The BMW 5 series' HK system is munch better, the same with Acura's ELS and Lexus' mark Levinson.
Cool Overview of the W212 Harmon Kardon System
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From: Dominican Republic
2022 G63, 2023 GLA 45S
Cool Overview of the W212 Harmon Kardon System
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2014 E-350
I find it to be better than our Range Rover, and certainly better than my previous Super Duty truck & Expedition (for obvious reasons!). But I have nothing better to compare it to. I will complain, the AM radio signal is horrible, basically unusable.
Last edited by fosterelli; Dec 1, 2015 at 08:45 AM.
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2015 GL550 4matic
I'm planning on adding a proper subwoofer very soon. I think that will balance it out. Currently looking at Rockford Fosgate P300-10 all-in-one solution. I think it might be about 1/4" to tall to fit in the opening against the back seat, but I'm going to order one and see if I can squeeze it in there.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/p300-10
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2015 GL550 4matic
Also, I found that disabling the Logic7 surround sound makes it much better. then I fade about 2/3 to the rear, bass all the way up, and treble in the center. Those are the best settings I found for playing music on the stock system. You have to change the settings independently for each audio source selection.
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Also, I found that disabling the Logic7 surround sound makes it much better. then I fade about 2/3 to the rear, bass all the way up, and treble in the center. Those are the best settings I found for playing music on the stock system. You have to change the settings independently for each audio source selection.
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2011 E550
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
I bump my system loud often when I'm in the city areas and by myself. Every car I've had I always tweak the audio settings a bit. Let's say scale 1-10 with 5 being the factory setting, I put bass at like 7 and treble at 6. Just to get a lil more umpph. Only system I never had to tweak is my Bose system. It knocks as is pretty much.
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2022 G63, 2023 GLA 45S
My own experience: I find the E63 HK system fine and better than other comparables I've had:
1. I recently sold a 2012 BMW X5 xDrive50i with the HK system and I like the MB system better.
2. I sold a 2015 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid with a Bose system when I bought the MB, and I like the HK sound better (although the head unit interface on the Infiniti is way ahead of the MB system)
3. I also like it better than the HK in our MINI and the Bose in my Porsche 997. The Bose has more Bass with the rear shelf woofer box, but the HK system is clearer.
Is it out of this world? No. But I find it very good for my listening needs that consists of jazz, rock and some pop. My frame of reference: two decent audiophile systems totaling about $11K in cost including tube amp/turntable/decent speakers. I am also a headphone geek with $1200 Denon wood headphones, High End $1100 AKG cans, Shure electrostats and a few others.
fwiw the post was to share details about the system that are not in the MB materials supplied with the car, not an endorsement.
1. I recently sold a 2012 BMW X5 xDrive50i with the HK system and I like the MB system better.
2. I sold a 2015 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid with a Bose system when I bought the MB, and I like the HK sound better (although the head unit interface on the Infiniti is way ahead of the MB system)
3. I also like it better than the HK in our MINI and the Bose in my Porsche 997. The Bose has more Bass with the rear shelf woofer box, but the HK system is clearer.
Is it out of this world? No. But I find it very good for my listening needs that consists of jazz, rock and some pop. My frame of reference: two decent audiophile systems totaling about $11K in cost including tube amp/turntable/decent speakers. I am also a headphone geek with $1200 Denon wood headphones, High End $1100 AKG cans, Shure electrostats and a few others.
fwiw the post was to share details about the system that are not in the MB materials supplied with the car, not an endorsement.
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2011 E550
My own experience: I find the E63 HK system fine and better than other comparables I've had:
1. I recently sold a 2012 BMW X5 xDrive50i with the HK system and I like the MB system better.
2. I sold a 2015 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid with a Bose system when I bought the MB, and I like the HK sound better (although the head unit interface on the Infiniti is way ahead of the MB system)
3. I also like it better than the HK in our MINI and the Bose in my Porsche 997. The Bose has more Bass with the rear shelf woofer box, but the HK system is clearer.
