S-Class (W223) 2021 to Present

3D Burmeister Opinions

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Old Nov 10, 2022 | 09:11 PM
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3D Burmeister Opinions

So far I am underwhelmed. Anyone else agree? or possibly I'm not getting all the settings set properly.

Lack of punch in the base. Sounds relatively flat overall. Yes, I have played with the equalizer and settings on that same page, but still not impressed. I was going to order the 4D but the day I arrived at the dealer he had an S580 that was almost exactly what I would have ordered except for the 4D. So 3 hours later I was driving home in my new S Class without having to wait 6 months.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 05:03 AM
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I thought it sounded ok in the test drive but I'd say it's great for a default (no additional cost) stereo. The 4D is a tough box to check at its price, not worth it, but it's quite a lot better. Ya gots to take your pain one way or the other.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by crabman
I thought it sounded ok in the test drive but I'd say it's great for a default (no additional cost) stereo. The 4D is a tough box to check at its price, not worth it, but it's quite a lot better. Ya gots to take your pain one way or the other.
I love my S class but I'm disappointed in the stereo. My Denali HD sounds better and has more punch and costs half of what the S Class cost. Doesn't seem right.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 01:00 PM
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Is that the default stereo or an upgraded unit? As a comparison my last cars were from Porsche where there is a default stereo few get that I've never heard; they way they package options you're often going to end up with the Bose upgrade rolled in and many select it when it's not because it's a fraction of the cost of the Bermy. In any event if you pay a thousand or two buying the Bose as a standalone it does not sound as good as the no cost stereo here. Another way to look at is that I've had upgraded stereos which sounded worse; a Jag 4 or 5 cars ago comes to mind. All I car really say is that in those cars I've had experience with, the stock audio would rate somewhere at the top of the list, if not the top. I'm not saying it's great in the overall scheme; I got the 4D, but to me it's in line with my expectations for a base sound system.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 01:14 PM
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Sounds like how a lot of us feel about the base Burmester in the W222. I think that you just have to realize that this is the base audio, not an upgrade. For me I came from Mark Levinson in the Lexus LS and the basic Burmester in my W222 is just nowhere near that level since its the base audio.

The 4D is really hard to find, same as the High End was on the W222. I added a sub in the trunk to mine which helped, and as I have gotten used to it (and forgotten how great the ML was in the Lexus) I have gotten to where I enjoy listening to music on it. But, I will always check the audio upgrade box on cars going forward.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 01:54 PM
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Completely agree: I fall into the regret camp on the stereos: Don't check the box it will bother me every day; do check it and I feel a bit ripped off as the money goes out of the bank but it's water under the bridge after that.

It bugs me a little that I'm about certain the manufacturers understand the psychology very well and I'm being manipulated, but I don't know what a man can do about that.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 04:53 PM
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One thing I have learned, get the features you want and damn the cost. My issue was I wasn't ordering I was limited to what cars were already on the ground.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 06:29 PM
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Oh yeah, it's not always good but I know myself; better for me to swallow the pill up front than every day for three years. I know some who can settle and they're just fine; a trait I envy. I'm hopefull you've been around the block a litttle and you're ok with it dfride.
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Old Nov 11, 2022 | 09:07 PM
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My thing is I wind up trading early to get what I should have gotten upfront which just costs more money.

As for the audio, give it some time you will get used to it. Consider a sub. It wasn't expensive, I can sell it when I move on from the car and it helps a lot.
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 09:38 AM
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Crabman, yes I'm a big boy I will deal with it. Ironically I'm thinking exactly what SW20S said and already thinking about watching when the S63 is released and ordering one of them.

Honestly I went to the dealer last Saturday after my salesmen told me after 2 years there wasn't any upcharge over MSRP for an S Class. We sat down to build one knowing I was going to order one as I always do. The 4D was on the list no matter what. When I asked the salesman about the color Cirrus Silver he had two that arrived a couple days before and brought me out to see them. One of them had everything I wanted less the 4D and interior color was not what I wanted but still nice. Instead of waiting 5-6 months I bought it. 6 hours later I drove it home. Overall I am very impressed and happy with it. Very happy to trade in my Jaguar XJL. It was a reliable car but I will not miss it at all.
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 09:59 AM
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I would have done the same thing...
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 11:09 AM
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Not me, I'd have been eaten up with regret until I sold it which would have happened early. It's good to know who you are on the settling versus regret curve. Not talking about stuff I can't have, there is plenty of that and it doesn't bother me at all. It's things like car options that I could have afforded but didn't for whatever reason; those things will bother me.

