Thoughts on the B&O stereo system?

**B8SlineNate** · 04-06-2010 11:49 PM

to be honest, i'm not that impressed. sound is very crisp, sometimes even sounds too crisp. imo it needs a little more bass and mid.

so the system does not have a sub right? my brother's B6 bose symphony, although it does not sound as clean, i think its a way better system.

**chrisjin** · 04-07-2010 12:02 AM

hmm. yes I agree. it needs more bass and mid. but compare to the BOSE system, I like my B&O.

**NPuter** · 04-07-2010 03:39 AM

The B&O system does have a dedicated sub in the trunk (as with the base speaker system)

**Calbee** · 04-07-2010 03:54 AM

I still havnt gotten my car yet but I did not get the B&O. My dealer said the B&O is only what you feed it. What he means is that if you listen with store-bought CDs that hae higher quality audio, it will sound better, but if you are going to just stick with iPods it is not nessesary. Is this true? How does the B&O compare to the stock speaker?

**MYFASTA4** · 04-07-2010 06:22 AM

the biggest different to me other than sound clarity , its that the stock blends the sounds together at higher volume, and the b&o doesnt, either way im very happy i got it!!!

**Facin** · 04-07-2010 06:26 AM

The statement about "it is only as good as what you feed it" applies to any sound system...not just the B&O systems in our Audi's. If you have good quality music on your iPod, it will sound good on the B&O system. If you have low bitrate digital music on your iPod's, then you will get bad music. If you are using the Auxiliary connection rather than the direct IPod connection, then the quality of the B&O will be limited to some degree by the quality of the output from whatever device you are feeding it. A well mastered CD should always result in good music. The radio or Satellite radio...not so much (I was particularly unsatisfied with the quality of Sirius satellite radio). Comparing a song playing on the Sat radio and then playing it soon after on my iPod...the iPod sounded way better.

Another thing to note is that all sound systems are very subjective to some degree. There is always going to be a difference between a system built with low quality parts and one with high quality parts...but to a large extent, how good the system is depends on who sensitive the person judging is to the sound and what they consider makes a good system (often influenced by the type of music they like).

The system does not seem to be bass heavy, but it has a very clean, clear sound that I love. I sat and listened to a few songs off of my iPod and a CD on both the regular system and the B&O system and decided the B&O was worth the upgrade for me. Not everyone will have that same impression.

**NWS4Guy** · 04-07-2010 09:16 AM

You have to play with the settings and get what you like from it. Specifically set the focus to Driver, and adjust the Surround level to higher than middle. Then tweak the bass and treble and you will be certainly amazed. I have several songs done in 5.1 surround I play from the SDHC card, and they are far and above what you will hear from the stock system. You won't be able to pay less than 1K to get a great sounding system aftermarket, so if you want to get something great (maybe not amazing, but certainly a very good upgrade) this is worth it I think. The speaker ensclosures, and everything have been specifically designed to work in this car, rather than putting in aftermarket speakers which may fit in the stock locations but are not designed especially for use in this car.

**piotrowr** · 04-07-2010 09:19 AM

Sub under spare tire. Fine tune your system or get better quality music source. The sound is superb in my opinion whether it's satellite, CD, MP3 (I only use +256 rate).

**fredjones** · 04-07-2010 09:34 AM

I wasn't aware that the B&O could actually decode and play surround music (i.e. DTS 5.1 or other format). I only thought that it had a surround "mode" which enhanced separation of the existing stereo channels.

**hoppy6698** · 04-07-2010 05:38 PM

I have it, love it, using mostly MP3s at 196kpbs. Most testing has shown that even the best audiophile cannot consistently tell the difference between a higher bit rate and the normal 128kbps. However, even the worst audiophile can tell the difference in good and average speakers.

If you have the option, I suggest taking it. You may find the sub a bit weak if you are used to feeling music as well as hearing it. The B&O is very clear and precise, but lacks in low end punch out of the very small sub in the trunk.

**brothers** · 04-07-2010 05:44 PM

The OP has an Avant, which means that the subwoofer is smaller (and I think more shrouded) than the one in the sedan. This probably means that you won't get the whoomp-whoomp-whoomp "Hey look at me" gang-banger bass. If your objective is to hear the music as it was originally recorded, I suspect it's adequate.

- Dennis

**hender** · 04-07-2010 05:50 PM

maybe its just me, but the diff. between the sub in the trunk in my a4 sedan vs. previous cross-over SUV is huge (the SUV was way better)...i don't know if its because the trunk is isolated in the audi or what, but the sub is barely noticeable whereas in the SUV it could really thump.

