[ferocity02]

Originally Posted by ajsalida

Old thread I know but bumping because I am fiddling with audio settings in a couple of cars.

Of course you are right about individual preferences but ideally you start from a flat acoustic reproduction spectrum. Meaning you use a signal analyzer to compare input source spectrum to sound output spectrum at typical ear location. You then adjust where possible to get that as close to equal in each band, so that reproduced sound is as close to recorded sound as possible.

This nullifies peculiarities in the audio system components and cabin, so that the sound you hear is as close to that recorded as possible. Then you adjust up or down as needed from there. With the advent of many speaker systems and lots of sound processing, plus multiple adjustment bands, sometimes this is a hopeless task.

For example, go set all your logic 7 eq settings to to zero, and turn off sound all processing. Then try adjusting only treble and bass, see how good it sounds. (I just did this) It sucks! Then set it back to these. Much better. Not perfect but close to flat. Once you are close to flat you can even just adjust treble and/or bass up or down to suit instead of messing with sub-bands. I find these settings a bit too bright high end, so I lower treble little, esp playing off the hard disk with the digital compression algorithm distortion.

This is generally what an equalizer is for, compensating for environmental and installation/equipment acoustic deviations/variations from perfect reproduction. You need high quality mics to do it though and that is often not feasible for ordinary folks. What you are measuring in engineering terms is the acoustic transfer function from input (source material) to output (sound @ listener's ear location(s)), and you want those to be flat in each band. But as a starting point only.

Thanks for this info. Seems to make sense. I will try the settings in the first post and see how it goes.

[Isaiah5411]

...changed out the Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! for an Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2. Wow! What a difference! Of course, adding the new sub helped as well. (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1071029 )

I now have almost everything set to FLAT...treble, bass, and most EQ settings, with the 200hz up 2 bars and the 100hz and 500hz down one as per the spectrum analyzer app. With the sub equalized (via an Audiocontrol EQL), I now have a pretty flat response (from 31.5- 16k) on the spectrum analyzer (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spec...490078884?mt=8 ) and...

...the Logic 7 system sounds better than I ever thought it could. The previous "smiley face" EQ curve was purely to make up for the loss of the low end before the addition of the sub, improved DAC and proper spectrum analysis. Of course, the highs had to be boosted to compensate for the overuse of the low end EQ bands before the sub was added.

So...the poster who said a flat Logic 7 system sounded horrible was right IF you are dealing with an unprocessed/improperly processed audio signal. Add a (good) DAC and watch what happens (with the best way to accomplish this being the use of the AirEnabler, IMO (http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=971083). Money well-spent!

Bottom line: You ultimately do what sounds good to you, but...it can take a long time to get there if you don't have a good, clean signal and some solid guidance (e.g. a spectrum analyzer).

[Isaiah5411]

Turns out the Dragonfly couldn't handle the volume output of the AirEnabler required to have the AUX input level be anywhere near the other sources (CD, SAT, FM). I could not get it to take more than 70% from the AirEnabler without obvious distortion.

So, I reinstalled the Fiio E17, which I thought initially was defective due to some crackling but realized that it, too, couldn't handle the 95% volume output level I had set in the AirEnabler (with default setting being 60%).

So...I dropped the volume of the AirEnabler down to 85% and bumped up the volume of the Fiio to 58/60...perfect! No distortion and all source levels much closer to being matched. And...the Fiio sounds MUCH better than the Sound Blaster (I originally used) and the Dragonfly...better clarity, soundstage/separation, and detail, especially once I reloaded all CD's into iTunes using Apple Lossless encoding.

But, the point of this post is: With the Fiio and the BavSound Stage One Speaker Upgrade (which is great!), I redid the Spectrum Analyzation...three times on three different days...using an external mic (iPhone as source, iPad mini with mic as monitor) and got a VERY different equalization pattern, something I would not have guessed (see below).

And every genre of music I listen to (from classical to jazz to heavy rock) sounds good and accurate, with only sub adjustments being required (using LPL44 external sub control with my PG xs2500 amp).

Also, the Fiio has BALANCE controls so I was able to adjust the balance to center without using the L7 balance, the latter tending to ruin the soundstage. The Fiio balance adjustment (+4 to Right) was perfect and the soundstage is great.

