MD Boy

Gentlemen,

Wanted to get your thoughts on the H/K sound system found in the 2012 ML. I've selected this system with the P2 package mostly because of the spec's. 805 watts and 13 speakers plus a sub. That sounds to be a great system (no pun intended) Wow, I'm a dork

I had a brief opportunity to listen to it once at the dealership - only the radio and with no settings adjusted. So, for those who have this or have had experience with this system, what are your thoughts? Anything in regards to clarity, treble response, highs/lows, sound reproduction? Do you get, 'wowed' by it when listening to CD's/your mp3 player?

Any thoughts and input would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

katiesdad7

Worth every penny! We tried it also at the dealer with our Iphone. The musical clarity was off the charts. I was anxious to get the 800+ watts too. However, since the car is so quiet you never really turn it up a lot. It is like sitting in a sound studio. All you hear is the music.

You gone a love it. :-)

Bluerum

@MDboy
Stereo is real good relatively speaking as its not home audio. Clarity, separation, punchy tight bass not muddy. And all this on 256kbs AAC on my iPhone. so no great low freq. due to lossy rip.
So for a stock car stereo it's real good!!

Will try apple lossless tracks next and update you all. Should sound even better.
Blows away the premium sound in my 2011 BMW 750 although that's not saying much as Bimmer sound sucks.

Waykool plantz

I do sound systems for recording studios...broadcast,clubs & churches and believe the HK system is amazing & the best reason to get P2.
The Logic7 adds a new dimension of space to all older songs you know & love. Took a 7 hour road trip to Orlando & back last Friday with two top audio engineers...we were all impressed.
I have a SACD of some Elton John songs that knocked us out...Bebe & Cece's "I'll take you there" will blow you away. The bass on Bob Marley's Legend is great too...even coming off iPod
For those that don't know Harman Is the parent brand of JBL..Lexicon..Revel & Mark Levinson....as well as professional equipment AKG..BSS..Crown..Soundcraft & Studer
Our road trip was to check out the Studer Vista9 audio console....the main audio control for TBN's Holy Land USA

YYZ-E55

It's a big improvement over the base stereo for sure.

http://mercedes.harmankardon.com/en/vehicles/m-class/

ML12NYC

It's 100% worth the extra $. The sound quality is superior to the original factory. When you add the ambient lighting you feel like your in a moving studio! Couldn't be happier.
Anyone test any movies? Dark Night should be impressive.

GregW / Oregon

Thanks for the link.

katiesdad7

It plays movies too?

lboudreau

Yes... Video tab... unless that was sarcasm

DT21

Nice upgrade over the base system, bass is a little boomy for my taste out of the box I went through and toned down the bass settings in each audio mode.

P2 package to good to pass up so the HK system is a nice plus!

katiesdad7

Wasn't sarcasm. Really didn't know it played videos.

lboudreau

Good stuff

It really does come in handy when you are waiting for someone for a while and can watch something to make the time pass quicker. I usually burn DVDs with my favorite TV shows on them so I can watch them on the go.

To the OP, I'm also a big fan of the HK system in the ML. Overall it is a well rounded system. I still find the HK system in the E class to be a bit better, with tighter bass and a cleaner sound stage, but the ML does well for having so much cabin space to fill with sound.

GregW / Oregon

The ML63 has a pricey Bang & Olufsen optional audio system. I wouldn't be surprised to see it offered in other models next year.

Waykool plantz

Under future models on theMBUSA website it says that P2 with the H/K is standard on the ML63.
Where did you see the info on the B&O system. Seems odd to me they would offer it.

GregW / Oregon

Why odd? It's a way to offer an upmarket option for additional profit. It's mentioned in this article I posted: https://mbworld.org/forums/5005567-post32.html

Waykool plantz

I read the article you posted...thx

As the info is contrary to MBUSA's description...until I see otherwise I can only assume the reviewer is wrong.

