2024 BMW X5 – Harman Kardon 16-speaker Sound System Review

BMWs Harman Kardon systems have been improved so greatly that the Bowers & Wilkins systems are becoming less relevant.

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0:00 Infotainment, sound settings, inputs
6:00 Speaker locations
6:37 Electronic (Illuminate)
7:55 Lo-fi/Chill (ChillShop)
8:40 Classical (The Travelling Symphony)
10:22 Rock (Homeworld Collapse)
12:09 5.1 Surround test
14:04 Bass (Redlips)
14:38 Electronic (Muffin)
15:38 Electronic (Aimless Lyrics)
16:44 Final thoughts

Graphics by Skyler Benn.

This video was filmed with in-ear, binaural microphones, so if you listen with headphones, it will sound like you're sitting in the driver's seat!

WAV uncompressed audio tracks used:

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

#harmankardon #bmw #x5 #caraudio

[omegasquadlder]

I wish you didn’t have to upgrade to the m60i just to have the option the bowers and Wilkins sound system. They should at least offer it in the x drive 50e

[Wasabi]

Thanks for the review. I’m surprised you rated this so high. My dad had a 2020 x5 w HK. We thought it was just OK and always wondered if the B&W would be much better. I think at the time it was the nicest car we ever had, so we had really high expectation for it. His X5 had the acoustic window option, smallest wheel and air suspension, so it was pretty quiet.

[MrRover]

Have you also noticed how BMW cheapen out with the glass not on the volume knob as previous executive packages that had it

[DARIOcaptain]

When you're saying that H/K has come a long way improving and now it's not that much of a difference comparing to the B&W, would you say that it's the same in the pre-facelift X5 G05 or did H/K actually improve in the facelift (LCI)?

[glorifiedbusdriver]

I'm so happy to see these improvements by HK (at least with their BMW systems). I'm not sure if you can get ahold of the iX with Harman Kardon system (not B&W), but it would be a good system to do a test on.

[william_ochieng]

Please Charlie from Daily Motor, do a sound system test of the new Range Rover. No one has done it on YouTube and there's so much hype around it. We would like to hear your honest opinion.

[ceciland]

Do you think the Bowers and Wilkins on the other X5 needed a break in period? If it was brand new, maybe that’s why it was too strident and tiring??
I recall many years ago getting some sennheiser HD650 headphones. They were top dog at that time. I hated them at first. But once they broke in (and I drove them with enough power) they could leave me in a puddle of bliss because they sounded so warm and refined.

[leonidvedine]

rreally enjoyed this - do you have a playlist i can download?

[kevinsetayesh]

I have an f36 (2019 440i GC) and the HK in that comes with just a little under 700 watts. It sounds so much better and much louder than any of the newer bmw HK sound systems. BMW went backwards with their HK, it’s probably the main reason I won’t be upgrading to a newer gen bmw

[ptb]

Love the review.... Thank you! I am test driving the X5 Saturday. I just had the Q7 for a few days. The sound system sounded tiny... But I just saw your review of a previous Audi system, and I think my issue was the 3D effect was on.

[jimgaul]

Here in MN the HK upgrade is part of the $2550 Premium package on my X6. I pick it up Friday so I’ll let you know how the sound is in the slightly smaller X6 interior. I just traded in my 2018 Grand Cherokee which has the 900 watt HK with 19 speakers . I really liked that system which had too much power. 😅

[LCfer]

Is the bimmercode B&W profile hack make HK sound better or worse? Is it worth to hack the ECU for B&W profile on HK speaker?

[nottechnical]

I have the new 2025 x5m and so disappointed in the sound system, I’ve tried tuning and still can’t get it sounding good, I think my Tesla m3p has probably one of the best sound systems I’ve ever heard for a stock car. Great video by the way ✌🏻

[noahyoha]

Compared to the HK system in the i4, which one do you prefer, this or the i4 system? I remembered you gave the i4 system a S tier rating.
Also I have noticed that the HK system in the i4 is also 464 watt. Any chance that they actually share the same system?

[christopherrmcg]

The compression BMW uses with this H/K system drives me crazy

[PaulAuse-ervc]

Great stuff, thanks Charlie! My wife has a 2023 i4 with the HK system, and I'd totally agree that the HK system is pretty solid. Looking at a 2025 x5, and glad to hear you're impressed with the HK system as I'm not interested in stepping-up to the top of the line just so I can get the B&W system. One question- do you have any experience with the Bavsound speaker and/or amp upgrades? I've installed Bavsound speakers in 6 BMW's over the years and pretty impressed with the speakers, the amps in our 2013 5-series and 2019 M2 Comp, a little less so. Would love to see if you have any thoughts. Thx!

[harshgoyal]

Charlie - Thank you for posting these reviews! I'm a huge fan! Have you tested the stock X5 audio? I have a 2022 X5 and I'm happy with the audio quality. I had a loaner X5 with the HK upgrade, but I felt like it wasn't too different in quality (except bass). Also, I observed that the HK system output degrades severely (heavy distortion) at max volume. The stock system handles high volumes pretty well in my experience.

[kevinwang]

Great test! BTW have you tested the BMW Diamond B&W with 20 speakers? I thought in your last video it was the standard B&W not the premium diamond version

[oliverwhittington]

I am confused a little, I have a g20 LCI with the Harman Kardon, which is on paper the exact same as this system, (16speaker, 464watt) from what I can see. If they are the same systems, why is this one so much better than the one in the 3er. Also I think streaming services are only available once you have signed into the BMW ID in the vehicle settings. at least in my car when I signed in, Spotify showed up.

[Milocat-vg]

you have to try the lexus tx with the mark levinson. i may try this week. The last time i tested it in the rx it was not as good as the gv80.