Nabbed a 545i
#11
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545i Sport Auto (see sig)
Originally Posted by pughmat' date='Apr 25 2005, 07:15 AM
[quote name='Merzbow' date='Apr 25 2005, 12:44 AM']
The only thing that isn't working right is Bluetooth. And this is Sprint's fault, because Sprint's only Bluetooth phone, the LG PM-325, is crippled in ways that make integration with the Bimmer's system impossible. A disappoinment, considering I picked up this phone just today. Will be returning it tomorrow. (No, I can't move from Sprint because they're the only ones with decent reception at home and office and have great prices).
The only thing that isn't working right is Bluetooth. And this is Sprint's fault, because Sprint's only Bluetooth phone, the LG PM-325, is crippled in ways that make integration with the Bimmer's system impossible. A disappoinment, considering I picked up this phone just today. Will be returning it tomorrow. (No, I can't move from Sprint because they're the only ones with decent reception at home and office and have great prices).
Matt
[snapback]119706[/snapback]
[/quote]Thx, I'll do that. Didn't want to spend that much on a phone, but compared to the price of this car, it's pocket change.
#12
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545i Sport Auto (see sig)
Originally Posted by subterFUSE' date='Apr 25 2005, 06:16 AM
Keep us informed on that audio system.
I'm particularly interested to see how you get a decent headunit installed.?
I did see one guys pics of an Alpine Nav headunit installed in the factory radio location.
If you want aftermarket Nav....? don't waste your time looking at ANYTHING else but Alpine.
Unfortunate part is, though....? Alpine CD players are not the highest sound quality out there.? But their Nav is lightyears ahead of the competition.
I'm particularly interested to see how you get a decent headunit installed.?
I did see one guys pics of an Alpine Nav headunit installed in the factory radio location.
If you want aftermarket Nav....? don't waste your time looking at ANYTHING else but Alpine.
Unfortunate part is, though....? Alpine CD players are not the highest sound quality out there.? But their Nav is lightyears ahead of the competition.
[snapback]119696[/snapback]
#13
Members
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Menlo Park, California USA
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: E39 540iA Sport TiSilver/Bleack Leather
NAV, PDC, DSP, Shades, CWP
E60 550 6 Speed 2008 MY
Euro Del (Thanksgiving 2007, Munich Germany)
Congratulations ! Very nice vehicle ! Safe driving !
When are we going to have a Bay Area meet ?
Cheers,
Roland Kelly
Menlo Park, CA
When are we going to have a Bay Area meet ?
Cheers,
Roland Kelly
Menlo Park, CA
#15
Members
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Menlo Park, California USA
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: E39 540iA Sport TiSilver/Bleack Leather
NAV, PDC, DSP, Shades, CWP
E60 550 6 Speed 2008 MY
Euro Del (Thanksgiving 2007, Munich Germany)
Sounds good. In the past about 20 E39 owners got together a CISCO location and shared stories about our cars.
Agent 99 , are you still out there ? We'll get a separate thread going on this soon, gotta dash
Cheers,
Roland
Agent 99 , are you still out there ? We'll get a separate thread going on this soon, gotta dash
Cheers,
Roland
#17
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Winter Park, FL
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
Titanium Gray
Black Interior, Anthracite Trim
M-tech kit
Sport Package
Premium Sound
Satellite Radio
Active Cruise
Comfort Seats
Navigation
Folding rear seats
What do you think of Pioneer's latest model, the AVIC-N2? It's incredibly well-featured. I don't have to worry about the CD player, I never play CDs in the car, only MP3s from iPods and the like.
That Pioneer looks a lot like the Alpine CVA series of headunits. The technology has probably caught up to Alpine, from the look at it. But I'll take a deeper look into the features when I get home tonight.
You raise a good point about not needing a CD player, however. But it leads me to ask this question:
What is the point of installing a quality audio system if you're going to be listening to MP3 files? MP3 file audio quality is so poor that I refuse to listen to them, period. You've probably heard the tired saying: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link." Well, in a stereo the source material is one link in the chain. Start with poor source material, and you'll have poor results. I personally would never put money into a competition quality system if I don't listen to high-quality source material.
You may not notice MP3s poor quality when you are jogging with an iPod listening to headphones.... but put a "CD Quality" MP3 on a competition system with good subwofers and you'll hear the low and high-end distortion / cutoff.
#19
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545i Sport Auto (see sig)
Originally Posted by subterFUSE' date='Apr 25 2005, 12:53 PM
What is the point of installing a quality audio system if you're going to be listening to MP3 files?? MP3 file audio quality is so poor that I refuse to listen to them, period.? You've probably heard the tired saying:? "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link."? Well, in a stereo the source material is one link in the chain.? Start with poor source material, and you'll have poor results.? I personally would never put money into a competition quality system if I don't listen to high-quality source material.
You may not notice MP3s poor quality when you are jogging with an iPod listening to headphones....? but put a "CD Quality" MP3 on a competition system with good subwofers and you'll hear the low and high-end distortion / cutoff.
You may not notice MP3s poor quality when you are jogging with an iPod listening to headphones....? but put a "CD Quality" MP3 on a competition system with good subwofers and you'll hear the low and high-end distortion / cutoff.
[snapback]119844[/snapback]
#20
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Winter Park, FL
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
Titanium Gray
Black Interior, Anthracite Trim
M-tech kit
Sport Package
Premium Sound
Satellite Radio
Active Cruise
Comfort Seats
Navigation
Folding rear seats
Well... from my experience as a DJ for years in a club environment, I can tell even a 384 kbps MP3 when played on a loud system. It's all in the bass response. Granted I'm comparing it to vinyl, which is an analog recording so it's not exactly a fair comparison. (Vinyl has much better low-end performance when played loud than any CD or even a 384 k MP3 file, and it's very apparent when you hear it on a good, club system) Most of you will probably not believe me, but it's the truth.
Anyway... to this day I won't listen to anything on MP3. I buy 99% of my music on vinyl, but if I do get something electronically then I use WAV or FLAC encoding. (Both are lossless encoding)
I'm lucky to have close friends who are Full Sail grads (audio engineers)... so they help me master my own recordings on CD for listening in the car. Obviously it was more important when I had the nice systems in my Acura and Lexus before my E60.
Anyway... to this day I won't listen to anything on MP3. I buy 99% of my music on vinyl, but if I do get something electronically then I use WAV or FLAC encoding. (Both are lossless encoding)
I'm lucky to have close friends who are Full Sail grads (audio engineers)... so they help me master my own recordings on CD for listening in the car. Obviously it was more important when I had the nice systems in my Acura and Lexus before my E60.