I found my 2017 XC90 T6 R-Design online at a dealer 4 hours away from my home. The car had been custom ordered for another buyer who backed out after the car was delivered. The car was fully loaded with every option and included the Bowers and Wilkins audio system. I knew nothing about the B&W beforehand but needless to say, it was a bonus in disguise. The sound is beyond amazing and I'm nowhere near being called an audiophile. I leave it pretty much in the Concert Hall setting. I got a great deal from the dealership ($4,000 off the MSRP sticker) who wanted to sell the car since it had been custom ordered and was sitting on their lot for almost 4 months. 4 grand off the sticker was like getting a free B&W audio system included in my car. I'm just glad the original buyer changed his mind.

@KrisRifa

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you're enjoying you XC90 and the B&W stereo! Congrats on getting that great deal :)

You could't get this quality system in the Aftermarket world for this price. It is definitely worth it. Especially since there are very few shops that even have RTA equipment and know how to use it. There goes so much into building a system, from sound Dampening, Custom Fabrication Picking the right components, using all Audiophile quality wires, connectors, tuning. especially trying to integrate it all into the factory infotainment system, there is so much. $3k for the Upgrade is cheap. Volvo probably spend Millions for some engineers to design this system and for it to sound the same in every car that comes off the assembly line A set of quality 3 way component system from Focal or Hertz will run you +$700-2000 and thats just the front doors. There is a Shop in Washington state that do $10K and up systems. In one of their system they used a $2500 Center speaker, Thats just One Speaker!

@barbecuetechtips6024

5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like diminishing returns and inflated profit margins.

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

don't worry, they still amortize the investment, because people in europe and australia pay around 40% more for this optional. Cars in US, canada and even mexico (visit porsche.mx if you don't trust me) are stupid cheap!

@insayn7995

2 жыл бұрын

@@RasmusandPiper That’s mainly because of low taxes in those countries

Will get to listen to it when I finally get to do my OSD next week

I like how customizable the sound is?

I have a 2021 polestar wag..system is well balanced and sounds great to me.

Thanks a lot from India Kris! Awesome content bro 🙌🏼

Can you download Tidal on the car?

U know there is also a midrange driver right next to the center twitter right? U never mention that.

Spends 3k on a stereo, plays low quality audio files via bluetooth. LOL

@Capybarainahumansuit

4 жыл бұрын

3k is extremely cheap for car audio. That's basically just subs and amp with head.

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

@James Franko mercedes burmester high end 3d costs the double

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

@James Franko in canada high-end burmester 3d is 6900 CAD, volvo b&w is just 3250 CAD. That's more than the double.

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

@James Franko you don't know what are you talking about. The high-end 1455 watts 3d burmester is not even avaialable on the small C class or GLC. Just on E class, CLS, amg GT4, S, GLE and GLS and costs a lot of money. That one is the more similar to the bower wilkins, yours is just the base burmester.

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

@James Franko it's trash compared to the 3d burmester high-end mercedes, bang&olufsen 3d audi and b&w of volvo and BMW. The difference is night and day for an audiophile, expecially with lossless files.

How good is it compared to Audi Q7 B&O Sound System?

@BigMadmax91

6 жыл бұрын

The B&O - System with the 3D - Effect ist very good, but very very expansive. By Volvo you get the B&W-System with DAB, navigation, DVD-Player and Apple Carplay or Android Auto in one package. Audi wants more money only for the sound system than Volvo for their package. In my opinion, the B&W-System in the XC90 is better, than the system in the new Q7. The B&W-System was developed for the new XC90-Generation and Volvo integrated B&W in the development of the car. The B&O-System was more built for the old Q7 and now they integrated it in the new modell with another inner space and so on. The sound is very good, too ... no ... it is outstanding, but the system in the new XC90 oder S/V90 is better and the big Burmester 3D in the new E-Class or S-Class is an increas again.

Harman Kardon sound system is not good enough ? Does Bowers & Wilkins make that much difference ?

@ryanj9235

4 жыл бұрын

Yes.