Is it out of this world? No. But I find it very good for my listening needs that consists of jazz, rock and some pop. My frame of reference: two decent audiophile systems totaling about $11K in cost including tube amp/turntable/decent speakers. I am also a headphone geek with $1200 Denon wood headphones, High End $1100 AKG cans, Shure electrostats and a few others.
fwiw the post was to share details about the system that are not in the MB materials supplied with the car, not an endorsement.
1. I recently sold a 2012 BMW X5 xDrive50i with the HK system and I like the MB system better.
2. I sold a 2015 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid with a Bose system when I bought the MB, and I like the HK sound better (although the head unit interface on the Infiniti is way ahead of the MB system)
3. I also like it better than the HK in our MINI and the Bose in my Porsche 997. The Bose has more Bass with the rear shelf woofer box, but the HK system is clearer.
Is it out of this world? No. But I find it very good for my listening needs that consists of jazz, rock and some pop. My frame of reference: two decent audiophile systems totaling about $11K in cost including tube amp/turntable/decent speakers. I am also a headphone geek with $1200 Denon wood headphones, High End $1100 AKG cans, Shure electrostats and a few others.
fwiw the post was to share details about the system that are not in the MB materials supplied with the car, not an endorsement.
THANKS A LOT JERK
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2019 E300
The HK system's sub woofer in the E class is pretty small. I would say that the bass is a bit lacking. Turning the bass all the way will limit the overall output of the rest of the frequencies.
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From: Athens, GA USA
2011 E63, 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 v8, 2013 GMC Denali XL, 1965 Ford Mustang, 2005 Merc. E500
I have the Hk in my E63, a Bose in my Denali and a Lexicon in my Genesis. All three sound very good in order of best to less ; Lexicon, HK, Bose. But the Bose is in a truck so that has something to do with it. The Lexicon in the Genesis is the fullest with the deepest sounds and you here all instruments. I can play the same recorded music from one to the other and really notice the difference between the three.
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From: Cleveland OHIO
01 ML55AMG 04 ML500 03 ML350 08 ML63AMG
I got HK, I had Bose before and I have Bose at home I think its much better sound. As someone said here that HK you have to make it really loud to actually hear the base. MB should go back to Bose. 
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From: NorCal
2015 ML350+2025 E350
I like the HK better than the Bose in my previous car, and I'm going to try disabling Logic7 (without fiddling too much with bass and treble). What is it that L7 supposedly does anyway?
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From: Orlando, FL
2015 GL550 4matic
Logic 7 is a fancy name for surround sound. If you listen to talk or maybe viewing movies, then I suppose it might be better, but for music, it's useless and sounds worse. If you deactivate it, then the center speaker does nothing, and your music comes through in normal stereo.
I really don't understand why everyone is trying to compare Bose in this car to HK in another car, or HK between 2 cars. They are not comparable in any way. The whole thing is just a gimmick to slap a brand name on the vehicle stereo system and make you think it's something special, or charge a premium for an upgraded sound system over the base model. The system is designed by the factory engineers and is specific to each car and the dynamics of each interior cabin.
I really don't understand why everyone is trying to compare Bose in this car to HK in another car, or HK between 2 cars. They are not comparable in any way. The whole thing is just a gimmick to slap a brand name on the vehicle stereo system and make you think it's something special, or charge a premium for an upgraded sound system over the base model. The system is designed by the factory engineers and is specific to each car and the dynamics of each interior cabin.
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2011 E550 Sedan
+1 the Bose in my Murano rocks compared to HK, unless maybe all you listen to is talk radio or something.
I'm planning on adding a proper subwoofer very soon. I think that will balance it out. Currently looking at Rockford Fosgate P300-10 all-in-one solution. I think it might be about 1/4" to tall to fit in the opening against the back seat, but I'm going to order one and see if I can squeeze it in there.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/p300-10
I'm planning on adding a proper subwoofer very soon. I think that will balance it out. Currently looking at Rockford Fosgate P300-10 all-in-one solution. I think it might be about 1/4" to tall to fit in the opening against the back seat, but I'm going to order one and see if I can squeeze it in there.
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/p300-10
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From: Orlando, FL
2015 GL550 4matic
I've had the Infinity Basslink in a few different cars and very happy with that, but it's an awkward looking piece.
