Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System... Are you kidding me?

[RowdiAudi]

Is anyone really imperessed with the B&O premium sound system (14 speakers w/ 505 watts) in their 2013 S4?
I like my music loud, but the this sound system doesn't deliver. Not to mention, the speakers in the front doors make the entire door panel shake.
Has anyone tried to address this issue: reinforcing the door panel, enclosing and adding dampening material, or all together disconnecting them?
Thinking about adding some much needed amplifiers, but don't know if the B&O speakers are capable of handling it.

Your thoughts?

[bpollock]

What is the input source you are using? Until I bought some MicroSd cards to use, I was not impressed either, but that helped a lot...

[BoostLE]

Sounds perfect to me. The base audio system in the S4 is so bad that getting B&O was a no brainer.

[drob23]

Is anyone really imperessed with the B&O premium sound system (14 speakers w/ 505 watts) in their 2013 S4?
I like my music loud, but the this sound system doesn't deliver. Not to mention, the speakers in the front doors make the entire door panel shake.
Has anyone tried to address this issue: reinforcing the door panel, enclosing and adding dampening material, or all together disconnecting them?
Thinking about adding some much needed amplifiers, but don't know if the B&O speakers are capable of handling it.

Your thoughts?

I remember someone saying there is a TSB for rattling doors. They took the car in and the Audi tech added some door insulation type stuff to remove the rattle. Try and search here and you should find the thread.

[jfabes]

you obviously haven't listened to many upgraded systems in similiarly priced cars :) in that respect, the b&o system is pretty good and i actually really like it. i'm not sure why people expect so much from an oem system. if you want audiophile quaility sound that hits you when your winodws are down going 80, you'll have to replace with components and add subs/amps.

[Stubek]

B&O is crap. See the build thread in my sig where I replaced or augmented 12 of the 14 speakers.
I tried to get the car without it, but no go, so I at least go the cost of B&O deleted by the dealer.

[CONTROL TWO]

I remember someone saying there is a TSB for rattling doors. They took the car in and the Audi tech added some door insulation type stuff to remove the rattle. Try and search here and you should find the thread.

ohh mann i need this!

[virsipe]

I have a 2013 and turn it up on occassion and do not have any door rattling going on. What gives out first is the subwoofer in the rear- but that is well after it is deafening my ears already.

IMO, the system is pretty good for stock. Aftermarket can be better, but the system is not bad.

[integroid]

My door panels shake as well. People have used sound deadening material to relieve most of the rattles in the doors. The sub is the worse thing about the B&O system. I replaced the factory sub with a Kicker Comp 10. There are a few threads on here about how to do it. Just make sure and put down a layer on Dynamat on the rear deck. I also used a 4ohm sub instead of the 8 ohm like everyone else was using. I have had it in my car for about 3 weeks and the only difference between the 8 ohm and 4 ohm sub so far seems to be volume output. I tried both and stuck with the 4 ohm sub for now. I plan on adding an aftermarket amp to the sub so that is why I kept the 4 ohm sub.

[lapisia]

Not impressed with mine either. The car I got just came with it as part of the Canada premium package but I wouldn't pay extra for it if the car didn't come with it.

[HotRod]

I guess I'm more of the audiophile type myself, I'm only slightly impressed with the B&O system. If I could I would have deleted it myself and had a great custom system installed for the same price. It's a good system, just not a great one considering the cost.

[Dr GP]

Has anyone heard ANY really good systems that come from a car manufacturer. I have the base Audi system not the B&O. Listened to both and did not find the B&O to be a big improvement over the standard. Since I lease ,and have pretty much a tin ear, and listen to a lot of talk radio, I could not justify getting the B&O. But others love it. Obviously, you can improve on anything based on what you want to spend.

[fezz93]

i wasnt impressed at all, the premium stereo in my 335 was much better and had more control with sound selection. This ability to only control base and treble in this day and age is a bit crazy

[isles1]

I think the B&O sounds great for the price of the upgrade from stock, regardless of the input source. And it is far better than the sound system in any other car I've had. No rattling door panels here; at least not yet.

OP: Have you configured the "Sound" (e.g treble, bass, mid-range) via the MMI for each input source?