So...here are my EQ settings with this setup (AirEnabler, Fiio E17, BavSound Staqe One, stock L7 amp and rear speakers and underseat woofers), using AUX input and THEATER Surround setting, not Concert.





Although the 200hz adjustment seemed weird to me at first, it now makes sense knowing we have 4" mids and 8" woofers as stock sizes in the L7 system.

[trickystar]

do these settings only apply to 2009+ e90 and e92??
and how do check if my car has logic 7 or not?

[cdgatti]

if you have an equalizer you have logic 7

[Kid Red]

So these settings are only applicable if you have the Fiio and/or other devices installed?

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by Kid Red

So these settings are only applicable if you have the Fiio and/or other devices installed?

Shouldn't be. These settings were the result of playing the white and pink noise and test tones generated by the Onyx Spectrum Analyzer app from an iPhone 5s directly through the AUX input of the center console...no Fiio/DAC involved.

But, these settings were made through the Logic 7 system after installing the BavSound Stage One speaker upgrade. The ones before the speaker upgrade were pretty similar, however.

[wwc310]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

The settings posted are not intended for your audio system, it is intended for the L7 audio before they started calling it the HK system.

I need someone to contact me with an HK system so I can compile some settings for that system too so I can update this thread.

Did you ever get a chance to compile the settings for HK?

[deezi boi]

Nice

[Jeffman]

Anybody ever compare sound quality of the AirEnabler / Fiio E17 setup to an HRT iStreamer setup?

[jtn001]

Originally Posted by wwc310

Did you ever get a chance to compile the settings for HK?

Any update on the settings for a 2012 HK system?

[evo97]

Just had a CCC upgrade to CIC and have lost theatre and concert hall options just have logic 7 on or off option now? Is this normal or a coding issue.
Can anyone with logic 7 in a CIC car confirm. Thanks in advance.

Nathan

[ddonnikE92]

Thank you for this thread! My music sounds way better now! :-)

[tturbolife]

Originally Posted by evo97

Just had a CCC upgrade to CIC and have lost theatre and concert hall options just have logic 7 on or off option now? Is this normal or a coding issue.
Can anyone with logic 7 in a CIC car confirm. Thanks in advance.

Nathan

that's correct functionality

[evo97]

Originally Posted by tturbolife

that's correct functionality

Thanks

[07E92_335i]

So I did the recommended settings for my 07 E92 as suggested in the first post, turned up to moderate, not really loud, volume and instantly noticed a crackling in one of the rear speakers, now it wont go away. Essentially this setting blew one of my speakers. I'm guessing this would have happened eventually.

[OnlyDriveGerman]

My stereo already sounded great but to I saw this post, used the e92 settings then tweaked them a bit. Sounds like a whole new system! Thanks to the op!

[Briancanadiano]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

Hey guys,

***UPDATE*** This thread has now been updated with 2009+ iDrive SETTINGS.. ***

As promised before, I am starting a NEW thread on the optimal EQ settings for the E90's, E92's, I-Drive and Non I-Drive cars. All the settings are more up to date than before and better.

2009+ E92 iDrive SETTINGS:

These settings work very well for E90's with the 2009+ iDrive as well!

100hz -1
200hz 0
500hz +3
1khz +6
2khz -3
5khz +3
10khz +6

BASS 0
TREB +1
FADER 0
S-VOL: Minimum setting
Aux-In Level: NOT APPLICAPLE IN 2009+ iDrive Systems
LOGIC7 Surround: ON
For those who have the IPOD adapter as well.. make sure the IPOD internal EQ is turned off! (This applies to ALL CARS!)

E92 NON I-DRIVE SETTINGS:

Here are the settings and WHY:

80hz -2
200hz 0
500hz +2
1khz +2
2khz -3
5khz -1
10khz +4

BASS +3
TREB +1
FADER +2
S-VOL 1
Aux-In Level 3 (center position)
LOGIC7 = MUSIC
For those who have the IPOD adapter as well.. make sure the IPOD internal EQ is turned off! (This applies to ALL CARS!)

