investorsc

I finally have spent some time with my new S63 and it's 3D sound system. I knew I would lose some trunk space for the Sub. I knew the price tag. Yes, I love the LED accent lighted, spin opening high-end radiators (Tweeters) in the doors....

But is it REALLY that different from the already excellent Burmester that comes stock in the new S-Class? ...... 4 Words...Oh My GOD, YES!

I made it a point to take 6 CD's with me to the dealer for delivery, which included classical (Yes- I took 1812 Overture just for you guys (and gals)). Some Rock (Sammy Hagar- I can't drive 55 and HEAVY METAL), Some Pink Floyd (Pulse for great live songs), the incredible Lorenna McKennitt for her haunting, incredible vocal quality, a DVD (Armageddon Shuttle launch scene), Three Tenors, and an acoustic sampler.

When played in the standard Burmester- the sound was awesome. Other than equalization options, not a lot of bells and whistles. I felt an emptiness in the center area of the car about head level. It was as if there was a cloud behind my head to the right where the sound had a hole.... Still, a much better system to the B&O from last year.

Move over to the S63 and the 3D system... Turn on the car, and get ready to engage hyper drive....

Initial sampling was crisp and spot on for each genre. In playing with the setup screen options, there are 4 settings for the audio processor to work it's magic. There is a basic setting, a live, a concert, and a 3D option. (These are not their exact names, but this is the effect).... They were very reflective of the goal. The lowest option seemed quite flat and without presence. Live truly gave you the feeling of a live performance and you have great seats. The concert setting gave a greatly enhance image with more body, and a tad less acccent on the vocals.

Choose the 3D option, and prepare to be transported. The car seems to go into a digitally accurate correction, and squeeze every note out of the music. The car seems acoustically corrected that no matter where you place you head (and attached EARS), the location of the various speakers, tweeters,and bass sources seem to melt into a river of sound without the ability to locate any of the pieces producing it.

More to come, but this system seems to allow you to take your high end home sound system on the road with you when mount your chariot and leave the castle.....

I am EXTREMELY Satisfied with the cost of this add-on for what it provides. When you couple this with the hot stone massage on the way home on a cold winter night, it's good to make sure the safety features are engaged to shake the wheel, and brake you back into your lane when you begin to lose consciousness from the fun!

BenzV12

An HD video clip would be great but still a good review .Not to mention , chrome round speakers coming out either front doors also look awesome
For this option alone and you are audiophile , you could spill the beans oppps sorry I mean $$$$

Let fun begin

Trip

That's the review I was looking for! Thanks so much for posting. My car will be here in a week or so and you just made me more excited than I was yesterday. So glad I waited for the 3D sound.

Happy Holidays!!!

Kratos-TM

You should paid to be a reviewer.....LOL. Thanks, finally a comparison.

TomS

Great review! Thank you. On a personal note, having recently been fitted with hearing aids (too much loud music in my youth I think), the finer points of the sound might be lost. I am glad the base system was worth it too.

Just time the most comfortable parts of the journey to coincide with the cannon shots from the 1812. That will wake you back up

Tom
91 Days to Stuttgart

Can Drive 55

Mr. investorsc, if you invest half as good as you write, you can have my money and invest it wisely. Great review. Noticed that you used my name sake for the rock genre. That song is exactly where my inspiration for my board name came from. Good choice. Seriously, after reading your review, I might check into a new S-class if I can figure out what to do with my pristine car that I have had since it was new. Write on.

investorsc

Thanks for the kind words. Well, a week into this car and words really cannot explain it. Yesterday was at my dealer (State College Mercedes in PA) to have Pirelli snows put on the car with 2013 S-65 Wheels.... Everyone thought the car looked even better with those wheels- they have more viewing area, and the Red calipers really come thru.

I had a few sessions with service and sales personnel sitting in the car with me showing them the 3-D System. While they had been thru the Mercedes training, etc.- they really had no experience with the actual system.

