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      09-02-2016, 12:24 PM   #1
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Harman Kardon in 2017 M2 vs 2016 M2 vs 2016 M2

Hey everyone, so I just took delivery of my 2017 M2 and I know people on here have said the 2016 M2's had the same Harman Kardon sound system that was in the m235 however I did own a 2015 m235 and now the 2017 M2 and they sound completely different with the M2 sounding much much better. Does anyone know if BMW possibly changed the Harman Kardon system in the 2017 to go along with iDrive 5.0? The bass, clarity, and overall volume of the system is much better compared to the m235 system I had. Thanks!
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      09-03-2016, 08:08 AM   #2
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Very unlikely they would've changed the hardware, so probably just better audio management on the software side.
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      09-03-2016, 08:15 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BD_F87 View Post
Hey everyone, so I just took delivery of my 2017 M2 and I know people on here have said the 2016 M2's had the same Harman Kardon sound system that was in the m235 however I did own a 2015 m235 and now the 2017 M2 and they sound completely different with the M2 sounding much much better!
This is promising. So the user settings are exactly the same between the two cars? Can you describe what "better" means to you? How does it compare to the Logic 7 system?
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      09-03-2016, 10:54 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zenmaster View Post
This is promising. So the user settings are exactly the same between the two cars? Can you describe what "better" means to you? How does it compare to the Logic 7 system?
The user settings are the same as my old m235, your typical treble, bass, fader, etc.. I think it's better all across the board honestly. My m235 you basically had to turn the volume up all the way to max and even then the bass was very weak and the more you adjusted the bass the vocals would get drowned out and not sound as good.. Now on my M2 I can turn volume up half way and you get very good vocal clarity along with much better bass than in my m235.. Now if you turn it up even more it just gets that much better. My girlfriend notices the huge difference too as she drove the m235 quite a bit and she was very impressed with the M2 sound system.

I personally would compare it to the Bang and Olufsen sound system that was in my 2013 Audi S4 and say that it is about the same as that which for me was a very good system.
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      09-03-2016, 11:10 AM   #5
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Since it'd be the exact same system for the entire 2017 2-series range, I will take a look at the 2-series forum for more info.
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      09-03-2016, 01:12 PM   #6
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I'm really hoping the sound system is good, I'm coming from a car with a $15,000 audio set up..
Morel Supremos, 3 amps + 2 12inch 1,000WRMS subwoofers, just hoping the HK system is good, and I don't have to go aftermarket because I don't want to touch this car too much!
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      09-03-2016, 01:29 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iQuiet View Post
I'm really hoping the sound system is good
It's not.
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      09-03-2016, 01:39 PM   #8
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This is really exciting as I am coming from an Audi S4 with the Bang & Olufsen system and have been reading nothing but negative reviews about the HK system in 2016 so I was worried as I do enjoy a good stereo. Hopefully they have done a bit better with it.

I have also read it sounds even better with the Active Sound disabled as the stereo no longer has to balance pumping engine noise in while listening to music.
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      09-03-2016, 02:11 PM   #9
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This is one of the few accounts I've read of someone being happy with the HK. Most reviews have been terrible. The HK sucks bad in my other two BMWs. I hope OP is right.
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      09-03-2016, 02:29 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jtfields View Post
This is one of the few accounts I've read of someone being happy with the HK. Most reviews have been terrible. The HK sucks bad in my other two BMWs. I hope OP is right.
Yeah I mean I am not the pickiest person when it comes to sound systems in my cars and am no audiophile but I also was reading about how terrible the HK sound system was in the M2 and how it was exactly the same as the M235i so when I picked up my M2 I was expecting the same crap. But now having owned both cars I find it almost impossible that it would be the same sound system.. My only guess is maybe they changed something from the 16's to 17's
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      09-03-2016, 02:42 PM   #11
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It would seem impossible for only 1 person to notice and remark about such a large improvement from one model to the next, with so many forum members upgrading their cars.
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      09-03-2016, 02:58 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zenmaster View Post
It would seem impossible for only 1 person to notice and remark about such a large improvement from one model to the next, with so many forum members upgrading their cars.
But the one big difference is how many forum members actually have 2017's so far with iDrive 5.0? Maybe the new iDrive with Apple Car Play needed a different amp or something. Just guessing honestly but I am pretty sure I am not deaf lol
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      09-04-2016, 10:07 AM   #13
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Perhaps HK updated this amp and changed/added filters to remove more noise. I hope so anyway.
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      09-05-2016, 03:31 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BD_F87 View Post
But the one big difference is how many forum members actually have 2017's so far with iDrive 5.0? Maybe the new iDrive with Apple Car Play needed a different amp or something. Just guessing honestly but I am pretty sure I am not deaf lol
I'm pretty sure you're not,having recently taken delivery of of a MY17 M2 with idrive 5 and HK I've noticed it's louder and has no discernible hiss that people mentioned about in the MY16.

Also the active sound isn't as intrusive compared to the MY16 model,at least in my car.So no mods necessary for me,for the moment...
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      09-05-2016, 08:22 AM   #15
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Why do you guys keep mentioning iDrive 5.0?

@Nine Lives - what car did you drive before?
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      09-05-2016, 09:32 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zenmaster View Post
It would seem impossible for only 1 person to notice and remark about such a large improvement from one model to the next, with so many forum members upgrading their cars.
AFAIK, the only ones upgrading are MY2016.

OP, is one of the few first MY2017 cars.
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      09-05-2016, 09:34 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zenmaster View Post
Why do you guys keep mentioning iDrive 5.0?

@Nine Lives - what car did you drive before?
I believe it is b/c that is the most significant change between MY2016 and MY2017 that might possible be related to the audio.
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      09-05-2016, 09:49 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by masou View Post
I believe it is b/c that is the most significant change between MY2016 and MY2017 that might possible be related to the audio.
Yeah that is the only logical explanation I could have for it would be iDrive 5.0.. BMW said in order for Apple Car Play to work it required iDrive 5.0 which could mean in order for the Harman Kardon to work with new iDrive they may have had to change their hardware and/or software to make it compatible with the new system.
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      09-05-2016, 10:06 AM   #19
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Hmm I sort of get the logic, but I would not think iDrive has anything to do with audio quality other than serving as the user interface for settings (volume, eq, fader, etc) and output of the raw audio. The speakers, amps, DSP filters, etc should independent of even iDrive hardware (NBT unit) changes. Updates related to one or more of those things are what should provide the larger degree of audio quality difference you are taking about.
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      09-05-2016, 10:40 AM   #20
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Well, I hope it's true. Even my Z3 back in the mid-90's had a crappy stereo system (pre-iDrive, pre-HK). It's stupid that my BMWs with $40k (in mid-90's dollars), $75k and $45k MSRPs can't seem to come with something that sounds better than a stock Honda Civic stereo system.
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      09-05-2016, 11:35 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zenmaster View Post
Why do you guys keep mentioning iDrive 5.0?

@Nine Lives - what car did you drive before?
Last three cars were M3 E92,TT RS,M135. Why ?
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      09-05-2016, 12:14 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nine Lives View Post
Last three cars were M3 E92,TT RS,M135. Why ?
Was trying to understand your basis for comparison.
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