Being one of many jewels in BMW’s crown, a brand new 5 Collection is at all times an enormous deal and this 2023 model (the eighth Technology) brings a number of the greatest and boldest design and expertise adjustments the vary has ever seen.
It’s completely packed to bursting level with all method of tech, from the choice of totally electrical drivetrains to BMW’s Curved Show and even sees the debut of in-car gaming within the 5 Collection.
For What Hello-Fi? it’s an enormous deal, as a result of it as soon as once more sees a Bowers & Wilkins sound system provided as a premium choice. We had been lately invited to a media occasion and managed to get behind the wheel of a BMW i5 M40 and listen to what this new era of B&W system brings to the celebration.
System
Bowers & Wilkins has featured within the 5 Collection since 2016 and we examined a earlier iteration again in 2018 which was known as the Diamond Encompass Sound System and included the corporate’s trademark diamond dome tweeters. It used 16 audio system powered by a 10-channel, 1400W amplifier.
On this eighth Gen automotive, it’s now merely known as the Bowers & Wilkins Encompass Sound System, as diamond dome tweeters are reserved for different fashions within the BMW vary. Nevertheless, it does embrace B&W’s Continuum cone expertise which is used within the midrange audio system present in every door.
The B&W system comes as normal should you go for the top-of-the-range BMW i5 M60 (which is the automotive we drove and pictured right here) however the excellent news is that it’s obtainable as a person choice for different fashions within the vary within the UK and US. Including the system will set you again £1250 / $950.
For that, you get 18 audio system, though the i5 totally electrical automobiles solely have 17. It’s because the automotive batteries go away no area for the 2 woofers beneath the entrance seats. On this mannequin, they’re changed by a single subwoofer within the boot. The system is pushed by a 655 watt amplifier with {surround} processing supplied by Harman Kardon’s Logic 7 software program.
For these questioning, as normal the brand new 5 Collection comes fitted with a Harman Kardon system with 12 audio system and a 205 Watt amplifier.
The total speaker line-up is as follows…
- 7x 25mm aluminium tweeters
- 7x 10cm midrange audio system (x4 with B&W’s Continuum cone expertise)
- 2x (50cm + 80cm) dual-balanced woofers organized in opposition to one another
- 2x bass woofers beneath the entrance seats (for non i5 fashions)
- 1x 20cm twin voice coil subwoofer within the boot (for i5 solely)
Infotainment
The 5 Collection cabin is a formidable place to be and taking satisfaction of place on the dashboard is the BMW Curved Show. The only unit combines a 12.3in show behind the steering wheel and a 14.9in show subsequent to it, which caters for all of your infotainment wants.
It’s managed by BMW’s trademark iDrive system, operating BMW’s newest Working System 8.5. The principle display is a touchscreen, however we discovered it simpler to make use of the rotary management on the centre console which additionally has a quantity scroll wheel and buttons for switching between navigation, media and phone.
There’s wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as normal, whilst you additionally get entry to Video on Demand from the likes of YouTube and Pluto TV. Pluto TV comes by way of the Powered by Tivo platform which is making its debut on the 5 Collection.
You’re not wanting charging factors within the 5 Collection, with a wi-fi charging tray and two USB-C inputs up entrance and a few USB-C inputs within the rear which might rise to 4 relying on the elective packages you add to the automotive.
And, it’s not simply the Bowers & Wilkins system that brings sound enhancements to the i5. The sounds that accompany the totally different driving modes have been created with enter from the world-famous movie rating composer Hans Zimmer.
Sport mode, for instance, has a fruity, futuristic sound with loads of thrust whereas there’s extra of a sparkle to the sound that comes once you’re within the Environment friendly driving mode.
Sound
Bowers & Wilkins gives a 5.1 surround-sound demo in FLAC which sends varied sounds from chimes to drums and strings all through the cabin and between and throughout audio system to present you a style of its {surround} credentials. It’s a neat demo, however there’s no substitute for enjoying your personal music by way of it.
Whereas we’re weaving our method by way of some nation roads, we’ve got time to play a handful of tracks beginning with This Secondthe results of a hook-up between Chase and Standing and Manchester band Blossoms. The poppy drum & bass observe sounds suitably fast-paced and enjoyable by way of the B&W system.
Highs don’t appear to sound harsh, with mids strong and comparatively expressive and lows displaying a good quantity of weight. We did not discover ourselves heading straight for the sound menus to tinker, which is an indication that the system is performing some issues proper.
We change over to Drake’s Too A lot and there appears to be sense of rhythm and a good quantity of area round the principle beat, the vocal and the percussion that circles above. With the Logic 7 processing engaged, you’ll be able to alter the {surround} depth within the menus. We have a tendency to depart it in its regular place but additionally experiment at each ends of the size. Alternatively, you’ll be able to flip it off fully – the result’s you lose the {surround} impact however appear to achieve a bit extra focus.
Verdict
The set-up within the all-electric i5 appears promising and the worth to have this added as an choice appears fairly affordable in comparison with different programs in the marketplace.
We weren’t capable of evaluate the Bowers & Wilkins system to the usual Harman Kardon set-up to listen to if there’s a large soar in sound high quality, however first impressions had been optimistic. Hopefully, we’ll have a bit of longer with the automotive additional down the road, so we will deliver you our definitive star score.
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