An incredible tool to show off the system is the Disney soundtrack for TRON. I bought it on a whim, but it covers such a wide spectrum. If you download Daft Punk OVERTURE from Tron - it is a great test piece. It builds in the traditional overture style, but really opens up the soundscape and brings the Sub to bear.

Simply put- everyone at the dealership was blown away- hands down the best system ANY of them have EVER heard. I concur (and I have had some incredible custom systems- Including a six-figure THX system in our home theater)....

The Burmester 3D is without equal!

Looking for other forum members to confirm or deny these allegations!

Merry Christmas All!

jprescott

Will this system do justice to Sirius? I usually listen to satellite but occasionally plug in the iPhone which of course sounds closer to CD

investorsc

The system does a great job with whatever you feed it. Much like computers- Garbage in means garbage out- and Sirius is NOT a great signal when compared with a CD or such. You can load the CD's into the vehicle media drive. The BLUETOOTH interface, however, works great with the iPhone. I have migrated away from Sirius in most of my vehicles, and use Pandora instead.

Bruce

pmrogers

Bruce, thanks so much for the great review. You mentioned that the sound is better than the B&O on the preceding S. Have you by chance also spent any time listening to the B&O system on the newer SLs with the Front Bass implementation?

-Paul

hyperion667

oh damn now I need to maybe get this too

Can Drive 55

Bruce, have you listened to the big Meridian system in the Range Rover? I was wondering how the two compared, both being 3-D and similar output and number of speakers. TIA.

Trip

Picked mine up yesterday. All I can really say is WOW. My one friends said it best, The 3D sound is not the best CAR stereo he ever heard, it may be the BEST sound system PERIOD. The depth of the sound is truly amazing, and the bass hits deep and hard. Listing to songs I have listened to for years is an entirely new experience. Very glad I ordered and waited for this system.

BLOWN AWAY

investorsc

I told you so! LOL

I started using my iPod full of "old" songs- I cannot believe how the system blows new life into them... UNBELIEVABLE!

Bruce

saski

I read somewhere in a review of w222 with 3D Burmester that no matter how hard they tried they couldn't get the sound to surround them when sitting in the back (even if they faded it all the way back). After they stopped testing the car they thought maybe it was the 3D setting that caused this. I can't find this review anymore. Is this true? Does it sound like it's faded to the front when sitting in the back with any of the sound settings? Thanks for the great review of this sound system, I'm really glad to hear it's so good How does it compare to Audi A8's B&O?

Trip

It blows every other car audio system out of the water. Period.

pmrogers

We have the 1700W Range Rover system and it is nice but not even as good as the B&O front bass system in the SL. From reports here, the Burrmester system is a big step up from the SL B&O, so this leaves the RR Meridian system at least 2 steps down from it.

-Paul


2013 SL65, 45th Anniversary Edition
2014 Range Rover Sport Autobiography, Fuji White, Ebony/Tan
2014 Maserati Quattroporte GTS, Silver, Marrone/Sabbia

Can Drive 55

Thanks. That is what I had hoped to hear, as I once considered the RR mainly for the sound system.

SB_NYC

The Rolls Ghost sound system does not come close to the burmester, and its never loud enough for me either.

Can Drive 55

Not that RR. My pockets are not that deep. I was referring to the Range Rover. Glad to hear the 3D system is that good.

Trip

My video of the motorized Tweeter opening and closing.

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tomh...e5978.mp4.html

Jason B

And how do these tweeters work? In the video the are still playing while they are recessed...

emnic1

Any comments on the quality of sound for the back seat passengers? Is it just as much of an improvement for them?

UrBusted

I can agree with pretty much everything there, even with only a partial Burumester 3D system. Now I wish I had bought a S Class with Burmester 3D
Also, did you end up losing any boot space? I've only lost space equal to my laptops bottom half, being on the left side. Hopefully my next S can have the full system. Enjoy your fantastic vehicle!

syswei

Sound can go through small holes. In a movie theater, the front speakers are behind the screen, and the screen material has microperforations to allow sound through.