XC60 MY19 - Standard sound system or Harman Kardon??

[rbp1987]

Just ordered my First Volvo but having second thoughts about just geting the standard sound system. The B&W system is just to much but haven't heard any feedback around the Harman Kardon system.

Order so far:-

XC60 T5 Inscription Pro AWD, Denim Blue, Convenience Pack, Intelisafe Pro, Xenium and Smartphone integration

Whats everyone view on the standard sound system and is it worth the £825 for the Harman Kardon system?

[DeZemBer]

Just went and test drive a S90 with BW and compared to the standard setup, it's amazing!

So I guess if you are keeping the car for long, £865 divide by number of years of ownership is probably a good start

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by rbp1987

Just ordered my First Volvo but having second thoughts about just geting the standard sound system. The B&W system is just to much but haven't heard any feedback around the Harman Kardon system.

Order so far:-

XC60 T5 Inscription Pro AWD, Denim Blue, Convenience Pack, Intelisafe Pro, Xenium and Smartphone integration

Whats everyone view on the standard sound system and is it worth the £825 for the Harman Kardon system?

The reason for lack of feedback so far is that this HK system has only just become available from MY19 onwards which will start arriving in dealers from May onwards.
My next XC60 will definitely have this option ticked as this provides a Sub-Woofer and the B&W system is just too over the top for a what is a metal box on wheels that is pushed along by a noisy ICE ......

[lalith16]

The new XC40s are also made available with HK premium sound system as a cost-option and, I believe, these cars are being delivered at the moment. Hoping that someone who has ordered HK system with their XC40 to leave their feedback here!!

[Ringthane]

When I was discussing the option on my order, two weeks ago, the salesman, who also happened to be a Product Specialist, talked me out of adding he HK system. His words were that the B&W system is amazing (but expensive) and that I wouldn’t be able to tell much difference between the standard setup and the HK.

[JC888]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

Tthe B&W system is just too over the top for a what is a metal box on wheels that is pushed along by a noisy ICE ......

Horses for courses of course but if you are like me who spends hours in the car commuting and enjoys music it's definitely worth the extra investment.

1400W of power coursing through 19 drivers... mmmm

https://www.whathifi.com/features/pr...lvo-s90-review

[lalith16]

Yes, quite evidently from the posts within this thread and in other theads on this forum and elsewhere, B&W system tops the list out of the three systems based on user feedback and there is no denying of that. However, it is also a fact that many felt B&W system is over-priced for what one is getting and quite rightly so as follows:

I am sure the OP’s intention is to seek comparison between the standard system and the HK system. I am one of those who hasn’t experienced neither the B&W system nor the HK system. In that scenario, is it not realistic to compare both the systems on the basis of £ per watt output? If it is, then B&W costs £2.27 per watt (based on XC60 MY19 price list £2500 for 1100 watt output); HK costs only £1.37 per watt output (based on XC60 MY19 price list £825 for 600 watt output). So, isn’t HK system demonstrating better value for money by delivering more output per £ spent?

Since the OP’s intention is to seek comparison between the standard system (330 watts) and the HK system (600 watts), I am not sure how to compare them both using the same analogy of calculations as above. However, I am certain of one thing....if the above calculations are anything to go by i.e. watts of output per £ spent then HK system delivers better value for money compared to B&W system.

[2funky]

A dealer told me that subwoofer was removed as an option, so I had to order H&K because it comes with a subwoofer, basic audio does not.

[JC888]

Of all the cars I've owned (and I've owned loads) the B&W system is the best factory system I've heard so far. Definitely worth the investment!
This is the only system that makes me want to turn the volume up to 11 and take the longer route home.
Had the H&K system in a few other cars and although they are good it's no patch on the B&W.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by JC888

Of all the cars I've owned (and I've owned loads) the B&W system is the best factory system I've heard so far. Definitely worth the investment!
This is the only system that makes me want to turn the volume up to 11 and take the longer route home.
Had the H&K system in a few other cars and although they are good it's no patch on the B&W.

Hint.
An "investment" suggests there is a good chance of a return or profit from the spend. The £3000 spent on the B&W is not an investment. It is the equivalent of peeing £3k worth of booze against a wall. You might well enjoy the sound somewhat more than inside another noisy environment with the standard system but really, the ridiculousness of spending £3000 ON TOP of the price of the standard fit system suggests an absolute disconnect from the real value of money today.

That’s not to say that it isn’t a good system. It is. But fitted to a relatively noisy environment.
If the car is only kept for three years, then, and considering a near zero residual value on the initial spend, that’s £1000 per year for some bragging rights that few others care about. Even if car kept a decade, it’s £300/year.

Even if you can afford to spend that on a daily basis, it’s an extravagance rather than an investment.

It’s the common misuse of ‘investment’ that bothers me, together with the disconnect from the real value of money and what £3000 can otherwise buy.

It is a very nice sound system, for a car. Value for money, or an ‘investment’ it most certainly is not. Not even at a quarter of the price when you consider that it is a price that is on top of money you already pay for the standard system.
By all means buy and enjoy the system if that is your fancy, but be realistic as to what you get for the money and its true ‘value’.