[drob23]

My door panels shake as well. People have used sound deadening material to relieve most of the rattles in the doors. The sub is the worse thing about the B&O system. I replaced the factory sub with a Kicker Comp 10. There are a few threads on here about how to do it. Just make sure and put down a layer on Dynamat on the rear deck. I also used a 4ohm sub instead of the 8 ohm like everyone else was using. I have had it in my car for about 3 weeks and the only difference between the 8 ohm and 4 ohm sub so far seems to be volume output. I tried both and stuck with the 4 ohm sub for now. I plan on adding an aftermarket amp to the sub so that is why I kept the 4 ohm sub.

I don't know much about audio electronics, but as an EE I can tell you that maximum power is always delivered when impedance matching the load to the source. So if the amp is designed to match with 8 ohm, you should probably stick with that size. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum...ansfer_theorem But if your next amp is designed to match 4 ohm, then good times...

[PsYkHoTiK]

I like the B&O. I didn't have it on the B8 S4 but have it on the RS5.

I'm sure custom systems are much better, but for a factory system, it's pretty good.

[AznSensation87]

I have the base Audi system not the B&O. Listened to both and did not find the B&O to be a big improvement over the standard.

I'm in the same boat...listened to a car with B&O before putting in my order for my S4 back in July, and wasn't really impressed. Felt it wasn't worth the extra $800. I feel the stock speakers are fine...just need to turn the bass, treble, and subwoofer all the way to max and it sounds pretty good. I had 2 12" Dual subs in my previous car, so I guess I've been spoiled...or gone deaf because of it to notice a difference.

[Patrick Bateman]

I have it... The sound is fine for me... but I have hearing problems,so maybe im not good to ask. for 800 some dollars more than a stock system offered in the base msrp... I feel audi
charges more than the options are probably worth.
now, the sports diff is a completely different story for $1100 to now $1250 for a 13 .

PB.

[PitchS4]

I agree it is pretty bad but I mostly listen to satellite. If you use a better input source it sounds much better.

[zoop]

Has anyone heard ANY really good systems that come from a car manufacturer. I have the base Audi system not the B&O. Listened to both and did not find the B&O to be a big improvement over the standard. Since I lease ,and have pretty much a tin ear, and listen to a lot of talk radio, I could not justify getting the B&O. But others love it. Obviously, you can improve on anything based on what you want to spend.

coming from a 2010 TL, the acura "ELS" package is leaps and bounds ahead of the B&O system in terms of out-of-the-box sound quality... i haven't done the subwoofer replacement yet, but i will tell you that the TL was the only car i have ever owned where enhancements just weren't strictly necessary.

[PsYkHoTiK]

I agree it is pretty bad but I mostly listen to satellite. If you use a better input source it sounds much better.

Sirius' audio quality (or lack of) is much more noticeable through B&O than the stock Audi concert audio. CDs/SD card/Bluetooth streaming (for the new MMI folks) is so much better...

[anzb8s4]

I must say the B&O sound system is ok, but the entire car rattles it only has 2,000 miles too. I also dont like the fact that 34 is the loudest setting. I had a logic 7 in a bmw 550 08, and just a basic acura tl with premium sound and it was ten times better. I did expect a little more juice looking so flashy and all labled up all over each speaker. But honestly most of the time i keep the volume really low bc i love hearing the charger and that exhaust grunt!

[drob23]

I agree it is pretty bad but I mostly listen to satellite. If you use a better input source it sounds much better.

This is the first car with satellite radio I've ever owned and it's incredible to me just how bad satellite sounds. Do they change your decompression settings once the 3 month subscription runs out? When I first got the car I was fine with satellite, but since switching to mostly SD/hard drive MP3 files I really notice the difference.

[RowdiAudi]

What is the input source you are using? Until I bought some MicroSd cards to use, I was not impressed either, but that helped a lot...

I am old school, only use the radio and CD player. If I could turn some vinyl in the car... I would. Love vacuum tubes and vinyl, so I guess I am a little picky when it comes to premium sound.

My 2008 BMW 550i had Harmon Kardon that was far more superior.


Separate note: Hey... how does one display what they are driving as a footnote on these forums?

[RowdiAudi]

I remember someone saying there is a TSB for rattling doors. They took the car in and the Audi tech added some door insulation type stuff to remove the rattle. Try and search here and you should find the thread.

