My unit can play DVD-Audio discs just fine, no issues with playback, other than speaker rattles above 40+ volume setting.

Unfortunately, I'm getting that speaker rattle in the passenger door now. I'll have to give that vibration kit a try next service in June. Thanks for the info.

- Mike D.

 

Are you sure they are DVD-A discs, and not DVDs with audio only? If so, I need to retry!

 

Yep, the unit definitely plays DVD-Audio discs, I have a dozen favorites or so, give it another try. The unit has played all of them without issue other than the ocassional rattles above the 40 volume setting. Also plays my hybrid SACDs like you said, DTS audio CDs and DVDs, basically everything that I have thrown at it.

My only wish, other than getting those ocassional rattles fixed, would be to somehow get video-in-motion playback of DVDs.

 

The B&W kit is by far the best in-car hi-fi I've ever heard. I play exclusively ALAC (Apple Lossless) files through an iPod connected to the USB interface. If I want to listen to something on my iPhone but not on the iPod, I'll stream it over Bluetooth, but I find that the sound quality suffers.

As regards test songs, I usually go for tracks that stretch multiple areas of the tonal range simultaneously. Think "Fixed Income" by DJ Shadow (actually most DJ Shadow stuff), but my all-time favourite test track is Daft Punk's "Da Funk". I find that if a system can keep control of the drums and bass while replaying the horn & high-hat without undue harshness, then it's a sound system for me.

 

Well the B&W is done for 2013. They went with Meridian which is suppose to be a better sounding system. The power is lower but so is the THD which is most important. I am not really sure why they didnt get B&W to step their game up.

 

Try Peace of Mind- Boston, School- Supertramp, Sirius- Allan Parsons Project, Surfing with the Alien- Joe Satriani

 

I saw that. I tweeted B&W about it and didn't get a reply from them. I'm just glad mine has a B&W system. I'm a real B&W fanboy, as I have DM603 S2 speakers in the study, a Zeppelin iPod dock in the conservatory, and a 7.1 system in the living room using the PV-1 sub, 5 in-wall and 2 in-ceiling speakers.

My wife, when she saw the Bowers & Wilkins badge in the door, remarked upon it and asked whether we were going to buy a car for its stereo!

I can't honestly say that the stereo didn't play a significant part in my purchasing decision!

 

I have the DM303's in a 7.1 setup with a LCR3 as the center channel and back surrounds with the matching subwoofer. Like I said earlier my bigger problem seems to be with the car itself and not the actual sound system. Though I do believe they could have used a better door woofer. And the subs in the back deck could have been 10's and utilized more.

 

Since CD's are inherently flawed there's nothing you can play that will sound even remotely real.
A good piece of Chopin will sort out most vinyl based sound systems but, since CD/DVD are incapable of producing anything like the original sound there's not much point.

 

Yes - Roundabout. DTS Audio CD.

 

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, etc.
Eric Kunzel, Cincinnati Symphony Orch
Telarc CD or SACD
(featuring REAL cannon fire!)

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2
Neeme Jarvi, Gothenburg Symphony
BIS CD252