Skipped the HK — anyone living with the base 7-speaker system?
Just placed my order for an iX3. Went with the panoramic roof and Iconic Glow (for matrix headlights), but deliberately skipped the Innovation Pack. Over here in NL it is the only way to get the Harman Kardon system. The pack bundles HK with the 3D head-up display and a couple of other things I don't have a use for, and paying that much mostly for audio didn't add up for me.
My reasoning: I listen to podcasts about 70% of the time, music occasionally. For spoken word, a 13-speaker surround setup with extra bass drivers isn't buying me much. And Panoramic Vision already puts speed and nav in my sightline, so the HUD felt redundant rather than essential.
The one thing nagging at me: I'm coming out of a 2022 Model 3 SR, whose base system is unusually good for a no-cost setup. BMW's entry-level audio has historically been the weak spot. So I'm curious whether I've talked myself into a small regret.
Questions for people who already have their cars:
- Anyone here running the base 7-speaker system? How does it hold up for podcasts vs music, and does it distort early at higher volume?
- If you A/B'd base vs HK at the dealer, how big was the gap actually? Some posts on Bimmerpost say HK is decent but not class-leading, others say the base system is a clear pass.
- Aftermarket — I've checked Bavsound, ARS24 and BimmerTech, and none of them have NA5 fitment yet. Their kits depend on platform-specific harnesses, and the Neue Klasse architecture is entirely new. Has anyone seen a vendor actually announce NA5 development?
- Any DSP settings worth knowing about? I've read that active noise reduction and speed-dependent volume tend to muddy playback.
Not looking for audiophile territory. Just one step up from stock if it turns out to be needed.