[ramparts]

So, now the standard system is HK - sounds great at first till you realise it’s a 205W system ( what hifi on previous models was )

Today they’ve announced the new bowers system which is….. 600W , which is what Harmon kardon used to be.

Call me cynical here, but this sounds an awful lot like rebranding to make the options sound better than they really are,but really just removing the top end option !

[MikeElmendorf]

There seems a lot of downgrading/de-contenting with this model.

[DroMike]

LOL - BMW...BUSTED! Or as legendary Yankees catcher Yogi Berra once said, “A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.”

[V3n0m51]

I noticed this as well. After looking on some international sites, there is actually a sound system below the “new HK”. How do you justify even less than 205w on a new 5 series? Is it just a Bluetooth speaker in the glovebox?

[claykin]

I don't believe we know yet the speaker impedance or the measurement method for amplifier output rating being used for the G60 models. I also think we need to wait for real world listening before passing judgement. For those ordering cars early, if audio is important to you, I suggest opting for the $950 B&W branded system.

My suspicion is for the MY25 cars an additional higher end audio system will be made available.

[BMW012]

considering the $950 B&W has 18 speakers, hopefully its not lame..

[Eric500]

BMW really seems to be hitting buyers with the cost cutting stick with the de-contenting.

Also, i think the door trim front/rear are a serious downgrade in terms of luxury, though BMW is not the only one guilty of all the cost cutting

[arkhi]

Here's more proof that the G60 B&W is just an H/K rebrand:

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/en-us/collaborations/bmw

You can look at the tech specs. The G30 H/K used Logic 7, while the B&W used Quantum Logic. The latter is now only with the "Diamond system".

To get a better view, compare the Tech Specs for the i5, i7, and G30 and you can see the "classic" B&W was so much better.

Edit:
G30 H/K specs:
https://www.harmankardon.com/bmw-5-series-sedan.html

7x 25 mm Aluminum dome tweeters, dashboard, front, side & rear
7x 100 mm mid-range speakers, dashboard, front, side & rear
2x 217 mm subwoofers (central bass), below the front seats
Harman Kardon Logic 7® DSP amplifier in Class-D technology with 600-watt total output

G60 B&W specs:
4x 100mm Continuum™ midrange speaker
3x 100mm Midrange speakers
7x 25mm Aluminium tweeters
2x 50x80mm Dual balanced woofers
1x 200mm Dual voice coil subwoofer
Output: 655W
Logic® 7

G30 B&W specs:
2x 25mm Diamond Nautilus® tweeters (illuminated)
5x 25mm Aluminum dome tweeters
7x 100mm Aramid fiber midrange drivers (4 of which are illuminated)
2x 217mm Rohacell central bass subwoofers
Output: 1375W
QuantumLogic® Surround

[ramparts]

I have no doubt the speakers are the better ones, but they are defo downgrading the amp

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

There seems a lot of downgrading/de-contenting with this model.

Quite accurate. Reposting a newsworthy link from a previous post.

BMW expects to lower vehicle costs by 25% by 2025.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aut...25-2021-06-21/

[BMW012]

less amp = more batteries for mileage

[Semicolin82]

Doesn’t it use the 9 volt battery?

[BMW012]

was just messing. not sure to be honest

[PsychDoc]

I downloaded my iTunes music to a thumb drive. Does anyone know if the G60 (540) has a USB C input in the glovebox of the car and if this will allow me to plug in this thumbdrive (with a USB-A to USB-C adapter) and listen to my music through the audio system of the car? Or does the car itself have ssd drive that I could upload this music into?

[ldhn]

Originally Posted by PsychDoc

I downloaded my iTunes music to a thumb drive. Does anyone know if the G60 (540) has a USB C input in the glovebox of the car and if this will allow me to plug in this thumbdrive (with a USB-A to USB-C adapter) and listen to my music through the audio system of the car? Or does the car itself have ssd drive that I could upload this music into?

Yes it does and that's what I also do.

[MikeElmendorf]

There is a USB-C drive in the glovebox? I though they were only by the cup holders (for data).

[thehank]

Ive got the BW system, not impressed. Still sounds like the cheap HK systems of the past

[ramparts]

It’s almost like that is exactly what it is ( see the original post of this thread )