I don't think they would entertain a different vendor as it would dilute the brand value of the products they currently offer. If they felt the HK wasn't sufficiently hi-end they could look at other Harmon products such as Mark Levinson....but that too would damage the brand value

GregW / Oregon

I have heard from another inside source that Autoweek's information is correct. It's no different than the Audi A8 which has a base Bose system and B&O as an upmarket option. According to a recent German survey B&O was ranked first in premium car audio with Bose second and HK third. Lexus also uses Mark Levinson for their high end and a different manufacturer for the base.

katiesdad7

I have the Bose in my Nissan 370Z and it isn't all that great. I also had it in my 350Z and wasn't that impressed with it there. It was also in my Lincoln MKX. Now my home 901's are a totally different story.

YYZ-E55

B&O is currently offered in the S-Class and SLS, and is coming to the CLS for 2013. It will be the prestige sound option (figure $4,000+ as an option).

Bose != B&O

GregW / Oregon

As YYZ says, Bang & Olufsen is a whole 'nother class than Bose. B&O is a Danish high-end audio company making beautifully designed and innovative products. Bose is an American company that makes okay products at a lower but not inexpensive price point.

ML12NYC

The HK system in my truck is by far superior than the Bose system in my Infiniti. I could just imagine how great the B&O system sounds.

GregW / Oregon

This is the description of the B&O system in the S-Class. Note the price, which is the increase over the HK 5.1 system.

GregW / Oregon

This is the description of the B&O system in the S-Class. Note the price, which is the increase over the HK 5.1 system.

Oneness

Well, being a person that is into audiophile systems, H/K is considered a decent consumer home theater mfg, but they aren't considered to be at the top end. I know it's a step up from BOSE (Better Off with Something Else), Mark Levinson (owned by H/K) is considered audiophile grade, but the company that makes top end audiophile systems that people in the home theater market look up to for innovation and direction is Meridian. Meridian understands digital signals and they design their products to remove coloration with digital crossovers, digital pre amps, high quality power amps, innovative Trifield and how to remove digital distortion. Meridian has been working with Mcclaren and Land Rover (Evoque) on systems and I think it would great if Mercedes offered Meridian systems. The only two problems with Meridian is that their products are expensive and in the case of a car, their systems are so realistic, it might get the driver to more involved with listening to the audio rather than driving their car, and if your home system isn't as good, you might spend more time in your car watching movies than in your house. Either way, I would be 100% supportive if Mercedes chose Meridian as their audio system supplier.

Oneness

B&O is more of a "looks" audio company rather than sound. if you read magazines such as Stereophile or The Absolute Sound, B&O is more into looks than they are audio reproduction. they have cool designs, but audio quality, they don't even come close to Meridian. In the audiophile world, Meridian is King. meridian has recently released systems for McClaren and Land Rover (evoque). BOSE? Cheap junk that is marketed towards those that are easily manipulated. in the audiophile world, BOSE stands for Better Off with Something Else. the drivers are about the cheapest hunks of crap, the electronics is low grade and are colored sounding systems. Bose is good at marketing, but their products are overpriced for what you get. H/K is better than Bose, and B&O is probably a little better than H/K, but I would prefer Meridian, or at least Mark Levinson. Mark Levinson is owned by H/K, and they compete with Meridian. But Meridian is just better designed for digital content. Mark Levinson just announced digital Pre amps because Meridian is taking over the market and Mark Levinson is trying to catch up. but where Meridian excels is in every aspect of a home theater system with the exception of the LCD/LED display. Meridian in actively involved with the design of surround controllers, digital preamps, digital crossovers, power amps, matching top quality drivers, cabinet design (utilizing composites designed by Ferrrari) as well as unique algorithms for taking two channel stereo and creating a 5.1 version. they go after removing anything that colors the audio as well as developing video processing to create better looking video as well. basically, Meridian does just about everything and they ensure that everything is designed to play at full volume all day long without distortion or blowing something up.