how to tell if you have premium sound?
 

Picked up my 2007 X3 last night. I will post pictures in another thread. How can I tell if it has the premium sound system? It does have DSP. Does that indicate that it is the premium system? Thanks!!

If it has DSP, then you do have premium sound. It's not much of an upgrade (like Logic7 or anything), but an upgrade nevertheless.

Wow, I would have thought that premium sound was more than just some DSP settings. haha, you are right....it's not much of an upgrade. I'd definitely have to hear the standard system against it before I would ever consider checking that option normally.

The US catalog says that premium sound (677) has eight upgraded speakers, but BMW Germany counts ten speakers for this option.

My German is poor, but here is what I can glean:

Hi-Fi sound (676; optional elsewhere but standard in USA) has eight speakers: 2 tweeters in front doors, 4 midranges in doors and 2 subwoofers under seats.

Premium sound (677) has ten speakers: Eight upgraded speakers located as above plus two woofers with location unspecified. The subwoofers use Carver technology.

I don't have an X3 handy to look at for a reality check...

True:thumbup: , but subwoofers are CentralBass like in E6x/9x.

Carver technology is only for E85\86(Z4)

Yes, you're right. I think I have it figured out now. Both the BMW USA and BMW Germany web sites have incorrect information. :rolleyes:

I researched the part numbers etc on www.realoem.com and came to the following conclusions:

The base audio system has four 100mm full-range speakers -- one in each door. The part number for all four is the same.

The Hi-Fi system (676; standard in the US models) has eight speakers. The very same four speakers in the basic system are still used, but are supplemented with two 28mm tweeters in the front doors and two (separately-powered) 217mm subwoofers under the front seats. The doors are driven by a 25W x 4 amplifier.

The Top Hi-Fi system, also know as premium audio system (677) adds tweeters to the rear doors as well, for a total of ten speakers. The speakers are all the same size -- 28mm for the highs, 100mm for the mid and 217mm for the subs, but it uses all upgraded speakers -- the part numbers for all midranges, tweeters and subwoofers are different. The amplifier is also upgraded.

I'm sure that a better description that this is available -- look in the articles section for an excellent description of the E70 systems -- but I have not found one.