Sound fluctuations?

Maverick78 · 03-25-2012, 06:17 PM

Hey guys. I've noticed since getting my Z that when I'm playing a CD or sing the AUX input
The sound fluctuates. A track will be coming to a loud bit or some bass and the track lowers! It's very annoying. I've tried various CDs and still the same.

I've set the S volume low too but no joy. Are my speakers damaged from previous owner playing music too loud and it can't cope?

Any help is appreciated.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 03-25-2012, 07:22 PM

I recommend you put all your music on an iPot it will be fine then. My daughter and I took a long road trip in 2010 in our then Z4 35i and never had any issues with her iPhone, mine or my iPod.

Good luck.

Wiles · 03-25-2012, 09:12 PM

You are see the same thing I have been seeing over two E 89 Z4's and many trips to the dealer. They have replaced amps and head units, and reprogrammed. Still have the same issues. Not sure what the solution is, but the ipod is not the fix. CD is your best input, least compressed.

Some background and things to try.

First I have the premium sound in both Z4 cars. *Also have had many new BMW's and this system has been the most frustrating.

Dolby II on and off, it seems the system is doing some "processing" and creating the sound variations when Dolby II is on. I don't think its the speed settings because I have had this weird sound level repeatedly while parked in my driveway.

Regardless, sound from the rear of the systems speakers is very limited.

Bass response is very poor in my opinion and when compared to my other BMW's

The base US spec E89 Z4 stereo has 11 speakers (BMW Business, head unit) and approx 200 watt amp

The premium system changes speakers and adds a few speakers to 14, same head unit, but different amp, and has 650 watts.

Try messing with the EQ settings if possible, The more I fade to the rear to try to balance the sound, from being front bias, the more the variation in volume. I think its treating the rear speakers as fill, as you get limited sound from them, and limit lead vocals, Background vocals do come from both front and rear.

Also note there rear has only 1 tweeter, in the center, the front has two in the A pillars and 1 in the center, on the premium system. The three mid range behind the driver are the same Part # and the two subs are behind each seat. Each lower foot well has a bass speaker and the doors have the mid range which are doing most the work. Add one mid range and one tweeter in the center of the dash and and you get the 14 speakers. (source of this data is RealOEM.com)

Good luck and if you ever get it sorted post what was done to fix it please. Still searching for a good solution.

Z4Andy · 03-26-2012, 04:05 AM

I had this problem on my boggo standard radio on my 23i.

Any input was affected. Play a track and it's fairly loud until the bass heavy part kicks in (sapping up amp power) and the volume drops.

I thought it was a fault with the auto volume but could never get it to work right.

As I am a sound engineer I found this very frustrating.

I believe this is actually due to the output of basic audio, the amp "clipping". Clipping is a problem when an amp is driven outside its working parameter and sends a Square sinewave to the speakers which can blow them. So I think a circuit has been installed in there (digital) to stop this on the early radios as the amp is so weedy.

Shame as the speakers and sound stage are not that bad even without the tweeters in the door pillars.

My 2011 35iS with standard audio does not have this problem.

So they have fixed the issue. Standard audio is still exceptionally poor though.

BMWZ4 · 03-26-2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alter Peter

I recommend you put all your music on an iPot it will be fine then. My daughter and I took a long road trip in 2010 in our then Z4 35i and never had any issues with her iPhone, mine or my iPod.

Good luck.

good one....not sure why you'd think that Rolf!.....

Mr. ///M3 RD · 03-26-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

good one....not sure why you'd think that Rolf!.....

Well I think that since we had no issues whatsoever and it was a long ... long trip and we enjoyed all of our music just fine.

You have a good one now.

Baremeg55 · 04-14-2012, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick78

Hey guys. I've noticed since getting my Z that when I'm playing a CD or sing the AUX input
The sound fluctuates. A track will be coming to a loud bit or some bass and the track lowers! It's very annoying. I've tried various CDs and still the same.

I've set the S volume low too but no joy. Are my speakers damaged from previous owner playing music too loud and it can't cope?

Any help is appreciated.

Any luck with finding a solution?

03-25-2012, 06:17 PM	#1
Maverick78 Z4 Newbie 0 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW Z4 2.3idrive Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belfast iTrader: (0)	Sound fluctuations? Hey guys. I've noticed since getting my Z that when I'm playing a CD or sing the AUX input The sound fluctuates. A track will be coming to a loud bit or some bass and the track lowers! It's very annoying. I've tried various CDs and still the same. I've set the S volume low too but no joy. Are my speakers damaged from previous owner playing music too loud and it can't cope? Any help is appreciated.
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03-25-2012, 07:22 PM	#2
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 612 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	I recommend you put all your music on an iPot it will be fine then. My daughter and I took a long road trip in 2010 in our then Z4 35i and never had any issues with her iPhone, mine or my iPod. Good luck. __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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03-25-2012, 09:12 PM	#3
Wiles Private First Class 53 Rep 178 Posts Drives: Z4 3.5i MSport manual, 2020X3M Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Midwest USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Sound quality, issues You are see the same thing I have been seeing over two E 89 Z4's and many trips to the dealer. They have replaced amps and head units, and reprogrammed. Still have the same issues. Not sure what the solution is, but the ipod is not the fix. CD is your best input, least compressed. Some background and things to try. First I have the premium sound in both Z4 cars. *Also have had many new BMW's and this system has been the most frustrating. Dolby II on and off, it seems the system is doing some "processing" and creating the sound variations when Dolby II is on. I don't think its the speed settings because I have had this weird sound level repeatedly while parked in my driveway. Regardless, sound from the rear of the systems speakers is very limited. Bass response is very poor in my opinion and when compared to my other BMW's The base US spec E89 Z4 stereo has 11 speakers (BMW Business, head unit) and approx 200 watt amp The premium system changes speakers and adds a few speakers to 14, same head unit, but different amp, and has 650 watts. Try messing with the EQ settings if possible, The more I fade to the rear to try to balance the sound, from being front bias, the more the variation in volume. I think its treating the rear speakers as fill, as you get limited sound from them, and limit lead vocals, Background vocals do come from both front and rear. Also note there rear has only 1 tweeter, in the center, the front has two in the A pillars and 1 in the center, on the premium system. The three mid range behind the driver are the same Part # and the two subs are behind each seat. Each lower foot well has a bass speaker and the doors have the mid range which are doing most the work. Add one mid range and one tweeter in the center of the dash and and you get the 14 speakers. (source of this data is RealOEM.com) Good luck and if you ever get it sorted post what was done to fix it please. Still searching for a good solution.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-26-2012, 04:05 AM	#4
Z4Andy Private First Class 10 Rep 170 Posts Drives: Z4 Sdrive 35iS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Belfast iTrader: (0)	Re: I had this problem on my boggo standard radio on my 23i. Any input was affected. Play a track and it's fairly loud until the bass heavy part kicks in (sapping up amp power) and the volume drops. I thought it was a fault with the auto volume but could never get it to work right. As I am a sound engineer I found this very frustrating. I believe this is actually due to the output of basic audio, the amp "clipping". Clipping is a problem when an amp is driven outside its working parameter and sends a Square sinewave to the speakers which can blow them. So I think a circuit has been installed in there (digital) to stop this on the early radios as the amp is so weedy. Shame as the speakers and sound stage are not that bad even without the tweeters in the door pillars. My 2011 35iS with standard audio does not have this problem. So they have fixed the issue. Standard audio is still exceptionally poor though.
	Appreciate 0 Quote