@yapaul6226

3 жыл бұрын

Harmon Kardon is nice bass. But BW is made more for the audiophiles

@landinlafrance4494

3 жыл бұрын

Yapaul Aung the least favorite part abt Harman Kardon sound systems for me is their lack of bass? You know if you can customize the sound? 2015 Mercedes GLE 450 btw

@coreysnowden3611

3 жыл бұрын

Yes night and day..I have 2 vehicles with both setups.

What do you think about Focal audio?

@scottcarlon6318

3 жыл бұрын

Focal = good, Naim = better, Sonus Faber = best. Imho

@degou3438

2 жыл бұрын

@@scottcarlon6318 Naim for Bentley: BEST

😍

I doubt it’s the Nautilus tweeter those speakers are $40,000 used I doubt they’ll use that in a car that only costs double that

If you want hi quality source, ditch Spotify and use Tidal

nice quality but the subwofer is low, JL audio make some nice subwofers!

So much better than rang rover

Yes B&W better than German rivals but in market Naim by Bentley (2200 w) best of the best

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

not better than the Bang olufsen on the audi Q8. that's impossibly cristal-like sound.

@scottysvensson

4 жыл бұрын

@@RasmusandPiper Nop.

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

@@scottysvensson Danish do it better. louder and more clear sounds than B&W

@faizm5607

3 жыл бұрын

Ervlax Steelcool I disagree it’s a much cleaner sound from the Naim for Bentley. Most people don’t realise that It’s not actually made by naim it’s made elsewhere but designed by naim. But it is by far best sounding

@degou3438

2 жыл бұрын

@@RasmusandPiper Bro, its Naim, 9000 dolars. The best of the best in the world

So Samsung actually owns Harman now which consists of tons of audio brands including revvel, lexicon, jbl,ect.... Samsung recently purchased the automotive division of Bang and Olufsen. In addition, Harman actually licenses the Bowers and Wilkins name for automotive uses in luxury cars. I say this just to let you know pretty much all 'bespoke' car audio systems are really just fancy looking Samsung stuff that relates no more to the brand than the actual name. The Bowers and Wilkins that makes amazing headphones and home stereo systems is not the same brand that is in the car.

@fragge2926

6 жыл бұрын

Sorry, but you are completely wrong. I know my B&W stereos and the speaker elements in the car ar the same kevlar ones that are in the regular B&W speakers: www.bowers-wilkins.net/car-audio/car-audio/Volvo

@aaronharstine881

6 жыл бұрын

Here is a section from Harman/Samsungs own press release. I'll include the link after the quote. "Audio: HARMAN’s leading brands and cutting-edge audio systems include JBL®, Harman Kardon®, Mark Levinson®, AKG®, Lexicon®, Infinity®, and Revel®. The company also licenses Bowers & Wilkins® and Bang & Olufsen® brands for automotive. All of these brands will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Samsung’s mobile, display, virtual reality and wearable products to deliver a fully differentiated audio and visual experience for customers." news.harman.com/releases/samsung-electronics-to-acquire-harman-accelerating-growth-in-automotive-and-connected-technologies

@fragge2926

6 жыл бұрын

What this says is that they use B&W components in their automotive solutions. So actual B&W speakers/amps in Samsung/Harman MMI:s.

@aaronharstine881

6 жыл бұрын

fragge it says that they license the brand. While a licensing agreement may allow them to access Bowers & Wilkins patents The manufacturing will not be done by B&W. So the result is that these systems are branded B&O, B&W, Lexicon ECT but they are all manufactured by Samsung/Harman.

@barbecuetechtips6024

5 жыл бұрын

@@aaronharstine881 acura and Kia now use krell system's. Volkswagen has returned to Dynaudio in the USA.

V90 polestar ??

That speaker setup cost more then my car

The B&O speakers is cool but VOLVO GUI is confusing at best.

@BUILTFORDTOUGH79

5 жыл бұрын

Volvo interface is garbage all around. Sorry Volvo.... still looks good though. Before you get up in arms...I’m not putting down the audio quality, just the interface/electronics

@sebastianvanderwolf6500

4 жыл бұрын

B&W

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

@@BUILTFORDTOUGH79 what part do you consider garbage? i ask because i'm considering an used s90 with bower wilkins and i d like to know more.

