bang and olefson sound
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Naperville, IL
If I were you (and I'm not) ... I would have the dealership reorder the car I want with B&O and wait the 3 months. But it really depends on how important the stereo sound is to you. If you play music regularly then I would reorder. But if you use the stereo sparingly, and tend to listen to talk radio instaed of music, then perhaps it's not so important.
You say that the company in Germany screwed up - are you sure? I bet the fault is with your salesman who messed up the order sheet. I would have him re-order the car with B&O and also negitiate a break on the first month's lease for your trouble.
You say that the company in Germany screwed up - are you sure? I bet the fault is with your salesman who messed up the order sheet. I would have him re-order the car with B&O and also negitiate a break on the first month's lease for your trouble.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
If I were you (and I'm not) ... I would have the dealership reorder the car I want with B&O and wait the 3 months. But it really depends on how important the stereo sound is to you. If you play music regularly then I would reorder. But if you use the stereo sparingly, and tend to listen to talk radio instaed of music, then perhaps it's not so important.
You say that the company in Germany screwed up - are you sure? I bet the fault is with your salesman who messed up the order sheet. I would have him re-order the car with B&O and also negitiate a break on the first month's lease for your trouble.
You say that the company in Germany screwed up - are you sure? I bet the fault is with your salesman who messed up the order sheet. I would have him re-order the car with B&O and also negitiate a break on the first month's lease for your trouble.
Or have the dealer find nearly the same car in their network and have them pay to have it trucked in?
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
IMO, the B&O sounds great. I blast my music with friends in the car and have gotten plenty of unsolicited comments about the sound quality. I dunno, maybe we just don't have as refined a palate for quality speakers as the one commenter, but I think the $800 (or whatever it was for 2013) was money well spent on the upgrade.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
B&O is pretty looking Bose. Boston was much better, you're correct.
For $800 its a no brainer over stock which is not saying much. Audi/VW always have awful systems. My GTI is dreadful but surprisingly better than the B&O in my S5. In the VW its background sound with only occasonal thoughts of how bad it sounds. In the S5 its annoyingly bad and I fumble with the controls often. Tizzy and boomy. I wish it wasn't so, a good system can add so much enjoyment.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: NJ
B&O is pretty looking Bose. Boston was much better, you're correct.
For $800 its a no brainer over stock which is not saying much. Audi/VW always have awful systems. My GTI is dreadful but surprisingly better than the B&O in my S5. In the VW its background sound with only occasonal thoughts of how bad it sounds. In the S5 its annoyingly bad and I fumble with the controls often. Tizzy and boomy. I wish it wasn't so, a good system can add so much enjoyment.
For $800 its a no brainer over stock which is not saying much. Audi/VW always have awful systems. My GTI is dreadful but surprisingly better than the B&O in my S5. In the VW its background sound with only occasonal thoughts of how bad it sounds. In the S5 its annoyingly bad and I fumble with the controls often. Tizzy and boomy. I wish it wasn't so, a good system can add so much enjoyment.
I agree that B&O is overpriced, but it sounds far better than Bose. I've heard quite a few high end car audio systems and think the B&O actually sounds fantastic. It's one of the few that does NOT sound boomy to me.
We can argue our opinions all we want, but it basically comes down to how it sounds to the individual listener. Like all people have different preferences for foods they like, the same applies to audio reproduction and music.
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I agree that B&O is overpriced, but it sounds far better than Bose. I've heard quite a few high end car audio systems and think the B&O actually sounds fantastic. It's one of the few that does NOT sound boomy to me.
We can argue our opinions all we want, but it basically comes down to how it sounds to the individual listener. Like all people have different preferences for foods they like, the same applies to audio reproduction and music.
We can argue our opinions all we want, but it basically comes down to how it sounds to the individual listener. Like all people have different preferences for foods they like, the same applies to audio reproduction and music.
When I was 17, I spent lots of time and money on car audio. I swapped drivers and amps often until I found ones that sounded like music. Live music, not club/PA music. At that time I had as much $$ in my car system as the car itself.
AudiWorld Newcomer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Very true, many different tastes and expectations. Its quite subjective and if someone is happy with that level of sound, thats fantastic. I'm not trying to talk anyone out of liking their B&O.
When I was 17, I spent lots of time and money on car audio. I swapped drivers and amps often until I found ones that sounded like music. Live music, not club/PA music. At that time I had as much $$ in my car system as the car itself.
When I was 17, I spent lots of time and money on car audio. I swapped drivers and amps often until I found ones that sounded like music. Live music, not club/PA music. At that time I had as much $$ in my car system as the car itself.
Depends on what you listen to and how.
Not saying the B&O system is the best, but for an OEM car audio system, it's pretty fantastic once you dial it in just right. If you're used to multiple amps and tube subwoofers, you're not gonna be pleased, of course.
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Ultimate Keyboard Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 374
From: Albuquerque, NM
I think the B&O system sucks. B&O is not a premium company, they're simply a design company that makes great looking gear. Like Bose, its all reputation with zero actual quality. Don't waste your time- stock and B&O are bad. Just different bad.
Car companies pick brands of audio gear that have well recognized names such as JBL, Infinity, Bose etc. None of these brands are good- at all. Its all about marketing, not about actual quality. They also recognize that 99.9% of the people have no idea of what good sound actually is.
Car companies pick brands of audio gear that have well recognized names such as JBL, Infinity, Bose etc. None of these brands are good- at all. Its all about marketing, not about actual quality. They also recognize that 99.9% of the people have no idea of what good sound actually is.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
I recently ordered an S5 cabriolet and the company in Germany did everything right except they didn't install the Bang and Olefson sound system that I had ordered. Instead, they installed the standard one. Now I am in the position of taking the car (the dealership is offering to cover my first month lease payment) or of having to reorder the car and wait an additional 3 months (I have already been waiting 3 months).
Is it worth the wait? The dealership tells me that the standard sound system is still of premium quality. How much better is Bang and Olefson anyways?
Is it worth the wait? The dealership tells me that the standard sound system is still of premium quality. How much better is Bang and Olefson anyways?