The sub is not a bad idea, I've done that and it helped. You get the added punch and the freed up power may get you more life through the mids. And about going down there and picking up something that wasn't quite right but you got to drive away in the new shiny then and there... Yeah, guilty as charged; I think most of us have been there. Of course I'm not as bright as most so I've done it a couple times. *facepalm*
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 02:33 PM
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I think for me, I lease, and any car is mine for 3 years and then gone, so for me I can put up with a certain amount of things that weren't what I would have chosen had I been able to order.

5-6 months which could conceivably be more, then they might slap an ADM on it after it arrives, I would have taken the "pretty darn close and in stock" car too.
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 02:43 PM
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Good point, dealers haven't been on their best behavior in recent times with those sorts of shenanigans.
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 03:28 PM
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Honestly, I never knew what I was missing, until I popped for the 3D in my 2020 S560. When they bought that car back, I knew that the 4D was a “must have” for me in a 223. At first, I didn’t see much difference in the 3D vs 4D, but now that I have had the S580 for over six months, I am absolutely addicted to the 4D system. I listen primarily to classic jazz and the 4D system, at least to me, reproduces the old classics with astonishing quality. To me, the 4D and the quietness of the interior are the best things about the 223.
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Old Nov 12, 2022 | 04:13 PM
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Your appreciation of a good quality audio system grows over time
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Old Nov 14, 2022 | 01:27 PM
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Setting up the personal sound profile brings the system to life. There are adjustments that you can't make with the regular bass/mid/treble controls.
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Old Nov 14, 2022 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by ColeBlooded
Setting up the personal sound profile brings the system to life. There are adjustments that you can't make with the regular bass/mid/treble controls.
Does the 3D system have that or only the 4D? I don't recall seeing it in the menus...
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Old Nov 14, 2022 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by dfride
Does the 3D system have that or only the 4D? I don't recall seeing it in the menus...
​​​​​​Yup. It was definitely in mine. Start at 5 minutes
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Old Nov 17, 2022 | 09:54 PM
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Many of us W222 owners have added a subwoofer in the trunk.
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Old Nov 18, 2022 | 07:04 AM
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As with any new audio system, new speakers can take 10's of hours to "break-in" at above normal to loud sound pressure levels and won't have the full high end or bass extension until they do. This is due to materials and mechanics of the speakers themselves.

We're happy with the 3D system in the W223 although our S222 3D sounds a bit better as it's been fully broke in.
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Old Nov 21, 2022 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by crabman
Not me, I'd have been eaten up with regret until I sold it which would have happened early. It's good to know who you are on the settling versus regret curve. Not talking about stuff I can't have, there is plenty of that and it doesn't bother me at all. It's things like car options that I could have afforded but didn't for whatever reason; those things will bother me.

The sub is not a bad idea, I've done that and it helped. You get the added punch and the freed up power may get you more life through the mids. And about going down there and picking up something that wasn't quite right but you got to drive away in the new shiny then and there... Yeah, guilty as charged; I think most of us have been there. Of course I'm not as bright as most so I've done it a couple times. *facepalm*
@crabman I totally agree with you. I ordered a BMW 540i a few years ago and settled for the Harmon Kardon vs the Bowers and Wilkins and regretted my decision almost every time I drove the car. I would have probably ordered the B&W, but no dealership ever had one for me to listen to :-(. The HK was pretty good though and I did enjoy it while I had the car. So, when I decided to buy a W223 I spent a lot of time analyzing the 3D vs the 4D. As mentioned above, the 3D does have the personal profile capability, which really is great, but the 4D is an awesome stereo. I've had my W223 for about a month now and I am soooo happy I made the decision to spend the extra $$$. It still was a lot of money and hard to justify, but boy do I enjoy the stereo. There is so much power and clarity that all my music sounds great.
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Old Nov 22, 2022 | 07:41 PM
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t

Last edited by dfride; Nov 22, 2022 at 07:43 PM.
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Old Nov 22, 2022 | 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ColeBlooded
Setting up the personal sound profile brings the system to life. There are adjustments that you can't make with the regular bass/mid/treble controls.
Yes this did make a big difference. Thank you
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