B&W Diamond in i7 Distorted at High Volume

[Caroline_Justine]

I’ve got the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond system in my BMW i7, and to be honest, I’m pretty disappointed with the sound quality. When I turn up the volume, especially with bass-heavy tracks, the sound gets distorted. I’ve tried playing music through Bluetooth, CarPlay, USB, and even built-in Spotify, but the distortion persists.

For context, I previously had the Harman Kardon system in my last BMW, and it sounded noticeably better than this. I also listened to the B&W Diamond system in an XM model, and it was incredible, so I’m not sure what’s going on here. From what I understand, BMW switched from having two subwoofers under the front seats to a single subwoofer in the trunk for the i7 and some hybrid models. The bass feels off, and oddly, there’s a loud hum coming from the trunk area, which makes it sound like an old car from the outside.

Is anyone else underwhelmed by the B&W system in their i7, or do you think there’s something wrong with my setup?

 

[i7Driver2024]

I don't know! I don't have any sound problems. In fact, it sounds extraordinary. But note that I don't like driving with the music on the highest volume level. I like enjoying the conversations with the passengers if there are any.

 

[Captain Jack]

Your system may not be calibrated properly. I’d suggest reaching out to BMW for a full diagnostic, as this could be a setup issue.

 

[jerawrr]

I love the sound system in my i7. I rarely turn it up past 2/3 volume. It's plenty loud for me. I like to enjoy the music, not have it blast me.