[Bimmerfun82]

Considering upgrading the HK system simply by upping the two under-seat subs and the amplifier in the trunk to provide more head room with a modulator for the sub frequencies. Apologies if that terminology is incorrect, not an audiophile. Anyway did this on my X5 with an added a sub and amp with a knob to control the sub and it made for a much clearer sound experience with no distortion even at high volumes. Anyone else do this to their Z? I don’t want to lose trunk space but need more clarity and power. Don’t think the bimmertech approach is the path I want to go down with software changes and DSP modulation.

[Horseman]

I hear alot of gumption about the HK system. I gotta ask, does anyone here have experience with the non-HK system versus the HK system? I personally really LIKE the non-HK system with my only beef being the bass vibrations in the trunk and area right behind the seats.

This weekend I should be able to get tinker with the HK system, but really wanted to get someone's first hand opinion on this.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Horseman

I hear alot of gumption about the HK system. I gotta ask, does anyone here have experience with the non-HK system versus the HK system? I personally really LIKE the non-HK system with my only beef being the bass vibrations in the trunk and area right behind the seats.

This weekend I should be able to get tinker with the HK system, but really wanted to get someone's first hand opinion on this.

I had the non HK on the 430i convertible last year, and we have it on the X5. All prior BMW's I've owned have had the HK. The non HK sounds almost identical between the 430i and the Z4 HK. The X5 sounds fine but nowhere near the quality of prior X5 with HK. The M3 with HK sounded far better than the Z4.

[SpeedyATL]

Interested to see how this shakes out...

re: the HK system, equalizer tweaking makes a big improvement.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

Interested to see how this shakes out...

re: the HK system, equalizer tweaking makes a big improvement.

It absolutely does, and the surround effect is really cool. But it lacks the power and clarity I'm used to from the system.

[hilld]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Considering upgrading the HK system simply by upping the two under-seat subs and the amplifier in the trunk to provide more head room with a modulator for the sub frequencies. Apologies if that terminology is incorrect, not an audiophile. Anyway did this on my X5 with an added a sub and amp with a knob to control the sub and it made for a much clearer sound experience with no distortion even at high volumes. Anyone else do this to their Z? I don’t want to lose trunk space but need more clarity and power. Don’t think the bimmertech approach is the path I want to go down with software changes and DSP modulation.

The woofers are not under the seat in the G29, but rather in the bulk head panel behind the seat along with the rear speakers.

I am about to do the audio upgrade, but I have the Hifi (Option 676) system in my 2023. I have already ordered and received all the speakers and am still waiting on the Match Up 8DSP amp and wiring harness to show up. The Match UP 8DSP also contains a line out for a sub if you want to integrate that. I will go without a sub initially, but if I need to add one, I will add a JL Audio Powerwedge+ 10" self contained sub/amp to give it some additional bass. The sub is relatively small, so not too much trunk space would be sacrificed.

[RigaTony1982]

I'll also chime in here. Hi-Fi in my M340i, HK in my Z4.

The Hi-Fi was really bad. Very underpowered. No bass. Had to turn the volume to like 75% to get anything. I don't know if it was so disappointing because I came from having a B&O system in my A5 and the ELS system in my Acura before, but I was really underwhelmed.

I think the HK system is fine in the Z4. 90% of my driving has been top down and I like it. If the Hi-Fi system is as bad as in the M340, I can't imagine how it would handle driving top down.

As someone mentioned, you need to do some slight tweaking of the settings to your preference, but one I got there I've been happy with it.

[Westside Guy]

I test drove a 30i which did not have the HK system and with the top down I played with the settings and it did not impress me. On my M40i what has the HK system I am pretty pleased with the sound. While it doesn’t totally rock my boat, it is definitely better than the basic sound system. What I believe is missing is the very deep bass that you will hear from far more expensive systems.

I have also posted this before, the music source also plays a part in the clarity of the music you will hear.

If you are trying to decide whether or not to spend the extra money on the HK system, I would say that you should go for it.

PS, think about the money you will save by not ordering the wireless charger which we all know has been having overheating issues. 😉

[ebirotedu]

IMO, the biggest issues with the stock HK system in the Z4 is lack of deep bass extension and significant car body resonance from mid-bass frequencies. With some tracks the resonance isn't noticeable, while with others it's hard to ignore.

I'd be curious to see if those Bavsound or Focal 8" subwoofer replacements help appreciably with the volume issue. Bavsound claims vastly improved speaker sensitivity, which should mean more bass at any given volume level, but even if that's true it won't fix the issues I mentioned above - and if it doesn't resolve the resonance problem it's probably not worth doing.

The best solution would likely be to disable the 8" subs and replace them wholesale with a trunk mounted sub & amp.

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

It absolutely does, and the surround effect is really cool. But it lacks the power and clarity I'm used to from the system.

[alvitdk]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I test drove a 30i which did not have the HK system and with the top down I played with the settings and it did not impress me. On my M40i what has the HK system I am pretty pleased with the sound. While it doesn’t totally rock my boat, it is definitely better than the basic sound system. What I believe is missing is the very deep bass that you will hear from far more expensive systems.

I have also posted this before, the music source also plays a part in the clarity of the music you will hear.

If you are trying to decide whether or not to spend the extra money on the HK system, I would say that you should go for it.



PS, think about the money you will save by not ordering the wireless charger which we all know has been having overheating issues. 😉

I have the HK system and have no complains whatsoever, one of the best systems I had in any car (even better than the Bose in my Porsche).

I'm still confused about the complain of overheating phones. Drove around today at 100deg weather with the top open, the phone on the pad, and no issues. It charged to 100% and certainly heated up, but not worse than in our Tesla or my wife her Frontier truck

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by alvitdk

I have the HK system and have no complains whatsoever, one of the best systems I had in any car (even better than the Bose in my Porsche).

