Re: Very well stated! (archive)

: This has been argued to death here on this board numerous times in numerous threads (Tip:Try searching the archives for the two words hk worth for example). Here's my two cents on the HK system from personal experience:
: I own a brand-new 328i Sport Sedan with the HK + CD upgrade. There is NO QUESTION in my mind that the system is worth the $600 cost. My qualifications? I'm a pure audiophile. I am comming off of owning a USAC competition vehicle which had an ~$12,000 stereo system. I own a home theater system which rivals that. Not to brag, just to explain. I know and love audio, and have for years.
: There is no question. The HK system is not a $2000 car audio solution. It's not meant to be. It's not a $1000 solution. It's a $600 solution. Under no circumstances can you walk into ANY store and purchase an equivilant system and get it installed for $600.
: Here's SOME of what you'd have to purchase to equate the HK system, and some equivilant prices from Crutchfield:
:
Two 6x9 subwoofer speakers. Price: $160 ($80 each - a stinking Bazooka 6" tube sub is $99 each, so I'm very reasonable here)
:
Two 50x4 amplifiers. Price: $400 (The 50x4 Jensen(!) amplifier is $180).
:
Installation of two subs in rear deck, including cut-out work and wiring: $75
:

Installation of two amplifiers, including line-level wiring to match stock units and wiring to speakers & subs: $125
: That is $760 just to attempt to MATCH the quality of the HK system (and I'm not trying to improve, just to match). That says nothing of the speed sensitive volume, the careful matching to the factory system, the factory-integration look (no messy wires or chop-shop jobs) AND you don't have to be without your car for a few days while the local audio shop installs the gear.
: There is no question, you can build a MUCH better system for $2000. But for $600, you can't beat the performance offered by the HK system.
: It's not perfect, but it sounds great at moderate to reasonably-high volumes. It's not going to blast out at people a mile away... but neither is a $2000 system. It will distort if you turn the bass all the way up on dynamic music and then turn the volume louder than it should be. But as a true audiophile, I can say that the stereo suits my driving needs entirely, and saved me a lot of money in the process. I'm very happy with it, and I would recommend it to everyone ordering a new bimmer.

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