@BUILTFORDTOUGH79

4 жыл бұрын

Ervlax Steelcool OG you research Volvo electronics (car and driver), they’re quirky and from what I understand, unreliable.

The sound system may be great but you have to have money to burn to pay £3000 extra [in the UK] for it on top of the very good standard system. What I mean is that it is installed in a car, which isn't the best place to listen to a premium stereo, even when parked up with engine off. It is money that must be written off over the ownership period of the car because it will have zero effect on the car's resale value. However good it is, the only really relevant question is, 'is it worth the money?' By any objective standard and looking at what else that money can buy, no it is not. If money is no object, then OK it may be that some people can justify it to themselves. The only way I could justify it is if it was on an used car or a heavily discounted ex dealer demonstrator where it was effectively given away free.

@altawashm

6 жыл бұрын

Huw Williams agree, and what's wrong with the standard speakers!!

@hedydd2

6 жыл бұрын

Mohammad Tawash There's nothing wrong with the standard speakers. They are very good. Maybe some would benefit from the optional woofer in the trunk but I dislike excessive bass personally.

@gbrown9694

6 жыл бұрын

I've listened to it in the S90 and also compared it to the standard system. It really is as good as he says... but yeah... pushing the cost of a new car up by 3k?! It's put me off buying a new Volvo... because it's a must have... however I'm considering a used S90 with this option.

@gbrown9694

6 жыл бұрын

Standard speakers are just okay... in face I would say they're fine. But it's a night and day difference.... not just the bass either.

@hedydd2

6 жыл бұрын

Gregory Brown I would say that if you keep the car for a decade or more, it isn't too much to pay. If you change every three years, as an example, the cost is £1000uk per year. If you think that is worth it on top of paying for the standard system, then you must value music fidelity very highly indeed. Just don't get 20'' wheels on the car, that's all I'm going to say ;-)

Your getting the best audio. B&W are the the best audio manufacturer

AlumINIUM

There is no better than Bowers and Wilkins even for headphones especially for orchestral / epic music.

@gumowyfantomas

5 жыл бұрын

How about bang & olufsen in audi?

@RasmusandPiper

4 жыл бұрын

audi bang olufsen 3d is even better

@Tfish64

4 жыл бұрын

I agree. B&W are amazing, especially in the mid range as well.

@scottcarlon6318

3 жыл бұрын

If you don’t consider Naim and SonusFaber.

@degou3438

2 жыл бұрын

@@scottcarlon6318 yes, Naim for Bentley is unbelievable, the best

Harman kardon en iyisi

of course not, Harman Kardon is the best, S60s speakers are so much better than the S90s

@YYCKeeper

6 жыл бұрын

TheArrogantOne I do love the 8 speaker sound system in my 2015 S60 T6...the sound is incredible for a factory stereo

@aaronharstine881

6 жыл бұрын

So Samsung actually owns Harman now which consists of tons of audio brands including revvel, lexicon, jbl,ect.... Samsung recently purchased the automotive division of Bang and Olufsen. In addition, Harman actually licenses the Bowers and Wilkins name for automotive uses in luxury cars. I say this just to let you know pretty much all 'bespoke' car audio systems are really just fancy looking Samsung stuff that relates no more to the brand than the actual name. The Bowers and Wilkins that makes amazing headphones and home stereo systems is not the same brand that is in the car.

@Tfish64

4 жыл бұрын

Have you listened to B&W speakers since then? I’ve tried their products from everything including home theater systems as well as their headphones and they’ve been better than anything else I’ve tried.

Çöp

It's ok Burmester is way better

@KrisRifa

2 жыл бұрын

it's literally been rated one of the best systems in any car. And Burmester isn't just one system, which car do you mean? Burmester in GLA for instance doesn't even come close. Heck even Burmester in Porsche Taycan isn't in the same class. So curious to which Burmester system you are referring to?

@nachohernandez9491

2 жыл бұрын

@@KrisRifa Mercedes s class but basically on all bens

@KrisRifa

2 жыл бұрын

@@nachohernandez9491 is hope it would sound better in the S-Class considering it cost like twice what this system cost. And the Burmester in E-Class and GLE/GLS is not better than this, so basically only S-Class 😅🙈