[Oregon]

FAQ: 1er Audio System Options
Questions are as follows:
1. What are the Factory Audio Options for the 1er?
2. What is the "Stereo" Audio System?
3. What is the "HiFi" or "Standard" Audio System?
4. What is the "Top HiFi" or "Premium" Audio System?
5. What are Harmon Kardon speakers?
6. What is Logic 7 and what does it do?
7. Which Audio System should I buy?
8. Can I upgrade components or replace the system altogether?
9. What are the USB, Sirius Satellite, and HD Radio Options?
10. How can I use the USB and Aux Ports, HD Radio or Sirius Satellite?
11. Can I play CDs with MP3s on it?
12. Some music CDs come up as MP3 CDs and won't play, why?

This is the second FAQ in my audio series. Comments, additions, and corrections will be incorporated into the document as appropriate.

1. What are the Factory Audio Options for the 1er?

BMW have three different audio options in the 1er, although in USA/Canada, only two are actually offered. Different countries may get different options.

The three options are Stereo, HiFi, and Top HiFi, but in USA/Canada "HiFi" is the "Standard" and "Top HiFi" is known as "Premium Audio".

PDF documents with the details of the three systems can be found here:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5913

2. What is the "Stereo" Audio System?

The BMW "Stereo" system includes 6 speakers, 2 "Mid Range" in the doors, 2 "Mid Range" in the rear parcel tray, and 2 "Bass" speakers under the front seat.

The BMW "Stereo" system can be power by the "Business" Head Unit, or the "Professional" Head Unit. The Business HU consists of 4 X 40 Watt channels in an integrated Amplifier, and can be distinguished by having only one text line on the console display. The Professional HU consists of 4 X 25 Watt channels in an integrated Amplifier, and can be distinguished by having two text lines on the console display.

The USB port has not included in this offering, and must be purchased as an Optional Extra. An Auxilliary (Aux) port is included in this system, which allows for the connection of an external audio device.

3. What is the "HiFi" or "Standard" Audio System?

The BMW "HiFi" system is the standard offering in USA/Canada, and includes 10 speakers, 2 "Mid Range" in the doors, 2 "Treble" in the door pillars, 2 "Mid Range" in the rear parcel tray, with 2 tiered "Treble" mounted over the Mids, and 2 "Bass" speakers under the front seat.

The BMW "HiFi" system uses a dedicated external analogue Amplifier mounted in the trunk of the car. The Amplifier consists of 2 X 40 Watt Channels and 6 X 25 Watt Channels, driving the Bass and Treble/Mid speakers respectively. All signals from the HU to the Amp are analogure transmitted using dedicated copper cabling through the car.

The Head Unit for the "HiFi" system is always the Professional Unit.
The USB port has not included in this offering, and must be purchased as an Optional Extra. This may have changed in '09 USA/Canada models, but should always be checked with the dealer. An Auxilliary (Aux) port is included in this system, which allows for the connection of an external audio device.

4. What is the "Top HiFi" or "Premium" Audio System?

The BMW "Top Hifi" system is the offered as the "Premium Audio" option in USA/Canada, and includes 10 speakers, 2 "Mid Range" in the doors, 2 "Treble" in the door pillars, 2 "Mid Range" in the rear parcel tray, with 2 tiered "Treble" mounted over the Mids, and 2 "Bass" speakers under the front seat. The Speakers are upgraded from the "Standard" system to Harmon Kardon built, metal cone speakers.

The BMW "HiFi" system uses a dedicated external analogue Amplifier mounted in the trunk of the car. The Amplifier consists of 2 X 70 Watt Channels and 6 X 40 Watt Channels, driving the Bass and Treble/Mid speakers respectively. This is an upgrade from 230 Watts in the "HiFi" system to 380 Watts. All signals from the HU to the Amp are digitally transmitted using the car's Fibre Optic "MOST" bus.

The Head Unit for the "Top HiFi" system is always the Professional Unit, but includes the Logic 7 DSP, not included in the "HiFi" system.

In general the "Top Hifi" system is always delivered with the USB port integrated under the armrest, but this should be checked with the dealer. An Auxilliary (Aux) port is included in this system, which allows for the connection of an external audio device.

A press release for the Premium system can be found here:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/attac...9&d=1206446053

5. What are Harmon Kardon speakers?

Harmon Kardon is an Audio Equipment manufacturer, who create "high quality" audio equipment for various market applications. BMW use Harmon Kardon to provide higher quality speakers in the "Top HiFi" system, often offered as the "Premium Audio" option in USA/Canada.

