Premium Sound vs. Regular Sound
 

Hello all,

I have just ordered my 2007 4.8 X5, and I am torn about spending the 1,800 dollars for the Premium Sound or not. In everyone's opinion is it worth it, and is there a substantial difference between the two, or just the addition of the subwoofers? I have tried to go to the dealership to test out the two, but they dont have any available to test out. I need to know by this Friday for the order to be put in on time.


Thanks for everyone's help,

Robert

The premium sound package sounds significantly better IMO...I am very very please w/ the sound system.

This is assuming you listen to CD's or HD Radio. The iPod interface can hear the difference only if you encode your music at least 256kbps and use the line out. Dont use the headphone out.

If it's same as in Australia for the professional... you get two extra speakers (compising of a tweeter and midrange) in the rear pillars (16 speakers rather than 12 ) and 600+ watts (rather than 200+ ) and DSP... Subwoofers are standard in all X5's but the power ratings of the speakers are presumably different...You'll need premium if you go to the DVD changer and want the Surround sound ....In Australia we only get 6 speakers as standard and the standard system in US is an option... !!!

I listened to both two days ago, and ther eis a sound quality difference between the two, I was torn on the dicision as well. I decided to go with it almost for the sole reason of the dsp, being able to fine tune the freq is a plus. also you get the cd player 6 disc(which we probably wont use).
both models have the subs, but sound quality wise I would say it is worth it, if you car about quality, they are both loud if you jsut want to crank it up save your money, I felt that they were pretty equally loud, jsut the quality is better .
hope that helps

I would go for it, simply because BMW hasn't really been making great stock sound systems lately. I have briefly tried the two types in an X5, and I recommend opting for premium sound because the difference is noticeable, and because the standard system had me wanting better sound performance.

In Australia we get the 6 disc changer as standard with the standard base 6 speaker system.. so the extra money we pay is for extra speakers and wattage and/or DSP... the standard 6 speaker system does not have tweeters only midranges as well :-( We have two options here.. Hi-Fi (12 speakers 200 watt ..standard in US) and Hi-Fi Professional (16 speakers 600 watt DSP).. I went the Hi-Fi option...!

Unless you have a really poor sound system in your vehicle, after a while it all sounds the same. The standard system in the E70 is more than good enough. Save your dough! You can do better than the premium from BMW for half the money with aftermarket stuff if you want.

Yeah, aftermarket stuff is not a good plan. Don't mess with the electrics.

Simple answer really. I have a 4.8 with premium sound. It's great! Nobody can use the term value for money when talking about BMW. You want the stuff, you pay your money. I think it's essential if you listen to a lot of music. It's a luxury car. Get a luxury sound system.

If you get 3rd row i think it is also a good idea.. as the extra speakers in the rear are near those seats....

I was in the same boat as you and I went into the dealer and sat in two vehicles, one's with and one without using a CD of some Commodores Music with lots of bass.. the difference was ESPECIALLY noticeable at louder settings, but it wasn't so much a loudness difference as it was a clarity.

The speakers on the Premium system are far better, with substantially larger magnets, and there are more of them. The amp is also of a superior clarity. Lastly, you get the CD changer, which frankly I didn't really care for.

Get it if it doesn't mean you have to skimp on something else you absolutely must have. As a "Stock" system, the original system isn't bad at all however.