peteharvey

Yes, if you don't feel you need the quality, don't bother optioning it...

MarkGS

The Elliot Scheiner 5.1 system is outstanding and is the only other system I would put on the same level as a ML.

With the 4GS, is there a menu item for DVD Audio Settings, and if so, is there a Auto Play On/Off setting under DVD Audio Settings?

Just curious if the 4GS has the same problems with DVD-As when Auto Play is on that my LS experienced.
I don't see myself listening to XM for music, unless I was just on a long road trip and wanted to vary my listening. However, where I see the benefit to XM is with traffic alerts and weather.

yell01

I tested it out listening to my iPod and it sounded great.

nantang

I might appraeciate DVD audio if anything were available on it. I've got my one Blue Man Group DVD. Most of the time, I'm having to go to iTunes, burn to CD, and copy to mp3 at 320kbps. Still, it will be interesting to see how well Mark Levinson handles this.

I'm not too worried about satellite radio, since I usually bring my own music. But, I do want to see how the Pandora app sounds. If it's piped through 3G followed by Bluetooth, though, I'll be impressed if it sounds OK.

dseag2

You're right. I had a base GS loaner car prior to taking delivery of my F Sport. It had the premium sound system and XM sounded great. I don't notice much of a difference in XM sound with Mark Levinson. However, IPod is a completely different story.

Dryrunner

iTrader: (1)

Rip all that factory stuff out, put in a decent head unit, real amps and dynaudio speakers. THEN you will have a real audiophile system.

CANDYAPPLE

iTrader: (1)

i have a ml system but it came witht the car when i brought it. just like with all my bose systems its getting ripped out. they ok for light music, but i need my back to move and my mids and highs to fill the cabin. already removed the sub and replaced with 2 10 in L7's and now the doors are getting beymers and seperate tweets all around. the only thing i cant remove is the radio cause its in the navi but it will do.

peteharvey

Actually, the answer to this question just depends on how much of an audiophile you are.
If you are not much of an audiophile, just a normal person - use the base system.
If you're a bit of an audiophile, opt for the Mark Levinson.
If you were a true audiophile, you would remove the head unit, and remove the speakers, and install an aftermarket system with multiple component power amplifiers in the boot, and install audiophile grade speakers.
The component power amplifiers and the speakers are most important, because the factory head unit delivers a decent signal...

zoombie99

BMW is coming out with a new B&O system option for the 2013 5 series coming out this July:




Bang & Olufsen High End Surround-Sound System.

From July, the Bang & Olufsen High End Surround-Sound System will be optionally available for all models of the BMW 5 Series. This system facilitates the reproduction of music in outstanding sound quality via 16 active loudspeakers with a total output of 1,200 Watt, whereby it is possible to choose between the “Studio” mode offering a clear sound and the “Extended” mode, which has the effect of an extended sound space. In both cases a unique surround effect is achieved. Equally as impressive as the sound experience offered by the system is the so-called Floating Design with its perfect styling and the precision crafted hole pattern of the speaker grille so characteristic of Bang & Olufsen sound equipment. The system's centre speaker features the Acoustic Lens Technology developed by Bang & Olufsen. As soon as the audio system is activated, the centre element with the integrated medium-range speaker rises from the dashboard to release the lens of the tweeter. The lens radiates its signals evenly into the interior within an angle of 180 degrees, thereby ensuring an exceptionally harmonious distribution of sound.

nantang

Pop-up speakers? Does this mean that luxury cars are now getting into an arms race of ridiculously high end audio? Mark Levinson will have to fire back by hiring Bono, The Edge, several members of the London Symphony Orchestra's string section, and that guy with the spiky hair who sings for The Crüxshadows (his name is Rogue) to take turns in my car's back seat to perform live.

MarkGS

I'm all for audio wars to stimulate ever improving sound systems

B & O makes good speakers. And I find it interesting that BMW is no longer using Harmon products for their premium sound system. I wonder if the B&O produces 5.1 audio.

Phun4GS

I am very disappointed that the ML system does not decode DTS

MarkGS

Thats odd. My 3rd Gen GS with ML decoded DTS far better than DVD-A. I ended up buying DTS over DVD-A and replacing some of my collection where DTS was available just for that very reason.

What kind of problems are you having? I had a problem with my new LS w/ML working properly with DVD-A, but I got that resolved and get 5.1 with both DVD-A and DTS.

I'm not sure there are many after market choices, if any, that will read DVD-A and DTS, but the ML system definitely will read DTS from my own experiences.

Phun4GS

It looks like starting with 2013 models, the ML system no longer supports DTS. There's no DTS logo on the face of the ML system for the GS, RX, LX, and ES. It only supports Dolby digital. When I select DTS soundtrack on my DVDs, I just get no sound. This is quite surprising to me because even the pre-2013 ct200h supports DTS.

MarkGS

That is too bad. My guess is that this was a cost cutting move on the belief that DTS is an outmoded format. I always felt that DTS sounded just as well on the ML as DVD-A. And the ML system treated DTS the same as CD, where it would advance on to the next CD at the end of the previous CD while DVD-A do not automatically advance to the next.

Have you experienced any issues with DVD-A in the ML system you have?

I recently traded my 3rd gen GS for a 2012 LS w/ML and may end up being happy I didn't wait for the 2013. I somehow believe the ML system won't read DTS in the 2013 LS either after learning what you mentioned.