Benzvirg

ua549

The 99999 is a placeholder. AFAIK the low end Burmester is standard.

rbrylaw

Except calling the standard Burmester system "low-end" is an oxymoron. The standard system is actually REALLY good!

Benzvirg

ua549

It is the low end for Burmester just as every brand including Rolls Royce has a low end. Everything Burmester builds is a cut above most entertainment systems.

rbrylaw

Do you know for fact it's Burmester's lowest end system? Either way, it doesn't matter. The system is way better than most cars ever get.

teksurv

I think Burmester is standard in the US, in other markets Audio 20 (black speaker grills) is the base sound system.

ua549

Burmester only produces 2 audio systems for Mercedes-Benz and they have systems for Bugatti and Porsche along with component systems for home use. https://www.burmester.de/en/

AZEZ

Some cars have Burmester as a small cost option which leads me to believe there is a non Burmester sound system in the lower end models, a small upgrade to standard Burmester, and then there is the 3D version for $5400. The AMG comes standard with Burmester (but not the 3D version).

superangrypenguin

My opinion as an audiophile is I'd rather take the stock sound system (unbranded) on an Audi A3 versus the Burmester base system in any Mercedes.

rbrylaw

It's funny how people hear things so differently. I have a good buddy with an Audi A3. I think the sound system is adequate in it. but pales in comparison to my Burmester. My buddy thinks so as well and so his next car is going to be a Mercedes with a Burmester system. You seem to really like Audi better than Mercedes. Why don't you just buy an Audi and have what you seem to think is superior engineering and sound?

lensjack

Got my fingers crossed on this because I opted not to order the "3D" system. Honestly, I just found the price offensive. All my BMW and Lexus cars included excellent upgraded audio at far more reasonable cost. The Mark Levinson system in my wife's Lexus is stellar. It came bundled with the brilliant nav system for $3200. I'm willing -- even happy -- to pay MB for their superior ride, styling, handling, and comfort. But that 3D number stuck in my craw. It felt like price gouging on what is essentially a three-year rental. Heck, for that price I could probably hire a string quartet to ride with me.

The coupe I test drove was equipped with the base Burmester system. I played around with it very briefly, wasn't impressed. Taking hope from multiple posts in these forums, however, I'm thinking I can adjust it so it at least sounds satisfactory if not wow.

As Double R notes, "It's funny how people hear things so differently." We'll see. Or hear, I guess.

Benzvirg

rbrylaw

I'm pretty picky. I'm a degreed classical musician, so I have well trained ears and I prefer a natural balanced sound. My home system includes Focal Reference Monitors from France with high end electronics. I'm not a booming bass guy. I play mostly symphonic music and the Burmester can be adjusted multiple ways to be very natural and balanced. If someone wants bass that thumps the windows, feel it in your rear end, this system might disappoint. But for a standard system (at least in the US as other countries still get the sub-par Audio 20 system as the base system) I find it simply terrific. I would have opted for the 3D System, but like you, I felt $5400 is close to rape. For another grand or so, I'd certainly have it. And I'd wager not many people do get it as that cost is just prohibitively expensive.

superangrypenguin

The Burmester 3D system is superior to the B and O Advanced 3D system in the new A8.

If I truly believed Audi made superior cars I'd have bought a new one by now. That said, I do not.

Something about a cake... Sigh.

rbrylaw

For $5400 the 3D system should be orgasmic. Most people don't put that much money into their home entertainment systems. I never worry much about what someone else's car has. I only care about what my car has and does and to me, I'll say it again, the standard Burmester is one fine car system.

superangrypenguin

All I did was provide my opinion upthread, as did you. We should move on.

superangrypenguin

The ML system is truly fantastic. The base Burmester system is what is offensive to me. Seriously? A $80,000 car without a subwoofer? The most offensive part about the Burmester base system is the lack of true lows. Sucks I have to shell out $6100 here for a system that passes my sniff test, but oh well, to each their own.

ua549

IIRC there is a pair of subwoofers mounted in the front foot wells. MB calls it FrontBass.

superangrypenguin

Frontbass = woofers.

There is no subwoofer on the base Burmester system, and to me, it is a very glaring omission from a pure sound perspective.

teksurv

I believe that is correct in regards to FrontBass. The base Burmester system in my coupe sounds fantastic to my ears, coming from the Harmon/Kardon in my previous E. If one is super particular, there are options to augment the stock system and increase performance while maintaining stock components. Penguin, perhaps you should read some of the posts by Mike5215 as he has modified his previous 221 and 205 cars.

superangrypenguin

Oh absolutely, and I read that thread in detail and was shocked at his knowledge. I don't trust myself or an audio shop to improve the stock system and will defer to the folks at MB.

Let me be really clear here in my opinions on this thread. I'm seriously thrilled that so many of you have a positive opinion of the Burmester base system. It's much lighter on your wallets and that is a good thing. I'm not trying to take away from any of you, I just wanted to share my opinion and what works for me, that's all.

I'm with you here @teksurv that the HK system is fantastic, and I don't think anyone has said on MBW that the HK Logic 7 system was lacking in any way. The Burmester base system is a little bit more divisive in opinion, that's all. For the record, I will say I am not BLOWN away by the Burmester 3D system. It sounds great. Is it worth $6100 CDN? Probably not, but is is a must have, for me? (yes, absolutely). And the only reason it's a must have, for me, is because the base Burmester system is lacking. Different strokes for different folks!

rbrylaw

The size of a woofer has absolutely nothing to do with the output of bass. It's how much air it can move that determines the amount of bass. I had a very high-end subwoofer once with two 6" drivers that produced astoundingly deep and articulate bass (as it should have for the high cost of the subwoofer). In fact, smaller woofers produce cleaner, more articulate bass than large woofers, which are capable of moving more air, but do so less accurately.

superangrypenguin

There are a number of factors to the quality of sound. I don't know why you are choosing to jump in on my opinion of things but my only statement that you quoted here is that there is no subwoofer on the base Burmester system. That's all.

No need to defend a sound system IMHO.

rbrylaw

I'm not defending the system. You said: "The base Burmester system is what is offensive to me. Seriously? A $80,000 car without a subwoofer? The most offensive part about the Burmester base system is the lack of true lows." I was merely pointing that a well designed woofer, one capable of moving a large volume of air can be more accurate. Perhaps that's why the Burmester comes with woofers, not a subwoofer. But that's just conjecture on my part. You're MORE than entitled to your opinion. Just don't put your opinion out there and then get your feathers ruffled if someone has a different opinion.