Cheap fix for a cheap radio
#1
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I am amazed how many posts have to do with this issue. I guess some buyers are content with the standard radio (probaby would rather listen to the engine) and don't want to pay extra, otherwise BMW would include a better standard radio.
My previous 330i had a Logic 7 radio. When I bought the 2006 530i, I had brain-fade and didn't even pay attention to the fact that the car was equipped with the plain old standard radio. It took a few days to figure out something was wrong and why the radio sounded so pathetic. Since both the treble and bass were set at neutral so I turned the bass up all the way. Although it sounded a little better it was definitely no Logic 7.
I remember back when I was a teenager in the 1960s, about the only way to improve the sound of your AM radio or 8 track tape player was to turn the tone control all the way in the bass direction.
A few days ago I was clicking through the IDrive and ended up at the treble and bass control. Noting the bass on max and the treble at neutral I reverted back to 1964 rational and turned the treble as low as it would go. I was amazed at the improvement. I would have thought the treble would have disappeared but instead it seemed to punch up the bass a little more while still providing separation and clarity from the high notes. Although this by no means the ultimate solution, at least I don't think about it every time I crank up a tune.
If you have the plain Jane radio give it a try and see if this works for you.
My previous 330i had a Logic 7 radio. When I bought the 2006 530i, I had brain-fade and didn't even pay attention to the fact that the car was equipped with the plain old standard radio. It took a few days to figure out something was wrong and why the radio sounded so pathetic. Since both the treble and bass were set at neutral so I turned the bass up all the way. Although it sounded a little better it was definitely no Logic 7.
I remember back when I was a teenager in the 1960s, about the only way to improve the sound of your AM radio or 8 track tape player was to turn the tone control all the way in the bass direction.
A few days ago I was clicking through the IDrive and ended up at the treble and bass control. Noting the bass on max and the treble at neutral I reverted back to 1964 rational and turned the treble as low as it would go. I was amazed at the improvement. I would have thought the treble would have disappeared but instead it seemed to punch up the bass a little more while still providing separation and clarity from the high notes. Although this by no means the ultimate solution, at least I don't think about it every time I crank up a tune.
If you have the plain Jane radio give it a try and see if this works for you.
#3
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My Ride: F11 520d Touring Imperial Blue, sports automatic, VDC, black leather sports seats, M Sport steering wheel, HiFi Professional, 18" 328 wheels, Xenon, PCD, electrical tow hitch etc...
E87 120dM -10, Titanium silver, xenon, PDC, Hifi, 18" wheels etc.
E87 120d M sport- 08, Le Mans blue, xenon, PDC, Hifi, 18" wheels etc.
Sold: BMW 525dT Deep sea blue, xenon, PDC, leather, Hifi, USB etc.
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Originally Posted by Sid C' post='436935' date='Jun 18 2007, 03:35 PM
I am amazed how many posts have to do with this issue. I guess some buyers are content with the standard radio (probaby would rather listen to the engine) and don't want to pay extra, otherwise BMW would include a better standard radio.
My previous 330i had a Logic 7 radio. When I bought the 2006 530i, I had brain-fade and didn't even pay attention to the fact that the car was equipped with the plain old standard radio. It took a few days to figure out something was wrong and why the radio sounded so pathetic. Since both the treble and bass were set at neutral so I turned the bass up all the way. Although it sounded a little better it was definitely no Logic 7.
I remember back when I was a teenager in the 1960s, about the only way to improve the sound of your AM radio or 8 track tape player was to turn the tone control all the way in the bass direction.
A few days ago I was clicking through the IDrive and ended up at the treble and bass control. Noting the bass on max and the treble at neutral I reverted back to 1964 rational and turned the treble as low as it would go. I was amazed at the improvement. I would have thought the treble would have disappeared but instead it seemed to punch up the bass a little more while still providing separation and clarity from the high notes. Although this by no means the ultimate solution, at least I don't think about it every time I crank up a tune.
If you have the plain Jane radio give it a try and see if this works for you.
My previous 330i had a Logic 7 radio. When I bought the 2006 530i, I had brain-fade and didn't even pay attention to the fact that the car was equipped with the plain old standard radio. It took a few days to figure out something was wrong and why the radio sounded so pathetic. Since both the treble and bass were set at neutral so I turned the bass up all the way. Although it sounded a little better it was definitely no Logic 7.
I remember back when I was a teenager in the 1960s, about the only way to improve the sound of your AM radio or 8 track tape player was to turn the tone control all the way in the bass direction.
