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My wife and I decided to pull the trigger on picking up a new GTC roadster in Diamond white with black wheels silver leather interior, upgraded stereo and silver fibre on silver console. That is my dream configuration.....actually my dream configuration was the Edition 50 that I had a deposit on.....but I could not get my head around the matte mango white Cashmere paint. I actually didn't like it at all! That car would be PERFECT if it could be gotten in Diamond white! So sad about the matte paint. Just looks bad on that car.
But the dealer is offering incentive pricing on a floor model with basically the same configuration with silver wheels (he will powder coat them for me) and a carbon fibre console (looks good still) with black leather (I can live with) but the "Regular" Burmester stereo. He said that very few people really bother with the upgrade because the stock sound is actually excellent, and that you never recoup the investment in the upgraded stereo because the regular one sounds quite excellent. Not sure if I believe him.
In your opinion(s) - is the Burmester upgraded stereo in the GTC Roadster a huge part of the experience? Does is make all the much of a difference? My stock "regular" HK system in my GLE63s sounds better than any system I've ever heard in a car. It was very much not worth upgrading to the high end stereo in that car. But I don't know about the GTC.....any opinions would be welcome!
I'd appreciate peoples' opinions.
I was waffling on this point and tried at the last minute to get my order switched to the high end system but missed the cut-off date. Within hours of getting the car I was very glad I didn't get the high end system. I haven't heard it, and I can believe it is better for some, but the standard burmester one is fantastic and sounds great with the top up or down.
You need a Lossless audio source plugged in via USB to make the High end option worthwhile. If you stream via Bluetooth it’s not worth it.
If if you drive with the top down all the time it might not be worth it due to ambient noise.
It seems the majority of High end Burmester owners including myself are glad they have the system. I’ve yet to read a post where anyone regretted spending the $4500 for the High end stereo but they might be out there.
Interestingly, I went back to the dealership today and plugged my iPhone 10 into the USB port of BOTH the "regular" Burmester....then into the upgraded one and I listened to everything from Classical (Vivaldi) to some deep base rock.
The conclusion is that the base system sounds FANTASTIC. The ($7500 in Canada) upgraded Burmester sounds "Fantasticer"......but not so much that the upgrade was significantly noticeable until you turn it up to an uncomfortably high volume. I was surprised.
I greatly appreciate the opinions rendered here - but I think that I am comfortable saving the $7500 on the vehicle and will get the "regular" Burmester.
Interestingly, I went back to the dealership today and plugged my iPhone 10 into the USB port of BOTH the "regular" Burmester....then into the upgraded one and I listened to everything from Classical (Vivaldi) to some deep base rock.
The conclusion is that the base system sounds FANTASTIC. The ($7500 in Canada) upgraded Burmester sounds "Fantasticer"......but not so much that the upgrade was significantly noticeable until you turn it up to an uncomfortably high volume. I was surprised.
I greatly appreciate the opinions rendered here - but I think that I am comfortable saving the $7500 on the vehicle and will get the "regular" Burmester.
I managed to figure out the differences between the two Burmester installations on the GTC and thought I’d forward them.
“Regular” Burmester: 640 Watts from 10 speakers as well as 240 Watt Sub
“Upgraded” Burmester: 1000 Watts from 11 speakers as well as 400 Watt Sub.
The $6900+tax upgrade gets to 360 extra watts of sound dispersion and 160 more watts of kick (both mostly imperceptible in most instances).
You can only really perceive a difference if you listen to a “line connected” iphone, playing a “lossless” sound source. This means uncompressed AAC audio files and not MP3 files. Almost nobody knows or cares what that means, because sound quality differences most of the time are not hugely different.
I managed to figure out the differences between the two Burmester installations on the GTC and thought I’d forward them.
“Regular” Burmester: 640 Watts from 10 speakers as well as 240 Watt Sub
“Upgraded” Burmester: 1000 Watts from 11 speakers as well as 400 Watt Sub.
The $6900+tax upgrade gets to 360 extra watts of sound dispersion and 160 more watts of kick (both mostly imperceptible in most instances).
You can only really perceive a difference if you listen to a “line connected” iphone, playing a “lossless” sound source. This means uncompressed AAC audio files and not MP3 files. Almost nobody knows or cares what that means, because sound quality differences most of the time are not hugely different.
absolutely correct about lossless.
If there is a need you can also upgrade. I could use more sub mid base and JL audio has a cure with its slim bass module that can fit in stock location. I just haven’t found an installer here I’m comfortable with yet.
Jl audio also also has a fix 82 stock line adapfor plug and play and there are other options to cleanup stock equalization. All for far less than 7k.
I managed to figure out the differences between the two Burmester installations on the GTC and thought I’d forward them.
“Regular” Burmester: 640 Watts from 10 speakers as well as 240 Watt Sub
“Upgraded” Burmester: 1000 Watts from 11 speakers as well as 400 Watt Sub.
The $6900+tax upgrade gets to 360 extra watts of sound dispersion and 160 more watts of kick (both mostly imperceptible in most instances).
You can only really perceive a difference if you listen to a “line connected” iphone, playing a “lossless” sound source. This means uncompressed AAC audio files and not MP3 files. Almost nobody knows or cares what that means, because sound quality differences most of the time are not hugely different.
It all certainly is a matter of taste and perception. I hear a great difference even with mp3 files. I discern much more clarity. Here is Burmester's Site for AMG. Interesting information. I lived with the regular system on a GTS for 2 years and now have lived with the upgraded (US $4,500) system for 5 months. For me a huge difference - and this is in a GTC with the top down 90% of the time. Not so for others. Few have had the experience of living with both systems for extended periods of time. Anyway, it is 100% personal and individual.
It all certainly is a matter of taste and perception. I hear a great difference even with mp3 files. I discern much more clarity. Here is Burmester's Site for AMG. Interesting information. I lived with the regular system on a GTS for 2 years and now have lived with the upgraded (US $4,500) system for 5 months. For me a huge difference - and this is in a GTC with the top down 90% of the time. Not so for others. Few have had the experience of living with both systems for extended periods of time. Anyway, it is 100% personal and individual.
Makes you the resident expert on the upgraded Burmester stereo in my opinion.
If you get the regular, it will bother you every time you’re in the car. I know from experience. I originally didn’t get the Carbon Fiber rear Crossbar . You never see it while driving but it annoyed me enough i had to replace it aftermarket with OEM parts. Now, i don’t even notice the New Carbon Fiber one but at least I’m not annoyed.
2020 GTA; 2022 Audi e-tron GT, 2022 Ford F-150; 1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield 40/50 Playboy roadster
I pretty much can't tell the difference when it comes to audio systems or, for that matter, red wine (except for the really cheap Chateau Rotgut). I guess that makes me both lucky and unlucky.
In a rag top I think you need the higher end system. I have the standard Burmester system in my GTS and I have found it to be very adequate when listening to my SD card and SAT radio. It sounds great IMHO... The only thing I don't like is that the volume increase as road noise does, I hate that and wish I could disable it.
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
While the best Burmeister for the gt is not as good as the 3d burmeister on our Maybach is certainly does sound really good and am glad I have it in the gtc.
04-04-2018, 12:40 AM
