[SimpsonTide985]

I take music and the audio quality in my car pretty seriously.

Although the audio in the G37 now is good, I think there's a lot of room for improvement. http://www.infinitiusa.com/g_sedan/key-features#feature=studio-on-wheels

However, the Q50 employs the new generation of the Bose Studio on Wheels with 4 additional speakers. I'm also going to assume that the watts are also increased as well.

Although I'm not expecting Bang & Olufsen quality, I would really like it if there was an added Equalizer feature that allowed further control of the audio filters.

I recently test drove a 335i and I was enamored to find that not only did the Harman Kardon 600-watt, 16-speaker system sound great, but it had an equalizer too!! That totally peaked my interest and I would totally love it if the Q50 had something similar (with the new Intouch system integration, it's possible, right?)


Is anyone else looking forward to the new audio system?

 

[klimchuk]

Yes, audio is important for me as well. There are some songs I'm keeping on my iPhone just to test sound in car.

 

[SimpsonTide985]

I just checked and I think the Harman Kardon system in the 335i is better than the Bang & Olufsen system in an Audi S4. If you judge based on wattage and # of speakers anyway.

I've always been a massive fan of the HK system after I test drove a MB C300 a few years ago.

 

[brianch]

I've never liked the bose systems. The harman kadon in the bmw is great. So is the Krell in the new RLX and the mark lenvinson in the gs350.

Acuras have bose systems too and I've just never liked them that much. Hopefully this newer system is better.

 

[klimchuk]

I've never liked the bose systems. The harman kadon in the bmw is great. So is the Krell in the new RLX and the mark lenvinson in the gs350.

Hm, any thoughts regarding Bowers&Wilkins ?

 

[SimpsonTide985]

The Lexicon system in the Hyundai Genesis (sedan) is really good as well.

 

[gbert15]

This is one of the things I like about infiniti! The implementation of bose speakers was a very nice touch by them! Love the ones on my G35 and so im looking forward to listening to music while on the Q50 as well! :-D

 

[GtoQ]

I am really excited for the updates Studio on wheels as well if its anything the the Bose studio sound In the M it will be **** near amazing... Also as far as I can remember with the exception of the new RLX that is using the new KRELL audio the ELS systems used Panasonic speakers which were ok the ELS systems definitely don't have the wow factor they had when they were first introduced in the 04 TL...

 

[brianch]

Either way looking forward to seeing any improvements over the G37 audio system.

 

[afrosheen]

My 04 sedan has the upgraded Bose factory system in it with the sub in between the rear speakers. It gets loud and it can bump the bass but overall balance is flat in the middle. Still, it put the loaner car G37 sedans (09, '12) to shame, with their basic systems. I look forward to hearing something better in the Q.

 

[DuffyDacs]

I always found most of the Bose systems to be too boomy in the bass levels even at the lowest settings. hopefully there will be an improvement in the upgraded Bose system in the Q50.

 

[SimpsonTide985]

I always found most of the Bose systems to be too boomy in the bass levels even at the lowest settings. hopefully there will be an improvement in the upgraded Bose system in the Q50.

lol, "too boomy"?

Hmmm, I think audio levels and frequencies are pretty subjective--it can boil down to what kind of music you like to listen to, your own comfort level with sound, and the format of the music you're listening to as well.

 

[MindcrimeDan]

So are there any updates on the new sound system compared to previous models? Surely someone's gotten a chance to hear it in person by now?

I used to have a '99 C5 Corvette which had an amazing Bose sound system in it. I have to admit, when I got my '05 G35, I was very disappointed in the downgrade in audio quality. I've lived with that for 8 years and as I'm now considering the Q50, I'm hoping I'm back to being at least on par with the vette.

On a related note, from the looks of it, the 0-60 performance of the hybrid looks like it might be close to my old vette as well!

 

[gbert15]

Here's a sample:

 

[MindcrimeDan]

Yeah thanks, I had seen that earlier and it seems great in the video, but hearing it in person is the real test. I wonder if anyone has had the chance to do that yet.

 

[SimpsonTide985]

Well, in some ways, car audio quality can be considered very subjective unless you're an audiophile and/or you listen to a certain kind of music that the sound system seems specifically tuned for..

It's that very reason why I'm hoping for an EQ capability on this new system...but those seem to becoming a bit rare to find in certain price segments..

 

[gbert15]

Yeah thanks, I had seen that earlier and it seems great in the video, but hearing it in person is the real test. I wonder if anyone has had the chance to do that yet.

Yea, for sure hearing it in person would still be the most important thing but from this video, it does sound promising!

 

[afrosheen]

There was so much buzz and general busyness with the turnouts that I went to I never got a chance to touch the stereo. That and all the lights and doors constantly opened kept killing the battery every hour or so. Notice the demo was the dudes getting together for the cram session before the unwashed masses arrived, so they got to enjoy it.

Then again...would I want the demo to be the Best Buy car audio section? Nope.

 

[keithianw]

I know some of this is subjective, but I think some of you are crazy. I just went yesterday to compare the sound in the 2013 BMW 328i coupe Harmon with the 2013 G37 Coupe Bose. My friend Amanda was with me. First we tried the Infiniti and we were extremely satisfied with the bass and general sound of tunes with a beat. Then I switch to a more classic rock sound with no bass and the sound was crystal clear, voices in unison sounded fantastic.

Then I ran back to the BMW Dealer because I didn't really test the sound the first time around. I found the Harmon had distortions at higher volume levels with the bass and the clarity in general just wasn't as clear.

My friend who knows nothing about cars said exactly the same thing. It was such a turn off to me, that I'm now leaning toward a G37 instead...not to mention the radio in the BMW to me looks ugly compared to the more simplistic and modern style of the G37. I also think the touch screen is better than the confusing current navigational screen and Im disappointed that the 2014 BMW model still doesn't have a touch screen and instead using some type of tracking device on the middle panel. I want touch screen.

 

[SimpsonTide985]

Here's a GIF of InfinitiPlusOne messing around with the Q50's sound system settings:

I know some of this is subjective, but I think some of you are crazy. I just went yesterday to compare the sound in the 2013 BMW 328i coupe Harmon with the 2013 G37 Coupe Bose. My friend Amanda was with me. First we tried the Infiniti and we were extremely satisfied with the bass and general sound of tunes with a beat. Then I switch to a more classic rock sound with no bass and the sound was crystal clear, voices in unison sounded fantastic.

Then I ran back to the BMW Dealer because I didn't really test the sound the first time around. I found the Harmon had distortions at higher volume levels with the bass and the clarity in general just wasn't as clear.

My friend who knows nothing about cars said exactly the same thing. It was such a turn off to me, that I'm now leaning toward a G37 instead...not to mention the radio in the BMW to me looks ugly compared to the more simplistic and modern style of the G37. I also think the touch screen is better than the confusing current navigational screen and Im disappointed that the 2014 BMW model still doesn't have a touch screen and instead using some type of tracking device on the middle panel. I want touch screen.

Welcome aboard!

Well, if you're considering the G37, then from what I can tell, the Q50, has even better audio.

But I'm curious about your concern with the BMW. If it had the HK system, that means it should have EQ settings for adjusting all of the levels. Did you guys mess with those levels at all at any chance? Depending on the song and the audio format, it might take some tweaking with those levels in order to get a good sound. I'm actually a fan of the HK sound systems in the BMW so wondering if it's possible that someone was messing around with those EQ levels and inadvertently may have created a little bit of distortion with a few levels being off somehow..