**Jurisprudent** · 04-07-2010 06:06 PM

I have and like it very much. I did add some bass on the settings, but interestingly enough, I find the sound to be better with the mids cranked down just a hair and treble boosted slightly (translates into a typical u shape, really)

**B8SlineNate** · 04-07-2010 10:21 PM

where can you adjust the mids? i can only do bass and treble

**Calbee** · 04-07-2010 11:55 PM

so does that mean the normal sucks... cause i only ahve that :(

**NPuter** · 04-08-2010 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by Calbee

so does that mean the normal sucks... cause i only ahve that :(

no - I find the normal pretty good... Just because B&O is pretty awesome doesn't mean that without it the speakers suck...

**cory_can** · 04-08-2010 05:06 AM

Originally Posted by brothers

The OP has an Avant, which means that the subwoofer is smaller (and I think more shrouded) than the one in the sedan. This probably means that you won't get the whoomp-whoomp-whoomp "Hey look at me" gang-banger bass. If your objective is to hear the music as it was originally recorded, I suspect it's adequate.

- Dennis

How is it that the sedan sub is any larger or less "shrouded"? Where is the sub in the sedan? I've sat in a sedan and actually found the bass to be slightly less intense (at the same relative settings) than my Avant. However, it might have had something to do with the sedan not being a NAV based car.

EDIT: I'm assuming that the sedan has the same setup as a S5 so its just strapped to the rear parcel shelf. BTW, the Avant sub is in a self contained sub box under the spare.

**u2jrmw** · 04-08-2010 07:50 AM

I find the normal in my 2010 to be a little disappointing and a step down from my standard in my 06. Just can't get it to sound deep enough without it sounding muffled. As for sources, the Sirius sounds appalling, it sounds better in my wife's CR-V, but maybe that is because her stereo is even crappier. Would I ever pay that much for the premium stereo, hell no, I don't spend that much on my home stereo.

**Jurisprudent** · 04-08-2010 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by B8SlineNate

where can you adjust the mids? i can only do bass and treble

I have adjustments for bass, mid, and treble. This is on a 2010 non-nav sedan w/ B&O

**SignitrSideways** · 04-08-2010 10:50 AM

Best stock stereo I've heard.. it even tops the Mark Levinson in some of the Lexus models IMO.

**ASU Daniel** · 04-08-2010 02:43 PM

I dont even have B&O and i think my stereo sounds great. The base system is all i need. I have my treb turned most of the way up, base at like 3/4 up, mids just a hair over the midline..... I drove a 2010 dodge challenger rental car last week and i laughed at how shitty the stereo was. I listen to my music at near full volume 75% of the time, mostly hip-hop, and the only thing i wish was better was the base. It sounds fine, but a better sub would make a big difference. Anyone complaining about the B&O system is probably just too picky. If my stock system sounds this great, i can only imagine how the B&O one is.

**DeMOROlized** · 04-08-2010 06:31 PM

Guys keep in mind the sound quality of B&O is related to whether you have Nav or not. The Nav B&O sounds quite a bit better than the non-Nav one.

**Facin** · 04-08-2010 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by DeMOROlized

Guys keep in mind the sound quality of B&O is related to whether you have Nav or not. The Nav B&O sounds quite a bit better than the non-Nav one.

What is the specific reason for this?

**DeMOROlized** · 04-08-2010 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Facin

What is the specific reason for this?

Analog (non-Nav) transport from source to amp vs. digital (Nav-equipped).

**B8SlineNate** · 04-09-2010 12:04 AM

i just want some more whoomp whoomp

**Facin** · 04-09-2010 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by DeMOROlized

Analog (non-Nav) transport from source to amp vs. digital (Nav-equipped).

Interesting...I'm far from a car audio expert, but are you saying that the amp does the decoding of the digital input from the source...essentially bypassing the head unit completely in the Nav equipped...but the non-Nav equipped cars do the decoding of the digital content at the head unit and send it over an analog connection (your typical pre-amp outputs/inputs you see on all head units/amps out there)? Seems odd that Audi would do it one way for non-Nav and one way for Nav based units...seems like unneeded extra expense when you could create them all equal and probably save money in the long run.