A few days ago I was clicking through the IDrive and ended up at the treble and bass control. Noting the bass on max and the treble at neutral I reverted back to 1964 rational and turned the treble as low as it would go. I was amazed at the improvement. I would have thought the treble would have disappeared but instead it seemed to punch up the bass a little more while still providing separation and clarity from the high notes. Although this by no means the ultimate solution, at least I don't think about it every time I crank up a tune.
If you have the plain Jane radio give it a try and see if this works for you.
I just got my LCI 520dT with Business Radio and Hifi speakers. The sound is OK but definitely not great. What I miss the most is not bass but more power and clarity in the mid register. I'll try your trick with turning down the treble. If I order a new E61 in three years I will most definitely order at least the logic 7.
One important thing though is that different sound sources give different sound quality. A modern DDD CD gives the best sound. MP3's can be of different quality and sometimes sound very bad. AAC encoded songs on the ipod that I have converted myself in itunes from my own cd's sounds quite good.
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Originally Posted by shiny' post='436948' date='Jun 18 2007, 08:18 AM
So you have the bass to max and the treble to min?
or the bass halfway and the treble to min.
I'll give this a try and let you know how I get on
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
or the bass halfway and the treble to min.
I'll give this a try and let you know how I get on
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
#6
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Originally Posted by gorban' post='437330' date='Jun 19 2007, 05:00 AM
Radio and speaker sets are two different things. There's the Business radio and the Proffessional radio. For speakers, there's the standard, Hifi, Logic 7 and DIRAC.
I just got my LCI 520dT with Business Radio and Hifi speakers. The sound is OK but definitely not great. What I miss the most is not bass but more power and clarity in the mid register. I'll try your trick with turning down the treble. If I order a new E61 in three years I will most definitely order at least the logic 7.
One important thing though is that different sound sources give different sound quality. A modern DDD CD gives the best sound. MP3's can be of different quality and sometimes sound very bad. AAC encoded songs on the ipod that I have converted myself in itunes from my own cd's sounds quite good.
I just got my LCI 520dT with Business Radio and Hifi speakers. The sound is OK but definitely not great. What I miss the most is not bass but more power and clarity in the mid register. I'll try your trick with turning down the treble. If I order a new E61 in three years I will most definitely order at least the logic 7.
One important thing though is that different sound sources give different sound quality. A modern DDD CD gives the best sound. MP3's can be of different quality and sometimes sound very bad. AAC encoded songs on the ipod that I have converted myself in itunes from my own cd's sounds quite good.
#7
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My Ride: F11 520d Touring Imperial Blue, sports automatic, VDC, black leather sports seats, M Sport steering wheel, HiFi Professional, 18" 328 wheels, Xenon, PCD, electrical tow hitch etc...
E87 120dM -10, Titanium silver, xenon, PDC, Hifi, 18" wheels etc.
E87 120d M sport- 08, Le Mans blue, xenon, PDC, Hifi, 18" wheels etc.
Sold: BMW 525dT Deep sea blue, xenon, PDC, leather, Hifi, USB etc.
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Originally Posted by cwohughes' post='437427' date='Jun 19 2007, 07:10 PM
Ha anyone else tried this method. Does this really work?
It's fooling yourself when you set the treble to maxium. You hear all the high frequency sounds very clear and think that it sounds great. But you loose in the midle register.
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My Ride: F11 520d Touring Imperial Blue, sports automatic, VDC, black leather sports seats, M Sport steering wheel, HiFi Professional, 18" 328 wheels, Xenon, PCD, electrical tow hitch etc...
E87 120dM -10, Titanium silver, xenon, PDC, Hifi, 18" wheels etc.
E87 120d M sport- 08, Le Mans blue, xenon, PDC, Hifi, 18" wheels etc.
Sold: BMW 525dT Deep sea blue, xenon, PDC, leather, Hifi, USB etc.
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Originally Posted by shurick' post='437555' date='Jun 20 2007, 12:44 AM
What is the difference between Business and Professional version?
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Bass max and Treble at max or next to.
I have the Business Radio/CD with bass speakers under the front seats.
I have the Business Radio/CD with bass speakers under the front seats.
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Originally Posted by shiny' post='436948' date='Jun 18 2007, 10:18 AM
So you have the bass to max and the treble to min?
or the bass halfway and the treble to min.
I'll give this a try and let you know how I get on
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
or the bass halfway and the treble to min.
I'll give this a try and let you know how I get on
![Thumbsup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/thumbsup.gif)
cheers