Bowers and Wilkins- Please tell me this isn't as good as it gets
#1
Bowers and Wilkins- Please tell me this isn't as good as it gets
As new (2010) XKR owner, I’m genuinely hoping the factory “Bowers and Wilkins” audio system is somehow broken or in need of repair. Now to my discredit, I should have checked the sound system before buying. Suppose I was so busy with the wow factor of the XKR it never occurred to me to “test drive” what was reported to be this incredible Bowers and Wilkins system. Guess I assumed it would be comparable to other high end manufactures systems. Possibly a BIG mistake.
Now that I’m on the Jag forums it looks like I’m not the only one with issues or complaints, but haven’t found an answer to my specific questions.
So here’s my questions for the group:
1) This is supposed to be a 525watt system, yet sounds like my clock radio next to my bed. Seriously, very little volume control
and certainly no power outside of a stock radio in a corolla.
It is possible to just have a loose connection or maybe a blown amplifier fuse? It’s not that the volume control doesn’t work, but at “max”power you can still have a normal conversation with your passenger. A 525watt system should make your ears bleed.
2) Horrible FM radio reception. So bad I can’t even pick up one of the city’s most powerful local stations. Again, could it be a loose
connection? Is this something easy to rectify?
3) MP3 player connection. Is it possible to run an MP3 player outside using an IPOD? (Think I saw a post on this but figured I’d throw
this question in while I was at it).
Thanks all. Happy to be on-board.
Now that I’m on the Jag forums it looks like I’m not the only one with issues or complaints, but haven’t found an answer to my specific questions.
So here’s my questions for the group:
1) This is supposed to be a 525watt system, yet sounds like my clock radio next to my bed. Seriously, very little volume control
and certainly no power outside of a stock radio in a corolla.
It is possible to just have a loose connection or maybe a blown amplifier fuse? It’s not that the volume control doesn’t work, but at “max”power you can still have a normal conversation with your passenger. A 525watt system should make your ears bleed.
2) Horrible FM radio reception. So bad I can’t even pick up one of the city’s most powerful local stations. Again, could it be a loose
connection? Is this something easy to rectify?
3) MP3 player connection. Is it possible to run an MP3 player outside using an IPOD? (Think I saw a post on this but figured I’d throw
this question in while I was at it).
Thanks all. Happy to be on-board.
#2
#3
#5
As new (2010) XKR owner, I’m genuinely hoping the factory “Bowers and Wilkins” audio system is somehow broken or in need of repair. Now to my discredit, I should have checked the sound system before buying. Suppose I was so busy with the wow factor of the XKR it never occurred to me to “test drive” what was reported to be this incredible Bowers and Wilkins system. Guess I assumed it would be comparable to other high end manufactures systems. Possibly a BIG mistake.
Now that I’m on the Jag forums it looks like I’m not the only one with issues or complaints, but haven’t found an answer to my specific questions.
So here’s my questions for the group:
1) This is supposed to be a 525watt system, yet sounds like my clock radio next to my bed. Seriously, very little volume control
and certainly no power outside of a stock radio in a corolla.
It is possible to just have a loose connection or maybe a blown amplifier fuse? It’s not that the volume control doesn’t work, but at “max”power you can still have a normal conversation with your passenger. A 525watt system should make your ears bleed.
2) Horrible FM radio reception. So bad I can’t even pick up one of the city’s most powerful local stations. Again, could it be a loose
connection? Is this something easy to rectify?
3) MP3 player connection. Is it possible to run an MP3 player outside using an IPOD? (Think I saw a post on this but figured I’d throw
this question in while I was at it).
Thanks all. Happy to be on-board.
Now that I’m on the Jag forums it looks like I’m not the only one with issues or complaints, but haven’t found an answer to my specific questions.
So here’s my questions for the group:
1) This is supposed to be a 525watt system, yet sounds like my clock radio next to my bed. Seriously, very little volume control
and certainly no power outside of a stock radio in a corolla.
It is possible to just have a loose connection or maybe a blown amplifier fuse? It’s not that the volume control doesn’t work, but at “max”power you can still have a normal conversation with your passenger. A 525watt system should make your ears bleed.
2) Horrible FM radio reception. So bad I can’t even pick up one of the city’s most powerful local stations. Again, could it be a loose
connection? Is this something easy to rectify?
3) MP3 player connection. Is it possible to run an MP3 player outside using an IPOD? (Think I saw a post on this but figured I’d throw
this question in while I was at it).
Thanks all. Happy to be on-board.
#6
It may be your settings. You should have treble, bass, subwoofer, 2 channel, dolby pro logic and another I can't remember. You can also move the spatial orientation of the speakers around the cabin. I have mine set deadcenter but slightly in front of the occupants.
Have you have found these controls?
Have you have found these controls?
#8
I have found the system is great with high end digital "dance" music like Crystal Method and Daft Punk...however...80s hair bands just plane sound crappy. ?????
SO...when I am in my Jag... I am a rolling DISCO MACHINE BABY!!!!
Loth
#9
#10
It may be your settings. You should have treble, bass, subwoofer, 2 channel, dolby pro logic and another I can't remember. You can also move the spatial orientation of the speakers around the cabin. I have mine set deadcenter but slightly in front of the occupants.
Have you have found these controls?
Have you have found these controls?
#11
I had shitty sound in mine too, until one day I was out with my son and he made comment on the poor sound quality. While I was driving, he made some adjustments, told me how dense I was for not having the radio set up properly and ever since, the sound has been awesome.
He's probably right about the dense part.
He's probably right about the dense part.
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MaximA (04-01-2014)
#12
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MaximA (04-01-2014)
#14
I had shitty sound in mine too, until one day I was out with my son and he made comment on the poor sound quality. While I was driving, he made some adjustments, told me how dense I was for not having the radio set up properly and ever since, the sound has been awesome.
He's probably right about the dense part.
He's probably right about the dense part.
#16
#17
I had shitty sound in mine too, until one day I was out with my son and he made comment on the poor sound quality. While I was driving, he made some adjustments, told me how dense I was for not having the radio set up properly and ever since, the sound has been awesome.
He's probably right about the dense part.
He's probably right about the dense part.
#18
I run mine on '3ch' - can't see any point in trying to fake surround sound from a stereo source, and I seem to recall that using the Dolby setting made it all kinda 'thin'. But I do like the punch that the sub adds. Timelords/KLF's 'Doctoring the Tardis' came on today, and that nearly made the windows rattle.
"Ex-ter-minate, ex-ter-minate!"
"Ex-ter-minate, ex-ter-minate!"
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pabanker (04-06-2014)
#19
The B & W system isnt very good IMO. I had it in my first XF, and with the XKR and it isnt a patch on the volvo systems I am used to. In fact I've been driving my missus' v40T5 CC which is new and shiny, the same music (playing Groove Armada) sounds awesome in that, acceptable in the XKR. Better than a normal car, but not as good as I am used to. Any big beat techno, eg Fluke/death in vegas/basshunter sounds OK in the XKR, but not brilliant. That said I understand that the B & W system is great for jazz. I've never met anyone under 70 who listens to jazz, but I suppose that they would be very happy with it.
#20