Thanks my friend! The rattling door panel is definitely disturbing the sound quality!

[PsYkHoTiK]

I am old school, only use the radio and CD player. If I could turn some vinyl in the car... I would. Love vacuum tubes and vinyl, so I guess I am a little picky when it comes to premium sound.

My 2008 BMW 550i had Harmon Kardon that was far more superior.


Separate note: Hey... how does one display what they are driving as a footnote on these forums?

I love vacuum tubes in my guitar amps!

To add a 'signature', click on your username at the top left corner of the screen (below the 'Audizine'). Once the new page loads, under 'My Settings' click on 'Edit Signature'.

[RowdiAudi]

Has anyone heard ANY really good systems that come from a car manufacturer. I have the base Audi system not the B&O. Listened to both and did not find the B&O to be a big improvement over the standard. Since I lease ,and have pretty much a tin ear, and listen to a lot of talk radio, I could not justify getting the B&O. But others love it. Obviously, you can improve on anything based on what you want to spend.

Yes, my old 2008 BMW 550i had an upgraded premium sound system made by Harmon Kardon that was very impressive for a stock system.

[S4charged]

B&O is okay.

Best sound system I ever had was in my Lexus with the Mark Levinson 15 speakers 2 subs, sounded great.

[BKS45]

I actually find my B&O system a significant improvement over the Harmon Kardon system in my C63. I love the surround sound feature and level of EQ options.

[fezz93]

I actually find my B&O system a significant improvement over the Harmon Kardon system in my C63. I love the surround sound feature and level of EQ options.

What EQ options??? I only have , gala, base and treble

[drob23]

I love vacuum tubes in my guitar amps!

There are few things in life more cringe worthy to me then someone buying some solid state $600 modeling amp and saying "it can actually sound like any amp."

[Audi Advocate]

B&O is crap in my 2012 - Bose in my B6 was much better. I think Audi and others have caught on to the idea of selling $1000 "upgraded" radio will suit most. Probably does to the masses but its disconcerting - I have read of some B8'ers upgrading the Sub ...

[jlaudio]

What EQ options??? I only have , gala, base and treble

you should have B&O sound staging options too, like front, rear and neutral

[visualguy]

Has anyone heard ANY really good systems that come from a car manufacturer.

Yes. Both the Bose and Burmester sound systems that Porsche uses are much better than the B&O in the Audi S4/S5, but they are also more expensive...

For the kind of music that I listen to (classical), the B&O works quite well, and I think it's a good deal for the money.

[craneman]

Geez tough crowd around here. I think the B&O system actually sounds pretty good for a factory system, especially compared to the 'premium' 450W JBL system in my Tundra. The only part I would consider upgrading for my needs is the bottom end as its the first to fall apart.

[hinckley]

I think the B&O sounds great for the price of the upgrade from stock, regardless of the input source. And it is far better than the sound system in any other car I've had. No rattling door panels here; at least not yet.

OP: Have you configured the "Sound" (e.g treble, bass, mid-range) via the MMI for each input source?

+1. Key words - "for the price". The B&Os at $4-6 grand are ridiculous.

[13S4]

Sirius' audio quality (or lack of) is much more noticeable through B&O than the stock Audi concert audio. CDs/SD card/Bluetooth streaming (for the new MMI folks) is so much better...

+1... SD card is the best way to go. I've had numerous people say it's one of the best sound systems they've heard. Satellite radio is terrible quality, and using an IPOD isn't that great either.

[RowdiAudi]

First thing I am going to do is address the rattling (shaking) door panels, then drop in a better sub-woofer in the rear. If this doesn't do it for me... I will definitely consider more watts. Does anyone know how much the B&O speakers can handle?

Good advice guys!

[Trench]

I haven't tried an SD card so that's a good suggestion to read.

To echo others, I have had several people comment on how good the sound quality is from my B&O. It seems to bring parts of the music out that I never heard with other systems. I had a '13 A4 loaner with the base stereo yesterday and it sounded far inferior to the B&O in my S4.

[RowdiAudi]

+1... SD card is the best way to go. I've had numerous people say it's one of the best sound systems they've heard. Satellite radio is terrible quality, and using an IPOD isn't that great either.

This is the second time I've seen the MicroSd cards mentioned... what is that exactly and what does it do?