I'm still confused about the complain of overheating phones. Drove around today at 100deg weather with the top open, the phone on the pad, and no issues. It charged to 100% and certainly heated up, but not worse than in our Tesla or my wife her Frontier truck

I swear they made a change to the charging bad for 2023. Had it in my 2021 car and it was awful and always overheated the phone. I have not had the issue in my 2023 car.

[Bimmerfun82]

Charging pad wins over the conversation, again!

The subs are not under the seats.... hmmm.... I was surprised as well when the tech said they were. More research necessary but tend to agree the trunk would be better... the ragtop doesn't block too much of the sound entering the cabin, unlike a traditional convertible.

[Top Gon]

I came from a m340i with HK to the HK in the Z4 and they sound completely different. In the m340 I could crank it all the way up and it doesn’t they distorted much. It was like being at a concert.

Now of course the acoustics and just size/design of this car won’t allow for the same quality of sound so I kind of understand.

My gripe witb the z4 is I can’t put the bass at more than like half way otherwise the area behind the seat starts vibrating and it sounds terrible.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Charging pad wins over the conversation, again!

The subs are not under the seats.... hmmm.... I was surprised as well when the tech said they were. More research necessary but tend to agree the trunk would be better... the ragtop doesn't block too much of the sound entering the cabin, unlike a traditional convertible.

IIRC, there was a thread posted some time ago that included a diagram showing the location of all the Z4's speakers. Maybe you will get lucky and locate it doing a search?

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by BF 007

I came from a m340i with HK to the HK in the Z4 and they sound completely different. In the m340 I could crank it all the way up and it doesn’t they distorted much. It was like being at a concert.

Now of course the acoustics and just size/design of this car won’t allow for the same quality of sound so I kind of understand.

My gripe witb the z4 is I can’t put the bass at more than like half way otherwise the area behind the seat starts vibrating and it sounds terrible.

I have cranked the bass up to 75-80% and don't really feel a vibration. Maybe my wife is correct when she calls me a hard ass!

[Top Gon]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I have cranked the bass up to 75-80% and don't really feel a vibration. Maybe my wife is correct when she calls me a hard ass!

It depends on the music.

I’m gonna try to mess with the front/rear balance also

[CJ421]

This thread has pics and so on for upgrading the Z4's audio.

Originally Posted by BF 007

My gripe witb the z4 is I can’t put the bass at more than like half way otherwise the area behind the seat starts vibrating and it sounds terrible.

This is a problem with certain songs in my Z4 HK as well. I think the solution is going to be putting some Dynamat or padding around the speakers. See the thread I linked above, it shows how to get to the rear speakers.

Charles

[DM6]

I'm not seeing anyone stating they have had or heard stock vs. HK systems in a Z4. I've had both systems in Z4's with the two models I've owned. The stock Hi-fi is garbage and barely audible at 100% with the top down and 65mph+. It's surprising to me that BMW engineers thought that this system was acceptable. The HK system performs much better and I've never pushed it past 80% volume with the top down. It sounds great to me, through all ranges and music types, and in my opinion anyone bitching about HK has either had faulty components or is an extremely picky audiophile. If you need bass that shakes the whole damn car, then yeah, this won't do it for you. You will need to swing by your local Audio Xperts shop and throw 5K at them to quench your thirst for high-end, seemingly "quality", booming audio. And oh, by the way, no car manufacturer I'm aware of currently offers a system of this magnitude in a small convertible roadster.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by DM6

I'm not seeing anyone stating they have had or heard stock vs. HK systems in a Z4. I've had both systems in Z4's with the two models I've owned. The stock Hi-fi is garbage and barely audible at 100% with the top down and 65mph+. It's surprising to me that BMW engineers thought that this system was acceptable. The HK system performs much better and I've never pushed it past 80% volume with the top down. It sounds great to me, through all ranges and music types, and in my opinion anyone bitching about HK has either had faulty components or is an extremely picky audiophile. If you need bass that shakes the whole damn car, then yeah, this won't do it for you. You will need to swing by your local Audio Xperts shop and throw 5K at them to quench your thirst for high-end, seemingly "quality", booming audio. And oh, by the way, no car manufacturer I'm aware of currently offers a system of this magnitude in a small convertible roadster.

In post #8 I stated I have heard both systems.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by DM6

It sounds great to me, through all ranges and music types, and in my opinion anyone bitching about HK has either had faulty components or is an extremely picky audiophile.

Not sure how to respond to this - you're very aggressive in your opinion. The system, in my opinion, does not have the clarity that I'm used to from the HK or the pure lows, and I want to improve it. I'm glad it sounds good to you.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Not sure how to respond to this - you're very aggressive in your opinion. The system, in my opinion, does not have the clarity that I'm used to from the HK or the pure lows, and I want to improve it. I'm glad it sounds good to you.

What sounds good to each of us is very subjective and at the end of the day, it is different strokes for different folks and we can all agree to disagree.

[stlcdr]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Not sure how to respond to this - you're very aggressive in your opinion. The system, in my opinion, does not have the clarity that I'm used to from the HK or the pure lows, and I want to improve it. I'm glad it sounds good to you.

This is generally why I buy the best audio system for a convertible. A base system would be OK in an enclosed car, but the added noise will overwhelm an audio system.

Additionally, there's no point in putting an absolute best audio system in a convertible, because, again the baseline noise. Or, more specifically, the cost of the system will ramp up exponentially to get to a level that satisfies even a fraction of the audio 'aficionados'. aka. cost-benefit.

I'm happy with the HK system, but I can see (hear!) where it falls down very quickly. There are areas in the audio spectrum where I can hear it lacking. While it doesn't bother me, I can understand why someone would want an upgrade.