrade makes a world of difference. When I've gone to local car audio shops, they're pushing for a complete audio upgrade w/ all new speakers though. I don't know what to believe yet.

[theprocrastinator]

Originally Posted by dhaloulos

I'm following this thread too. I'm in the same boat. Brand new 2022 x5 with Hi-Fi audio and it's absolutely garbage. I've read that just doing the BimmerTech amp upgrade makes a world of difference. When I've gone to local car audio shops, they're pushing for a complete audio upgrade w/ all new speakers though. I don't know what to believe yet.

Were you able to get a quote on how much will it cost?

[PKL]

Originally Posted by dhaloulos

I'm following this thread too. I'm in the same boat. Brand new 2022 x5 with Hi-Fi audio and it's absolutely garbage. I've read that just doing the BimmerTech amp upgrade makes a world of difference. When I've gone to local car audio shops, they're pushing for a complete audio upgrade w/ all new speakers though. I don't know what to believe yet.

I just ordered the bimmertech amp. I'll be sticking with the stock speakers for now just because I don't want to spend all the money at once. We'll see how it sounds with just the amp upgrade

[dhaloulos]

Originally Posted by theprocrastinator

Were you able to get a quote on how much will it cost?

Just got a quote w/ Focal speakers for front half of the x5, extra sub and JL AMP for under $6K. I'm shopping around.

[av0789]

Originally Posted by PKL

I just ordered the bimmertech amp. I'll be sticking with the stock speakers for now just because I don't want to spend all the money at once. We'll see how it sounds with just the amp upgrade

I'm planning on doing the same - if you could let me know how it goes that would be great

[sheranf]

Originally Posted by silverstar335

My recommendation is to start thinking about upgrading the speakers and/or the amp.

Agree. I swapped in the Bimmertech Match amp. HUGE improvement even with stock HiFi speakers, so much so I haven’t rushed to replace them with PnP Focals that are sitting in my garage.

[mrkalpakkam]

Due to chip shortage, I got only the basic one which lacks equalizer settings. If I replace it with another amp, can I change the equalizer?
My forester with tweaked equalizer settings sounds better than this basic.
To me, the speakers in X5 are ok as some songs sound good.

Would be great if someone can share the amp link or model/cost.

[mmm50i]

This member said the amp upgrade was enough to make the the hifi system as good as the HK system!

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1906867

[silverstar335]

Originally Posted by mrkalpakkam

Due to chip shortage, I got only the basic one which lacks equalizer settings. If I replace it with another amp, can I change the equalizer?
My forester with tweaked equalizer settings sounds better than this basic.
To me, the speakers in X5 are ok as some songs sound good.

Would be great if someone can share the amp link or model/cost.

A lot of us have bought the Match 7DSP amp, I am installing mine over the weekend, got it earlier in the week.

Look for Match by Audiotec Fischer UP 7DSP Amplifier with Loom for RAM version BMW 2019+ on eBay.