The speakers have a higher output rating, to support the more powerful amplifier in the "Top HiFi" system, and use a metallic, rather than fibre cone, to provide longer life, and less sound deterioration at high volumes. These speakers can not be ordered as a separate option from BMW, without the "Top HiFi" system.

6. What is Logic 7 and what does it do?

Logic 7 is both the name of an audio specification, and the name of the corporate division of Harmon Kardon that produce it.
Harmon Kardon acquired the company known as "Logic 7", and began to produce Logic 7 components, that can be incorporated into sound systems, such as the Profession Head Unit in the 1er. The component most commonly related to Logic 7, is a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), that takes a "Left" and "Right" stereo signal, and converts it to a 7 channel surround sound.

In the 1er, the Logic 7 DSP is only included in the "Top HiFi" or "Premium Audio" offering. Identifying whether you have Logic 7 is most easily done from the "Settings" menu on the Head Unit. You can access this setting by pressing the "Music Note" button on the HU while in the Audio display. The presence of Logic 7 can be defined by seeing the "Cinema", "Music" and "EQ" options on the screen. All of these three options are delivered by Logic 7.

Enabling the "Cinema" button will emulate a 7 Channel Surround Sound environment in the car, the expectation is this will make the sound scape seem wider, and make sounds appear to come from a physically wider stage than without.

Enabling the "Music" button will provide a richer music hall environment, with more harmonic response.

The "EQ" button will allow for highly detailed tuning of frequencies in the car, allowing multiple frequency bands to be tuned independantly of each other.

The benefits of all of these options is SUBJECTIVE, some appreciate them, so do not. Your mileage may vary !!

7. Which Audio System should I buy?

This is purely subjective, it is highly recommended that you try the different systems yourself before deciding which one to order.

However, while there is a marked improvement between the "Stereo" and "HiFi" systems, there is a lot more debate about the value of the "Top HiFi" system. Personal preference will be the primary decision maker here, but it is clear that the "Top HiFi" system does provide higher output levels (volume), and some prefer it for the addition of the Logic 7 and USB capabilities.

8. Can I upgrade components or replace the system altogether?

It is not too difficult to upgrade speakers in all of the BMW Audio Systems offered, however care should be taken to research the options and choose speakers well matched to the system.

Upgrading of the Head Unit and Amplifiers is possible, but due to the significant integration of the audio system into the car, this can be a non-trivial exercise. There are numerous threads in this forum about such upgrades, and extensive research is highly recommended before going down this path.

9. What are the USB, Sirius Satellite, and HD Radio Options?

The USB options is the addition of a USB port under the armrest, into which you can connect a USB device to listen to music from. The USB device can be an iPod, or many "Removable Storage Devices" which can hold MP3 songs. This options is documented in a FAQ here:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19779

The Sirius Satellite option is offered in USA/Canada (and maybe other countries). This option receives Audio signals from Satellite, and can then be played through the Sound System. At present Sirius offers in excess of 130 independant Radio Stations, with varying content, including various music genres, entertainment, sport, news, and other special interests. This option can be installed both at purchase time, and afterwards. The installation includes a receiver which is installed in the Trunk of the car.

The HD Radio option is offered in USA (and maybe other countries). This option allows the Head Unit to receive High Definition Radio signals over the air, in addition to standard radio signals. This option is installed at purchase time (I do not believe there is currently a standard upgrade for this option after purchase).

10. How can I use the USB and Aux Ports, HD Radio or Sirius Satellite?

There is a dedicated FAQ in this forum that addresses use of the USB and Aux ports, which can be found here:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19779

HD Radio and Sirius Satellite are not currently covered by this FAQ, but input is welcome.

11. Can I play CDs with MP3s on it?

The "Professional HU" supports MP3s on CD, this is also supported in the optional CD Changer. The "Business" version of the Head Unit will not play MP3s on CDs.

12. Some music CDs come up as MP3 CDs and won't play, why?

Some music CDs have a copy protection scheme on them, or may include enhanced features. These CDs will be incorrectly recognised by the Head Unit as "Data CDs", and will appear as MP3 CDs with no music on them. There is no easy way around this other than copying the tracks to a burned CD without the Data components. But of course some may ask ... why aren't you using MP3s for everything ? CD's are so 1990s