Now as far as LOGIC7 modes... Whether you have I-Drive or not... its a matter of PREFERENCE. The settings posted above, I recommend using LOGIC7 in the MUSIC mode for NON I-Drive vehicles. Why did I say leave it off before, and now I am saying its good to turn on? Well here is the reason: With the FADER set to 0 or biased toward the rear like how some others recommended, you will get that dreaded rear fading issue, where it sounds like the rear's are cutting in and out. First thing is first, sound staging should NEVER be toward the rear of the car. It only crowds the sound and makes certain notes and instruments play very peaky and annoyingly. Listen to some new age classical such as Yanni playing the piano, and you will see exactly what I am trying to say.

If you decide to not use LOGIC7, there is nothing wrong with that. It's merely a matter of preference. Through time and experience with this audio system, I have learned that once dialed in well, the LOGIC7 surround processor actually helps to widen the sound field as if you are in a larger car. This is a very ideal quality! Yes, I do feel that BMW could have done a better job with its LOGIC7 setup (Mercedes does a much better job at it), but this sounds good for what it is.


E92 WITH I-DRIVE SETTINGS:

100hz -2
200hz 0
500hz +2
1khz +2
2khz -3
5khz -1
10khz +4

BASS +3
TREB +1
FADER +2
S-VOL 1
Aux-In Level 3 (center position)
LOGIC7 = CONCERT HALL


E90 NON I-DRIVE SETTINGS:

80hz -2
200hz 0
500hz +2
1khz +3
2khz -2
5khz -1
10khz +4

BASS +4
TREB +1
FADER +2
S-VOL 1
Aux-In Level 3 (center position)
LOGIC7 = MUSIC

Well, FINALLY those are the settings for the E90's. Unfortunately, the E90's have it worse than the E92's. The sound staging in the coupes are a lot better, bass focus is more centralized, tighter and stronger due to the way its setup in the car. The settings posted directly above, are the best settings I could come up for the E90's with LOGIC7. The under seat subs in the E90's do not provide the same type of bass as opposed to the E92's and in essence its gives the feeling that the stereo is weaker to its 2-door counterpart.


E90 WITH I-DRIVE SETTINGS:

100hz -2
200hz 0
500hz +2
1khz +3
2khz -2
5khz -1
10khz +4

BASS +4
TREB +1
FADER +2
S-VOL 1
Aux-In Level 3 (center position)
LOGIC7 = CONCERT HALL

I hope this simplified thread can help all of you... And as always, if any of you have questions or curious about anything, I will do my best to help you out..

Besides myself, there are a few others I have seen around this part of the forum who are knowledgable in the car audio arena. Technik is one of them that comes to mind..

Just a mini FYI.. for those wanting a thumping heart rattling sound system, don't expect these settings to offer that by any means! The LOGIC7 sound system in our E9x's are not that type of audio system. Its basic layout is more SQ than anything. These settings are a prolonged attempt to offer the most balanced, peak-less and desirable sound possible based on what BMW has left on the table for us.

If you do not listen to your music at moderate to high volumes, feel free to adjust the BASS and TREBLE settings to your liking. Those two parameters are set the way they are because I personally listen to music at moderate to higher volumes. Lower volumes may need some additional compensation, BUT DO NOT TOUCH THE EQ!

Again, I hope this helps you guys! Good luck and hopefully enjoy!

--Malek

Hey do you have a suggested eq setting for 07 coupe with logic 7 with a side enclosure jl 10w3v3 paired with a jl 6001v2? I installed the sub and now it seems that the eq settings that you suggested don't sound that great anymore. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[mwahlert]

Originally Posted by Malek@MRF

2009+ E92 iDrive SETTINGS:

These settings work very well for E90's with the 2009+ iDrive as well!

100hz -1
200hz 0
500hz +3
1khz +6
2khz -3
5khz +3
10khz +6

BASS 0
TREB +1
FADER 0
S-VOL: Minimum setting
Aux-In Level: NOT APPLICAPLE IN 2009+ iDrive Systems
LOGIC7 Surround: ON

Interestingly, my 2009 e90 iDrive car, does have an aux-in volume level...

[gorylewis]

Hi,
I just delivery of my 08 BMW 335I on Saturday and have so much learning to do coming from my E46 but I will give these settings a shot this morning and see how the results fair.

Cheers

Greg

[NiNeTyOne]

Now if we only had e91 settings!

[SoaDMTGguy]

Very interesting! I'll have to experiment with this on my drive home.

Question: Why "Concert Hall" not "Theater"? I have those subjective terms... I wish it was just "Stereo" or "Surround".