Update: Nevermind...I did some google searching and read some forums posts/articles. Seems B&O and Audi specifically developed a MOST bus between the head unit and the amplifier for B&O systems so that additional DSP's in the B&O amplifiers to work "some magic" and their would be a clean digital signal to the processors. Very neat....and this is likely what is deleted from our non-Nav units. Good to know...even if it is too late for this purchase...and I definitely still like my non-Nav B&O even if it isn't apparently as good as the Nav version.

**piotrowr** · 04-09-2010 11:36 AM

Main reason also is amount of high speed data capacity needed on NAV cars for rear view camera, DVD NAV player, etc so they went fiber optic with these whereas non-NAV aren't as data intensive not requiring fiber optics.

**DeMOROlized** · 04-09-2010 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by B8SlineNate

i just want some more whoomp whoomp

B&O isn't designed for whoomp whoomp. It's designed for accurate reproduction of sound from source. If whoomp whoomp is what you want, consider going aftermarket.

**Wildcat216** · 04-13-2010 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by DeMOROlized

B&O isn't designed for whoomp whoomp. It's designed for accurate reproduction of sound from source. If whoomp whoomp is what you want, consider going aftermarket.

Agreed. Your car won't rattle and shake with the B&O turned up, but certain music (Rap, Jazz) has plenty of bass for me. I'm glad I can have the system loud without drawing attention because my car is thumping so loud that other people can't even hear the other person in their own car. Plus, the sound is so crisp and clear even at really loud volumes. No distortion. I also find that my ipod sounds much better than the radio or Sirius.

**Jluke** · 06-26-2010 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by NWS4Guy

...I have several songs done in 5.1 surround I play from the SDHC card, and they are far and above what you will hear from the stock system...

Excellent! are you using DTS encoded .WAV files (1,5Mbs) or .AC3 files (384-640kbs)? I've read that the B&O is DVD-Audio compatible: is it then possible to use HD music files such as the .FLAC 96/24?
Is it even possible to play videos (divx? other formats?) from SDHC cards?
Many thanks

**T0XiK** · 06-26-2010 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Jluke

Excellent! are you using DTS encoded .WAV files (1,5Mbs) or .AC3 files (384-640kbs)? I've read that the B&O is DVD-Audio compatible: is it then possible to use HD music files such as the .FLAC 96/24?
Is it even possible to play videos (divx? other formats?) from SDHC cards?
Many thanks

the B&O system cannot decode .flac or .divx or play movies from SD card. you can only play DVD-A, DVD-V or MP3 (never tried WAV files) for 5.1 surround audio the files cannot be compressed and you have to burn it to a DVD as DVD-A, video files have to be converted to mpeg2 and burned as DVD-V.

**Jluke** · 06-27-2010 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by T0XiK

the B&O system cannot decode .flac or .divx or play movies from SD card. you can only play DVD-A, DVD-V or MP3 (never tried WAV files) for 5.1 surround audio the files cannot be compressed and you have to burn it to a DVD as DVD-A, video files have to be converted to mpeg2 and burned as DVD-V.

Tks for the prompt answer, although another b&o owner says to play many surround encoded files directly from sdhc. I'll better check and let you know.

**SupFly** · 06-27-2010 05:51 AM

is there a way of finding S-Line B&O schematics for the system in the car? More specifically an Avant....just curious if any out here have an inside line or advice on where to find such things

**Jluke** · 06-27-2010 12:17 PM

Do you know if & where is possible to download Audi B&O and MMI plus manuals (for A4 avant)
Tks

**piotrowr** · 06-27-2010 08:34 PM

What do you mean by download? To where from where? Remotely as in wifi on the car???? Then unlikely.

**T0XiK** · 06-27-2010 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jluke

Do you know if & where is possible to download Audi B&O and MMI plus (for A4 avant)
Tks

you cant "download" the B&O system, its hardware, as for the audi mmi 3g software, i never seen any copies of it floating around.

**Jluke** · 06-28-2010 02:12 AM

excuse... I forgot the "manuals" word...
Anyhow - after a first research - I've seen that Audi doesn't let users download car manuals online...

About "piotrow" comment, I've seen that newer MMI versions, currently mounted probably only on A8, have a tight interface with 3G phones, allowing the MMI device to download info/files direclty through the attached mobile phone (or internal SIM option). This gives the (very nice) ability - if you have a FLAT data plan - to integrate a customised "google earth" with satellite images directly in the navigator...
But - unluckily - I don't think the A4 version is still enabled to accomplish these new functionalities, even if it sports a nice Nvidia graphical chipset (and two other processors, 800 and 500MHz ones).